Kaka and Munni - A Folktale from Punjab

Jul 17, 2026

Uploaded by Logic

A Punjab folktale follows Munni, a sparrow protecting her three eggs among wheat fields and bright flowers, until the village bully Kaka the crow arrives demanding to eat them. Munni outsmarts Kaka with a request to wash his beak first, then steers him through a chain of tasks and helpers—stream, potter, field, and jungle—turning his hunger and pride into a problem-solving journey. The story blends humor, clever dialogue, and moral lessons about wit.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time32 min

AccessFree to download

Kaka and Munni: Arrival and Request

Munni’s Clever Trick

The Chain of Helpers: Stream, Potter, Field, Jungle

Kaka and Munni: A Folktale from Punjab Author: Natasha Sharma Illustrator: Natasha Sharma English Story Book Kaka and Munni: A Folktale from Punjab Author: Natasha Sharma Illustrator: Natasha Sharma English Copyright © 2012, Pratham Books [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) You are free to make commercial use of this work. You may adapt and add to this work. You must keep the copyright and credits for authors, illustrators, etc. Kaka and Munni: A Folktale from Punjab Author: Natasha Sharma Illustrator: Natasha Sharma In a gulmohar tree along the wheat fields in Punjab, Munni the sparrow, sat by her nest. She watched over her three little eggs, waiting for them to hatch. Munni looked around happily at the bright red flowers, before giving a startled chirp as she saw a flash of black. It was the village bully, Kaka, the crow. "Move over Munni, for I have come to eat your eggs," he cawed. Now Munni was a clever little sparrow and she quickly chirped back, "Who can refuse you, Kaka? But I have one request. Before eating my eggs, could you please wash your beak, since it is looking very dirty?" Kaka did not like the idea of not looking his very best. He quickly flew over to the stream and was about to wash his beak in the water, when the stream cried out,“Kaka! Wait! If you dip your beak into me, all my water will become dirty. Go get a cup, fill it with water, and wash your beak in that.” Hearing this, Kaka went to the potter in the village, and cawed to him, “Oh potter dear, This is Kaka here. A cup you make For me to fill With water to wash My dirty bill So I can eat the eggs And loudly caw To let everyone Hear me and know That I am the most handsome crow.” “I will gladly give you a cup, but I need mud to make one for you,” said the potter. So Kaka flew over to the nearby field and said to it,“Oh field dear, this is Kaka here. Some mud I’ll take For the potter to make A cup to fill with water to wash My dirty bill So I can eat the eggs and loudly caw to let everyone Hear me and know That I am the most handsome crow.” “I am all dry and baked hard, for the monsoon rains are yet to start. Get something sharp to dig me up,” replied the field. Off Kaka went to the nearby jungle where he saw a deer with sharp horns. He called out to it, “My friend, oh deer, This is Kaka here. Your horn may I take To dig some mud For the potter to make A cup for me to fill With water to wash My dirty bill So I can eat the eggs And loudly caw To let everyone Hear me and know That I am the most handsome crow?” “Oh, you very clever crow, how can you take my horn while I am still alive?” Kaka, terribly hungry, flew around in a flurry till he came across...

FAQs

Who are the main characters in the folktale?

The folktale features Munni, a sparrow, and Kaka, a crow who bullies the village.

What does Munni ask Kaka to do before he eats her eggs?

Munni asks Kaka to wash his beak first because it looks very dirty.

How does Kaka end up getting what he needs to wash his beak?

The stream advises Kaka to use a cup, so he approaches the potter, then the field for mud, and finally the jungle for something sharp to dig.

Jul 17, 2026

Uploaded by Logic