In colonial India, the oppressive summer heat necessitated the use of punkahs, manually operated ceiling fans, to keep British officers cool. These fans were operated by punkah-wallahs, predominantly men from lower castes, who endured grueling working conditions for a mere ₹3 per month in the 1880s. Their labor involved pulling the fan from an adjacent room, often in uncomfortable positions to avoid falling asleep, and they worked in shifts to ensure continuous airflow. The term 'punkah' is derived from the Hindustani word for 'wing' and reflects the fan's design, which has historical roots dating back to the eighth century. Despite the introduction of electric fans, the exploitative nature of employing punkah-wallahs made them a preferred choice for many British households. Historical accounts, such as those by historian Arun Kumar, highlight the severe labor extraction and the social dynamics between the workers and their employers. Notably, punkah-wallahs were known to have protested their conditions, with a recorded strike occurring in 1898.