Lalita Prasad Vidyarthi is a familiar name in contemporary Indian anthropology. He was born on 28th February 1931 in a village near Patna. In 1950 he secured B.A degree. from Patna College. He obtained a M.A. degree (1953) in Anthropology from Lucknow University. L. P. Vidyarthi was taught in Lucknow University by D. N. Majumdar. He received his Ph. D. degree (1958) from Chicago University. He worked under the very famous anthropologists Sol Tax, Robert Redfield at Chicago. He came back to Bihar University and joined as a Reader and Head of the Department of Anthropology (1958-1968). He was appointed a Professor in 1968, continuing as Head of the Department. L. P. Vidyarthi worked on issues relating to Applied Anthropology and Action Anthropology till his death. His efforts raised the status of Anthropology department, Ranchi University as U.G.C. Department of Special Assistance (1978). Its status was raised by the establishment of Centre of Advanced Study In Anthropology (1985). He played a vital role in putting Indian Anthropology on the world map. He was instrumental in ensuring that major journals in International Anthropology incorporated Indians and their journals as abstracts, contents or as a showcase for their comments regarding major issues in Anthropology. He died on 1st December 1985. He was a winner of several fellowships and awards such as Ford Foundation Award (1957), University of Chicago fellowship (1957), Indo- USSR Cultural Exchange Fellowship (1959), Rome Civic Reception Bronze Medal (1976) and many others. He directed large scale research projects like Urban Pattern of Ranchi (1960), The Birhor Action Research Project (1966), Sacred Complex in Kashi (1972- 76) and many more. He has authored several renowned publications. Some of these are Sacred Complex In Hindu Gaya (1961), The Maler: Nature-Man- Spirit Complex in Hill Tribe of Bihar (1963), Cultural Contours of Tribal Bihar (1964) and Trends in World Anthropology (1980).
The concept of ‘Sacred Complex’ is his contribution which helps us to understand cultural processes operating in Indian Civilization. He has written extensively on the tribals of the Bihar and Chotanagpur region, and also propounded theoretical ideas considered as hallmarks of Indian Anthropology. He was also interested in folklore research, fieldwork, leadership studies and anthropological theories. He was appointed by the Planning Commission to head the Task Force for the Development of the Backward Areas. The concept of the Tribal Sub Plan was a result of this Task Force. His major contribution to field of Social Anthropology is discussed below.
Sacred Complex
Vidyarthi conducted an extensive study of sacred city of Gaya and developed the concept of ‘Sacred complex’ which he described in renowned book Sacred Complex in Hindu Gaya (1961). He suggests three components namely, a sacred geography, a set of sacred performances and sacred specialists which collectively constitute Sacred complex. Sacred complex presented a picture of national unity and denoted an integrated pattern as it served as merging point of different traditions, castes and cultures. He stated that the sacred complex of a Hindu place of pilgrimage reflects a level of continuity, compromise and combination between Great and Little traditions. The sacred specialist of a pilgrimage transmits certain elements of the Great tradition to the rural population of India by popularizing certain texts and by officiating as the ritual and temple priests. In recent times, due to the process of modification and transformation, the secular zone of Gaya has been expanding at the cost of shrinking sacred zone. One of the main sacred performances being performed at Gaya is Gaya Shraddha (form of sacrifice to ancestral spirits). All the sacred performances are led by Gayawal Brahmins (an orthodox priestly caste). The Gayawal Brahmins have jajmani relationship with patrons located in various parts of the Hindu universe. Pilgrims, from different parts of the country and from different levels of culture, interact at the sacred complexes. Hence the sacred complexes are regarded as centres of civilization.
Nature-Man- Spirit complex
Professor Vidyarthi studied Sauria Paharia tribe (Malers) of Sahebganj district and described the complex phenomenon ‘Nature-Man-Spirit complex’. The term ‘Nature’ implies the interaction between the Malers and their ecological surroundings. Vidyarthi found that forest play a vital role in the life of Malers. They were dependent upon the hill and forest produce for their survival and livelihood. Moreover different spirits resided in the forest. The term ‘Man’ signified the social institutions of the tribe such as family and marriage. Under the term ‘Spirit’ he included the notion of spirit and supernatural world, as evident in life of the Malers. He observed the existence of ancestor worship among the Malers. They strongly believe that spirits of dead ancestors have power to decide their destiny Sacred geography of Malers includes- sacred area and sacred centre. The sacred area includes the entire village and its surroundings. Sacred centres are sacred spots where rituals and religious activities are performed. Sacred performances of Maler include worship offered to Gosaiyan (spirits) on different occasions and rituals.
Vidyarthi basically employed a methodological framework to examine the tribal lifestyle from the focal point of ecological setting (Nature), social institutions (Man) and spiritual world (Spirit).
Tribal and folklore study
His book titled ‘Cultural Contours of Tribal Bihar’ (1966) throws light upon various aspects of social institutions of tribes of Chota Nagpur. The book ‘Tribal Culture of India’ (1976) authored by him and Dr. B.K. Roy provides comprehensive information on folklore, art, course of life and even matriliny and polyandry in tribal India. He has collected valuable information and analyzed folklore of Maler associated with their ecological setting, family, economics, religion and cultural history, which he mentioned in his book on Maler (1963). He had keen interest in folklore of Magahi, Bhojpuri and tribal zones of Bihar.
Issues related to Applied and Action Anthropology
L. P. Vidyarthi extensively worked on issues concerned with Applied Anthropology and Action Anthropology. In 1967, a task force was appointed under him to study the effect of various kinds of planning on the tribal population. He was thus able to formulate plans for tribals that suited them. This was included in his work Applied Anthropology in India (1968). In 1968, he wrote on the effect of industrialization among tribal societies.