Correct option is D
Takshashila (or Taxila) was one of the most renowned centers of learning in ancient India, dating back to at least the 6th century BCE. It attracted students from all over the Indian subcontinent and even beyond. The following clarifications help explain the correct answer:
- A. Panini, the legendary Sanskrit grammarian, is believed to have studied and possibly taught at Takshashila. He is famous for his work Ashtadhyayi, a foundational text in Sanskrit grammar.
- B. Kautilya (Chanakya or Vishnugupta), the author of the Arthashastra and adviser to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, was also a learner at Takshashila.
- C. The statement that Takshashila provided free education to all is not entirely true. Students were required to arrange for their own lodging and food, and they often paid fees or contributed through service.
- D. Yes, students did pay for education or rendered services in return, especially if they came from wealthy families.
Thus, statements A, B, and D are correct, while C is historically inaccurate.
Information Booster:
- Takshashila offered a wide curriculum, including Vedas, medicine, mathematics, grammar, logic, warfare, astronomy, and philosophy.
- It is considered one of the earliest universities in the world, even before Nalanda.
- There was no fixed campus; education often took place in the homes of scholars (gurus).
- Around 10,000+ students were believed to have studied there at its peak.
Additional Knowledge:
- Nalanda University, unlike Takshashila, was a fully residential university and offered free education to monks and students.
- Panini's Ashtadhyayi is still considered a masterpiece of linguistic analysis.
- Kautilya's Arthashastra is a seminal work in political science, economics, and administration.
English
10 Questions
20 Marks
12 Mins
