NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3
Traditional craft is handmade artistic work that reflects the materials, skills, culture, and history of a community.
In Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3, traditional craft appears through the pankha as a cultural object, while the poem connects gardening with painting to show how human creativity can turn nature into living art.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3 help students answer textbook questions from Winds of Change and Canvas of Soil by Maya Anthony. The chapter explains the cultural history of pankhas, regional craft traditions, artisans’ livelihoods, present perfect tense, collocations, descriptive writing, and poetry appreciation. These Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3 solutions are written in a clear school-answer format for prose, poem, vocabulary, grammar, speaking, and writing tasks.
Key Takeaways
- Prose focus: “Winds of Change” explains how pankhas changed from useful everyday objects to decorative craft items.
- Craft theme: Pankhas reflect regional identity through materials, designs, rituals, and artisan skills.
- Poem focus: “Canvas of Soil” compares a garden to a painting created through soil, seeds, colours, and care.
- Language skills: The chapter practises fixed word pairs, collocations, present perfect tense, factual description, and descriptive writing.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3 Structure 2026
| Section | Text / Skill Area | Main Question Type |
| Prose | Winds of Change | Reading, comprehension, critical reflection |
| Poem | Canvas of Soil | Appreciation, imagery, metaphor, extract answers |
| Vocabulary | Word pairs, fixed expressions, collocations, colour shades | Matching, meanings, sentence use |
| Grammar | Present perfect tense | Fill in the blanks |
| Writing | Factual description and garden description | Descriptive and factual writing |
| Speaking and Listening | Hand fans, garden preference, gift selection | Oral and listening practice |
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3: Winds of Change
Reflect and Respond
I. Does anyone in your family use a hand fan? What do you call it in your language? What is it made of?
Answer:
Yes, my grandmother sometimes uses a hand fan during summer or power cuts. In Hindi, it is commonly called pankha. It may be made of palm leaf, bamboo, cane, cloth, paper, or grass.
II. Complete the information about fans.
| Fan | State | Shape | Made of |
| Assamese fan | Assam | Round / circular | Bamboo and cane |
| Kerala fan | Kerala | Long / leaf-shaped | Palm leaf |
| Uttar Pradesh fan | Uttar Pradesh | Round / semi-circular | Moonj grass |
III. Match the words with their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
| Indigenous | Local, from where it originated |
| Innovative | New and original in approach |
| Industrious | Hardworking |
| Intricate | Elaborate / detailed |
| Invoked | Brought out |
| Initiatives | Actions to improve a situation |
Check Your Understanding: Winds of Change
I. Complete the table on pankhas.
| State | Type of Fan | Material Used |
| Rajasthan | Appliqué hand fan | Pieces of fabric sewn on cloth with ornamental needlework |
| Rajasthan | Zardozi hand fan | Gold thread |
| Rajasthan | Temple hand fans | Engraved brass |
| Gujarat | Mirror work hand fans | Pure cotton embellished with mirror work |
| Gujarat | Beads hand fan | Colourful beads with a silver handle |
| Gujarat / Kutch | Leather hand fans | Leather, decorated with thread and wool |
| West Bengal | Sola hand fans | Milky-white spongy centre of the sola plant |
| Uttar Pradesh | Phadh hand fans | Pure gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills |
| Bihar | Bamboo hand fans | Bamboo |
Critical Reflection: Winds of Change
I. Extract-based Questions
Extract 1
- State whether true or false.
Pankhas were one of the most popular items of commerce.
Answer: False.
The extract says pankhas became significant cultural goods distributed through trade routes, but it does not say they were one of the most popular items of commerce.
- Why has the word “traditional” been used to describe pankhas?
The word “traditional” has been used because pankhas were made using regional materials, local designs, community skills, and craft practices passed down over time. - Complete the statement.
The sentence “They were considered exotic and stylish” is an opinion and not a fact because it expresses how people viewed pankhas rather than giving a measurable or provable detail. - Infer one reason for commonality in the use of pankhas across India.
Pankhas were commonly used across India because the climate is warm in many regions, and hand fans helped people keep cool before electric fans became common. - Select the correct assertion for the reason.
Reason: Pankhas were made of indigenous materials, unique to the region, with elaborate designs.
Answer:
A. Each kind of pankha could be distinguished from the other.
Extract 2
- Infer one negative impact of technological advancement on pankhas.
Technological advancement reduced the everyday use of pankhas because electric fans and other cooling devices became more common. - Complete the statement.
The writer refers to pankhas not just as an object but as a culture because they carry regional stories, artisan skills, traditional materials, rituals, designs, and community identity. - Select a line that shows how the role of the pankha changed over the years.
“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.” - List one way increased demand may benefit artisans.
Increased demand can provide artisans with better income and a more sustainable livelihood. - Select the factor that contributed to commercialisation.
B. economic demand
II. Answer the following questions.
1. How does the title “Winds of Change” capture the essence of the chapter?
Answer:
The title “Winds of Change” is suitable because the chapter traces the changing role of pankhas. Earlier, pankhas were used for cooling, worship, royal courts, and personal use. Today, they are mostly decorative craft items and commercial products. The title also suggests change in culture, technology, use, and livelihood.
2. Support the statement: “The structure and design of pankhas are testimony to the cultural identity of the region.”
Answer:
The structure and design of pankhas reflect the culture of their region.
For example, Rajasthan has appliqué hand fans made with ornamental needlework and zardozi fans with gold threadwork. These show the state’s rich textile and embroidery traditions.
Gujarat has cotton hand fans decorated with mirror work and beadwork. This reflects Gujarat’s craft traditions and the work of home-based women artisans.
Similarly, Bengal’s sola hand fans and Uttar Pradesh’s Phadh fans show how local materials and designs become part of regional identity.
3. How can preserving tradition and adding innovative designs help pankhas survive?
Answer:
Preserving traditional craftsmanship keeps the cultural value of pankhas alive. It protects local materials, handmade techniques, regional patterns, and artisan knowledge.
At the same time, innovative designs can make pankhas attractive to modern buyers. New colours, shapes, display styles, and uses can increase demand.
A balance between tradition and innovation can help pankhas remain culturally meaningful and commercially useful.
4. How can pankha-making workshops preserve this craft?
Answer:
Pankha-making workshops can teach people how pankhas are made, what materials are used, and why the craft is important. They give artisans a platform to demonstrate their skill.
Such workshops also create interest among students, tourists, buyers, and young learners. This awareness can increase respect for the craft and help it continue across generations.
5. How can celebrating pankhas benefit artisans and the craft?
Answer:
Celebrating pankhas can bring attention to the craft, its history, and the artisans who make them. It can increase demand and help artisans earn a sustainable livelihood.
It also gives cultural recognition to handmade work. When people value the stories and artistry behind pankhas, the craft gains respect and has a better chance of survival.
6. How does using pankhas mainly for decoration show their changing cultural role?
Answer:
Earlier, pankhas were everyday objects used for cooling, worship, royal courts, and personal comfort. In modern India, electric fans and cooling appliances have reduced their practical use.
As a result, pankhas are now often used as decorative pieces. This shows that their role has shifted from daily utility to cultural display, heritage craft, and artistic expression.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I. Classify the word pairs.
| Appearance | Place | Material |
| Exotic and stylish | Villages and towns | Thread and wool |
| Ornate and encrusted | Within and outside | Silk and brass |
More word pairs from the text:
- Grey and red
- Beads and stones
- Bamboo and cane
- Palm leaf and silk
- Cultures and rituals
- Shapes and patterns
II. Fixed expressions with “and”
| Word Pair | Fixed Expression | Meaning |
| High, dry | High and dry | In a difficult situation, without help or money |
| Wear, tear | Wear and tear | Damage due to normal use |
| Facts, figures | Facts and figures | Accurate and detailed information |
| Thick, thin | Thick and thin | Even when there are problems or difficulties |
| All, sundry | All and sundry | Everyone, not just a few special people |
| Time, again | Time and again | Often, on many occasions |
| Cut, run | Cut and run | To make a quick or sudden escape |
III. Choose the correct collocations.
- The students have to take the English exam tomorrow.
- The interviewer asked the candidate to have a seat.
- My scooter ran into a car.
- I must take responsibility for my success.
- I would like to improve my grammar.
IV. Present Perfect Tense
Fill in the blanks.
Puppets have long fascinated audiences worldwide. Puppeteers have created intricate characters and captivating stories with their skillful artistry. They have mastered the delicate movements that bring these lifeless figures to life, entertaining both children and adults. Over the years, puppetry has evolved, using modern technology while preserving traditional techniques. Many puppeteers have passed down their craft through generations, ensuring its continuity. They have performed in theatres, on television, and at festivals, conveying important cultural narratives.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3: Canvas of Soil
Reflect and Respond
I. What do you see in a garden?
Answer:
In a garden, we may see flowers, trees, grass, shrubs, butterflies, birds, soil, stones, pathways, benches, and gardeners. We can see colours like green leaves, red roses, yellow marigolds, blue flowers, brown soil, and white jasmine.
II. Similarities between a garden and a painting.
Answer:
- Just as a garden uses flowers, leaves, soil, and light, similarly, a painting uses colours, lines, and shapes.
- A garden and a painting both create beauty.
- Colour is common to both a garden and a painting.
- Like a garden, a painting too can express creativity and emotion.
III. Identify palette, canvas, and hue.
Answer:
In the painting, the palette is the board or surface on which colours are mixed. The canvas is the painting surface. A hue can be any shade seen in the painting, such as green, red, yellow, or blue.
Check Your Understanding: Canvas of Soil
I. Complete the stanza summaries.
- The earth is portrayed as a rich palette where gardeners’ dreams flourish in the form of seeds, awaiting spring.
- The garden flowers bloom into a beautiful display of different blossoms, resembling a painting by Mother Nature, in the light of morning.
- Each garden is likened to a wide canvas, integrating art and life. Through the efforts of gardeners, gardens transform into still-life paintings.
II. Select the appropriate title for each stanza.
| Stanza | Title |
| Stanza 1 | Earth and Possibilities |
| Stanza 2 | Nature’s Work of Art |
| Stanza 3 | Gardens as Living Canvases |
III. Match the poetic devices.
| Poetic Device | Example / Answer |
| Imagery | Colours, brushstrokes, blossoms, shades of green |
| Metaphor | Garden as a painting, plot as canvas, seeds as brushstrokes |
| Rhyme Scheme | AABB |
| Tone | Appreciative |
| Mood | Joyful |
| Speaker | A gardener |
| Alliteration | “Blossoms bloom” |
Critical Reflection: Canvas of Soil
I. Extract-based Questions
Extract 1
- Which option uses a metaphor?
B. She has a heart of gold. - Complete the sentence.
The phrase “planted true” is significant because it implies that the seeds have been planted carefully, sincerely, and with hope for proper growth. - Why has the poet used “hue” instead of “colours”?
The poet uses “hue” because it sounds more poetic and artistic. It also connects the garden with painting and shades of colour. - Complete the analogy.
Summer : hot :: Spring : vibrant - Assertion and Reason
Assertion: Gardeners wait for Spring.
Reason: Gardens are worth painting in Spring.
Answer:
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Gardeners wait for spring because seeds bloom and plants grow beautifully in spring. The reason is true as a poetic idea, but it does not fully explain why gardeners wait.
Extract 2
- What does “Each plot” refer to?
“Each plot” refers to each garden bed or piece of soil where plants are grown. - Select the option that imitates the rhyme scheme.
A. beautiful and clear / laughter and cheer - Select the line that shows gardening blends beauty with natural growth.
“Where art and life coincide.” - Complete the sentence.
The plot is likened to a canvas suggesting that a garden is like an artwork where seeds, plants, colours, and care create beauty. - Why has the poet used “wide” instead of “long”?
The poet uses “wide” because a canvas suggests open space for creativity. “Wide” gives the image of a broad area where art can spread in many directions.
II. Give reasons for the comparisons.
- A painter is compared to a gardener because both create beauty through planning, skill, patience, and imagination.
- A palette is like earth as both hold colours and possibilities that can become art.
- The brushstrokes are like seeds because seeds create the final beauty of the garden just as brushstrokes create a painting.
- A canvas is similar to a garden plot as both are spaces where creativity takes form.
III. Answer the questions.
1. How does the metaphor “Brushstrokes of seeds” enhance the idea of gardening as art?
Answer:
The metaphor shows that planting seeds is like making brushstrokes on a canvas. A gardener does not merely grow plants; they create a living picture through colour, shape, texture, and arrangement. This helps readers see gardening as a creative art form.
2. What can you infer from “Each plot, a canvas wide, / Where art and life coincide”?
Answer:
The lines show that the poet sees nature and creativity as closely connected. A garden is both living and artistic. Plants grow naturally, but the gardener’s care shapes them into beauty. This makes the garden a meeting point of life and art.
3. Does the imagery successfully paint a vivid picture?
Answer:
Yes, the imagery successfully creates a vivid picture. Words like “palette,” “brushstrokes,” “blossoms,” “morning light,” and “shades of green, red, and blue” help readers imagine a colourful garden. The poem feels like a painting made with soil, seeds, flowers, and light.
4. How would adding yellow improve the imagery?
Answer:
Yellow would make the imagery brighter and richer. It could suggest sunlight, marigolds, warmth, freshness, and spring. Along with red, blue, and green, yellow would add contrast and make the garden appear more lively.
5. What does “Gardens become paintings still” suggest about timeless beauty?
Answer:
The line suggests that gardens, like paintings, can preserve a moment of beauty. Even though flowers change and seasons pass, the beauty of a garden can feel timeless when viewed as art. The poet sees nature’s beauty as lasting in memory.
6. Justify the title “Canvas of Soil.”
Answer:
The title is suitable because the poem compares soil to a canvas. Gardeners use soil, seeds, flowers, colours, and care to create living art. Just as a painter creates a painting on canvas, a gardener creates beauty on the soil.
Vocabulary in Context: Canvas of Soil
I. Things associated with colour shades.
| Colour Shade | Things Associated |
| Navy blue | School blazer, night sky |
| Indigo | Dye, flowers |
| Cobalt blue | Pottery, paint |
| Denim | Jeans, jackets |
| Sky blue | Clear sky, water |
| Ice blue | Frost, glass |
| Pine green | Pine trees, forest |
| Apple green | Apples, young leaves |
| Jade | Jewellery, stone |
| Olive | Olives, army uniform |
| Rusty red | Old iron, dry leaves |
| Salmon | Fish, sunset shade |
| Scarlet | Roses, ribbons |
| Crimson | Blood, flowers |
| Vermilion | Sindoor, festive decorations |
II. Painting-related words and meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
| Easel | A stand used to hold a canvas while painting |
| Canvas | Surface on which an artist paints |
| Tonal range | Range of light and dark shades in a painting |
| Portrait | Picture of a person, especially the face |
| Underpainting | First layer of paint used as a base |
| Mural | A large painting made on a wall |
Writing Task: Factual Description of an Artefact
Answer:
A Handmade Paper Fan
A handmade paper fan is a small foldable or flat object used to create a flow of air by hand movement. It is usually light in weight and easy to carry. It may be round, semi-circular, rectangular, or leaf-shaped.
The fan is made using coloured paper, thin cardboard, glue, ice-cream sticks, thread, and decorative items. First, the paper is folded or cut into the required shape. Then it is attached to a handle made of cardboard or sticks. The surface may be decorated with drawings, patterns, stickers, or borders.
Paper fans are commonly used in craft classes, school exhibitions, cultural programmes, and summer activities. They are safe to use when the edges are smooth and the handle is fixed properly.
Writing Task: Descriptive Piece on a Garden
Answer:
The garden I visited was full of colour and freshness. The first thing I noticed was the soft green carpet of grass shining under the morning light. Dark green leaves stood behind pale green new shoots, creating a beautiful contrast. The trees cast cool shadows, and the sunlight made the leaves look almost golden at the edges.
Red roses bloomed near the pathway, their petals soft and velvety. A few blue flowers grew beside them, adding a calm shade to the bright scene. The red, blue, and green colours blended like a painting. The petals looked smooth, while the leaves had fine veins and rough edges.
As the light changed, the colours also changed. The red flowers looked deeper, the blue flowers looked cooler, and the green leaves appeared brighter. The garden felt like a living artwork, shaped by nature and cared for by human hands.
Topics Covered in NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 3
- Winds of Change Class 9
- Meaning and origin of punkha or pankha
- Pankhi in ancient India
- Traditional pankhas as cultural goods
- Regional pankha designs in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha
- Hand fan craft Class 9 English
- Indigenous materials and intricate designs
- Artisans and sustainable livelihood
- Pankha-making workshops and craft preservation
- Canvas of Soil Class 9
- Maya Anthony Canvas of Soil
- Garden as a painting
- Soil as palette and plot as canvas
- Imagery, metaphor, rhyme scheme, tone, and mood
- Fixed word pairs and collocations
- Present perfect tense
- Factual description of an artefact
- Descriptive writing on a garden
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Structure 2026
| Chapter No. | Chapter Name |
| Chapter 1 | How I Taught My Grandmother to Read |
| Chapter 2 | The Pot Maker |
| Chapter 3 | Winds of Change |
| Chapter 4 | Vitamin-M |
| Chapter 5 | The World of Limitless Possibilities |
| Chapter 6 | Twin Melodies |
| Chapter 7 | Carrier of Words |
| Chapter 8 | Follow That Dream |
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
The main theme is the value of traditional craft, cultural identity, artisan livelihood, nature, creativity, and the relationship between art and life.
Winds of Change is about traditional Indian pankhas. It explains their origin, regional varieties, materials, designs, cultural importance, and changing role in modern India.
Pankhas are culturally important because their materials, shapes, designs, and uses reflect the traditions of different regions. They also show the skill of local artisans.
Canvas of Soil is a poem that compares a garden to a painting. It shows how gardeners use soil, seeds, colours, flowers, and care to create living art.
The title means that soil is like a canvas on which gardeners create natural beauty. Seeds become brushstrokes, flowers become colours, and the garden becomes a painting.