Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c7.2

c7.2

THE Muhammadans first appeared in India in the eighth century A.D., but the real storm of Muhammadan aggression burst on India under Mahmūd of Ghaznī, who is said to have made no less than seventeen raids into India from 1000 to 1026 A.D. He was a stern opponent of idolatry, and with fierce iconoclastic zeal he broke down temples and smashed idols and carried off many captives and much wealth to his own capital. To the inhabitants of India Mahmūd must have appeared as anything but a promoter of education and learning, for during his raids the Brāhman educational centres often suffered severely, and the learned Brāhmans, who lived and taught there, were often killed or put to flight. In his own kingdom of Ghaznī, Mahmūd,¹ however, was a great patron of education on Muhammadan lines. He gave large sums of money for the support of learned men and poets, and at his capital he established a seat of learning which was resorted to by literary men from far and near. Amongst them was the poet Firdausī. Mahmūd’s immediate successor is said to have founded schools and colleges, and the patronage of learning was continued. All this, however, was really outside India.