Articles

Inclusive education represents a transformative approach that aims to ensure equal learning opportunities, participation, and social belonging for children with diverse abilities and backgrounds. In contemporary educational contexts, literature and storytelling have gained importance as powerful tools for developing empathy, emotional understanding, creativity, and acceptance of diversity. Indian English literature, with its rich traditions of folklore, mythology, symbolism, and imaginative narratives, provides significant possibilities for exploring inclusive education through the literary framework of magical realism. Magical realism, which blends extraordinary elements with realistic experiences, enables writers to represent childhood, disability, identity, and social challenges through imaginative yet meaningful narratives. Through symbolic representation, imaginative engagement, and culturally meaningful narratives, magical realism provides opportunities for children to explore emotions, overcome barriers, and develop confidence in their identities (Arizpe et al., 2014) . The chapter argues that storytelling is not merely a literary practice but a transformative educational resource capable of fostering empathy, reducing prejudice, and creating inclusive learning environments where every child’s experiences and abilities are recognized, respected, and valued.