CBSE GRADE 9 LESSON 3 (KAVERI) 2026-27 ENGLISH

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Kaveri · Grade 9 · Chapter 3

Winds of Change

10 Passage-Based Comprehensions  ·  Pankha — India's Traditional Fan Heritage · CBSE / NCERT Pattern

📖 Non-Fiction 🎯 50 Questions 🏫 CBSE 2025-26 🔐 Answer Key: Admin / Subscriber

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1

The Origin of Pankha

Etymology & Ancient Evidence · Reading for Meaning

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

The word punkha or pankha originates from the word 'pankh', which means feather of a bird. Pankha is used to refer to all fans, whereas the word pankhi denotes a small plumed fan used in ancient India. Evidence of the existence and use of pankhi in India can be found in Buddhist wall paintings at Ajanta. These wall paintings date back to the 2nd century CE. Other representations of the punkha can be found in embroidery work, sculptures, and carvings. In ancient times, pankhas were used in temples to fan deities. They were also used in royal courts to fan kings. Pankhas varied in size from a tiny two inch one to large ones requiring a person's full arm strength to move them.

📝 Answer the Questions

i The word 'pankha' originates from 'pankh', which means: MCQ

A Wing of a bird

B Feather of a bird

C Fan made of leaves

D Cool breeze

ii Fill in the blank: Evidence of the use of pankhi in India is found in Buddhist wall paintings at __________. Fill

iii What is the difference between pankha and pankhi? Short Answer

iv In ancient times, pankhas were used: MCQ

A Only by the common people in their homes

B Only by artists to decorate walls

C Only in temples to fan deities

D Both in temples to fan deities and in royal courts to fan kings

v Identify the correct Assertion-Reason combination. A-R

Assertion (A): The pankha has been part of Indian culture since at least the 2nd century CE.
Reason (R): Wall paintings depicting pankha use are found in the Buddhist caves at Ajanta.

A Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

Score: –

2

Pankhas as Cultural Trade Goods

Trade Routes & Regional Varieties · Reading for Meaning

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

Over time, pankhas became significant cultural goods distributed through trade routes. They were considered exotic and stylish. Although there was substantial commonality in their use across India, different villages and towns developed their own varieties of traditional pankhas. Each place developed pankhas with distinct materials or a variety of intricate designs, that set them apart from one another. Bamboo, cane, palm leaf, silk, brass, leather, and silver pankhas, with decorative beads and stones were used depending on geographies, cultures, and traditional rituals. In modern times, the use of pankhas has been restricted to decorative purposes, and they have become traditional craft items in India. The structure of each fan reflects the cultural core of the region that crafts it.

📝 Answer the Questions

i State whether the following sentence is True or False: Pankhas were one of the most popular items of commerce distributed through trade routes. True/False

A True — the passage confirms pankhas were major commercial items distributed everywhere.

B False — the passage calls them 'significant cultural goods', not necessarily the most popular items of commerce.

C True — they were considered exotic and stylish everywhere.

D False — pankhas were never distributed through trade routes.

ii The word 'intricate' as used in the passage means: Vocab

A Simple and plain

B Large and colourful

C Elaborate and detailed

D Ancient and rare

iii Fill in the blank: In modern times, pankhas are largely restricted to __________ purposes. Fill

iv Why has the word 'traditional' been used to describe pankhas in the passage? Short Answer

v Which of the following best explains why different regions developed distinct pankhas? MCQ

A Because pankhas were expensive and people wanted different price ranges

B Because trade routes reached different parts of India at different times

C Because each region had its own available materials, cultural practices, and traditional rituals

D Because pankha-making was a secret art passed only within certain communities

Score: –

3

Rajasthan's Rich Pankha Heritage

Appliqué, Zardozi, Temple & Painted Fans

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

For instance, the appliqué hand fan of Rajasthan is an antique pankha made of pieces of fabric in different shapes and patterns sewn onto another cloth with the use of ornamental needlework. Furthermore, the zardozi hand fan of Rajasthan differs in its use of glittering ornate and encrusted gold threadwork. In Rajasthan, temple hand fans are popular too. These are made by engraving brass and have a long handle. The painted hand fan, a cardboard pankha featuring various images, is usually offered to gods.

📝 Answer the Questions

i What is the appliqué hand fan of Rajasthan made of? MCQ

A Gold thread sewn on leather

B Pieces of fabric in different shapes sewn onto another cloth with ornamental needlework

C Engraved brass with a long handle

D Cardboard featuring various painted images

ii The word 'encrusted' as used in the passage means: Vocab

A Covered or decorated with something

B Made from scratch

C Woven tightly together

D Painted with bright colours

iii Fill in the blank: The zardozi hand fan of Rajasthan is known for its glittering ornate and encrusted __________ threadwork. Fill

iv What distinguishes the zardozi fan from the appliqué fan of Rajasthan? Short Answer

v Identify the correct Assertion-Reason combination. A-R

Assertion (A): Rajasthan has multiple distinct varieties of pankha.
Reason (R): Each variety uses different materials and serves different purposes — religious, decorative, or ceremonial.

A Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

Score: –

4

Gujarat's Indigenous Pankha Tradition

Mirror Work, Beads & Leather Fans

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

The adjoining state of Gujarat has its own indigenous take on pankhas. These hand fans are elegant pure cotton-based fans embellished with mirror work. The beads hand fan is covered with colourful beads and has a silver handle. Gujarat is the centre for bead craft in India and these dainty pankhas are commonly used as wall decorations. Kutch is recognised for its hand-stitched leather hand fans decorated with thread and wool at its seams. Gujarat's industrious home-based women workers have worked tirelessly in the handicraft of pankha-making to produce embroidered hand fans with traditional mirror work and cross-stitch embroidery in different shapes and sizes.

📝 Answer the Questions

i What makes Gujarat the centre for bead craft in India, as suggested by the passage? MCQ

A Gujarat has the largest number of artisans in India.

B Gujarat produces beads pankhas covered with colourful beads with silver handles — a craft that is widely recognised.

C Gujarat imports the finest beads from across the world for its fans.

D The government of Gujarat supports bead craft with special subsidies.

ii Fill in the blank: Kutch is recognised for its hand-stitched __________ hand fans decorated with thread and wool at its seams. Fill

iii The word 'industrious' as used in the passage means: Vocab

A Related to industry or factories

B Creative and artistic

C Hardworking and diligent

D Innovative and modern

iv How does the passage highlight the role of women in Gujarat's pankha tradition? Short Answer

v The beads hand fan of Gujarat is commonly used as: MCQ

A A cooking utensil in traditional kitchens

B A wall decoration

C A gift for temple rituals

D A ceremonial fan for royalty

Score: –

5

Bengal, UP, Bihar & Odisha

Eastern India's Pankha Varieties

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

Artisans in Bengal make delicate pankhas from the beautiful milky-white spongy centre of the sola. The palm leaf hand fans are locally referred to as Tal Patar Pankha. They are easy to carry and are perpetually kept as an article of possession in Bengali households.

Other states in India have their own variations of fans as well. The Phadh hand fans of Uttar Pradesh are adorned with pure gold, silver zari, silk, and satin frills. The large palm leaf fans of Odisha as well as Bihar's colourful and sturdy bamboo hand fans, are all recognised across India due to their antiquity and rarity.

📝 Answer the Questions

i What is sola as used in the passage? Vocab

A A type of bamboo found in Bengal

B A palm leaf used for weaving fans

C A type of water grass with a milky-white spongy centre

D A type of cloth used by Bengali artisans

ii Fill in the blank: The palm leaf fans in Bengal are locally called __________. Fill

iii The word 'perpetually' as used in the passage means: Vocab

A Occasionally

B Constantly or always

C Decoratively

D Temporarily

iv What makes the Phadh hand fans of Uttar Pradesh distinctive? Short Answer

v Bihar's bamboo hand fans and Odisha's palm leaf fans are recognised across India because of their: MCQ

A Low cost and easy availability

B Modern designs and vibrant colours

C Antiquity and rarity

D Large size and sturdy build alone

Score: –

6

Tribal Pankha Traditions

Geometrical Patterns & Indigenous Materials

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

Many tribes in India have adopted this handicraft to make their own versions of the handheld fan. Materials such as grass and metal are embedded into the fans using bamboo sticks and grass. Cane and palm leaves are used, with silk and brass being reserved for antique pieces of these hand fans. The use of geometrical patterns and the white ink and red background combinations have helped the tribes create multiple beautifully designed pankhas.

📝 Answer the Questions

i Which materials are typically used by tribes to make their pankhas? MCQ

A Only silk and brass, which are widely available

B Gold thread and mirror work embedded in cotton

C Grass, metal, cane, and palm leaves; silk and brass reserved for antique pieces

D Bamboo and painted cardboard sheets

ii Fill in the blank: Tribal pankhas use __________ patterns with white ink on a red background. Fill

iii Why are silk and brass reserved for antique pieces of tribal fans? Short Answer

iv The phrase "embedded into the fans" means materials are: Vocab

A Placed loosely on top of the fans

B Fixed firmly inside or woven into the structure of the fans

C Painted onto the surface of the fans

D Hung from the edges of the fans as decorations

v Identify the correct Assertion-Reason combination. A-R

Assertion (A): Tribal pankhas have their own unique visual identity.
Reason (R): They use geometrical patterns and distinctive white ink on red background combinations that set them apart from other regional varieties.

A Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

Score: –

7

Technology Threatens Pankha Culture

The Risk of Cultural Loss · Critical Reflection

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

With time and the advent of technology and innovative creations, the beautiful culture of pankhas runs the risk of slowly losing its presence among Indians. Once made for personal use, over time this handicraft has transformed into a commercial business and now provides some form of livelihood to India's artisans. The slight increase in popularity and demand is significantly factored by the different versions of the pankha being crafted.

📝 Answer the Questions

i Infer one negative impact of technological advancement on pankha culture. Short Answer

ii The writer refers to pankhas not just as an object but as a 'culture' because: MCQ

A Pankhas are sold in cultural fairs and exhibitions.

B Pankhas are manufactured in large quantities by cultural organisations.

C Pankhas represent centuries of tradition, regional identity, and artistry that go far beyond being a mere object.

D Pankhas are recognised by UNESCO as cultural heritage.

iii The word 'advent' as used in the passage means: Vocab

A Departure or ending

B Arrival or beginning

C Development of something old

D Decline of a tradition

iv Fill in the blank: The slight increase in demand for pankhas is significantly factored by the different __________ of the pankha being crafted. Fill

v Select the factor that has contributed to the commercialisation of pankhas. MCQ

A Cultural preservation alone

B Economic demand and the variety of versions being crafted

C Technological advancements that improved production

D Artisan initiative without any market demand

Score: –

8

Pankha Culture & Identity

Fan as Cultural Mirror · Critical Reflection Extract 1

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

Over time, pankhas became significant cultural goods distributed through trade routes. They were considered exotic and stylish. Although there was substantial commonality in their use across India, different villages and towns developed their own varieties of traditional pankhas. Each place developed pankhas with distinct materials or a variety of intricate designs, that set them apart from one another.

📝 Answer the Questions

i The sentence "They were considered exotic and stylish" is an opinion and not a fact because: MCQ

A It cannot be proven that pankhas were ever distributed through trade routes.

B 'Exotic and stylish' are subjective judgements that vary from person to person and cannot be verified as objective facts.

C No historical evidence exists to prove that pankhas were stylish.

D The word 'considered' makes any sentence automatically factual.

ii Infer one reason for the commonality in the use of pankhas across India. Short Answer

iii Select the correct assertion for the given reason: Reason: Pankhas were made of indigenous materials, unique to the region, with elaborate designs. A-R

A Each kind of pankha could be distinguished from the other.

B Pankhas were used by many people across India.

C Pankhas replaced the need for expensive imported goods.

D All pankhas looked the same because they served the same function.

iv Fill in the blank: Pankhas with distinct materials or intricate designs helped __________ each region's fans from the others. Fill

v The statement "The structure of each fan reflects the cultural core of the region that crafts it" means: MCQ

A Fans are designed to match the architecture of regional buildings.

B Only skilled engineers can design regional fans.

C The design, materials, and craft of the fan embody the values, traditions, and identity of the region that makes it.

D Fans in all regions look similar because all cultures value the same things.

Score: –

9

Preservation Through Celebration

Workshops & Sustainable Livelihood

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

One of the first steps to preserve the essence of the craft is by celebrating pankhas, and appreciating the culture, stories, and artistry that this handicraft invokes. This allows contemporary pankha makers to demonstrate their craft and regain its popularity. It also helps provide them with a commercial platform to create a sustainable livelihood. Initiatives such as pankha-making workshops, both within and outside the handicraft exhibitions help spread awareness about the beauty and importance of this craft in India's culture.

📝 Answer the Questions

i According to the passage, how can pankha-making workshops help artisans? MCQ

A By providing government funding directly to craftspeople

B By replacing traditional pankha making with modern techniques

C By spreading awareness and helping artisans demonstrate their craft, regain popularity, and create a sustainable livelihood

D By exporting Indian pankhas to foreign markets

ii Fill in the blank: To preserve pankha culture, the first step is to __________ pankhas and appreciate the artistry they invoke. Fill

iii What does the phrase 'sustainable livelihood' suggest in this context? Short Answer

iv The word 'contemporary' as used in the passage ('contemporary pankha makers') means: Vocab

A Ancient and traditional

B Belonging to or existing in the present time

C Well-known across India

D Trained in formal art schools

v Identify the correct Assertion-Reason combination. A-R

Assertion (A): Celebrating pankhas is one of the first steps to preserve the craft.
Reason (R): Appreciation creates awareness, demand, and a platform for artisans to sustain their craft commercially.

A Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

Score: –

10

The Title & Broader Significance

Winds of Change — Evaluative Comprehension

5 Questions

📜 Read the passage

With time and the advent of technology and innovative creations, the beautiful culture of pankhas runs the risk of slowly losing its presence among Indians. Once made for personal use, over time this handicraft has transformed into a commercial business and now provides some form of livelihood to India's artisans. The slight increase in popularity and demand is significantly factored by the different versions of the pankha being crafted.

One of the first steps to preserve the essence of the craft is by celebrating pankhas, and appreciating the culture, stories, and artistry that this handicraft invokes. The structure of each fan reflects the cultural core of the region that crafts it.

📝 Answer the Questions

i How does the title 'Winds of Change' capture the essence of the chapter? Short Answer

ii Select a line from the passage which best depicts how the role of the pankha has changed over the years. MCQ

A "The structure of each fan reflects the cultural core of the region that crafts it."

B "Once made for personal use, over time this handicraft has transformed into a commercial business."

C "The slight increase in popularity and demand is significantly factored by the different versions."

D "One of the first steps to preserve the essence of the craft is by celebrating pankhas."

iii Fill in the blank: The different __________ of pankha being crafted has helped increase its popularity and demand. Fill

iv "The structure of each fan reflects the cultural core of the region that crafts it." Support this statement with any two examples from the chapter. Short Answer

v Identify the correct Assertion-Reason combination. A-R

Assertion (A): The pankha is more than just a functional object — it is a symbol of India's diverse cultural heritage.
Reason (R): Every region of India has developed its own distinct version of the pankha, reflecting its unique materials, traditions, and identity.

A Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

Score: –

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NCERT Kaveri Grade 9 · Chapter 3 — Winds of Change (Pankha)
Competency-Based Comprehensions | CBSE 2025–26 Pattern
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