he concept of ‘FAN’ meant moving certain quantities of air to certain directions. This has well prevailed in some ancient tribal civilizations  even before the earliest known ‘screen fans’ or ‘fixed leaf fans’ that were operated by hand to produce, breeze or ward of insects. After food and water, air was recognized as a need for living. Ancient civilizations used water to cool their bodies and enjoyed air (breeze) only when connected in available directions or locales.

As man became territory conscious, he built his own hamlets and when ‘luxury conscious’, the ‘door of need’ opened. The start of consumption and consumerism. Man then desired every living element to work for him, his need and his pleasure and his greed. Territory Consciousness made him create hamlets. He then had to bring in essential natural elements into his enclosure. The first to be exploited was the tree. He cut it for wood.  He then carried food and water into this territory. He liked air, that was available all over in plenty for breathing. Good air made him feel comfortable.  But when he felt warm he needed breeze. He had to walk out of his enclosure or caves. His need for privacy and safe keeping of objects made him build private hutments. As early as ancient civilization, men tried moving air into his territory. Very interestingly, he achieved it through mud funnels.  Wide open at the wind end and narrow at the receiving end. Wind came with a whistle sound. He set it to which ever direction he needed.  He enjoyed the breeze in his home. But only when ever it came. To indicate the coming of the breeze he suspended some leaves like palm blades at the mouth of funnels. These leaves were then became long blade palm leaves. Probably, that is why the initial hand fans, which came about during the king dynasty were made of palm leaves and fan arms are even today called “fan leaf”. These leaf indicators rotated in good speed and man realized they produced or rather enhanced the wind blow.

The invention of the wheel refined this application and then there was no end.  Palm blade leaves were assembled in front of the wide mouth of these funnels that when it oscillated every time there was some wind from the funnel. When man’s greed grew, he wanted to enjoy it whenever he needed. For this, within his new understanding he had to move the palm blades to get his breeze. Fire was the other element he knew within his territory. He therefore used fire and smoke to move these palm blades to produce air.  It worked, but some times the fire burnt the dry palm blades. Palm was conveniently replaced by their wood and later by hand beaten metal. This must have inspired the creation of kerosene lamp fans when oil was found. Man’s desire to enjoy this breeze wherever he desired must have inspired the creation of palm leaf hand fans, that exist even until this day.

A mud pipe fan is exhibited at The Steve Borgia Indian Heritage Museum at INDeco Hotels Mahabalipuram. This museum boasts a very good collection of antiques and artefacts of the British Era in India.