English Studies in South Asia has undergone significant changes. Some of the countries have a history of British colonialism which promoted English literature and language as an important instrument of political domination and acculturation. Even after the British colonialism ended the dominance of English continues in these countries. English has become the language of the privileged class and studying English literature a symbol of prestige. However, in its quest for relevance, English Studies had to incorporate new areas of knowledge under its purview. Literary theory made a big splash in English Studies and changed the way of approaching and assessing literature. English Studies also saw rigorous debates about the relationship between English Literature and ELT and different approaches in their pedagogy. Then, postcolonial literature and theory made its impact felt in the field. Two other domains that have enriched the field of English Studies are Comparative literature and Translation Studies. English writings emanating from former colonies in Asia are going to constitute a strong strand while Asian writings translated into English are also making their impact felt in English Studies in South Asia.
Keywords: South Asia, English Studies, Literary Theory, ELT, Comparative literature, Translation Studies