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

192 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch..
in arms.¹ There can be no doubt that in many of
the republican states of the Punjab, e. g. the Kaṭhas,
the Mālavas, the Sibis, etc., every adult used to
receive military training of a fairly high order.
Probably the same was the case under monarchies,
though perhaps to a less degree. Many villages had
developed high military traditions and used to be
exempted from taxation on agreeing to supply a
certain quota to the army.²
***Military Schools :—***There were also some cities
in the country, famous as centres of military training.
Taxila, situated in the North-Western Frontier
Province, had naturally become a centre of military
training. Kshatriyas and Brahmanas from all over
the country used to go to this frontier city for getting
mastery in the military profession. In one military
college of this city there were 103 princes receiving
training in the different branches of the military art.³
Unfortunately we get no information about the
management of this college, nor do we know whether
it was a private or a state institution. Probably the
former was the case.
**Professional Military Coaches :—**From about
the 5th century B. C. big empires began to be built up
in ancient India, and soon thereafter the country
came into contact with the disciplined soldiers of the
Greek army. This gave an impetus to intensive
military training and many enterprising captains began
to start private military coaching classes with a view
to supply highly trained soldiers to the state. Many
such captains existed as early as the 2nd century

1. Mc. Crindle, Ancient India, Its Invasion by Alexander the
   Great, p. 140.
2. Arthaśāstra, IX. 1
3. Sutasoma Jātaka, No. 222