Ponnadais - Silk shawls

In any public function held in South India , especially in Tamil Nadu you can see the organizers of the event presenting Ponnadais ( silk Shawls) to every guest of honour on the stage, as a part of felicitating the guest. The shawls, though called Ponnadais, need not always be made of silk; of late the practice of presenting  angavastrams as an alternative is growing.

In addition to the shawls, they also present the guests with mementos. Such mementos are usually metal plaques  with a `Thank you ` message engraved or printed on it.  Many educational institutions believe in presenting big mementos, which are difficult to carry.

I remember once  when I went to give a talk at an educational institution in Coimbatore I was presented with a big bouquet, a big memento and some other  gift, all of which was impossible for me to carry in person in the train. In recent years I find that the sizes of the plaques have become  smaller and organizers provide you a carry bag in which all the presented items fit in, making it easy for the guest of honour to  take the bag with him/her.

The gifts that are presented along with metal plaques vary depending on the taste of the organisers. While some  present you with useful items which can be displayed in your office or home, many also think of utility items which can be used for day to day activities. But then how many such items can you accommodate in your home or office? Many popular speakers  receive hundreds of `thank you` plaques, gifts and shawls. What do they do with all of them?  I know of a friend who sold all the thank you plaques to a kabadi wala  and distributed the shawls to  friends or relatives who came visiting him.

Another new trend is to present saplings of flowering  trees to the guests; without thinking how many of the guests have  the place, inclination  or facilities to grow such plants in their homes. While the thought is commendable, I believe it is a wasted expenditure.

On another occasion I was attending a big function in Pudukottai at which achievers in different fields were being recognized  and  given special titles for their contribution to their areas of speciality. In addition to the mandatory bouquet, ponnadai, and a framed citation, the chief guest also placed a decorative crown  on every achiever`s head. There were 26 achievers being recognized that day. Needless to say that the group photograph showing all the awardees with crowns  was  a sight to behold. Besides  a clear demonstration of wasteful expenditure.

Recently I had the honour of participating in a book club meeting in which a book of mine was being reviewed. At the end of the meeting I had a pleasant surprise when I received an enlarged photograph  of me, beautifully framed. On another occasion I was presented a gift voucher  of a leading book shop.  I thought both were good ideas.

Instead of wasting money on items which would never be used, it would be a good idea if the organisers think of other methods of expressing their appreciation. I was delighted to hear about  one such  good idea when the  organizer of an event  recently announced  that they had decided to do away with the presentation of gifts &  mementos to guests  and instead were donating the value of the same  to  a charity in the name of the chief guest.. A brilliant idea worth pursuing.