the economy of the gift

in thekambattu, near salem, in tamil nadu, there is a beautiful experiment in way, where a family of four, sunder, sonati, varun and badri, have been living the last twelve years of a seven acres of land atop a hilltop. on a rock face on this hillock rests a market, a market that comes alive every time friends of the family come visiting or when badri makes enough copies of “sirrius” the name his monthly, self animated, and hand filled in with colours (only if you have enough SSS currency to subscribe for coloured copies) zine goes by, or if varun has made enough paper planes for ‘draco-shop’. the design of their own currency SSS, which can be obtained only when participants submit jokes or experiences or poems to the zine, or in the event that you are invited by the brotehrs to set shop. badri and varun are also able to provide hand made board games and copies of their short film, ‘Spongecats’. the whole family has been supported by their friends since the last twelve years to live this sustainable life, without having to worry about where there next bread or daal would come from. this gift they have beautifully received as they practice and innovate newer ways of leading a fulfilling life, sonati has been painting since a few years, the whole family is  a part of a self-designed shadow puppet show, and to spend more time with them meant more inspiring ideas and creative ways in which to lead a fulfilling and gift economy life.