I posted a Medical Charity Request yesterday. Am sure many responded. Thank you. Have a bit of good news that the child started taking in milk intravenously today which is a positive sign.

This fund raising takes me back when I was 6 years old 1/n

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. 2/n

'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. 3/n

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 or for Medical Expenses. 4/n

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. 5/n

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. 6/n

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. 7/n

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 Rs 50 was a fortune those days.8 gms of gold cost Rs 36. Rs 50 then was equal to nearly Rs 20,000 of today). 8/n

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. 9/n

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/death. 10/n

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. 11/n

Sometimes I do wonder whether education and increased earning capability has really resulted in any progress, when measured in terms of shared values and human empathy!! n/n