# Hekko

## Overview
The chapter "Hekko" introduces students to a traditional game from Nagaland called Hekko, meaning "Challenging the Tiger." It is based on a folk story involving a man (Aami) and a tiger (Aakho) and is played as a competitive team sport in the Mokokchung district. The chapter also includes language exercises focused on vocabulary, homophones, past tense verbs, and identification of traditional Indian games.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. The Story of Hekko
- The word **Hekko** is derived from two words: "Hek" (challenge) and "Ko" (tiger), thus meaning "Challenging the Tiger."
- A folk tale from Nagaland tells of humans and animals once living together and having a dispute about who was superior. This led to the challenge that inspired the game.

### 2. Game of Hekko
- **Teams**: Two teams are formed—Aakho (tiger) and Aami (man), with 11 players each.
- **Toss**: Decides which team is Aami and which is Aakho.
- **Setup**: A circle is drawn on the ground. Aami players form a human chain inside it, while Aakho players remain outside.
- **Gameplay**:
- Two Aakho players enter and try to push Aami members out of the circle. Pushed-out Aami members cannot return.
- Aami players try to surround and catch Aakho players. When caught, the Aakho player must say “Joko” (surrender).
- The game continues until all Aakho players are caught, all Aami players are pushed out, or time runs out.
- **Scoring**: Points are awarded for catching or pushing out members of the opposite team.
- **Titles**:
- Fastest Aami player: **Khozuba**
- Strongest Aakho player: **Khotiba**

### 3. Vocabulary Building
- Words introduced include: declared, superiority, disagreement, surrender.
- Activities include choosing the correct homophones (e.g., there/their, too/two), identifying animals by pictures, and matching animals to their sounds.

### 4. Grammar: Past Tense
- Learners practice using past tense verbs, both regular (e.g., visited, pointed) and irregular (e.g., came, saw).
- Emphasis on adding **-ed** to regular verbs to form the past tense.

### 5. Listening and Speaking Skills
- Students listen to descriptions of other traditional Indian games and identify them, such as:
- Seven stones (Lagori)
- Kabaddi
- Gilli-danda
- London Bridge game
- Marbles
- Discussion prompts encourage students to share their experiences and preferences regarding traditional games.

### 6. Writing and Exploration
- Activity for students to create their own game with rules and fouls.
- Encouragement to explore more about **Hornbill Festival**, which promotes Nagaland’s culture.

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## New Terms – Simple Definitions

| Term | Definition |
|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| Hekko | A traditional game from Nagaland meaning "challenging the tiger" |
| Aakho | The tiger; one of the teams in the game |
| Aami | The man; the opposing team in the game |
| Surrender | To give up or stop resisting |
| Superiority | Being better or stronger than someone or something |
| Declared | Said something strongly or officially |
| Disagreement | A situation where people do not have the same opinion |
| Khozuba | Title given to the fastest player of the Aami team |
| Khotiba | Title given to the strongest player of the Aakho team |
| Joko | Word meaning “I surrender” in the game |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)
1. What does “Hekko” mean?
**Answer**: Challenging the tiger.

2. How many players are there in each team in Hekko?
**Answer**: 11 players.

3. What must the Aakho player say when caught?
**Answer**: Joko.

### Medium (2)
4. Name the two titles awarded in Hekko and what they mean.
**Answer**: Khozuba – fastest Aami player; Khotiba – strongest Aakho player.

5. Describe the role of the Aami team during the game.
**Answer**: Aami players stay inside the circle forming a human chain and try to catch Aakho players.

### Difficult (3)
6. What are the three ways in which the game of Hekko can end?
**Answer**: (1) All Aakho players are caught. (2) All Aami players are pushed out. (3) Time runs out.

7. Why is the game of Hekko important to the people of Mokokchung district?
**Answer**: It helps identify the strongest people in the village and is rooted in their tradition.

8. Explain the meaning and use of past tense verbs with examples from the text.
**Answer**: Past tense shows actions that have already happened. E.g., visited, enjoyed, jumped.

### Very Difficult (2)
9. If you could add a new rule to the game of Hekko, what would it be? How would it help?
**Answer**: [Open-ended – students may suggest time limits, substitution rules, etc. and explain benefits.]

10. Compare the game of Hekko with another traditional game you know. Mention one similarity and one difference.
**Answer**: [Example: Similar to Kabaddi—team-based and physical. Different in its surrender rule and circle setup.]

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