THE OLD PUNKAH FAN FROM INDIA

Before the invention of DC and electric operated fans, the Indians used a human operated device called the punkah in the 17th century.
Punkah means wings in Sanskrit and was made of either palm fronds or a fabric padded plank that was attached to the ceiling. The device was operated by a punkah wallah, who is a servant boy. He operates it by using a series of pulley attached to the fan to control it's speed with his hands and legs.
The punkah could only be found in wealthy homes.