Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c5.70

c5.70

India is a land of villages, and even at the present day with a growing commercial activity it is said that nine-tenths of the population live in villages. Each village is usually an agricultural community¹ more or less self-contained. But craftsmen are needed by the husbandman, so besides the farmers and agricultural labourers there dwell in each village certain artisans and others. In addition to the Brāhman priest and *jyotishi*, or astrologer, there may be carpenter, blacksmith, potter, and washerman. Others who are present may be the barber (who also performs some surgical operations), the scavenger, the tailor, the leather worker, the goldsmith, and so on. These craftsmen have certain privileges, and are entitled to certain payments in grain from the farmer for their services. The position of these persons and the manner of their payment varies in different parts of India, but the same features are everywhere found.