Promotion of Learning in India during Muhammadan Rule (by Muhammadans) c18.s3.1

c18.s3.1

The next reign we have to consider is that of Aurangzib, the last of the great Mughals, whose educational policy took after that of his general policy in governing the empire in the interests of his co-religionists, to which the interests of the subject people of other faiths were carefully and deliberately subordinated. Unlike Akbar, he cared very little for the promotion of Hindu learning. In April, 1669, for instance, he ordered the provincial governors to destroy the Hindu schools and temples and to put down their teachings and religious practices.¹ He, however, tried earnestly to foster the education of Muhammadan youths and diffuse Muslim learning in his dominions. He appointed professors in the different parts of his empire for educating Muslim youths. Stipends were also given to students in proportion to their progress in education.²