प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

[IV] EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATION AND FINANCE 99 Failure to help liberally a student, collecting money to pay his teacher's honorarium was regarded as the greatest slur on a king's reputation.¹ Further indirect help to the cause of education was given by the state by exempting students and learned but poor Brahmanas from taxation.² The treasure trove laws were so framed as to help the cause of learning.³ The law of limitation was relaxed in favour of the student engaged in prosecuting studies at a college (Gurukula).⁴ Government Help without Government Control : A recent Soviet writer on education has averred that schools and colleges can never be free from political control as long as the state exists. His statement appears to be perfectly true when we cast a glance at the educational organisations in modern times; for all states are at present very anxious to control educational institutions and curricula as soon as they proceed to give government grants. In totalitarian states, education has become a means of propaganda

1. Cf. Raghu's remark to Kautsa when he wanted to go away, unsuccessful in his mission to get Gurudakshiṇā :— गुर्वर्थमर्थी श्रुतपारदृश्वा रघोः सकाशादनवाप्य कामम् । गतो वदान्यान्तरमित्ययं मे मा भूतपरीवादनवावतारः ॥ V. 24
2. Cf. अकरः श्रोत्रियः ।.......ये च विद्यार्थिनः सन्ति । Ā. D. S. II. 10. 26. 14-17 ; see also V. Dh. S., XIX. 15
3. If a king found a treasure trove, he was required to give half of it to learned Brahmanas; if the latter found it, they could retain the whole. Others had to refund 16 per cent to the state. Manu, VIII. 35-9; Yāj. II. 34-5
4. Cf :—ब्रह्मचारी चरेत्कश्चिद्व्रतं षट्त्रिंशदाब्दिकम् । समावृत्तो व्रती कुर्याद्धमस्यान्वेषणं ततः । पञ्चाशदाब्दिको भोगस्तद्धनस्यापहारकः ॥ Nārada in SCS, quoted at S. B. E., 38, pp. 248-4.