Class 9 English – Chapter 3: Winds of Change

Section 1 — Easy Notes

1. What Is a Pankha?

A pankha is a hand fan.
People wave it to get cool air.
It is also called a punkah.
Pankha comes from a Sanskrit word.
The word means "feather" or "wing."

2. How Old Are Pankhas?

Pankhas are very, very old.
They are from ancient times.
Cave paintings at Ajanta show fans.
These paintings are from 2nd century.
That means over 1800 years ago!

3. Fans in Temples

Fans were used in temples.
People fanned the gods with them.
It was a way to show respect.
Big fans were waved near idols.
This is still done in some temples.

4. Fans in Royal Courts

Kings and queens had big fans.
Servants waved fans for them.
Fans showed power and high rank.
Only rich people had fancy fans.
Fans were part of royal life.

5. What Were Fans Made Of?

Palm leaves were used to make fans.
Bamboo sticks gave them a frame.
Some fans were made from silk cloth.
Rich fans used brass or silver.
Each material gave a different look.

6. Fan Styles of Assam

Assam has its own fan style.
Fans there use bamboo and palm.
They have pretty woven patterns.
The craft is passed down in families.
Each design tells a local story.

7. Fans from Kerala and Bengal

Kerala fans use palm leaf strips.
They are round and light to hold.
Bengal fans have bright painted art.
Artists paint gods on these fans.
Each region has a unique style.

8. Fans from Uttar Pradesh

UP fans are known for fine work.
Some have gold thread on cloth.
Lucknow fans are very famous.
They show Mughal art influence.
Silk and velvet were often used.

9. Electric Fans Took Over

Electric fans came to India later.
They could cool a whole room.
People stopped using hand fans slowly.
Hand fans became less common then.
This was a big change in life.

10. Fans Are Coming Back

Today, old crafts are loved again.
People want to save fan making.
Artists still make beautiful hand fans.
Fans are sold as art and gifts.
This is called a craft revival.

Section 3 — Solved Examples

Example 1: Short Answer

Question: What is a pankha?

Read the question with care.

Think: What does pankha mean?

Recall: It is a hand fan.

Add: The word means feather or wing.

Answer: A pankha is a hand fan. The word comes from Sanskrit. It means feather or wing.

pankha hand fan Sanskrit feather

Example 2: List Question

Question: Name three fan materials.

Read the question with care.

Think: What were fans made from?

Pick three: palm leaf, bamboo, silk.

Write each one in a full line.

Answer: Three fan materials are palm leaf, bamboo, and silk. Some fans also used brass and silver.

palm leaf bamboo silk brass silver

Example 3: Reason-Based Question

Question: Why did hand fans decline?

Read the question with care.

Think: What replaced hand fans?

Recall: Electric fans came to India.

Explain: They cool a whole room fast.

Answer: Hand fans declined because electric fans came. Electric fans cool a whole room. People did not need hand fans then.

electric fan cool a room replaced decline

Section 4 — Quick Look Table

Topic	Key Fact
Pankha meaning	Feather or wing in Sanskrit.
Other name	Also called punkah.
How old	Over 1800 years old.
Ajanta caves	Fans shown in cave paintings.
Century	Paintings from 2nd century CE.
Temple use	Fans waved near temple gods.
Royal use	Servants fanned kings and queens.
Palm leaf	Most common fan material used.
Bamboo	Used to make fan frames.
Silk and metal	Rich fans used silk or silver.
Assam fans	Woven bamboo with pretty patterns.
Kerala fans	Round fans from palm leaf strips.
Electric fans	Replaced hand fans over time.
Craft revival	People want to save fan making.

Section 5 — Write and Practice

Part A — Fill in the Blanks

A pankha is a hand ___.
Pankha means ___ in Sanskrit.
Fans are shown in ___ cave paintings.
Kings had servants to wave ___.
Electric fans ___ hand fans over time.

Part B — True or False

Pankhas are only 100 years old. ( )
Palm leaf was used to make fans. ( )
Fans were never used in temples. ( )
Electric fans replaced hand fans. ( )
Fan making is a dying craft now. ( )

Part C — Short Answer

What does the word pankha mean?
Where can we see old fan paintings?
Name two materials used for fans.

Part D — Match the Columns

Column A	Column B
Ajanta	Woven bamboo fans
Assam	Cave paintings of fans
Kerala	Gold thread silk fans
Lucknow	Round palm leaf fans

Part E — Think and Write

Why are old crafts important to save?
Write three lines about your best fan.

✅ Detailed Answers — Take-Home Handout

Part A — Fill in the Blanks:
1. fan 2. feather (or wing) 3. Ajanta 4. fans 5. replaced

Part B — True or False:
1. False (Hand fans are thousands of years old, as shown in the Ajanta cave paintings.) 2. True 3. False (Fans were waved in temples during worship too.) 4. True 5. True

Part C — Short Answer:
1. The word “pankha” comes from Sanskrit and means feather or wing.
2. Old fan paintings can be seen in the Ajanta caves in Maharashtra.
3. Two materials used for fans are palm leaf and bamboo. Silk, brass, and silver were also used.

Part D — Match the Columns:
Ajanta → Cave paintings of fans | Assam → Woven bamboo fans | Kerala → Round palm leaf fans | Lucknow → Gold thread silk fans

Part E — Think and Write (Model Answers):
1. Old crafts are important to save because they carry the cultural identity and artistic knowledge of our ancestors. When a craft disappears, we lose a piece of history that can never fully come back.
2. My best fan is a small palm leaf fan. It is cool and natural, needs no electricity, and is part of our tradition. I love how light and simple it is.

Section 6 — Flash Cards

What is a pankha?

A pankha is a hand fan. It keeps you cool.

What does pankha mean?

It means feather or wing. It is a Sanskrit word.

Where are old fan paintings?

In the Ajanta caves. They are very old art.

Who used fans in courts?

Kings and queens used fans. Servants waved them.

Name three fan materials.

Palm leaf, bamboo, and silk. Also brass and silver.

Which state has woven fans?

Assam has woven bamboo fans. Each has a pattern.

What replaced hand fans?

Electric fans replaced them. They cool a whole room.

What is craft revival?

People want to save old crafts. Fan making is one.

Class 9 English — Chapter 3
Winds of Change
The Story of Indian Hand Fans Simple study notes for different learners. Not a textbook copy. Made to help you learn in easy words.

What Is Inside

Section 1 — Easy Notes

1. What Is a Pankha?

2. How Old Are Pankhas?

3. Fans in Temples

4. Fans in Royal Courts

5. What Were Fans Made Of?

6. Fan Styles of Assam

7. Fans from Kerala and Bengal

8. Fans from Uttar Pradesh

9. Electric Fans Took Over

10. Fans Are Coming Back

Section 2 — Pictures

Section 3 — Solved Examples

Example 1: Short Answer

Question: What is a pankha?

Example 2: List Question

Question: Name three fan materials.

Example 3: Reason-Based Question

Question: Why did hand fans decline?

Section 4 — Quick Look Table

Section 5 — Write and Practice

Part A — Fill in the Blanks

Part B — True or False

Part C — Short Answer

Part D — Match the Columns

Part E — Think and Write

✅ Detailed Answers — Take-Home Handout

Section 6 — Flash Cards

Section 7 — Mind Map

Class 9 English — Chapter 3Winds of ChangeThe Story of Indian Hand Fans Simple study notes for different learners. Not a textbook copy. Made to help you learn in easy words.

What Is Inside

Section 1 — Easy Notes

1. What Is a Pankha?

2. How Old Are Pankhas?

3. Fans in Temples

4. Fans in Royal Courts

5. What Were Fans Made Of?

6. Fan Styles of Assam

7. Fans from Kerala and Bengal

8. Fans from Uttar Pradesh

9. Electric Fans Took Over

10. Fans Are Coming Back

Section 2 — Pictures

Section 3 — Solved Examples

Example 1: Short Answer

Question: What is a pankha?

Example 2: List Question

Question: Name three fan materials.

Example 3: Reason-Based Question

Question: Why did hand fans decline?

Section 4 — Quick Look Table

Section 5 — Write and Practice

Part A — Fill in the Blanks

Part B — True or False

Part C — Short Answer

Part D — Match the Columns

Part E — Think and Write

✅ Detailed Answers — Take-Home Handout

Section 6 — Flash Cards

Section 7 — Mind Map

Class 9 English — Chapter 3
Winds of Change
The Story of Indian Hand Fans Simple study notes for different learners. Not a textbook copy. Made to help you learn in easy words.