The Dark Age of Indian Education

Every one among us must have heard about our ancestors innovation and the progress that they had contributed in the field of  science and technology .

Once upon a time we used to be among the best in Mathematics, Medicine, Science, astronomy,  and in many more.

2000 years ago hardly any county/civilization was there to compete with us in innovation. Our contribution towards Mathematics , Medicine and science was unparalleled in those days.

I am not going to list out all the innovation of Indians from the past. It will divert the topic.

What I am Trying to Say : 

If we were so great in all the fields during ancient days then what happen now ?

Why there is no Indian names in modern science and innovation ?

Hardly any modern science theory is there in the name of a Indian scientist . Why There is no Indian Einstein or Newton ?

So.. What happen ? where are we ?  What happen to our education ?
It can not be possible that we knew everything but suddenly we forgot that.

The Golden Days :

Many of us may not know that  the first university in the world was established in India. I am talking about  the great Nalanda and Taxashila university.

You will be surprised to know about the subject that were taught and number of student used to studies in Nalanda university.

Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang has given a detailed description about Nalanda University in his written memories.
The subjects taught at Nalanda covered every field of learning. Starting Mathematics to astronomy, Philosophy, Buddhist studies, Logic,Medicine, Grammar and it attracted pupils and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey.

It is claimed to have accommodated over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers

But are these two the only knowledge centers that existed in ancient India ? Answer is no. The list follows

• Takshashila University
• Nalanda University
• Pushpagiri University
• Valabhi University
• Vikramshila University
• Odantapuri University
• Telhara University

All those  universities were of equal important for higher studies . These were the center for formal learning.
Now come to the point. What happen to these education centers ?.

Here Is The Fact : 

Many of the universities mentioned above came to an end around 12th century.The main reason was the foreign inversion. Invaders from central Asia came and destroyed these learning centers.

 One example I can give about destruction of The Nalanda University.

The Turkish invader Bakhtiyar Khalji sacked the university in the year 1200. He killed almost  all the teachers of Nalanda University and the library was burn down.

Traditional Tibetan sources mention the existence of three great library at Nalanda. All were well equipped with manuscripts of different subjects. All the three library were multi stored building. Biggest one was 9 stored.

It is said that,when Bakhtiyar Khalji, gave ordered to burn down the library, It took several days to burn all the available manuscripts. Some say even a month.

Same fate was for other universities also. The new rulers did not allowed any formal Indian education centers nor they showed any interest to established new ones.

What Happen Next : 

After destruction of all Learning centers, the whole of India went into dark ages for next 800 years. There was not a single public institution was available where any one can go for formal education. Our whole education system was collapsed.

Now only few Brahmani families was there who used to study Sanskrit at home, and it was only for ritual proposes.

After 12th Century, While in European counties were doing research  on science and mathematics, At that time we were living in absolute dark ages. When Europeans were developing new technologies, we are fighting for our survival and food.

It continued till early 1900. Britishers also did not gave much important to revive  the education system in India (Except few occasions). Britishers were busy to loot India. They were least interested  to invest in some useless education.

                                                          (Ruins of Nalanda)
Conclusion : I am not here to blame any central Asian invaders or any Britishers for our fate. But  fact is fact.
You can not change the truths. And the truth is, Invaders ruined our whole civilization. Our history and knowledge were burn down into asses.

GODLESS WORLD

As an individual, I am deeply religious. Though I don’t visit temple often but still I respect my and other religion with highest order. 

But today, a simple thought came to my mind. “What if there will be no religion or god in this earth “ 

This is not a new idea. Communists’ don’t believe in god and so as atheists. 

But still I just gave a thought for few minutes and imagined how the world will look like if there will be no religion on earth. 

  

My View: 

Once Karl Marx had said “Religion is the opium of the people” The ruling class always use it as a weapon to rule the masses.The organized religion is a human made creation to impose the rule and order on working class as per their convenience.  

  

If you think deeply, then you will get confused. If the religion is helping us to be united or it is working as a catalyst to divide the human race. 

  

Let’s discuss about today’s scenario. If there will be no religion then there will no VHP, no Islamic state and no conversion of tribal population in the name of Holy Father. 

There will be no religious fanatics who will try to impose their version of god. There will be no religious books which will provoke individuals to kill each other in the name of god. 

People are committing genocide and crimes in the name of religion but still they are unquestionable because they are doing it in the name of religion and they are fighting a holy war. 

  

If anyone will look around then he can find that all major problem the human race is facing is because of one fundamental believe that  : “My religion or my God is greater than yours". 

 

Among Hindus, they have a division based upon which Baba or guru they are following. A large population of Hindus can’t enter the temple as they are untouchables. But few Brahmins have the de-facto power to worship the god inside temple and they directly communicate with the almighty. I don’t know who gave them this power. 

 

In almost all part of India, foreign missionaries are converting poor individuals and indigenous population in the name of charity.I am not going deep in details but Charity is good but to use it as a tool to convert is questionable.  Some time it create tension among local population and we have seen violence due to this. The Idea behind this type of conversion is “My religion or my God is greater than yours" 

 

In the most progressive country USA, after conversion also, Native Americans were slaughtered because they were not good Christians. 

Hitler used religion to kill Jews during 2^nd world war. 

Whatever we are doing in our everyday life we are doing it in a religion point of view. We are not doing it with a human touch. 

 

Future Religious War: 

I have absolutely no doubt that, the world will have a religious war in future. As far as I can see, the 3^rd world war will be fought on the basis of god to whom you worship. In fact the world is already in a state religious war. In last five years more than one million people has been killed due to a religious war in Arab region. 

The present day Kashmir issue is a religious issue. Creation of Pakistan is a religious issue. Arab-Israel war is a religious one and the list will go on. 

Closing Line : 

The concept of religion and god is different what we know. It is the heart of heartless and soul of soul less. But now it is doing exactly opposite to this. 

We need to think. Is the world will be better place to live if there will be no religion ? I don’t know. May v may not be.  

If there will be no religion people may start to fight in the name of skin color. Then my culture is better than yours or I am an Indian and you are a non Indian or I am a African and you are a European … then bla bla bla. 

 

I just gave my thought. I am no one to judge the whole world. 

If you have any other view then you are most welcome.