Great Tradition and Little Tradition — 2014 Paper II

Approach

• Demand of Question: Explain the concepts of Great and Little Traditions and their significance in understanding civilization and local culture.
• Structuring the Response: Define Redfield’s distinction, explain their interaction and relate it to Indian studies through Singer and Marriott.
• Key Dimensions to Cover: Robert Redfield, literate elite tradition, folk tradition, universalization, parochialization and Indian civilization.

Model Answer

Introduction: The concepts of Great Tradition and Little Tradition were developed by Robert Redfield to understand the relationship between the literate, formal tradition of a civilization and the everyday cultural practices of local communities.

Great Tradition

It refers to the:

• literate;
• reflective;
• codified;
• elite

tradition preserved through scriptures, philosophy and learned specialists.

Little Tradition

It refers to:

• local beliefs;
• oral traditions;
• folk rituals;
• village customs

transmitted mainly through everyday community life.

Thus:

Great Tradition ↔ Little Tradition

The two are not isolated but continuously interact.

In Indian anthropology, Milton Singer and McKim Marriott applied this framework to Indian civilization.

Marriott described:

• Universalization — local cultural elements move upward into wider civilizational traditions;
• Parochialization — elements of Great Tradition acquire localized forms.

For example, a pan-Indian deity may acquire distinctive village myths and ritual practices.

Conclusion: The Great–Little Tradition framework explains how Indian civilization maintains cultural unity without eliminating regional and local diversity.