Summary of 'Mother Tongue' by Padma Sachdev

• Poet: Padma Sachdev, writes in Dogri and Hindi.
• Awards: Received the Sahitya Academi Award for her first collection of Dogri poems.
• Theme: The poem expresses the emotional connection to the Dogri language and its script, Sharade.
• Symbolism: The quill symbolizes the poet's urgent need to connect with her mother tongue.
• Language Transition: Dogri has transitioned from the Sharade script to Persian and Devanagari scripts.
• Cultural Significance: Dogri is recognized in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution.
• Personification: The poem uses personification to attribute human qualities to the quill and the reed, emphasizing the relationship with the mother tongue.

Mother Tongue by Padma Sachdev

About the Poet

• Padma Sachdev (born 1940) writes in her mother tongue Dogri and in Hindi.
• She has received many awards for her poetry, including the Sahitya Academi Award for her first collection of Dogri poems at the age of thirty.

Understanding the Poem

1. Symbolism of the Quill: The quill is the central element in the poem. What does it symbolize?
2. Sense of Urgency: Notice the sense of urgency in the poet's request. What is the reason for this?
3. Emotional Attachment: How has the poet expressed her emotional attachment to her mother tongue?
4. Use of Personification: Personification attributes human qualities to inanimate things and abstract ideas. How has it been used in this poem?

Try This Out

1. Talk to five people from different spheres of society and ask them about the number of languages they know and use for various purposes. Gather information about their attitudes towards the different languages.
2. Dogri Language: Spoken in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. Its earliest mention is in Amir Khusro's list of Indian languages. It does not have a script of its own and is written in either the Devanagari or Persian script. Research other Indian languages that are spoken but do not have a script of their own.

Suggested Reading

• 'Hindi' by Raghuvir Sahay

Common Mistakes and Exam Tips

Common Pitfalls

• Misunderstanding Symbolism: Students often overlook the significance of the quill in the poem, which symbolizes the poet's connection to her mother tongue.
• Ignoring Urgency: Many fail to recognize the urgency in the poet's request for a quill, which reflects her emotional attachment to her language.
• Neglecting Personification: Students may miss how personification is used in the poem, attributing human qualities to the reed and emphasizing the relationship with the mother tongue.

Tips for Exam Preparation

• Analyze Symbolism: Always consider what central elements in a poem symbolize, as this can be crucial for understanding the overall message.
• Identify Emotional Tone: Pay attention to the emotional tone and urgency in requests or statements made by the poet, as this can provide insight into their feelings about the subject.
• Recognize Literary Devices: Familiarize yourself with literary devices like personification, as they can enhance your interpretation of the text.