While relaxing after the function is over, at some point in time, the urge, eagerness, and uncontrollable desire to open the gift packages taunts. And the grand ‘opening ceremony’ commences. Quite possibly, every gift as it is read out meets with a comment. "That much?" or "Only that?" and things like that. And the cash collected always brings at least a half smile.

During my age, many gift items were common. Everyone gifting will be under the impression that the most unique gift has been bought by them. And look at it from the receiver’s perspective. Three ‘kuthu vilakkus’—silver lamps—a very common gift item. Four flasks—universal gift. Steel plates—common man’s go-to. Two iron boxes—very rare. Three ‘kamakshi vilakkus’—another very common silver lamp. Three percolators—a fashion in my time. Five clocks—another common man’s go-to. One crockery set—if one is lucky. Milk cooker—wow! The most famous at that time—and so on. And how do I light five lamps at the same time or use three milk cookers or iron with two irons and…

Efforts will definitely be made to open the packages carefully and not in a random fashion. After all, some of these gifts could be recycled and gifted to somebody else at another function. Of course, extra care has to be taken to ensure that the gift was not given by them. The gift should not get recycled to the gifted.

With the passage of time, the person gifting now has started to think that the gift should be unique, something none has thought of, a surprise. If everybody thinks in the same fashion, how could one land up with a unique one? There may be X number of choices, and aren’t we limited by them? Anyway, how does it matter? In my opinion, very rarely have all the gifts been used or displayed. Maybe some became part of the house, and some others found their way to another house, perhaps for further transmission elsewhere.

If a family is conducting a function, naturally their outlay of funds is going to be high, and any gift of cash may help them, even if modestly. Is that why this system of gifts started? Then why change over to gifting things instead of cash? What is the origin of this gifting system? Have to find out.

Continued in 281. Who And What - The Gift Book - Part 3