‘Merely companies to conduct examinations’: What Lokmanya Tilak thought of Indian universities

25 February 1896

In ancient times, when Hindustan was renowned for its learning and arts, there were several maths or academic establishments where studies of various disciplines of knowledge went on night and day. In most of these establishments, there were congregations of learned people who devoted all their time to studying, teaching and writing books. Under their tutelage, new sets of learned people would be trained, who would travel all over the country to spread knowledge. If a particular subject was studied in some of these institutions, the reputed ones would send their examiners to test the knowledge being imparted in such establishments. In short, there were many ashrams or hermitages spread across the country that were devoted to the deep study of many disciplines of knowledge, and where such studies were going on ceaselessly.

The Buddhist period is considered relatively modern in Hindustan’s history. But even during this period, great temples of learning like Nalanda were thriving and students from there spread out all over the country after completing their courses of study in such institutions.

The place where learned people are resident and are deeply immersed in the study and contemplation of diverse disciplines, and to which students are attracted from...

Read more