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Formal Education System in Ancient India

by Sushmita Nath | 2016 | 63,563 words

This page relates ‘Chatuspathi (Catushpathi Tol) type of School� of the study on the (formal) education system in Ancient India with reference to Vedic and Buddhist period, investiging educational institutions and universities which existed during this time. Professional educational methods were found in ancient Sanskrit literature (Brahamanas, Dharma-Shastras, Puranas, Jatakas, etc.), including rules, ceremonies and duties of pupils in ancient India.

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The Chatuspathi (°ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« Tol) type of School

In the ³§Å«³Ù°ù²¹ period a special type of school came in to existence namely ³§Å«³Ù°ù²¹ schools. This ³§Å«³Ù°ù²¹ school subsequently developed as °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä«.

In the °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« all ³Õ²¹°ùṇa²õ of students were eligible for education. But in majority of the case the teacher and students both were exclusively Brahmins. The °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« provided specialized courses. Grammar, Kalpa, ±Ê³Ü°ùÄåṇa, and Philosophy were generally offered as fields of specialization. There were three types of Tols. Subjects offered in the first type were ³Õ²âÄå°ì²¹°ù²¹²Ô²¹, °­Äå±¹²â²¹ and ±Ê³Ü°ùÄåṇa. Those of second type were Kalpa and ±Ê³Ü°ùÄåṇa. In the third type were offered philosophy and ±·²âÄå²â²¹. Like that of ´¡²µ°ù²¹³óÄå°ù²¹, these Tol provide education for children. Basically the Tols provide primary education. But those learned µþ°ùÄå³ó³¾¾±²Ô²õ who work in the Tol, were not given any specific endowment. The °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« Tol totally depended on voluntary gifts or grants of lands by rich people. The student received their food and clothing from the local land lord. In the beginning of 19th century °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« Tol were found large numbers in Bengal. Now days these Tols are in existence all over India. In present days the management of the Tols are now run by Governament. The responsibility of the °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« Tol are no longer rested with Sanskrit ±Ê²¹á¹‡á¸¾±³Ù²¹²õ only. Today the traditional method of Sanskrit teaching has lost its previous height. No doubt the condition of the °ä²¹³Ù³Üá¹£pÄåá¹»·Ä« Tol are not so good but these Tols continued to maintain the historical tradition[1].

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

F.E, Keay Indian Education in Ancient India and later times, Baptist Mission press, Calcutta, 1942, P.145.

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