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CBSE Class 5 English★ 3-5 marks in Class 5 English assessments; story comprehension and values

Who Will Be Ningthou

Who Will Be Ningthou is a current Class 5 CBSE English story from NCERT Marigold. This Manipuri folk tale about choosing a worthy leader covers leadership qualities, vocabulary, and practice.

⏱ 10 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Explain the meaning of 'Ningthou' and the story's setting
2Describe why a successor must be chosen
3Identify the qualities of a good leader in the story
4State the message that leadership is service
5Appreciate Manipuri folk culture

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Why this chapter matters

'Who Will Be Ningthou' is a Manipuri folk tale about choosing a worthy king. It builds comprehension and teaches that true leadership is about kindness, wisdom, and service to people, not just strength or cleverness, while sharing the culture of Manipur.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 4 English: Folk tales

Stories with values from different regions

Who Will Be Ningthou — Class 5 English (CBSE)

From the current Class 5 English Marigold textbook. Read this Manipuri folk tale about choosing a leader, then attempt the practice questions.

1. About the story

'Who Will Be Ningthou' is a folk tale from Manipur, a state in northeastern India. 'Ningthou' means 'king' in the Manipuri language (Meitei). The story is about choosing a new leader. It explores what qualities make a good leader — strength, wisdom, kindness, and the ability to listen. The tale comes from the rich tradition of Manipuri folklore.

2. Summary

In a kingdom in Manipur, the old king (Ningthou) is getting old. He must choose someone to take his place. Three sons are considered as candidates. Each son has different qualities. One is strong, one is clever, and one is kind.

The king and the people discuss what kind of leader they need. They realise that a good leader needs more than just strength or cleverness. A true leader must also have wisdom, kindness, and a heart that cares for all people.

After much discussion and testing, a decision is made. The story shows that true leadership is about serving others, not just being powerful.

3. Characters

Character	Role
The old Ningthou (king)	The ruler who must choose a successor
The three sons	Candidates to become the next Ningthou
The people	The community who want a good leader

4. Theme and values

Theme	Explanation
Leadership	A good leader serves others and thinks of everyone.
Wisdom	Choosing a leader requires wisdom, not just strength.
Fairness	The selection process should be fair and thoughtful.
Community	The people's well-being is the leader's priority.
Manipuri culture	The story shares traditions from Manipur.

Values to learn

A good leader cares about everyone, not just themselves.
True leadership is about service, not power.
Strength and cleverness are good, but kindness matters more.
Listen to what people need.
Be thoughtful when making important decisions.

5. Key vocabulary

Word	Meaning
Ningthou	King (in Manipuri/Meitei language)
Leader	A person who guides or rules others
Kingdom	A country ruled by a king or queen
Folk tale	A traditional story from a culture
Successor	A person who takes over a position
Wisdom	Good judgement based on experience
Courage	The ability to face difficulty without fear
Kindness	The quality of being friendly and caring
Manipur	A state in northeastern India
Meitei	The language and culture of Manipur

6. Reading comprehension

Questions to think about while reading

What does 'Ningthou' mean?
Why does the old king need to choose a successor?
What qualities do the three sons have?
What quality is most important for a leader, according to the story?
How is the new leader chosen?

Understanding leadership

The story challenges the idea that the strongest or smartest person makes the best leader. True leadership, according to this tale, is about kindness, wisdom, and serving others. This is an important lesson for any community.

7. Writing practice

Prompt 1: What qualities do you think a good leader should have? Write a short paragraph explaining.

Prompt 2: Describe a leader you admire (a family member, teacher, or public figure). What makes them a good leader?

Prompt 3: Imagine you are the new Ningthou. Write a short speech to your people about how you will lead them.

8. Common mistakes

Mistake: Not knowing that 'Ningthou' is a Manipuri word Fix: The title 'Ningthou' means 'king' in the Meitei language of Manipur.
Mistake: Thinking leadership is only about strength Fix: The story clearly shows that kindness and wisdom are more important than strength or cleverness alone.
Mistake: Treating the story as if it is from a Western culture Fix: This is an Indian folk tale from Manipur. Appreciate its cultural context.

9. Self-test

What does 'Ningthou' mean?
Which Indian state does this folk tale come from?
Why does the old king need to choose a successor?
Name two qualities the people look for in a leader.
What is the main message of the story?

10. Answer key

What does 'Ningthou' mean? Answer: 'Ningthou' means 'king' in the Manipuri (Meitei) language.
Which Indian state does this folk tale come from? Answer: Manipur (in northeastern India).
Why does the old king need to choose a successor? Answer: The old king is getting old and needs someone to take his place.
Name two qualities the people look for in a leader. Answer: Kindness and wisdom (also courage, fairness, ability to listen — any two).
What is the main message of the story? Answer: A good leader is kind, wise, and serves the people. Strength and cleverness alone are not enough — true leadership comes from caring for others.

11. Quick revision

Source: Manipuri folk tale (northeastern India).
Title meaning: 'Who Will Be King'.
Setting: A kingdom in Manipur.
Central question: What makes a good leader?
Key theme: Leadership is about service and kindness, not power.
Qualities valued: Kindness, wisdom, courage, fairness.
The story reflects Manipuri culture and values.
Connect to your own ideas about good leadership.
True leaders put others before themselves.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Title meaning and setting

Ningthou means king (Meitei language); set in Manipur

A folk tale from northeastern India.

Core message

True leadership is service, kindness, and wisdom

Strength alone does not make a good leader.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Not knowing 'Ningthou' is a Manipuri word

✓ Ningthou means king in the Meitei language of Manipur.

WATCH OUT

✗ Thinking leadership is only about strength

✓ The story shows kindness and wisdom matter more than strength or cleverness alone.

WATCH OUT

✗ Treating the tale as from a Western culture

✓ It is an Indian folk tale from Manipur; appreciate its cultural context.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Reading is Fun

Comprehension questions on the story

Questions

Let Us Talk

Discussion on leadership qualities

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Recall

What does 'Ningthou' mean and which state does the tale come from?

▶ Show solution

Ningthou means king in the Manipuri (Meitei) language; the tale comes from Manipur.

Q2EASY· Comprehension

Why does the old king need to choose a successor?

▶ Show solution

Because he is getting old and needs someone to take his place.

Q3EASY· Recall

Name two qualities the people look for in a leader.

▶ Show solution

Kindness and wisdom (also courage, fairness, and the ability to listen).

Q4MEDIUM· Theme

What is the main message of the story?

▶ Show solution

A good leader is kind, wise, and serves the people; strength and cleverness alone are not enough, because true leadership comes from caring for others.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Ningthou means king in the Meitei language of Manipur.
•The story is a folk tale from Manipur, northeastern India.
•The old king must choose a successor.
•Three sons with different qualities are considered.
•The people value kindness, wisdom, courage, and fairness.
•Message: true leadership is service, not just power.
•The tale reflects Manipuri culture and values.

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 3-5 marks, depending on the school paper

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Comprehension / MCQ	1-2	1-2	Title meaning and setting
Theme / values	2-3	1	Qualities of a good leader

Prep strategy

Learn the meaning of Ningthou and the setting
Understand why a successor is chosen
List the qualities of a good leader
State the leadership-is-service message

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Understanding leadership

The story helps children think about what makes a good leader.

Cultural appreciation

It introduces the folk culture of Manipur.

Values

It teaches that kindness and service matter more than power.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Explain the meaning of Ningthou and the setting
Describe why a successor is chosen
List good-leader qualities
State the leadership-is-service message

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Write a short speech as the new Ningthou to your people.
Describe a leader you admire and the qualities they have.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 5 School ExamHigh

Olympiad / value educationMedium

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

The story challenges the idea that the strongest or cleverest person automatically makes the best leader. As the old king and the people consider the three sons, they realise that a true leader must also be kind, wise, and fair, and must genuinely care about the well-being of all the people. Leadership, the tale shows, is about serving others and listening to their needs, not simply about having power, strength, or cleverness.

Folk tales like 'Who Will Be Ningthou' carry the values, language, and traditions of a particular culture, in this case the Meitei people of Manipur in northeastern India. Reading them helps us appreciate the diversity of our country and understand how different communities think about important ideas such as leadership. At the same time, the tale's message that good leaders are kind, wise, and serve their people is universal, so it teaches a lesson everyone can learn from.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

CBSE Class 5 mock tests

CBSE Class 5 PYQs

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