NCERT Solution: Ancient Education System of India | English Class 8 PDF Download

Q1: Why were travellers attracted towards India?
Ans: Travellers were attracted towards India as the fame of Indian culture, wealth, religions, philosophies, art, architecture, as well as its educational practices had spread far and wide.

Q2: What were the sources of the ancient education system?
Ans: In ancient education system, the sources of learning were drawn from various disciplines such as Itihas (history), Anviksiki (logic), Mimamsa (interpretation) Shilpashastra (architecture), Arthashastra (polity), Varta (agriculture, trade, commerce, animal husbandry) and Dhanurvidya (archery).The writings of Aryabhata, Panini, Katyayana and Patanjali, and the medical treatises of Charaka and Sushruta also served as the sources of learning.

Q3: What were the features of education system in ancient India?
Ans: Education system in ancient India focused on the moral, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects of life. It emphasised on values such as humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance and respect for all creations. It focused both on learning and physical development. In other words, the emphasis was on healthy mind and healthy body.

Q4: What was the role of guru in pupils’ lives?
Ans: The role of guru in pupils’ lives was to provide complete learning, help them lead a disciplined life and make them realize their inner potential.

Q5: Where did nuns and monks receive their education?
Ans: Nuns and monks received their education in monasteries or viharas.

Q6: What is Panini known for?
Ans: Panini is known as an expert in language and grammar. He has authored one of the greatest works on grammar called Ashtadhyayi.

Q7: Which university did Xuan Zang and I-Qing study at?
Ans: Xuan Zang and I-Qing studied at Nalanda University.

Q 8: Which subject did Xuan Zang study in India?
Ans: Xuan Zang studied yogashastra in India.

Q9: How did society help in the education of the students?
Ans: All members of the society contributed towards education in some form or the other. Financial support came from rich merchants, wealthy parents and society. Besides gifts of buildings, the universities received gifts of land.

Q 10: Which salient features of the ancient education system of India made it globally renowned?
Ans: Our ancient education system focused on the holistic development of the individual by taking care of both the inner and the outer self. The system focused on the moral, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects of life. It emphasised on values such as humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance and respect for all creations. It focused both on learning and physical development. In other words, the emphasis was on healthy mind and healthy body.

Q11: Why do you think students from other countries came to India to study at that time?
Ans: Many monasteries/viharas were set up for monks and nuns to meditate, debate and discuss with the learned for their quest for knowledge during this period. Around these viharas, other educational centres of higher learning developed. This attracted students from other countries to India to study at that time.

Q 12: Why is education considered 'a way of life'?
Ans: Education is considered 'a way of life' as it gives us knowledge about the world around us. It develops a perspective of how we look at life. It makes us capable of building opinions. It also helps us learn lessons of life.

Q 13: What do you understand by holistic education?
Ans: Holistic education focuses on the development of the individual by taking care of both the inner and the outer self. It also focuses on the moral, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects of life. It emphasises on values such as humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance and respect for all creations.

Q 14: Why do you think Takshashila and Nalanda have been declared heritage sites?
Ans: Takshashila and Nalanda have been declared heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because these universities were considered among the best centres of learning in the world in the ancient time.