ABSTRACT
To sketch out the political economy of languages in Pune is to also learn about how the privileged classes and castes value and use Marathi. This introductory chapter of the book that sheds light on the impacts of caste and class privilege in urban Indian education and how it is bolstered by language. More specifically, language ideologies guide the rules of language use in education. Languages and language varieties are imbued with meaning and cultural value in urban India. This first chapter frames an exploration of a political economy of language in India to show how caste and class systems are powerfully motivating forces for crafting selves, imagining futures, and creating social hierarchies even when well-intentioned educators, activists, families, and students purportedly work towards creating a more equitable social life.
