Can you guess my mother tongue 

said he, confident, cocky, and young 

this polyglot who was holding forth

as he took on the Peshwa’s court 

languages, for sure, he had aplenty 

claiming he was fluent in twenty 

high-flown Bengali, he spoke with skill 

was a master of Punjabi and Tamil 

the courtiers looked to Phadnavis

the Nana seemed quite ill at ease 

as the braggart continued to deceive 

wily Nana did have an ace up his sleeve 

over dinner, the linguist began to boast

“ Do what you will; you can try your utmost!” 

“But, you will never guess my mother tongue.” 

the night went on; hapless hands were wrung 

well fed and gloating, the polyglot went to bed  

dreaming of his victory, he soon began to snore 

over the boaster’s body and his bloated head 

a bucket of icy water did the good Nana pour 

“Su Che” yelled he, who with Phadnavis had sparred 

Nana said, “So, Gujarati is your mother tongue!”

the language you default to when caught off guard 

silenced by the crafty Nana, the polyglot bit his tongue 

Neil Daswani

February, 21st 2023 

Footnotes:

The poem is my interpretation of a popular encounter that is said to have occurred in the court of the Peshwa … the Maratha ruler of the day. It has been well chronicled 

Nana Fadnavis, (February 12, 1742 – March 13, 1800), born Balaji Janardan Bhanu, was an influential minister and statesman of the Maratha Empire during the Peshwa administration in Pune, India.

Nana Phadnis was not mainly known for his prowess on the battlefield, but he more than made up for it through his shrewd politics, strategic diplomacy, wit, and intellect. 

Su Che is Gujarati for “What Is This !“