Payattu or Kurikkalyanam

One of my earliest memories is the popular, melodious malayalam film songs blaring through a loudspeaker in Vadakara in late 1960's - Songs played on well used Record Players using a primitive amplifier system. It meant that another 'Payattu' was being organized.

'Payattu' ('Kuri kalyanam' as it is called in some other parts) was a feature in northern Kerala those days. It, to my mind, represented all that was good about the society. A society that came to the help of a needy person in a small rural setting.

The system works like this. A person required some money to construct a house, or to marry off his daughter or for his sons education or to finance the expansion of his small business. Those days bank loans were not easy to get, there were no institutional support mechanisms in place. All the person had to do is intimate orally that he is holding a 'payattu' on a particular day. In a small rural society, word of mouth takes care of the marketing. On the day of 'payattu', the person will put up a small pandal (shamiana) and 3-4 tables and chairs. The music system and the limited decoration will ensure publicity for the event. People will walk in on their own accord and will be offered LMPT (short form for a plate of Laddu, Mixture, Pazham(banana) and Tea). They sit and chitchat for awhile with the sponsor of the 'payattu' and others. When they leave, they will donate whatever they can to the organizer, who is in need of money. It could be Rs 5 or Rs 10 or Rs 50 or even Re 1 ( remember that Rs 50 was a fortune those days. 8 gms of gold cost Rs 36. By that account, Rs 50 then was equal to nearly Rs 10,000 of today). The details of the money given including the name of the person is noted down in a note book. Since everyone gives, the organizer gets a substantial amount ranging from Rs 500 - Rs 2000.

The beauty of this social phenomenon is that this is not a loan in the strictest sense. It is only a timely help by the society. The organizer repays this over a very long period whenever one of the members who contributed organizes a 'payattu' or when there is a marriage or death. This eases the burden of repayment.

Like many good things, this wonderful social practice has gone into the oblivion. Such a tragedy. There is much to be learned from the rural society of India. Sometimes I do wonder whether education and increased earning capability has really resulted in any progress when measured in terms of shared value systems and human empathy!!