Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c7.50

c7.50

These regulations certainly bring out in a very favourable light not only Akbar’s interest in and care for the education of his people, but also his attempt to make that education efficient. It is possible that Abul Fazl or other ministers of Akbar may have had a hand in framing such regulations, but it is probable that Akbar himself also had at least some part in the matter, for they suit the practical bent of his character. The question may well be asked as to how far these regulations were carried into practical effect and what was their result. There was no such thing as an education department, nor were there inspectors of schools in those days, and even supposing this document to have been circulated to all local officials and to all schools it is not unlikely that it may have, to a large extent, remained a dead letter, except by way of suggestion to the more enterprising teachers. No doubt in schools which came under the personal notice of the emperor or of any officials as interested as he was, and as anxious for reform, there may have been some notice taken of it, but it is hardly likely that the conservative traditions of the schools would have been altered very easily.