GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Taxila and Nalanda Universities | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. (UPSC GS1 2014)

• The location of Taxila university made it popular because it lied at the passage of India from central Asia. The foreign rulers and scholar were attracted towards it because of its location which resulted into flourishing of the university. 
• But the main reasons that it is not considered as a university in a moder sense are: Nalanda university had disciplines of Astronomy, Mathematics, Politics and Science; while Taxila university was mainly associated with teaching of Vedic literature and art skills like archery and hunting only. 
• The Nalanda university had students from Korea, China, Japan, Tibet, Persia and Turkey, on the other hand, Taxila had students from Indian Janpadas and adjoining areas only. Thus, having a limited spread in terms of engagement of students. The ratio between the teacher and student were ideal in Nalanda which is considered standard in modern concepts also. 
• Dormitories for students, meditation room, separate classroom, huge library in Nalanda has made it closer to modern concept of university. 
• The expenditure of Nalanda were met from the revenues of 100 villages, while in Taxila economic requirement were made by the rulers. Not withstanding of its strategic location, it can not be considered as modern university in comparison to Nalanda in modern context.

Topics covered - Buddhism and Jainism, Chinese Travellers, Mauryan Empire