Chapter mother-tongue: Mother Tongue | Long Questions

The dialogue in the poem reveals that poetic creation is an urgent, demanding, and almost sacred duty. When the reed asks if the poet is an accountant, it represents a worldly, functional view of writing. The poet’s correction—that she works for a 'kind Shahni'—shifts the focus from commercial output to emotional and cultural service. The poet’s sense of urgency ('Give me a quill, quickly') suggests that the inspiration to write for one’s mother tongue is a fleeting but essential call that must be answered immediately. This shows that poetry is not just a hobby but a vital response to the needs of one's culture. By portraying herself as a servant, the poet implies that the creator is secondary to the language itself. The poem teaches us that true art comes from a place of humble service and a desire to give voice to one's heritage.

The central theme of the poem is the preservation of linguistic identity and the quiet struggle against the loss of heritage. Padma Sachdev writes about Dogri, a language that has lost its original Sharade script to Persian and Devanagari. Although the poem is light in its narrative, the underlying tone is one of concern and urgency. The poet’s frequent need for a new quill suggests a constant, almost desperate effort to keep writing and recording in her language before it fades away. The 'Shahni' having many servants reflects the hope that a collective effort can sustain a language. This theme is important because it highlights how language is the primary vessel for culture. If a mother tongue is lost, a unique way of seeing the world disappears. The poem encourages students to value their own native languages as essential parts of their personal and communal identity.

Personification is the backbone of 'Mother Tongue,' used to make abstract concepts like language and nature relatable and emotionally charged. The poet personifies the Dogri language as a 'Shahni' and the reed as a 'servant' capable of speech and sacrifice. By giving the reed a voice and human emotions like irritation and eventually solidarity, the poet creates a dramatic scene that emphasizes the connection between humans and their environment. The language is not just a set of grammar rules; it is a queen who 'looks for' her poet. This makes the poet’s duty feel like a personal relationship rather than a chore. For the reader, personification transforms a simple request for a pen into a high-stakes mission of loyalty. It helps students visualize the importance of language as something alive that can be served, loved, and protected, making the message far more impactful.