---
type: "Chapter"
knowledge_type: "chapter"
entity_type: "chapter"
id: "66f151a5e361cd99fe3692be"
title: "Mother Tongue"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 11"
subject: "English"
book: "Woven Words"
chapter: "Mother Tongue"
chapter_slug: "mother-tongue"
canonical_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-11-english-woven-words-mother-tongue"
markdown_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-11-english-woven-words-mother-tongue.md"
source_type: "examSubjectBookChapter"
source_id: "66f151a5e361cd99fe3692be"
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source: "Edzy"
version: 1
last_updated: "2026-06-22"
---

# Mother Tongue
The poem "Mother Tongue" by Padma Sachdev expresses the poet's emotional connection to her native language, Dogri, highlighting its importance and the change it has undergone over time.

## Knowledge Snapshot
| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 11 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Woven Words |
| Chapter | Mother Tongue |
| Pages | 119-120 |

## Chapter Summary
### Short Summary
The poem reflects on the poet's plea for a quill to write in her mother tongue, which symbolizes her connection to Dogri, showcasing her attachment to the language amid its decline.

### Detailed Summary
In "Mother Tongue", Padma Sachdev personifies a reed that provides her a quill after she expresses her urgency in needing it for her mother tongue, Dogri. The conversation emphasizes her emotional attachment to Dogri and the historical context of its decline from its native script, Sharade, to its current forms in Persian and Devanagari scripts, signifying a cultural loss.

## Topic-Wise Explanation
### About the Poet
Padma Sachdev, born in 1940, writes in Dogri and Hindi and has received multiple awards for her contributions to poetry, including the Sahitya Academi Award.

### Symbolism of the Quill
The quill symbolizes the voice of the mother tongue and the act of writing, representing the poet's urgency to express herself in her native language.

### Sense of Urgency
The urgency in the poet's request stems from her desire to connect with her roots through her mother tongue, highlighting the importance of timely expression in preserving language and culture.

### Emotional Attachment to Mother Tongue
The poem illustrates the deep emotional bond the poet has with Dogri, emphasizing its significance in her identity and expression.

### Use of Personification
Personification is used in the poem to attribute human qualities to the reed, showing its willingness to serve the poet in her quest to write in her mother tongue.

## Core Ideas
| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Emotional Connection | The poet's strong attachment to her native language and its cultural heritage. |
| Language Preservation | The importance of preserving linguistic diversity and cultural identity. |

## Key Concepts
| Concept | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Mother Tongue | The first language learned by an individual, often associated with one's cultural identity. |
| Personification | A figure of speech that gives human characteristics to non-human entities. |

## Important Points for Revision
* The quill symbolizes the mother tongue and the poet's need for expression.
* Padma Sachdev has been recognized for her work in Dogri poetry.
* Dogri lacks a native script, currently being written in Persian and Devanagari.
* The poem reflects cultural loss linked to language transition.
* The urgency highlights the need to preserve one’s native language.
* The reed's personification emphasizes service and connection to Dogri.
* Sharade script was historically significant for the Dogri language.
* The poem captures a plea for attention to linguistic diversity.

## Vocabulary and Glossary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Shah | A title of a king or ruler, symbolizing authority.|
| Shahni | A term used to refer to the queen or the lady of a household.|

## Practice Questions
### Short Answer Questions
1. What does the quill symbolize in the poem?
2. Why does the poet feel a sense of urgency?
3. What historical script was originally used for Dogri?
4. Who is the poet of "Mother Tongue"?
5. In which languages does Padma Sachdev write?

### Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss how the poet's emotional attachment to Dogri is depicted in the poem.
2. Analyze the significance of the personification of the reed in conveying the poem's message.
3. Explain the impact of cultural and linguistic loss as described in Sachdev's work.

## Related Concepts
| Concept | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Linguistic Diversity | The variety of languages spoken in a specific area or by a specific group of people, essential for cultural heritage.|

## Source Attribution
| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 66f151a5e361cd99fe3692be |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-11-english-woven-words-mother-tongue |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-11-english-woven-words-mother-tongue.md |