Interactions of Cultural Traditions in India : An Anthropo-Historical Perspective
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Ranchi
Number of pages: 123
Description: (Dr Sachchidananda in his  Foreword of the Book, tells ): 
"The India subcontinent is the abode of diverse ethnic elements, languages, religions and cultures. They have been drawn from various sources. Diverse communities living in the far flung corners of the country have distinctive cultures which are manifested through their dress, patterns of behavour
, language, art forms etc. Each community has rich cultural heritage enshrined in its traditions. Living in close proximity to each other, the traditions of different communities have interacted and integrated. 
This process of intermingling has gone on for hundreds of years and sometimes the interaction between traditions have been so intense and long standing that it is difficult to determine as to which tradition originally belonged to which community. However, this mingling of traditions did not result in building up a single uniform corpus which is acceptable to all the inhabitants of the country. This means that in the vast melting pot of traditions and cultures some did not melt at all and all the time retained their exotic character. They were indeed 'beyond the melting pot'. It is, therefore rightly said that  India is multicultural country. Each culture comprises  a bunch of traditions which the community holds close to its chest to maintain its distinctive identity.  
The culltural processes involving the intermingling of traditions, their assimilation or otherwise have been discussed by Professor K.N.Sahay at some length. These proocesses have been at work simultaneously in different situations and also over a period of time in certain cases. In an earlier work he had discussed five stages of culture change in relation to the spread of Christianity in Chotanagpur. He has now added a fend more to that list.
Professor Sahay has discussed at length the interaction between Aryan and Non-Aryan traditions in ancient India, Hindhu and Buddhist traditions, between Hindu and Muslim traditions  and between Indian and Christian traditions. The entire discussion is largely based on historical data as well as on data derived from ethnographic studies in village or tribal India. In case where interaction has been studied over a period of time, the dynamic  perspective has been taken into account and trends found in different  periods have been identified. Towards the end of each chapter the nature of tradition in that sector at the present time has been described. In this analysis of interaction between traditions, the different cultural processes at work have been clearly delineated. 
The structure of tradition in relation to any group, community or region is likely to be affected by the Great  and the Little tradition concepts. The  Great tradition is largely regulated and created by the textual or philosophical aspects of culture, while the Littlr tradition is created by its contextual or popular aspects. Since, traditions are not immutable, they change but over a long period of time. Some traditions are subject to processes of universalization and parochialization, some fade out of people's consciousness while others appear on the horizon. Some others are so metamorphosized that they are scarcely recognized as  belonging to that community and region from time to timr, there are changes in emphasis and in the mode of interpreting defending upon whether the fundamentalists are in ascendancy or when the community is under the away of liberals. Even in the same community  there may be divergent pulls for traditions due to the presence of both kinds of leaders at the same period of time. 
The study of tradition is extremely fascinating and rewarding . It helps in unwinding many knots in our understanding of lifwe-ways and thought ways of people. It is also a field  in which social historians and social anthropoligsts can come together with the insights of both disciplines. Professor Sahay's contribution in this field goes to show the path in this direction."
Notes: Table of Content: 
Preface;
Foreword (Dr. Sachchidananda, Professor Emeritus, A.N.Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna)
Introduction;
Chapter I -- Interaction Between Aryan and Non-Aryan Traditions;
                       i/ Aryan Encounter with Non-Aryans;
                       ii/ Subjugation of Non-Aryans, Intermingling of Races and Assimilation;
                       iii/Incorporation of Non-Aryans into Aryan Life;
                       iv/ Analysis of the Cultural Processes;
Chapter II -- Interaction Between Hindu  and Buddhist Traditions; 
                       i/ Circumstances  Responsible for the Growth  of Buddhism; 
                       ii/ Advent of Buddha and Buddhism;
                       iii/ Analysis of Cultural Processes;
Chapter III -- Interaction Between Hindu  and Muslim Traditions;
                       i/ Advent of Muslim or Islamic Culture in India;
                      ii/ Establishment of Delhi Sultanate  and Hindu Muslim Relations; 
                      iii/ Hindu Muslim Relation in the Present Century;
                      iv/ Analysis of the Cultural Processes;
Chapter IV -- Interaction Between Indian and Christian Traditions;
                        i/ Advent of Christian Missionaries;
                       ii/ Missionaries' Attitude  towards Indian Traditions;
                       iii/ Temporal Activities of Christian Missionaries; 
                       iv/ Change of Attitude among the Christians towards indian Traditions  and Heritage; 
                       v/ Analysis  of the Cultural Processes;
                       Summary and Conclusion;
                       Notes;
                       References Cited
Table of contents: class: section