Question

Arrange the following concepts in chronological order of their proposal:
A. Great and little traditions
B. Dominant caste
C. Sacred complex
D. Nature - Man - Spirit Complex
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B, C, D
• B. A, D, C, B
• C. B, A, C, D
• D. C, B, D, A

Hint:

For chronological questions about concepts, associate them with the key publications. The edited volume "Village India" (1955) is a major landmark that introduced several concepts simultaneously, including the application of 'Great/Little Traditions' and 'Dominant Caste'. Works by L.P. Vidyarthi came slightly later, in the early 1960s.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Concept Overview:
The question requires arranging key anthropological concepts related to India in the chronological order of their initial proposal or major publication.
Step 2: Detailed Analysis:
Let's establish the approximate date of each concept's proposal or key publication:
- A. Great and little traditions: Robert Redfield originated this concept. Milton Singer and McKim Marriott applied it to India in "Village India," published in 1955.
- B. Dominant caste: M.N. Srinivas proposed this concept. It was formally introduced in 1955 in "The Social System of a Mysore Village," part of the "Village India" volume. It gained prominence with "The Dominant Caste in Rampura" in 1959. Thus, its proposal is placed in the mid-to-late 1950s.
- C. Sacred complex: L.P. Vidyarthi proposed this concept, developing it in his doctoral thesis and publishing it in "The Sacred Complex in Hindu Gaya" in 1961.
- D. Nature - Man - Spirit Complex: L.P. Vidyarthi proposed this concept, derived from his study of the Maler tribe and published in "The Maler: A Study in Nature-Man-Spirit Complex of a Hill Tribe" in 1963.
Reviewing the timeline, the concepts' emergence is closely clustered. Focusing on seminal publications offers greater clarity.
Redfield's folk society and civilization concepts predate 1955. Their application to India in "Village India" (1955) positions 'Great and Little Traditions' as the earliest.
Srinivas presented 'Dominant Caste' in the same 1955 volume.
Vidyarthi's 'Sacred Complex,' based on mid-1950s fieldwork, appeared in 1961. His 'Nature-Man-Spirit Complex' followed in 1963.
The likely chronological order based on influence and publication is:
1. Great and Little Traditions (Redfield's initial work before 1955, applied to India in 1955).
2. Dominant Caste (Srinivas, 1955/1959).
3. Sacred Complex (Vidyarthi, 1961).
4. Nature-Man-Spirit Complex (Vidyarthi, 1963).
This suggests A, B, C, D as the sequence. Examining provided options, none perfectly match. Reconsidering the provided options and information:
A. Great and little traditions (1955)
B. Dominant caste (1955/59)
C. Sacred complex (1961)
D. Nature-Man-Spirit Complex (1963)
The logical order is A, B, C, D. Assuming the first option is correct.
The provided solution suggests (B) A, D, C, B, corresponding to (1955), (1963), (1961), (1955/59), which is chronologically incorrect. The logical order remains A, B, C, D.
If strictly following option (B) A, D, C, B, justification is lacking based on publication dates, indicating a potential question or key error. Proceeding with the logically derived answer.
Correction based on Logical Deduction:
1. A. Great and little traditions (1955)
2. B. Dominant caste (1955/1959)
3. C. Sacred complex (1961)
4. D. Nature - Man - Spirit Complex (1963)
The sequence is A, B, C, D, equivalent to option (1).
Given available options, a likely error exists in the question key. Assuming the intended order was A (1955), C (1961), D (1963), and B (considering the 1959 publication), this is still inconsistent with the options. Sticking to the most plausible option based on publication dates: A, B, C, D.
(Revisiting the provided key for completeness: option B (A, D, C, B) yields the order 1955, 1963, 1961, 1959, which is impossible. Adhering to the correct chronological order.) The correct sequence is A, B, C, D.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The chronological order of publication is: Great and little traditions (1955), Dominant Caste (1955/1959), Sacred Complex (1961), and Nature-Man-Spirit Complex (1963). Therefore, the correct sequence is A, B, C, D.