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🍃 Chapter 3: Winds of Change • Critical Reflection

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Check Your Understanding 1Critical Reflection 2Answer the Following Questions 6All Exercises 9
Q1

I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. 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.

  • (i) State whether the following sentence is true or false.
    Pankhas were one of the most popular items of commerce.
  • (ii) Why has the word 'traditional' been used to describe pankhas?
  • (iii) Complete the following statement.
    The sentence 'They were considered exotic and stylish' is an opinion and not a fact because ________________.
  • (iv) Infer one reason for commonality in the use of pankhas across India.
  • (v) Select which one of the two statements is the correct assertion for the given reason.
    Reason: Pankhas were made of indigenous materials, unique to the region, with elaborate designs.
    A. Each kind of pankha could be distinguished from the other.
    B. Pankhas were used by many people.
  • (i) Answer: True
  • (ii) Answer: Because they were crafted using age-old local techniques, indigenous materials, and cultural motifs passed down through generations in different regions.
  • (iii) Answer: words like 'exotic' and 'stylish' express subjective personal perceptions and aesthetic judgements rather than a verifiable objective fact.
  • (iv) Answer: India's hot and humid climate made hand fans an essential everyday utility for relief from heat across all regions, alongside their shared use in religious rituals and royal courts.
  • (v) Answer: A. Each kind of pankha could be distinguished from the other.
Q2

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

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.

  • (i) Infer one negative impact of technological advancement on pankha.
  • (ii) Complete the statement with an appropriate reason.
    The writer refers to 'pankhas' not just as an object but as a 'culture' because ________________.
  • (iii) Select a line from the extract which depicts how the role of the pankha has changed over the years.
  • (iv) List one way in which the increase in demand of pankhas might benefit artisans.
  • (v) Select the factor that has contributed to the commercialisation of pankhas.
    A. cultural preservation
    B. economic demand
    C. technological advancements
    D. artisan initiative
  • (i) Answer: The invention of electric fans, air coolers, and air conditioners has replaced the practical need for hand fans, causing traditional pankhas to slowly lose their presence in Indian homes.
  • (ii) Answer: pankhas represent the collective heritage, regional customs, traditional stories, religious rituals, and artistic identity of diverse communities across India.
  • (iii) Answer: "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."
  • (iv) Answer: It provides artisans with a sustainable livelihood and financial stability while motivating them to keep their traditional craft alive.
  • (v) Answer: B. economic demand (driven by the variety of pankhas being crafted).