The Scholar's Mother Tongue

'A man may know many languages, but his mother tongue is the language of his heart.'

1. About the Poem

Theme: Humility, the wisdom of ordinary people, pride in one's mother tongue

This is a STORY-POEM from Indian folklore. A great scholar knows many languages and teaches kings. But his own MOTHER — who is simple and uneducated — teaches him a lesson he never expected.

2. The Poem

There once was a scholar of great fame, Who knew many tongues and many a name. He taught the king of a far-off land, With a sharp mind and a steady hand.

But the king one day said, 'Great scholar, Teach me your speech, so I can holler!' The scholar taught, and the king was pleased, But the scholar's mother was not appeased.

His mother came from a humble home, She did not know how to read or roam. But when the scholar spoke his learned words, She heard only the sounds of birds.

'My son,' she said, 'your words are grand, But speak in the tongue of our dear land. For a scholar may know a hundred ways, But his mother tongue is the one that stays.'

3. Understanding the Story

What Happens

• A FAMOUS scholar teaches a king
• The king is IMPRESSED and praises the scholar
• The scholar's SIMPLE mother visits
• She cannot understand his FANCY words
• She asks him to speak in her LANGUAGE
• The scholar REALISES the value of his mother tongue

The Lesson

No matter how many languages you learn, your MOTHER TONGUE — the language your mother speaks — is SPECIAL. It is the language of LOVE and HOME.

4. What We Learn

What is a Mother Tongue?

Your mother tongue is the FIRST language you learned as a child. It is the language you speak at HOME with your family.

Why It Is Important

5. New Words

6. Key Facts

• A SCHOLAR is someone who knows a LOT about many things
• One's MOTHER TONGUE is the language learned from birth
• Being EDUCATED does not mean looking down on simple people
• TRUE WISDOM includes humility and respect for all
• India has HUNDREDS of languages — each one is someone's mother tongue
• Every language, big or small, is PRECIOUS to those who speak it

7. Common Mistakes

'Do NOT think knowing many languages makes you BETTER than others.' 'Do NOT be ASHAMED of your mother tongue — be PROUD of it.' 'Do NOT think a simple person is UNWISE. Wisdom comes in many forms.' 'Do NOT forget that INDIA has 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects.' 'Do NOT confuse 'mother tongue' with 'national language' — they are different concepts.'

8. Fun Activity

My Mother Tongue What is YOUR mother tongue? Write three sentences in it. Teach a friend ONE word from your mother tongue.

Language Map of India On a map of India, mark 5 states and write the main language spoken in each one.

Proud Moment Write a short paragraph about why you are proud of your mother tongue.

9. Self-Test

Q1. Who did the scholar teach in the poem? Answer: A king

Q2. Who visited the scholar and taught him a lesson? Answer: His mother

Q3. What did the mother ask the scholar to do? Answer: To speak in the tongue of their dear land (mother tongue)

Q4. What is a 'mother tongue'? Answer: The first language you learn as a child from your family

Q5. What lesson did the scholar learn? Answer: That his mother tongue is precious and he should not forget it

Q6. Why is every language important? Answer: Because every language is someone's mother tongue and part of their identity and culture.

10. Key Vocabulary