Hiawatha & The Scholar's Mother Tongue
Part 1 — Hiawatha (Poem by H.W. Longfellow)
"By the shores of Gitche Gumee, / By the shining Big-Sea-Water, / Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, / Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis."
About the Poem
HIAWATHA is a young Native American boy who lives with his grandmother NOKOMIS. He loves nature deeply. He learns the LANGUAGE of every creature — the birds, the beasts, the insects. He calls the chickens 'Hiawatha's chickens.' He calls the birds 'Hiawatha's chickens.' He listens to the forest and the rivers. Everything in nature is his FRIEND and TEACHER.
What the Poem Teaches
- Live in HARMONY with nature
- Listen carefully — every creature has something to teach
- All living things are CONNECTED
New Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wigwam | A Native American tent-home |
| Secret | Something not everyone knows |
| Beasts | Wild animals |
Part 2 — The Scholar's Mother Tongue
The Story
There was once a great PANDIT (scholar) who knew MANY languages — Sanskrit, Hindi, Persian, Arabic, and more. He was very proud of his learning.
One day, the KING invited him to the palace. The king said: 'You know so many languages. But tell me — what is your MOTHER TONGUE?'
The pandit hesitated. He was ASHAMED to admit he spoke a SIMPLE village language as his mother tongue. He tried to avoid answering.
That night, at the court, the pandit was challenged by a COURT JESTER: 'If you're so clever, tell me — what language did your mother speak to you as a baby?'
The Lesson: The pandit realised: no language is 'superior' to another. The language your mother spoke to you — however simple — is YOUR language, YOUR root. It is nothing to be ashamed of.
What We Learn
- Every language is beautiful and important
- Your mother tongue is PRECIOUS — never feel ashamed of it
- No language is 'better' than another. They are just DIFFERENT.
Fun Activity
What is YOUR mother tongue? Can you say 'hello' and 'thank you' in your mother tongue? Can you teach a friend one word?
