Page 16 - MILITARY-STUDIES-1

Concept and Evolution of Military Studies Module - I

Military Studies
Intext Questions 2.1

1. Explain any two features of the gurukul system of education.

2. Name any three Academies in ancient India for higher education.
3. The name of the military school in ancient Kerala was _____.
Note
4. Normally a student spent _____years of his life in a Gurukul.

2.2 Military Education

Military science was generally called Dhanurveda. In Ashrams or Gurukuls there were
several departments. The department that dealt with military studies was called
Mahendrasthana. You may have learnt in History about how armies were formed and
what weapons were used by soldiers.
All armies in India had chariots, elephants, cavalry and infantry. It was called
Chaturangabala. So how did the soldiers learn to fight? Military education was organised
into two types of teaching. First was the individual training of the soldiers. The second
was training the army in fighting as a combat unit.

2.2.1 Individual Training

All soldiers and sons of kings had to attend Gurukul with all others. All students were
treated as equal. Only those students who had the skills to handle weapons were
taught Dhanurveda or the art of fighting with weapons. In other words Gurukul was
the first step in learning the art of fighting.
In ancient times, military education was not only organized by the State, but also by
individual teachers too who would undertake this duty. In every village, there were
military training camps where villagers were given military education for self-defence.

2.2.2 Collective Training

After their basic education in the Gurukulam, individuals were enrolled as soldiers and
organised into various units of the army. Each unit had a specific role in war. The
soldiers in the cavalry were experts in horse riding and fighting on horseback. Similarly,
the charioteer was a good driver who could take the chariot with speed to the given
place.

The elephant army was different from the cavalry. All these separate units of the army
needed specialised teaching in handling the horses, elephants, etc. and also skilfully
managing them in battle. You must have heard of Chanakya, who was a renowned
philosopher, scholar and teacher under Chandragupta Maurya. His famous work is
'Arthasastra'. In his book he mentions that army used to assemble at one place every

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MILITARY STUDIES 9