प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

V] EDUCATIONAL CENTRES AND INSTITUTIONS 113
When however the Deccan also gradually passed
under the Muslim rule, scholars in India seem to have
made up their mind once more to repair to holy
Benares and make it a centre of Hindu learning and
scholarship by their united effort in spite of the
Muslim rule prevailing there. A number of scholarly
families from Maharashtra and Karnatak repaired
to Benares in the 16th century and their descendants
continued to dominate Benares scholarship for about
three centuries. It is important to note that some
Muslim rulers also like Akbar, Shah Jahan and Dara
Shikoh extended their patronage to some of the
famous scholars of Benares. The same was done by
a few of their Hindu feudatories in the United
Provinces and Central India. Royal patronage during
this period however was on the whole more an
exception than a rule; if the lamp of learning was
kept burning at Benares in medieval times, the credit
must on the whole be given to the great love of
religion and scholarship of Benares Brahmanas.
Education however continued to be imparted not in
public institutions but through private teachers.
While describing Benares as a centre of learning-
during the 17th century A.D, Bernier says, 'Benares
is a kind of University, but it has no college or
regular classes as in our Universities; but it resembles
rather the school of the ancients, the masters being
spread over the different parts of the town in private
houses.......Some teachers have four and some six
disciples; the most eminent may have twelve or
fifteen, but this is the largest number.¹
Literary Activity :— The literary activity of
Benares was very remarkable during this period. A

1. Travels in India p. 341.
   8