Question 21. Taxila University was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned personalities of the different discipline. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss. (2014)

Answer 1:

Both Nalanda and Taxila Universities were renowned ancient institutions of higher learning. However, while Nalanda was a formal university in the modern sense of the word, Taxila functioned under more informal conditions. Nalanda had almost all the infrastructure we associate with a good University in today’s time, namely, multiple classrooms, extensive library, dormitories for students, accommodation for professors etc. On the other hand, Taxila University did not have any lecture halls nor did it provide residential quarters for its teachers or students.

There was no centralized system of schooling or syllabus in Taxila. Taxila followed no system of examinations, and did not award degrees to its students. The education system there was flexible, and was modified according to a student’s capabilities. Also, the teachers of Taxila worked with complete autonomy, forming their own school of learning with their specific set of rules and manner of functioning.

Most of these schools were run by teachers in their private houses, and received no formal infrastructural support from the Taxila University, unlike Nalanda. As far as the objective of imparting knowledge is concerned, both Taxila and Nalanda Universities were very effective institutions, but their manner of functioning differed drastically, with Nalanda University being more structured than Taxila.

Answer 2:

Taxila was an ancient city in India founded in 1000 BCE. The city was a great seat of learning and produced some illustrious historical figures like Kautilya who wrote Arthashastra, Panini- the compiler of ‘Ashtadhyayi’ the Sanskrit grammar, Charaka the great Ayurvedic healer and Jivaka who once treated Buddha.

 

Taxila was not a university in the modern sense of the word because it did not award any degrees, did not have specific lecture halls and a centralized syllabus and neither did it have a library, things which were available in Nalanda. However it was still a very effective learning institution as teachers had complete autonomy to teach and training of eighteen silpas (art forms) were imparted.

 

Usually students came in at the age of 16 and were not allowed to proceed to further lessons before mastering the previous ones. The course period was more or less than 8 years depending upon the intellectual capabilities of the student and a Gurudakshina was expected after completion of learning when the Guru was satisfied.

 

Nalanda university was much more structured as compared to Taxila university with spacious classrooms, dormitories for students and living quarters for teachers as well as a strict selection process of the students. When Alexander attacked India , Taxila was already a well established learning center with students from all around the world studying there.

Answer 3:

Introduction –TaxilaUniversity had been associated with renowned scholars belonging to different disciplines like Chanakya( wrote –Arthashastrain Taxilaitself) , Panini (language & grammar), Jivak( medicine & Surgery), Charvaka(Ayurveda) etc. Also its strategic location at the crossroads of major trade routes i.e, Uttarapath( GT road –connected Gandharain the west to Magadha in the East); The Sindh route from Kashmir to Central Asia caused its fame to flourish.

•However, despite of the above NalandaUniversity is regarded as a university in the modern sense due to following reasons –

1.Subjects /Curriculum –Taxilaprimarily an imp centre of Hindu and Buddhist learning with focusing on teaching of Vedic literature and art skills like archery and hunting only. Whereas NalandaUniversity taught more secular subjects like Economics, Politics Astronomy, Mathematics, Science, etc.

2.Students –NalandaUniversity‟s strong Buddhist curriculum attracted large no. of students from outside India like Korea, Turkey, Mongolia, Tibet, Japan ,etcenabling cross-cultural intellectual discourse . Whereas, TaxilaUniversity had mostly students from Indian Janpadasand adjoining areas.

3. Infrastructure –Nalanda-multiple classrooms, extensive library , accomodationfor students and teachers, etcWhereas, Taxila–didn‟t have lecture halls nor it provided residential quarters for both students and teachers as most of the learning was given by teachers at their houses privately.

4. System of Education-Nalanda–formal and centralised system of education . Taxila–no formal education , flexible and modified accto student‟s capabilities. Teachers at Taxilataught according to their perspective because of the absence of centralised learning and in the process forming their own schools of learning. Also unlike in Nalanda, there was no formal degrees at the end of the course in Taxila.

Conclusion –Both Taxilaand Nalandawere great centres of learning of their times which had a profound impact on Indian culture and knowledge.

Also, recently NalandaUniversity has opened up after 800 years is testimony to the fact that its importance in education and culture is immense.