Thread by @Paperclip_In

Take a close look at this photograph. A slice of colonial India where Indian servants used to diligently sway Punkhas for their British ‘masters’. But, why aren't they pulling the ropes with their hands? Sit back as we unravel some intriguing history. Thread. 1/15

On this sweltering Indian summer day, let's travel back in time to the era of colonial India. This is a fascinating story about the Punkha-wallahs, those unfortunate and anonymous individuals who provided comfort to the affluent during the scorching heat. 2/15

Imagine being an affluent British elite in colonial India. In your grand, luxurious bungalow, you would have personal servants known as Punkha-wallahs. They are mostly the servants of the lowest strata. Their job? 3/15

To pull a giant hanging fan from the ceiling with a rope, creating a gentle breeze while you dine, write, relax, or even sleep. It is also said that the visual and hearing impaired servants were prioritized for this job to prevent eavesdropping. 4/15

The Punkha-wallahs were paid a few annas per day based on the enthusiasm and dedication to their task. To ensure privacy, many bedrooms had a hole in the wall through which the rope could pass, allowing the Punkha-wallah to swing the fan from outside. 5/15

Now, picture this: You retire for the night, hoping for a peaceful night's sleep. A few worn-out shoes and boots are conveniently placed within your reach.

Why, you ask? 👟 6/15

Well, in case you woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, and discovered that the Punkha had stopped swaying. It was an indicator that the exhausted Punkha-wallah might have dozed off. So, what did you do? 7/15

You promptly hurled a boot 👞 towards the sleeping servant, to wake them up and resume their duty of swinging the Punkha. A rather peculiar and inhuman wake-up call indeed! But, that was just an integral part of colonization. 8/15

What's more, if the shoes missed the target, they would resort to physical force: punching or kicking,sometimes even leading to death. In the 19th century there were several cases where punkha wallahs sued their employers for violence. 9/15

However, a few resourceful Punkha-wallahs devised an ingenious solution to their predicament. To prevent getting hit and ensure uninterrupted comfort for their “Sahibs”, they developed a unique technique. What exactly did they develop? 10/15

The story is based on several accounts, though the facts are not all confirmed – they tied the rope to their big toes! Through years of practice and adaptation, these Punkha-wallahs mastered the art of dozing off while still maintaining a gentle sway of the Punkha. 11/15

Their toes would instinctively keep swinging the rope, providing uninterrupted sleep to their “masters” even as they enjoyed their own rest. Other accounts suggest this is a technique they devised so that they could rest their hands. 12/15

Punkah-wallahs, exhausted from household chores throughout the day, found comfort lying on their back and using their legs after working late into the night. The line between truth and myth is a bit blurry here, but tragic yet fascinating nonetheless. 13/15

They turned a seemingly impossible task into a delicate dance of slumber and service, a testament to human resilience and ingenuity in the face of challenging circumstances. 14/15

Today, as we battle the heat with modern cooling systems, let's take a moment to remember the forgotten Punkha-wallahs, who even in the most trying of times, could adapt, innovate, and find ways to thrive against all odds. 15/15

Source:

Ritam Sengupta, Keeping the master cool, every day, all day: Punkah-pulling in colonial India,

Jack M. Planalp, Heat, Stress and Culture in North India, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicinejournals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00…

KAUSHIK PATOWARY, Punkah: The Hand Operated Ceiling Fans of Colonial India, amusingplanet.com/2019/09/punkah…

Fans and Punkhas, Maddy’s Rumbling, maddy06.blogspot.com/2012/07/fans-a…