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

Chapter XI. ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES. ACHIEVEMENTS—The aims of infusion of piety and formation of character fully achieved—Testimony of foreign writers and travel- lers—Success in developing personality, preserving and spreading culture and literature and promoting social efficiency and happiness. DEFECTS & LIMITATIONS: Hold of religion leads to the neglect of secular studies and discouragement of rationalism in later times— The case in Europe the same—Hindu intellect ceases to be creative and assimilative and becomes receptive and imitative in later times— consequent adverse effect on education—Arts and crafts regarded plebian in later times—Education of masses neglected—Neglect of vernaculars in later times—Depth at the cost of breadth—No broad- based course including grammar, literature, mathematics, history and geography for the average student—Most defects arise in medieval times—A general estimate of Ancient Indian Education. Introduction : We shall devote this concluding chapter to the purpose of giving a critical estimate of ancient Indian educational system by discussing its achievements and failures. We have already made some general observations in this connection in the preceding pages ; we shall here discuss the subject in a connected and comprehensive manner. We shall first proceed to ascertain how far the aims and ideals of the educational system, referred to in Chap. I, were actually realised in practice. This will to a great extent enable us to form its just estimate. Infusion of Piety and Formation of Character : We have seen already how infusion of a spirit of piety and the formation of character were the first two important aims of the educational system. There can be no doubt that piety and religiousness are more characteristic of Hindu society than of any other community. The success of the educational system