Comprehension Check (Page No 92)
Question 1: Why were travellers attracted towards India?
Answer: The fame of Indian culture, wealth, religions, philosophies, art, architecture, as well as its educational practices had spread far and wide. Also, the education system of ancient times was regarded as a source for the knowledge, traditions and practices that guided and encouraged humanity. So to the travellers, India was a land of wonder and they were attracted towards our country.
Question 2: What were the sources of the ancient education system?
Answer: The ancient system of education was the education of the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads and Dharmasutras. Medical treatises of Charaka and Sushruta teachings were the sources of learning.
Question 3: What were the features of education system in ancient India?
Answer: Some of the features of education system in ancient India included the following:
(i) Teaching and learning followed the tenets of Vedas and Upanishads fulfilling duties towards self, family and society, thus encompassing all aspects of life
(ii) Education system focused both on learning and physical development
(iii) Education in India had a heritage of being pragmatic, achievable and complementary to life.
Question 4: What was the role of guru in pupils’ lives?
Answer: The Gurus and their pupils worked conscientiously together to become proficient in all aspects of learning. In order to assess pupils’ learning, shastrartha (learned debates) were organised. Also, pupils at an advanced stage of learning guided younger pupils.
Comprehension Check (Page No 97)
Question 1: Where did nuns and monks receive their education?
Answer: Monks and nuns received their education in monasteries which were the centres of art and learning.
Question 2: What is Panini known for?
Answer: Panini was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive and scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and morphology. He was an expert in language and grammar and authored one of the greatest works on grammar called Ashtadhyayi.
Question 3: Which university did Xuan Zang and I-Qing study at?
Answer: Nalanda, when Xuan Zang visited it, was called Nala and was a centre of higher learning in various subjects
Question 4: Which subject did Xuan Zang study in India?
Answer: Xuan Zang studied logic, grammar, Sanskrit, and the Yogacara school of Buddhism during his time at Nalanda.
Question 5: How did society help in the education of the students?
Answer: Financial support came from rich merchants, wealthy parents and society. Besides gifts of buildings, the universities received gifts of land. This form of free education was also prevalent in other ancient universities like Valabhi, Vikramshila and Jagaddala.
Exercise
Discuss the following questions in small groups and write your answers.
Question 1: Which salient features of the ancient education system of India made it globally renowned.
Answer: Some of the salient features of the ancient education system of India that made it globally renowned are listed as below:
(i) The ancient education system of India focused on the moral, physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects of life.
(ii) Teaching and learning followed the tenets of Vedas and Upanishads fulfilling duties towards self, family and society, thus encompassing all aspects of life.
(iii) It emphasised on values such as humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance and respect for all creations.
Question 2: Why do you think students from other countries came to India to study at that time?
Answer: Students from other countries came to India to study because:
(i) In ancient times, monasteries/viharas were set up and around these viharas, other educational centres of higher learning developed, which attracted students from other countries.
(ii) In ancient times, Takshashila was a noted centre of learning, including religious teachings of Buddhism, for several centuries. It continued to attract students from around the world.
Question 3: Why is education considered ‘a way of life’?
Answer: In ancient India, both formal and informal ways of education system existed. Indigenous education was imparted at home, in temples, pathshalas, tols, chatuspadis and gurukuls. There were people in homes, villages and temples who guided young children in imbibing pious ways of life, that is why education is called a way of life.
Question 4: What do you understand by holistic education?
Answer: Holistic education is based on the premise that each person finds identity, meaning, and purpose in life through connections to the community, to the natural world, and to spiritual values such as compassion and peace.
Question 5: Why do you think Takshasila and Nalanda have been declared heritage sites?
Answer: Takshashila was an ancient Indian city, It is an important archaeological site and the UNESCO declared it to be a World Heritage Site in 1980. Nalanda was one of the oldest universities of the world and UNESCO declared the ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara, a world heritage site.
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