Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c4.118

c4.118

These old-time teachers seem to have been against harsh punishments. Gautama says,¹ ‘As a rule the pupil shall not be punished corporally. If no other course is possible he may be corrected with a thin rope or cane. If the teacher strikes him with any other instrument he shall be punished by the king’. Manu also allows² that a pupil who has committed faults ‘may be beaten with a rope or split bamboo, but on the back part of the body only, never on a noble part; he who strikes them otherwise will incur the same guilt as a thief’. Āpastamba, however, allows³ as punishments, ‘frightening, fasting, bathing in cold water, and banishment from the teacher’s presence’.