Though task-based teaching /learning approach is not new to Indian ESL classrooms, it was adopted not just to teach language, but to increase the pace of learning and to promote autonomous learning in the classroom. The experimental study conducted in a typical Indian ESL classroom on class 8 learners, led to the conclusions that task - based teaching, in an open learning context results in : a) Learner centered classroom : When the tasks are designed from the learner’s point of view, the classroom invariably turns to be a learner centered one. b) Autonomous learning: When the tasks designed are cognitively and linguistically graded in such a way that they are challenging yet interesting, the learners tend to work independently (as part of learning) resulting in learner autonomy. c) Long-term retention of the learnt: As the learner gets involved in the task independently, the concentration levels high resulting in long term memory of the learnt concepts. This paper presents the theoretical back ground of the study, the methodology of the study followed by a discussion and the conclusions drawn from the study. More