EDUCATION SYSTEM IN INDIA THROUGH AGES Pt II Education in India During Islamic Rule

 2. EDUCATION IN INDIA DURING ISLAMIC RULE 

Affluent India was attacked for loot right from acient times by Persian invasions (535 BCE), Alexander’s Invasion (336 BCE -323 BCE), Invasion of Seleucid (305 -303 BCE), Indo-Greek Invasion (180 BCE), Huna Invasion (458 CE) down to Islamic invasions in medieval period. Following were main Islamic invasions:

• Arab Invasion by Mohammed Bin Kasim (712 CE)

• Turkish Invasion by Mahmud of Ghazni (1001 CE)

• Turkish Invasion by Muhammed of Ghor (1175 CE)

• Mongol Invasion (1206-1368 CE)

• The Invasion of Mughals (1526-1761 CE)

• The Invasion of Nadir Shah (1736 -1747 CE)

• The Europeans colonization (1500 CE- 1947 CE)

 Although this period was age of loot, destruction, conversion, rape and genocide, invasions by Khilji caused maximum destruction during 1193 CE to 1206 CE. He destroyed Nalanda, Vikramshila and Odantpuri universities and numerous temples, besides loot of countless cities and mass killings. Though thousands of temples and educational centres were destroyed by the Islamic invaders, the concept of temple education declined to some extent but not fully. Destruction in smaller towns and villages was much lesser. The temples and Gurukuls which were earlier run under patronage of rulers, started running with support of local Hindu population during Islamic rule. According to the book ‘The Beautiful Tree’ by Dharam Pal (please see para 12.18 of my compilation ‘Was Nehru Really a Visionary’) temples were not only the centres of primary education for all Varnas, but also nuclei of important social, economic, artistic and intellectual function.

Though these institutions lost their glory, but all of them did not completely disappear. Gurukuls also could co-exist with the Madrasas which had emerged as the new centers for Higher Education during the Mughal period. Gurukul system of education also continued to spread knowledge. 

Education during Muslim rule was primarily based on two institutions - Madrasas and Gurukuls. Madrasas were Islamic schools that were established during the 11th century. They were mainly focused on teaching Arabic and Islamic law. These schools were supported by Muslim rulers and wealthy merchants. Gurukuls, on the other hand, were traditional Hindu schools that had existed since ancient times. They were residential schools where students lived with their gurus (teachers) and learned various subjects.

The curriculum in Madrasas included the study of the Quran, Hadith (sayings of the Prophet), Arabic language, and Islamic law. Students were also taught astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. In Gurukuls, the curriculum included the study of the Vedas, Upanishads, and other Hindu scriptures. Students were also taught Sanskrit, mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy.

When Britishers colonised India, literacy rate was very high in India. Thomas Munro (Governor of Madras 1820 – 1827) who surveyed South India, wrote that the geographical dimensions of Madras Presidency was from Ganjam district of Orissa to entire South India. The population was 1,28,50,941 and there were 12,498 primary schools. This is in spite of the fact that the collector of Mangalore did not send a report due to some reasons, and many hilly areas were not covered. Therefore, as per the report, on an average there was one primary school for one thousand population and observed that “every village had a school”. Similar were reports from W. Adam for Bengal presidency, G Leitner (Orientalist and author) for Punjab in 1882, and GL Prendergast for Bombay presidency albeit at different times. GL Prendergast (a member of the Governor's Council in the Bombay Presidency) recorded on 27 June 1821 “there is hardly a village, great or small, throughout our territories, in which there is not at least one school, and in larger villages more”. Incidentally England had a dismal average of primary education record till then. In fact, Britain didn’t have an education policy then. In fact, the first school in England opened in 1811. Therefore it can be concluded that during the confluence period of Muslim and British rule, education system in India was fairly good and far superior to that existed in Britain.