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

202 EDUCATION IN ANCIENT INDIA [Ch..
and tradition. The doctor was to remember that he
was to save his patient even at the cost of his own
life, if necessary.
Efficiency of Training : The training under the
above apprenticeship system was fairly efficient, for
it was both theoretical and practical and given in the
workshop itself. It helped to raise the general level
of the skill and workmanship in several arts and crafts.
Indian artisans took no time in manufacturing scrapers
and sponges that they first saw being used by Greek
invaders. Fine thread and wool were used to
manufacture sponges and they were then dyed, so that
they looked similar to Greek articles. The efficiency
of the Punjab ship-builders may be inferred from the
fact that they could supply to Alexander the Great a
huge fleet, probably of not less than 1,000 boats, in
about three months' time. The skill in mining,
metallurgy, smelting and welding attained by ancient
Indians was of a high order; experts are still
wondering how the composition of the famous Iron
Pillar near Kutub Minar at Delhi could be made so
flawless by the metallurgists of Chandragupta II
(c. 375-413 A. D.) as to prevent its rusting in spite of
its being exposed to rain and sunshine for more than
fifteen centuries. In the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya, we
find a fairly accurate knowledge of the nature of the
ores of gold, silver, copper, etc., and of the processes by
which they were purified (II, 12-3). The weaving
industry could command the markets of the greater part
of the Old World before it was crushed by the advent
of the steam engine in the 19th century. In sculpture
we find a continuous progress from c. 200 B. C. and a
readiness to learn even from the foreigner. Paintings
as illustrated at Ajanta show a high development of
the art. The beautiful cave temples of western India