Ancient Education System of India Summary Class 8 English (It so Happened) Chapter 8

Many travelers from different countries came to India to explore its rich culture, religions, art, and education system. The ancient education system in India focused on developing a person in a well-rounded way. It emphasized important values like honesty, self-discipline, and humility.
Education in those times aimed to develop a student's physical, mental, intellectual, and moral aspects. It was based on teachings from the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmanas, and Dharmasutras. Students also learned from writings and teachings on medicine by Sushruta and Charaka.
There were different subjects or disciplines that students learned, such as literature, history, philosophy, and arts. Physical education and yoga were also important parts of learning. Students participated in debates and discussions to assess their knowledge. They lived a disciplined life to discover their own potential. Learning from peers and in groups was encouraged for better understanding.
In India, schools have been considered as places of knowledge, like temples. Gurukuls were residential schools, and pathshalas, temples, and schools were important places of learning. Students who wanted to pursue higher education could go to universities. Women were also scholars in Vedic studies. Besides reading and writing, the focus was on developing personality and learning practical skills.

Long ago, there were special places called monasteries and viharas where monks and nuns would go to meditate, have debates, and discussions. Universities were also created for students from different countries to study. Kings and people in society supported education by sharing stories called Jataka tales from scholars like Xuan Zang and I-Qing from China. Some famous universities were Nalanda, Takshashila, Valabhi, Odantapuri, Vikramshila, and Jagaddala. These universities were considered very important and were declared as heritage sites by UNESCO.
Takshashila was a Buddhist center of learning where students from different countries came to study. They learned ancient scriptures, medicine, law, military science, astronomy, and arts. Panini, Jivaka, and Chanakya were famous scholars who studied there. The teachers were very important and played a big role in selecting students and designing the curriculum. When the teacher felt that the students had learned enough, the course would end. They also encouraged students to learn through speaking and listening.
Nalanda was another famous university where students studied a wide range of subjects like the Vedas, fine arts, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and politics. It was visited by Chinese scholars like I-Qing and Xuan Zang, who wrote about their experiences there. The community also supported education by giving money to the schools. Some universities offered free education, and in South India, there were special places called agraharas for learning. South Indian kingdoms had cultural institutions called Ghatika and Brahmapuri.
So, education was provided in ashrams, temples, and schools. During later times, there were also educational institutions called maktabas and madrassas. The ancient Indian education system focused on developing students both inside and outside, preparing them for life. Our current education system can learn a lot from the ancient system. Educationists are important in recognizing the value of learning different languages and cultures, and they can bring together traditional and modern methods of learning.