42 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Vedas. That was only natural. For the Hindus believed that there was no I knowledge outside the Vedas. That being so formal education was confined to the study of the Vedas. Another consequence was that the Hindu recognized that its only duty was to study in the schools established for the study of the Vedas. These schools benefitted only the Brahmins. The State did not hold itself responsible for opening establishments for the study of arts and sciences which concerned the life of the merchant and the artisan. Neglected by the state they had to shift for themselves.
Each class managed to transmit to its members the ways of doing things it was traditionally engaged in doing. The duties of the Vaishya class required that a young Vaishya should know the rudiments of commercial geography, arithmetic,, some languages as well as the practical details of trade. This he learned from his father in the course of the business. The Artisan’s class or the Craftsman who sprang out of the ‘Shudra class also taught the arts and crafts to their children in the same way. Education was domestic. Education was practical. It only increased the skill to do a particular thing. It did not lead to new perceptions. It did not widen horizon, with the result that the practical education taught him only an isolated and uniform way of acting so that in a changing environment the skill turned out to be gross ineptitude. Illiteracy became an inherent part of Hinduism by a process which is indirect but integral to Hinduism. To understand this process it is necessary to draw attention to rules framed by Manu in regard to the right to teach and study the Vedas. They are dealt with in the following Rules.
I. 88. To the Brahmanas he (the creator) assigned teaching and studying the Veda.
I. 89. The Kshatriya he (the creator) commanded to study the Veda.
I. 90. The Vaishya he (the creator) commanded ……to study the Veda.
II. 116. He who shall acquire knowledge of the Veda without the assent of his preceptor, incurs the guilt of stealing the scripture, .and shall sink to the region of torment.”
IV. 99. He (the twice born) must never read (the Veda)….. in the presence of the Shudras.
IX. 18. Women have no business with the text of the Veda.
XI. 199. A twice born man who has….. (improperly) divulged the Veda (i.e. to Shudras and women) (commits sin), atones for his offence, if he subsists a year on barley.
In these texts there are embodied three distinct propositions. The Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya can study the Vedas. Of these the