Summary: “My Native Land” is a beautiful poem from the Class 8 ASSEB English textbook, Sunbeam English Reader III. The poem is structured as a conversation between a young poet and a blind, lonely, and elderly man sitting by the street. The old man, addressed affectionately as “Koka” (an Assamese term meaning grandfather), asks the poet to describe what their native land looks like, since he cannot see it himself. Unable to use visual descriptions, the poet cleverly appeals to the old man’s remaining senses — touch, hearing, and smell — to paint a vivid picture of their homeland.
The poet describes the native land through a series of sensory images: the warmth of the air that recalls childhood memories, the cool fresh breeze after a night of thunder and rain, the contented gurgling of a little baby tied on its mother’s back, the chorus of cuckoos and sparrows playing near the treetops, the distant roll of the Bihu dhol, the melodic tones of the pepa and gogona, the sweet aroma of pitha and laroo, and finally, the evening prayers rising from the namghar, masjid, and church. Each image represents not just the physical landscape of Assam but also its cultural richness, natural beauty, and the spirit of unity in diversity that defines the region.
The poem captures the deep emotional bond between a person and their native land. It conveys the idea that one’s homeland is not merely a physical place but a feeling — a sense of safety, belonging, warmth, and cultural identity. The final stanza emphasises unity in diversity: people of different faiths and traditions all contribute to the soul of the same beloved land. The poem celebrates Assam’s natural environment, its folk traditions (especially the Bihu festival), its musical heritage, and the spirit of communal harmony that makes it uniquely beautiful.
Comprehension Questions and Answers
1. (a) What does the old man ask the poet?
Answer: The old man asks the poet to tell him what his land is like.
1. (b) Why does the old man ask this question to the poet?
Answer: The old man asks this question to the poet because he is blind and cannot see his native land with his own eyes.
1. (c) How does the poet address the old man? What does that form of address mean?
Answer: The poet addresses the old man as “Koka.” “Koka” is an Assamese term that means grandfather.
1. (d) Why does the poet ask the old man to breathe deep?
Answer: The poet asks the old man to breathe deep so that he can feel the warm air that will remind him of his childhood days and help him understand what his native land feels like.
1. (e) With what does the poet compare the cool breeze on the old man’s face?
Answer: The poet compares the cool breeze on the old man’s face to the peaceful, cool, fresh breeze blowing after a night of thunder and rain — describing it as the peaceful breath of the native land itself.
1. (f) With what does the poet compare the contented gurgling of the little baby?
Answer: The poet compares the contented gurgling of the little baby to the soil of the old man’s native land — suggesting that the land is as warm, comforting, and nurturing as the sound of a happy baby.
1. (g) What does the chorus of the cuckoo and the sparrows do?
Answer: The chorus of the cuckoos and sparrows, as they play near the treetops and call to one another, helps give shape and character to the native land of the old man.
1. (h) What are the things that create the soul of the poet’s beloved country?
Answer: The things that create the soul of the poet’s beloved country are: the distant rolling sounds of the Bihu dhol, the pepa, and the gogona; the sweet aroma of pitha and laroo; and the chant of the evening prayer rising from the namghar, masjid, and church — representing the unity in diversity of Assam.
Match the Stanzas
2. A brief summary of each of the stanzas of the poem has been given below. Match the stanzas with the given summaries by writing the stanza number alongside the correct summary.
Answer:
(a) My native land makes me feel as safe and secure as a baby carried on a mother’s back.
Answer: Stanza 4
(b) The spirit of my native land can be understood in terms of its unity in diversity — people of different faiths and traditions all belong to the same family.
Answer: Stanza 6
(c) The lonely, blind old man in the street asked me to describe our native land.
Answer: Stanza 1
(d) Our native land is rich in the gifts of nature and is brought to life by the birds and animals that playfully roam its rich green forests.
Answer: Stanza 5
(e) The touch of our native land is as peaceful as the cool, fresh breeze blowing after a night of thunder and rain.
Answer: Stanza 3
Senses Exercise
3. The poet uses three senses — touch, hearing, and smell — to help the blind old man understand what his native land is like. Fill in the table with examples from the poem for each sense.
Answer:
(i) Touch — Examples the poet uses to make the old man feel what his land is like:
Answer: The warm air that reminds one of childhood; the cool, fresh breeze blowing after a night of thunder and rain.
(ii) Hearing (Sounds) — Examples the poet uses to make the old man hear what his land is like:
Answer: The contented gurgling of a little baby; the chorus of the cuckoos and sparrows playing near the treetops; the distant roll of the Bihu dhol; the sound of the pepa and gogona; the chant of the evening prayer from the namghar, masjid, and church.
(iii) Smell — Examples the poet uses to make the old man smell what his land is like:
Answer: The sweet aroma of pitha and laroo (traditional Assamese foods prepared especially during Bihu).
(iv) From these sensory clues, what season do you think the old man could guess it was? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer: The old man could guess that it was the season of spring (Rongali Bihu). The clues — the Bihu dhol, pepa and gogona being played, and the aroma of pitha and laroo — all point to the time of Rongali Bihu, which is celebrated in the spring season (mid-April) by the Assamese community.
Vocabulary
4. Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| Column A (Word) | Column B (Meaning) |
|---|---|
| Thunder | The loud explosive sound that follows lightning |
| Morn | Morning |
| Contented | Satisfied; happy with what one has |
| Gurgling | The happy bubbling sound made by a baby |
| Chorus | A group of people or creatures singing or speaking together at the same time |
| Aroma | A pleasant smell |
| Sturdy | Strong and firm |
Musical Instruments of Bihu
5. The poem mentions three musical instruments used during Bihu celebrations. Write a short note on each.
Answer:
(a) Dhol: The Bihu dhol (also called the Bihu drum) is a barrel-shaped drum made especially for the Bihu festival. It is played by striking both ends — one end with a stick and the other with the palm. Its deep, rolling sound is one of the most recognisable features of Bihu celebrations and husori programmes.
(b) Pepa: The pepa is a type of pipe or wind instrument made from buffalo horn. It produces a sharp, reedy sound and is traditionally played during husori (a group singing and dancing programme performed during Bihu). The pepa is one of the most iconic folk instruments of Assam.
(c) Gogona: The gogona is a small stringed musical instrument belonging to the harp family. It is held between the lips and played by plucking a thin metal or bamboo strip while controlling the breath. It produces a unique, resonant twanging sound and is closely associated with Assamese folk music and Bihu celebrations.
Onomatopoeia
6. The English language has many words that represent the sounds made by birds and animals. For example, cuckoos ‘coo’ and sparrows ‘chirp’. These words are called onomatopoeic words because they sound similar to the actual sounds. Match the animals and birds in Column A with the sounds they make in Column B.
| Animal / Bird | Sound |
|---|---|
| Cow | Moos |
| Owl | Hoots |
| Hen | Clucks |
| Lamb | Bleats |
| Parrot | Screeches |
| Pigeon | Coos |
| Crow | Caws |
| Snake | Hisses |
Indirect (Reported) Speech
7. Change the following sentences into indirect (reported) speech. Note: Imperative sentences express orders, requests, and instructions. When we change imperative sentences to indirect narration, we use ‘to’.
Example: The old man said to me, “Tell me what my land is like.”
The old man asked me to tell him what his land was like.
(a) The poet said to the old man, “Feel the cool breeze on your face.”
Answer: The poet advised the old man to feel the cool breeze on his face.
(b) The man said to me, “Listen to the gurgling of that little baby.”
Answer: The man asked me to listen to the gurgling of that little baby.
(c) The teacher said to us, “Enjoy your holidays.”
Answer: The teacher wished us to enjoy our holidays. / The teacher told us to enjoy our holidays.
(d) She said to me, “Tell me your mobile phone number.”
Answer: She asked me to tell her my mobile phone number.
(e) My mother tells me, “Always obey your teachers.”
Answer: My mother advises me to always obey my teachers.
(f) I said to him, “Come to our house tomorrow.”
Answer: I told him to come to our house the next day.
Let’s Talk
8. Discuss with your classmates: What are the things that make your native land or your village/town special? Think about its natural beauty, food, festivals, music, and people. Share your thoughts in class.
Answer: (This is a discussion activity. Students should speak about their own native place, mentioning its natural features such as rivers, hills, or forests; traditional foods; local festivals such as Bihu, Durga Puja, or Eid; folk music and dance; and the warmth and hospitality of its people. Every student’s answer will be unique to their own experience and community.)
Letter Writing
9. Write a letter to your friend inviting him/her to celebrate Rongali Bihu at your home. Mention the special foods, rituals, and festivities you will enjoy together.
Answer:
Jalukpara,
Guwahati,
Date: 12th April, ______
Dear Rohit,
How are you? I hope you are well. I am writing to you with a special invitation. As you know, Rongali Bihu — the greatest festival of Assam — is just around the corner. This year, our family is celebrating it from the 13th of April, and I would love for you and your family to join us at our home.
My mother and aunt have already started preparing our favourite Bihu foods — Tilpitha, Narikal Pitha, Tekeli Pitha, and sweet Narikal Laroo. The aroma alone will make your mouth water! We will also watch the Bihu dance and listen to the Bihu dhol, pepa, and gogona being played in our neighbourhood. It is going to be a wonderful and joyful occasion.
Please do try to come. My entire family will be very happy to have you with us. Let me know your arrival date so I can make arrangements. Looking forward to celebrating with you!
Your loving friend,
[Your Name]
Additional Important Questions
Q. What is the main theme of the poem “My Native Land”?
Answer: The main theme of the poem is love for one’s native land. The poem expresses deep patriotic feeling and emotional attachment to one’s homeland through sensory descriptions — touch, sound, and smell — rather than visual images. It also highlights the cultural richness and unity in diversity of Assam.
Q. Why does the poet use senses other than sight to describe the native land?
Answer: The poet uses senses other than sight because the person being described the native land is blind. Since the old man cannot see, describing visual scenery would be meaningless to him. By using touch (the warm air and cool breeze), hearing (sounds of birds, musical instruments, and prayers), and smell (the aroma of pitha and laroo), the poet helps the old man experience and understand the native land in a way that is meaningful to him.
Q. What does the poem suggest about the “spirit” of the native land?
Answer: The poem suggests that the spirit of the native land can be understood through its unity in diversity. Just as members of one family may follow different religions and traditions yet belong to the same home, the people of Assam — who worship in namghars, masjids, and churches — all contribute to the soul of the same beloved land. The spirit of the native land lies in its harmony, cultural richness, and shared sense of belonging.
Q. What figure of speech is used when the poet says the cool breeze is “the peaceful breath” of the native land?
Answer: The figure of speech used is personification. The native land is given a human quality — that of breathing — by comparing the cool breeze to the “peaceful breath” of the land itself.
Q. What is an onomatopoeic word? Give two examples from the poem.
Answer: An onomatopoeic word is a word that imitates or sounds like the actual sound it describes. Two examples from the poem are: “coo” — the sound made by cuckoos (the word itself sounds like the bird’s call), and “chirp” — the sound made by sparrows. These words are called onomatopoeic because they phonetically resemble the actual sounds of the birds.