NCERT Book Class 4 English Hekko | Latest 2025-26 Edition

 Page 1


9
 Hekko ‘Hek’ means to challenge 
and ‘ko’ means tiger. 
Therefore, the word 
“Hekko” means 
“Challenging the tiger.” 
There is a folk story in 
Nagaland which talks about 
“Aami” (The Man) and 
“Aakho” (The Tiger).
Story: Once upon a time, humans and 
animals lived together. They had 
a disagreement about their 
superiority. The humans 
challenged Aakho and the 
challenge came to be known 
as Hekko.
Let us Read
Chapter 9.indd   89 13-Mar-25   4:02:30 PM
Reprint 2026-27
Page 2


9
 Hekko ‘Hek’ means to challenge 
and ‘ko’ means tiger. 
Therefore, the word 
“Hekko” means 
“Challenging the tiger.” 
There is a folk story in 
Nagaland which talks about 
“Aami” (The Man) and 
“Aakho” (The Tiger).
Story: Once upon a time, humans and 
animals lived together. They had 
a disagreement about their 
superiority. The humans 
challenged Aakho and the 
challenge came to be known 
as Hekko.
Let us Read
Chapter 9.indd   89 13-Mar-25   4:02:30 PM
Reprint 2026-27
90
Santoor  Grade 4
The people in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland 
play a game named Hekko, which is a well-known 
sport today. 
 Presently, it is played as a team game between 
two teams: Aakho and Aami. The strongest people 
in the village are identified through this game.
 There are 11 players in each team. The toss 
before the game decides which team will be called 
Aami and which will be called Aakho.
Chapter 9.indd   90 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
Page 3


9
 Hekko ‘Hek’ means to challenge 
and ‘ko’ means tiger. 
Therefore, the word 
“Hekko” means 
“Challenging the tiger.” 
There is a folk story in 
Nagaland which talks about 
“Aami” (The Man) and 
“Aakho” (The Tiger).
Story: Once upon a time, humans and 
animals lived together. They had 
a disagreement about their 
superiority. The humans 
challenged Aakho and the 
challenge came to be known 
as Hekko.
Let us Read
Chapter 9.indd   89 13-Mar-25   4:02:30 PM
Reprint 2026-27
90
Santoor  Grade 4
The people in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland 
play a game named Hekko, which is a well-known 
sport today. 
 Presently, it is played as a team game between 
two teams: Aakho and Aami. The strongest people 
in the village are identified through this game.
 There are 11 players in each team. The toss 
before the game decides which team will be called 
Aami and which will be called Aakho.
Chapter 9.indd   90 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
91
Hekko
 To play, a circle is first drawn, and the Aami 
team has to stay within the circle by making a 
human chain, while the Aakho team stays outside 
the circle. 
 At first, two members of the Aakho team enter 
the circle and try to push the Aami players outside 
the circle. When an Aami player is pushed out of 
the circle, he is out and cannot enter again. 
 The Aami team also tries to catch the players 
of the Aakho team by surrounding them. When an 
Aakho player is caught, he is not released until 
he says “Joko” (surrender). When one player gets 
Chapter 9.indd   91 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
Page 4


9
 Hekko ‘Hek’ means to challenge 
and ‘ko’ means tiger. 
Therefore, the word 
“Hekko” means 
“Challenging the tiger.” 
There is a folk story in 
Nagaland which talks about 
“Aami” (The Man) and 
“Aakho” (The Tiger).
Story: Once upon a time, humans and 
animals lived together. They had 
a disagreement about their 
superiority. The humans 
challenged Aakho and the 
challenge came to be known 
as Hekko.
Let us Read
Chapter 9.indd   89 13-Mar-25   4:02:30 PM
Reprint 2026-27
90
Santoor  Grade 4
The people in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland 
play a game named Hekko, which is a well-known 
sport today. 
 Presently, it is played as a team game between 
two teams: Aakho and Aami. The strongest people 
in the village are identified through this game.
 There are 11 players in each team. The toss 
before the game decides which team will be called 
Aami and which will be called Aakho.
Chapter 9.indd   90 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
91
Hekko
 To play, a circle is first drawn, and the Aami 
team has to stay within the circle by making a 
human chain, while the Aakho team stays outside 
the circle. 
 At first, two members of the Aakho team enter 
the circle and try to push the Aami players outside 
the circle. When an Aami player is pushed out of 
the circle, he is out and cannot enter again. 
 The Aami team also tries to catch the players 
of the Aakho team by surrounding them. When an 
Aakho player is caught, he is not released until 
he says “Joko” (surrender). When one player gets 
Chapter 9.indd   91 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
92
Santoor  Grade 4
New w ords declared  superiority  disagreement  surrender
caught and surrenders, another player from the 
Aakho team enters the circle. Whenever a team 
gets a player of the opposite team out, it gains 
points.
 The game of Hekko gets over when one of the 
following three things happens:
•	 All 	 the 	 members 	 of 	 the 	 Aakho 	 team 
get caught.
•	 All 	 the 	 members 	 of 	 the 	 Aami 	 team 
are pushed out of the circle. 
•	 The 	 time 	 runs 	 out. 
The team with the 
maximum points wins 
the game.
The fastest player of 
the Aami Team is 
awarded the title of 
“Khozuba” and 
the strongest 
player of the Aakho 
team is awarded 
the title 
of “Khotiba”.
Chapter 9.indd   92 13-Mar-25   4:02:32 PM
Reprint 2026-27
Page 5


9
 Hekko ‘Hek’ means to challenge 
and ‘ko’ means tiger. 
Therefore, the word 
“Hekko” means 
“Challenging the tiger.” 
There is a folk story in 
Nagaland which talks about 
“Aami” (The Man) and 
“Aakho” (The Tiger).
Story: Once upon a time, humans and 
animals lived together. They had 
a disagreement about their 
superiority. The humans 
challenged Aakho and the 
challenge came to be known 
as Hekko.
Let us Read
Chapter 9.indd   89 13-Mar-25   4:02:30 PM
Reprint 2026-27
90
Santoor  Grade 4
The people in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland 
play a game named Hekko, which is a well-known 
sport today. 
 Presently, it is played as a team game between 
two teams: Aakho and Aami. The strongest people 
in the village are identified through this game.
 There are 11 players in each team. The toss 
before the game decides which team will be called 
Aami and which will be called Aakho.
Chapter 9.indd   90 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
91
Hekko
 To play, a circle is first drawn, and the Aami 
team has to stay within the circle by making a 
human chain, while the Aakho team stays outside 
the circle. 
 At first, two members of the Aakho team enter 
the circle and try to push the Aami players outside 
the circle. When an Aami player is pushed out of 
the circle, he is out and cannot enter again. 
 The Aami team also tries to catch the players 
of the Aakho team by surrounding them. When an 
Aakho player is caught, he is not released until 
he says “Joko” (surrender). When one player gets 
Chapter 9.indd   91 13-Mar-25   4:02:31 PM
Reprint 2026-27
92
Santoor  Grade 4
New w ords declared  superiority  disagreement  surrender
caught and surrenders, another player from the 
Aakho team enters the circle. Whenever a team 
gets a player of the opposite team out, it gains 
points.
 The game of Hekko gets over when one of the 
following three things happens:
•	 All 	 the 	 members 	 of 	 the 	 Aakho 	 team 
get caught.
•	 All 	 the 	 members 	 of 	 the 	 Aami 	 team 
are pushed out of the circle. 
•	 The 	 time 	 runs 	 out. 
The team with the 
maximum points wins 
the game.
The fastest player of 
the Aami Team is 
awarded the title of 
“Khozuba” and 
the strongest 
player of the Aakho 
team is awarded 
the title 
of “Khotiba”.
Chapter 9.indd   92 13-Mar-25   4:02:32 PM
Reprint 2026-27
93
Hekko
Note 
to the 
Teacher
Explain the word ‘decide’ by relating it with the term 
‘decision’.
A. Answer the following.
 1. What does the word ‘Hekko’ mean?
 2. What are the two teams in the game called?
 3. How many players are there in each team?
 4. What do the players in the Aami team do 
inside the circle?
 5. Why do you think the Aakho team (Tiger) 
must say “Joko” when they are caught?
Let us Think
B. Think and discuss.
 1. If you were playing the game Hekko, 
would you prefer to be in the Aami 
or Aakho team? Why?
 2. If you could add a new rule to the 
game, what would it be? What would 
be the benefit of the new rule?
Chapter 9.indd   93 13-Mar-25   4:02:32 PM
Reprint 2026-27