Question map
Which one of the following is listed in the Ain-i Akbari as one of the 'Indian sciences' prescribed by Akbar for scholars to learn at school ?
Explanation
In the Ain-i Akbari, Abu'l-Fazl details Emperor Akbar's educational reforms and the curriculum prescribed for scholars. Akbar took a keen interest in Indian thought and classical texts, establishing a 'house of translation' for Sanskrit works. According to the Ain-i Akbari, the curriculum was expanded to include practical and scientific subjects. For Indian students, the prescribed subjects included Vyakarana (grammar), Nyaya (logic), Vedanta, and Patanjali. Crucially, among the 'Indian sciences' specifically listed for scholars to learn at school was Ayurveda (medicine) [2]. This reform aimed to ensure that education was not merely rote learning but included sciences like Ganita (mathematics) and Jyotisha (astronomy/astrology) to foster a more rational and comprehensive intellectual culture [2]. Ayurveda's inclusion reflects Akbar's policy of patronizing indigenous knowledge systems alongside Persian and Islamic sciences.
Sources
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Literature > p. 219