Education in Ancient India c4.21

c4.21

**Views about Physical Punishment:** As may be expected, there was no unanimity of views among ancient Indian educationalists about the advisability of physical punishment. Āpastamba recommends that a teacher should try to improve refractory students by banishing them from his presence or by imposing a fast (1.2.8.30). He seems to be opposed to physical chastisement. Manu grows eloquent over the virtues of gentle persuasion (II. 159-61), but eventually permits the imposition of mild physical punishment by a thin rod or rope. Gautama agrees with him, but adds that a teacher giving a severer punishment would be liable for legal prosecution.¹ A teacher in Taxila, when giving physical punishment to a royal student from Benares, who would not give up his stealing habits in spite of repeated exhortations, exclaims that the use of the rod cannot be altogether given up by a teacher (Jā., No. 252). He takes up the position of Manu and Gautama, which represents the via media, and seems to have been generally followed in ancient India.¹ The Taxila teacher seems to have held views similar to those of Locke, who permits corporal punishment for moral remissness.