MONEY AS A GIFT: ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSIGHTS ON PANAPPAYATTU SYSTEM IN NORTH KERALA
Authors :Shabeer Thacholi
Abstract
The study of gift exchanges has been a subject of anthropological research since the
early days. This article delves into the details of a unique gift giving practice known
as Panappayattu in the northern part of Kerala which involves the exchange of
money as a gift. Building upon existing anthropological and sociological research on
gift exchange practices in general and the Panappayattu system in Kerala in
particular, this study seeks to investigate the discursive practices of Panappayattu
system of exchanging money as a gift. The study was conducted in the Kuttiady and
Velom Grama Panchayaths of Kozhikode District. The data was collected using a
variety of methods, including case studies, participant and non-participant
observation, semi-structured interviews, discussions, and narrative analysis. The
study has also explored the social life of money as a gift and the interplay of history,
politics and power dynamics in the origin and evolution of Panappayattu system in
the region.
