SIGNIFICANCE OF LITERATURE IN ENHANCING CRITICAL THINKING IN ENGINEERING STUDENTS BH. V. N. LAKSHMI 1 & ZAINAB ABDULAZIZ AL SUHAIBANI 2 1 Al Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2 Al Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ABSTRACT Education has always been a pervading factor and mankind’s quest for knowledge enabled it to have a dialogue even with the universe. However, the true spirit of education preached by great teachers of yester years got vaporized in the fumes of modern mundane existence. In the process of paving a well heated high way in academic arena, English literature is carefully sidelined and substituted by lessons about technology in the Engineering curriculum. Despite many arguments on this issue Literature remained unappealing to technology driven world. In fact to reduce the complexity and demystify the knowledge of engineering, the modern student requires language and literature to compete with the challenges not just of advanced tests and courses but also of life. Keeping this in view this paper stresses the importance of literature in language acquisition and critical thinking ability especially in technical institutions. This approach certainly brings out an interesting teaching-learning process that unburdens the technical students from mere parroting the words. KEYWORDS: Literature, Engineering Students, Critical Thinking, Life Skills INTRODUCTION The spectrum of human experience is not monochromatic and demands patience and perseverance to perceive its tints and shades. Education has always been a pervading factor and mankind’s quest for knowledge enabled it to have a dialogue even with the universe. In this exponential growth of knowledge man has become an itinerant moving globally. The expansiveness of English Language throughout the globe brought many challenges to the non native English speakers in general and English teachers in particular. In pluralistic countries like India, English language permeated through the most important parts of society and had an impact on the youth as well as in the professional sphere. In this scenario it is no wonder to see the proliferation of technical institutions and the need for proficiency of LSRW skills in English language. Not only the students but also industry expedites the need of skill and talent in communication. For most of the students in Asian countries words are reluctant brides. Hence an English instructor needs to trace out an effective teaching methodology to trigger creativity, instill and enrich word power in the students. Unable to integrate theory and application, most of the present day students are trivializing engineering education as mere study of nuts and bolts. In fact education means not just acquisition of information. The true spirit of education preached by great teachers of yester years got vaporized in the fumes of modern mundane existence. In the process of paving a well heated high way in academic arena, English literature is carefully sidelined and substituted by lessons about technology in the Engineering curriculum. Despite many arguments on this issue Literature remained unappealing to technology driven world. In fact to reduce the complexity and demystify the knowledge of engineering, the modern student requires language and literature to compete with the challenges not just of advanced tests and courses but also of life. International Journal of Educational Science and Research (IJESR) ISSN(P): 2249-6947; ISSN(E): 2249-8052 Vol. 4, Issue 1, Feb 2014, 53-58 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.