Higher Education
In this we will focus on Ancient and Medieval period of Education and Higher Education System. Indian education comprises of system since Vedic Ages and has been altered time and again depending on ruler . It started wit Vedic period followed by Budhhism . Raiders from Arabs came and introduces Islamic education from 12th century. Britishers came up with their education which is being followed till now with addition and substaction In this we will learn education system in Vedic , Budhhist and Medieval period .
Indian Education system since Ancient times
Vedic Period- 1000BC – 600 BC
Buddhist Period- 600 BC- 1200 AD
Medieval Period- 1100 AD – 1800 AD
Pre-Independence or British Period- 1800-1947
Post Independence India- Post 1947 after Independence
- Vedic , Buddhist period had good education system
- Education system deteoritated during Medieval Period
Ancient Education System
- Guru ( Guide , Motivator)
- Residential System
- Brahamcharya – In Gurukul
- Brahamcharya- till 25 Years
- Grihastha
- Vanaprastha
- Sanyasi
- In Gurukul-
- Upnayan Sanskar- Dwij Born
- Samvartan Sanskar- Graduation Ceremony
- In Gurukul – Holistic and Spiritual development , oral education and Padgyan
Three Fold process of Sadhana are
Shravana-Hearing from Guru
Manan– Removes doubt
Nididhyasana– Medidating on what’s you have learn
Two types of Vidya
Parvidya – Spiritual , beyond the word, Moksha
Aparvidya– Worldly Knowledge
The Four Goals of Human Life
Moksha– Liberation- Nirvana- Kevalaya —-Primary Goal
Dharma– Religion
Karma– Pleasure
Artha– Money
The Vedas
Rig Veda– Collection of Lyrics
Oldest in the world
Contains 1028 hymns and 10580 verses divided into 10 Mandala
Only in verse
Sam Veda– Books of Chants
1549 verse
Important for Indian music
Yajur Veda– Book of sacrificial prayer
Divided into – Krishna Yajur Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda
Both in verse and prose
Atharva Veda– book of magical formulae
It contains charms and spells to ward off evils and diseases.
Other than vedas
The Brahaman
Explains Vedas
Written in prose and ritualistic in nature
Means sacrifice
The Aranyakas
The Forest
Written by hermits and student in jungles
They are concluding portion of Brahamanas
There are 6 Vedangas
Shiksha– Pratishakhyais the oldest text on phonetics
Kalpa Sutras– Rituals
Vyakarana– Grammer- Ashtadhyayi written by Panini is the oldest grammer in the world.
Nirukta – Etymology
Nighantu is the oldest word collection of difficult words
Nirukta is the oldest dictionary of the world
Chhanda– Metrics – Chhandasutras written by Pingal is a famous text
Jyotisha– Astronomy- Vedang Jyotisha written by Lagadh Muni is the oldest Jyotisha text
Upaveda- Vedas have Upvedas as
1 Ayurveda– medicine with Rig Veda
2 Gandharveda– Music with Samveda
3 Dhanurveda– Archery with Yajur Veda
4. Shilpaveda– Science of craft with Atharva Veda
There were two classes of educated women
1 Sadyodwahas– women who studied till their marriage
2 Brahmavadinis– Who renunciate marriage to pursue higher studies
Few Women to name in Vedic Period
Ghosha-
Lopamudra- Agastya rishi- Rigveda
Maitreyi- Rig Veda-
Gargi- in Janak’s of Videha Court- debator,
Scientific Literature
Aryabhatta Aryabhatiya, Surya Sidhant
Brahmagupta Brahmasidhanta
Varahmihira Panch Sidhanta, Vrihta Samhita, Vrihta Jataka, Laghu Jataka
Vagbhatta Ashtanga Hridya medicine
Dhanvantri Navanitakam
Bhaskara Mahabhaskarya, Laghubhaskarya
Palkapya Hastyayurveda
Higher Institution of Ancient India
Vihara Connected Institution
Taxila– First university of the world, Oldest , Capital of Gandhar. Education in Medicine, Brahminical and Military. Charak and Shushrut , Kautilya and Chandragupta are associated with it . No exam , No degree. Students admitted as per teacher. Minimum age was 16 years for induction.
Vedant Vyakaran and Ayurveda, eighteen sippas Military astronomy , agriculture and commerce. Influenced by Greek Culture
Nalanda – Mahayan World famous Vihara, Budhhist , Alexander . Built in Gupta period. Raja Kumargupta established it. It got its credit during Harshwardhan. Huen Tsang visited from China during Harshvardhan period . He came to study Budhhism. In 629-645 CE. He stayed for 5 years. He met Silbhadra who was expert in Yog. 10000 monk stayed with 1500 teachers. Three Library Dharma Gunja (Ratna Ranjak, Ratna Sagar and Ratno dadhi) Nine storey building. Admission by Written test. Dwar Pandi use to decide who will appear. 20 Years . Shivbhadra VC. Huen Tsang wrote book Si-Yu-Ki
Vikramshila– Sister University of Nalanda, Set up by emperor Dharampala of the Pal Dynasty in 8th century. Famous for religious teaching , Vajrayan Highest authority was called Mahasthavir. Vyakaran, Logic , astronomy , Philosophy Karamkand Tantra shastra. Vigyan Bhawan in Vikramshila. Bakhtiyar destroyed it in 1203 AD.
Odantpuri– Pal Vansha, Established by Raja Gopal
.
Valabhi – In present Gujrat. It was Hinyan branch of Budhhism. Worship by Symbol. I-Tsing founded Vallabhi. Economics, Law
Jagaddala– Constructed by Ram pal by the Pal King of Bengal. Budhhist education. Vajrayan Budhhism . Subhasita Ratna Kosh – compiled by Vidyakara. Bakhtiyar
Temple Connected Institution
Mithila– Brahmanical studies, Nyayshastra and Tarka shastra .
Gangesh Upadhyay founder of School New Logic . Tatva Chintamani
Banaras
Kanchi
Other institution
Nadiya – Navdeep,
Ujjain- Avanti , secular
Salotgi – Karnataka
Ennayiram- Tamilnadu- kanchi and Sringer
Education System in Medieval India
Islamic Education
Structure of education was based on the traditional education based on Abbasids of Baghdad.
Guilds and association – provided vocational training in the cities likes carpentry, weaving and metalworking
Objectives of Education in Medieval period
Propagation of Islam
Quran Learning
Individual development
Material wealth and prosperity
Organisation in Islamic education
Pathshala Elementary education- houses or under trees- no fees were paid
Maktab school education –run by public donation
Madarsa Higher education – maintained by rulers and nobles
Focus on Islamic Studies- Quran, Hadith, Islamic law and theology
Arabic was the primary language
Curriculum was based on Dars-e-Nizami system
Subjects- Arabic grammer, literature, logic,and philosophy
Certification- Certification or degrees
On completion of degree or Dars-e-Nizami certification was known as Alim or Alimah
Pedagogy- characterized by Memorization, repetition, and recitation. Methods were lectures, debates and discussion
Admission process was initiated through a ceremony name Bismilla
Emergence of Urdu in this period.
Characterisation of Islamic Education System in Medieval Period
| Characteristics of Islamic Education | Description |
| Focus | On Islamic studies |
| Language | Arabic, Persian and emergence of Urdu |
| Admission | Through Bismilla Ceremony |
| Curriculum | Dars-e-Nizami system ( |
| Students | Limited number of students |
| Pedagogy | Memorization,repetition and recitation |
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, debates and discussion |
| Certification | Alim or Alimah |
| Funding | Endowments, donation and charitable contribution from wealthy patrons and rulers. |
| Role of State | No role of state, Government and authority |
Categories of Curriculum
Manqulat(Traditional)- Literature, History abd Law
Maqulat(Rational) – Medicine, Mathematic, Logic,Philosophy,and Astronomy.
Important Terms and Definition
Madarsa– Traditional Islamic educational institution for instruction in Islamic theology ,law and more
Dars-e-Nizami– Traditional Islamic curriculum used in Madarsas. South Asia
Alim– Degree or certification denoting mastery of Islamic knowledge
Sufism– Mystical Islamic tradition emphasizing on inward spiritual dimension of Islam
Persian– Language used in Mughal period
Arabic– Language of Quran and primary language of Islamic scholarship
Maktabs-Traditional elementary school focused on basic literacy and numerical skills
Shaikh– Title to religious teacher or scholar , particularly in Sufi circles
Bismilla– Ceremony of taking Admission
Manqulat– Traditional curriculum
Maqulat– Rational Curriculum
Dirat– Jurisprudence
Hadith– Saying and action of Prophet Muhammad
Fiqh– Islamic Jurisprudence
Kalam– Islamic Theology
Du’as– Prayers