1.5 Tribal Varieties and the Modern Challenge

Last updated at July 14, 2026 by

Extract from the Text

“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… 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.”

Summary in Bullet Points

  • Tribal varieties: Grass, metal, bamboo, cane, and palm leaves used. Geometrical patterns and white-ink-on-red background geometrical = consisting of regular lines, shapes, and patterns combinations create uniquely styled fans.

    Tribal log grass, metal, bamboo, cane use karte hain. Geometric patterns aur white-on-red design unhe unique banate hain.

  • Modern challenge: The advent of technology (electric fans, ACs) means pankhas are now restricted to decorative purposes .

    Technology aane ke baad log electric fan/AC use karne lage. Toh pankha sirf decoration ban gaya, roz use hona band ho gaya.

  • Risk of disappearing: Unless preserved, the pankha culture risks slowly losing its presence among Indians.

    Agar pankha ka culture preserve nahi hua toh slowly khatam ho jaayega . Yeh essay usi ko bachane ke baare mein hai.

NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Critical Reflection. Extract 2. NCERT Kaveri pages 74–76
VI. Infer one negative impact of technological advancement on pankha.
How to answer: The extract says technology has put pankha culture "at risk of slowly losing its presence." What is the direct cause?
View Answer Hide Answer
One negative impact is that technological advancements such as electric fans and air conditioners have reduced the practical need for traditional hand fans. As people switched to these modern alternatives, the demand for handmade pankhas declined, causing the craft to lose its everyday significance and threatening its survival as a living tradition.

Technology ka negative impact yeh hai ki electric fans aur AC aane ke baad log pankha use karna chhor gaye — isse demand ghati aur craft khatam hone ka darr hai.

VII. Complete the statement: "The writer refers to 'pankhas' not just as an object but as a 'culture' because ___________."
How to answer: Why would an author call a craft item a "culture"? Think about identity, tradition, and community.
View Answer Hide Answer
The writer refers to pankhas as a "culture" because they embody the artistic traditions, regional identities, and craft practices of their communities. Each pankha carries stories, materials, and skills passed down through generations, representing not merely a functional object but a way of life, a cultural legacy, and an expression of the artisan's heritage.

Writer pankha ko "culture" isliye kehta hai kyunki yeh sirf ek object nahi hai — isme generations ki craft, regional identity, aur cultural stories hain.

VIII. Select a line from the extract which depicts how the role of the pankha has changed over the years.
How to answer: Look for a line that shows a shift from one purpose to another.
View Answer Hide Answer
The line that best depicts the change in role is: "Once made for personal use, over time this handicraft has transformed into a commercial business." This directly shows the shift from the pankha being a personal, functional household item to becoming a product in a commercial marketplace.

Jo line pankha ka role change dikhati hai: "Once made for personal use, over time this handicraft has transformed into a commercial business." Pehle ghar ke liye banta tha, ab business ke liye.

IX. List one way in which the increase in demand of pankhas might benefit artisans.
How to answer: Think practically: if more people buy pankhas, what does that mean for the people who make them?
View Answer Hide Answer
An increase in demand means artisans can earn a more stable and sustainable income from their craft. When more people buy pankhas, artisans can sell more products, reinvest in better materials, and continue practising and passing on their skills. This creates both economic security and an incentive to preserve the traditional craft.

Demand badhne se artisans ko zyaada income hogi, craft seekhne ka motivation milega, aur apni skills agle generation tak dene ka mauka milega.

X. Select the factor that has contributed to the commercialisation of pankhas. A. cultural preservation B. economic demand C. technological advancements D. artisan initiative
How to answer: The extract says "the slight increase in popularity and demand is significantly factored by the different versions of the pankha being crafted." Which option captures this?
View Answer Hide Answer
Option B — economic demand is correct. The text states that the increase in popularity and demand is what has driven pankhas into the commercial space. Greater demand creates a market, and artisans responded by diversifying versions of the pankha to meet it, transforming it into a commercial business.

Option B sahi hai — economic demand. Text mein clearly likha hai ki popularity aur demand badhne ki wajah se pankha commercial business ban gaya.

Board Pattern Questions Mapped to Exam Format
MCQ 1 mark
What do the geometrical patterns and white-ink-on-red background in tribal pankhas represent?
(A)  the influence of city art
(B)  the unique cultural identity of tribal communities
(C)  religious symbols borrowed from temples
(D)  trade patterns from Gujarat
How to answer: Think about what distinctive design choices say about the people who make them.
View Answer Hide Answer
(B) the unique cultural identity of tribal communities. Tribal pankhas are made with locally available materials and decorated with patterns specific to their traditions. The geometrical designs and colour combinations are not borrowed — they are original expressions of tribal culture and craft.

Tribal pankha ka design unki apni cultural identity hai — kisi se copy nahi kiya, apna original style hai.

Short Answer - 3 marks 3 marks
How has technology posed a challenge to the survival of traditional pankhas in modern India? What does this reveal about the relationship between technology and heritage?
How to answer: Identify the challenge, its consequence, then give your view on what it reveals (50 words).
View Answer Hide Answer
The advent of electric fans and air conditioning has made hand fans functionally obsolete, restricting pankhas to decorative roles. As a result, demand has fallen and fewer artisans continue the craft. This reveals a broader tension: technology solves practical problems efficiently but often displaces the human skill, artistry, and cultural memory embedded in traditional crafts.

Electric fan aur AC ne pankha ki zarurat khatam kar di , toh woh sirf decoration ban gaya. Yeh dikhata hai ki technology progress laati hai lekin traditional craft ko khatam bhi karne ka khatra hota hai.

Remove Ads
Maninder Singh's photo - Co-founder, Teachoo

Made by

Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant with 16+ years of practical experience and 20+ years of teaching experience. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo using clear explanations and exam-focused methods students can trust.

For faster and distraction-free study, students can choose Teachoo Black.