# Malu Bhalu and Who Will Be Ningthou?

## Overview

This unit contains a poem and a story. The **poem "Malu Bhalu"** is about a young polar bear learning to swim and being brave. The **story "Who Will Be Ningthou?"** is a folk tale from Manipur that teaches values of empathy, leadership, and non-violence through the character of a young girl named Sanatombi.

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## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Malu Bhalu – Poem Summary

- **Setting**: An icy lair where Malu Bhalu, a young polar bear, lives with her parents.
- **Learning and Growth**: Malu learns to fish and desires to explore the world beyond the sky.
- **Challenge**: Her mother teaches her to swim; Malu is hesitant but determined.
- **Outcome**: With encouragement and courage, Malu overcomes fear and learns to swim, realizing her own strength and bravery.

**Values Highlighted**:
- Bravery and perseverance
- Obedience and trust in elders
- Self-discovery and confidence

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### 2. Who Will Be Ningthou? – Story Summary

- **Setting**: The kingdom of Kangleipak (Manipur), ruled by a kind king (Ningthou) and queen (Leima).
- **Problem**: The king wishes to choose the next ruler from among his sons, but instead of choosing based on birth order, he seeks the most worthy.
- **Contest**: Three sons—Sanajaoba, Sanayaima, and Sanatomba—show their strength in a horse race and other challenges involving a banyan tree (khongnang).
- **Twist**: Sanatombi, their 5-year-old daughter, mourns the loss of the tree and shows empathy for nature.
- **Resolution**: Impressed by her compassion and concern for all living beings, the king declares Sanatombi the future Leima (queen).

**Values Highlighted**:
- True leadership is based on compassion and empathy.
- A good ruler respects both people and nature.
- Sensitivity is strength.

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## Character Sketch

### Malu Bhalu
- **Appearance**: Snow-white polar bear cub
- **Qualities**: Brave, eager, clever, adventurous, loving
- **Growth**: Learns swimming despite fear, emerges confident and fearless

### Sanatombi
- **Appearance**: Gentle and small, five years old
- **Qualities**: Soft-hearted, observant, nature-loving, empathetic
- **Leadership**: Shows concern for animals, birds, and trees; chosen to be queen for her values

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## Grammar and Language Activities

### A. Pronouns Practice
- Replace repeating nouns (like "Malu Malu's") with appropriate pronouns such as she, he, it, they, etc.

### B. Action Words with -ed
| Past Tense | Present Tense |
|------------|----------------|
| admitted | admit |
| lived | live |
| met | meet |
| leapt | leap |
| ordered | order |
| obeyed | obey |
| walked | walk |
| moved | move |
| noticed | notice |
| asked | ask |
| replied | reply |
| came | come |
| instructed | instruct |
| entered | enter |
| thought | think |
| ran | run |

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## Vocabulary – New Words and Simple Definitions

| Word | Meaning in Simple English |
|--------------|----------------------------|
| lair | A home for a wild animal |
| mane | Long hair on the neck of an animal |
| clasped | Held tightly or closely |
| might | Great strength |
| contest | A competition |
| worthy | Deserving something |
| spear | A long, pointed weapon |
| triumphantly | In a victorious or proud way |
| khongnang | Banyan tree (local name in Manipur) |
| Leima | Queen (in Manipuri) |
| Ningthou | King (in Manipuri) |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. **Where did Malu Bhalu live?**
→ In an icy lair with her family.

2. **Who taught Malu to swim?**
→ Her mother.

3. **Who became the future Leima of Kangleipak?**
→ Sanatombi.

### Medium (2)

4. **Why was Malu scared of swimming? How did she overcome it?**
→ She had never swum before. Her mother encouraged her, and she succeeded by trying hard.

5. **Why did the Ningthou not immediately choose the eldest son as king?**
→ He believed the most deserving, not just the eldest, should rule.

### Difficult (3)

6. **How did Sanajaoba, Sanayaima, and Sanatomba try to prove themselves?**
→ Sanajaoba pierced the tree, Sanayaima jumped over it, and Sanatomba uprooted it.

7. **Why did Sanatombi feel sad after the contest?**
→ Because the tree had been hurt and killed; she cared for its life.

8. **What qualities made Sanatombi a better ruler than her brothers?**
→ Her empathy, care for nature, and concern for living beings.

### Very Difficult (2)

9. **Explain how the poem “Malu Bhalu” shows the journey from fear to courage.**
→ Malu begins afraid of swimming but gains confidence with her mother’s help and succeeds, symbolizing personal growth.

10. **What message does the story “Who Will Be Ningthou?” give about true leadership?**
→ Leadership is not about strength or power, but about compassion and responsibility for all—people, animals, and nature.

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