Hekko: NCERT Class 4 English Lesson (Santoor Chapter 9)

etmantra3 Nov 20264 min read

India has many traditional games, and each has a story. This lesson takes children to Nagaland to learn Hekko, a game of strength and speed that grew out of a folk tale.

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From NCERT’s new English book Santoor for Class 4, unit “Fun with Games”. Chapter 9.

What your child learns

How the Naga game Hekko is played
Past tense with -ed: lived, challenged, declared
Words that sound the same: their and there, two and too
Making up rules for a new game

What the lesson is about

Hekko means 'challenging the tiger'. A Naga folk story says that long ago, humans and animals argued about who was greater, and humans challenged the tiger. Today, people in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland play Hekko as a team game between Aami (the Man) and Aakho (the Tiger), with 11 players in each team. A toss decides which team is which.

The Aami team makes a human chain inside a circle. Two Aakho players enter and try to push them out, while the Aami team tries to surround and catch them. A caught tiger player must say 'Joko', meaning surrender. The game ends when one team is all out or time runs out, and the team with more points wins. The fastest Aami player is called Khozuba and the strongest Aakho player Khotiba.

New words, with Hindi meanings

challenge: to invite someone to a contest (हिंदी: चुनौती देना)
folk story: an old story people have told for many years (हिंदी: लोककथा)
disagreement: when people do not agree (हिंदी: असहमति)
superiority: being better or greater than others (हिंदी: श्रेष्ठता)
chain: people or things joined in a line (हिंदी: ज़ंजीर, कड़ी)
surrender: to give up (हिंदी: हार मान लेना)
toss: throwing a coin to decide something (हिंदी: टॉस, सिक्का उछालना)
awarded: given as a prize (हिंदी: सम्मानित किया)

Talk about it

Ask these aloud after reading or watching. Let your child answer in English if they can, or mix in their home language. Both help.

What does the word Hekko mean?
What are the two teams called, and how many players are in each?
What must a caught Aakho player say?
Would you like to be in the Aami team or the Aakho team? Why?

Answers for parents

It means 'challenging the tiger'.
Aami (the Man) and Aakho (the Tiger). Each team has 11 players.
He must say 'Joko', which means surrender.
For example: I would be in the Aami team because I like holding hands and working as a chain.

Grammar corner: Past tense with -ed

When we talk about something that already happened, we often add -ed to the action word. Play becomes played and push becomes pushed. Some words change in other ways, like come becomes came.

The Aakho players pushed hard against the chain.
The Aami team surrounded one tiger player.
Everyone cheered when the game ended.

Practice at home

Fill in the blank: Long ago, humans and animals ___ together. (live)
Choose: I was ___ tired after the game. (two / too)
Fill in the blank: ___ is a big circle on the ground. (Their / There)

Answers: 1. lived · 2. too · 3. There

Try this

Play a gentle Hekko at home or in the yard. Draw a circle with chalk or a rope. A few people link arms inside as the 'Aami' chain, and one or two 'tigers' try to gently move them out. Agree on a soft rule: no pulling or pushing hard. Swap teams and keep score.

Tip for parents

Explain the game in Hindi first: 'Aadmi aur baagh ka khel.' Then teach the English words 'man', 'tiger', 'circle' and 'chain'. Let your child describe the rules in Hindi and then in simple English; praise every attempt.

Questions parents ask

What does Hekko mean?

'Hek' means to challenge and 'ko' means tiger, so Hekko means 'challenging the tiger'.

Where is Hekko played?

It is played by people in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland.

Is Hekko in the new NCERT book?

Yes. It is Chapter 9 in NCERT's new Santoor book for Class 4, in the unit 'Fun with Games'.

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Every chapter of Santoor, NCERT’s new book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, grammar, speaking and writing practice. ₹1,299 for the whole year.

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