Cultural Transaction and Early India Tradition and Patronage

by Romila Thapar

The Two lectures within this volume discuss first the way in which a tradition is created and second the meaning of patronage. Professor Thapar argues that traditions which revolve around ideas are not handed down unchanged from generation to generation but are often evolved in recent times drawing on the perceived requirements of such times.Patronage is seen as a form of exchange between patron and creator in the course of which the object or institution thus created takes on an entity of its own and performs a social role. Several examples form history serve as illustrations in both lectures.