This article juxtaposes a notion of “gift” as construction of submission and devotion with a concept of lesson as something to be purchased for a fixed fee, as both relate to drumming pedagogy in Kerala. It discusses how guru dakṣiṇa (a ritual marking the beginning of study and a ceremonial first performance) and a pattern of irregular and grandiose remuneration construct the student’s submission to his teacher, both in private contexts and in institutions. However, the system at a state arts institution partly undercuts this practice; here, students, especially non-Malayāḷis, pay monthly, semesterly, or annual fees to the institution. The impersonal nature of this arrangement contrasts with the intimacy inherent in patterns of remuneration in private contexts, yet at the same time guru dakṣiṇa and other traditional practices continue in the institution. Thus the institution features an uneasy coexistence between a notion of pedagogy as regular payment—something close to “commodity”—and one of construction of submission, mixed with intimacy and devotion.

中文翻译：

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以礼献身，以课为学：喀拉拉邦寺庙鼓手与舞剧鼓手的交流

这篇文章将“礼物”的概念作为提交和奉献的构建与作为固定费用购买的东西的课程概念并列，因为两者都与喀拉拉邦的鼓乐教学法有关。 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 它讨论了 guru dakṣiṇa（一种标志着学习开始的仪式和首次表演的仪式）和一种不规则和丰厚的报酬模式如何构建学生对老师的服从，无论是在私人环境中还是在机构中。然而，国家艺术机构的制度在一定程度上削弱了这种做法。在这里，学生，尤其是非马来人，向该机构支付月费、学期费或年费。这种安排的非个人性质与私人环境中薪酬模式固有的亲密性形成鲜明对比，然而与此同时，guru dakṣiṇa 和其他传统习俗在该机构中继续存在。因此，该机构的特点是在作为定期支付的教学理念——接近“商品”——和一种融合了亲密和奉献的服从建设之间存在着一种不安的共存。