A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers
Complete textbook exercise solutions — NCERT Poorvi, Class 7 English (CBSE).
ShareAdvertisement
Let us discuss (Letter I)
| Name of the War Hero | Contribution and Achievement | Award Given |
|---|---|---|
| Major Somnath Sharma | Battle of Badgam in 1947 | First Param Vir Chakra awarded posthumously |
| Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla | Showed exemplary courage and leadership in the Navy during the 1971 war | Maha Vir Chakra |
| Lance Naik Albert Ekka | Attack at Gangasagar on the eastern front in the 1971 war; silenced enemy machine guns and saved his company | Param Vir Chakra (posthumously) |
| Major Padmapani Acharya | Captured a heavily fortified enemy position in the Kargil War, 1999 | Maha Vir Chakra (posthumously) |
- feeling of wonder – “Isn’t it amazing!” (about the four Chakras of the memorial)
- heartening – “It was heartening to know that our government has recognised the sacrifice of brave soldiers.”
- sense of motivation – “It motivated me to live a life worthy of the sacrifices of our heroes.”
- pride – “It truly is a majestic site that filled me with pride for our nation.”
- visually inspiring – “The overall environment created an emotive experience that was visually inspiring.”
- sadness – “It was sad to think about the massive devastation and loss of life caused by wars.”
- gratitude – “…the freedom and security we enjoy today is because of the many brave men and women who have served in the Indian Armed Forces…”
- inspiration – “I aspire to be courageous like him when I join the Army!”
Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
Ananda would feel proud and grateful towards our soldiers. She would also feel inspired and would want to visit the National War Memorial herself.
Yes, she did. She wrote a long and detailed letter. She says she “could not help sharing this inspiring experience”. Her excitement shows in every paragraph.
Let us discuss (Letter II)
At the war memorial in Chandigarh, Ananda saw people offering flowers to honour the soldiers. In the poem, a flower wishes to be thrown on the path of brave soldiers who give their lives for the motherland. So, she was reminded of it.
Ananda collects stamps. Soumya’s letters always come with beautiful stamps on the envelope. This time she got a stamp that celebrates India’s independence.
| Action | Sentence from the text |
|---|---|
| 1. visit | “We all wish to visit the National War Memorial, Delhi.” |
| 2. mobile app | “We have found out a mobile app ‘National War Memorial and Museum’.” |
| 3. sharing ideas | “Next week, I am going to share this idea with my classmates and my teacher.” |
| 4. creating a collage | “I think it would be great to create a collage capturing the lives and stories of people that can inspire us each day.” |
| 5. joining the army | “I feel motivated and I am seriously thinking of joining the Armed Forces to serve my motherland.” |
| 6. website | She would visit the National War Memorial website shared by Soumya to learn more about our war heroes. |
Let us think and reflect
(i) flame : valour :: wreath : ______
respect
(ii) How does the lighting design make the monument visually appealing?
The lighting changes along with the sunlight from dawn to dusk. So, the monument looks different and beautiful at every time of the day.
(iii) ‘It truly is a majestic site…’ – fact or opinion?
Opinion
(iv) What does the everlasting flame suggest?
It suggests that the stories of the soldiers’ courage and valour will live forever. The nation will never forget their sacrifice.
(v) The tone of the writer in this extract is ______.
C. admiring
(i) Choose a line which shows that Ananda was aware about the National War Memorial.
“I have heard a lot about it.”
(ii) What might be the most likely reason for people to consider a war memorial as a monument?
It is a large structure or statue built to celebrate a war or a victory.
(iii) We conduct special competitions at school to ______ our Independence day.
celebrate
(iv) Select a phrase from the extract showing that Ananda is expressing an opinion.
“In my view”
(v) Ananda refers to the sacrifice of soldiers as ‘supreme’ sacrifice because ______.
they gave their lives for the country, which is the greatest sacrifice anyone can make.
1. What is the significance of the National War Memorial?
It is a tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives for India after 1947. Their names are etched on its tablets. It reminds us of the cost of our freedom and inspires us to respect our soldiers.
2. Lance Naik Albert Ekka is an example of selflessness, determination, and exceptional courage. Elaborate.
With no thought for his own safety, he charged an enemy bunker and silenced a machine gun. Though badly wounded, he kept fighting. He crawled to another building, threw a grenade, climbed a wall and silenced a second machine gun. He saved his company but died of his injuries.
3. Explain how the National War Memorial and Museum app will be helpful in spreading awareness about war heroes.
The app is interactive and answers queries in 21 languages. People from all parts of India can use it. So, many more people can learn about our war heroes, even without visiting Delhi.
4. Why is it our duty to pay homage to our brave soldiers?
Our soldiers protect our borders day and night. Many have given their lives for us. We live freely and safely because of them. So, we must honour them.
5. What is the main idea of this text? How does it justify the title?
Two friends write letters about the National War Memorial and the bravery of our soldiers. They express respect and gratitude for the soldiers’ sacrifices. The whole text is a tribute to soldiers, so the title ‘A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers’ is suitable.
6. Why were the students awestruck and humbled? Explain in your own words.
The teacher read out the citation of Lance Naik Albert Ekka. His bravery and sacrifice amazed the students. They felt small and humble before such a great hero.
Let us learn
| Prefix | Meaning | Root Word | New Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| re- | do again | define | redefine |
| mal- | badly, wrongly | functioning | malfunctioning |
| un- | lacking; not | questionable | unquestionable |
| anti- | opposed to; against | social | antisocial |
| extra- | beyond, outside | ordinary | extraordinary |
| ex- | former | service | ex-service |
| de- | remove | activate | deactivate |
Soldiers undergo (i) extraordinary training to prepare for their challenging duties. They learn to (ii) deactivate explosives and handle (iii) malfunctioning equipment with precision. They stand as a powerful force against (iv) antisocial elements, displaying (v) unquestionable bravery. (vi) Ex-service members often share their experiences to inspire new recruits. Their service can continually (vii) redefine the essence of commitment and sacrifice.
VALIANT COURAGE VALOUR GALLANT HEROIC FEARLESS BOLD UNDAUNTED DARING
- Ajay’s cowardly refusal to stand up for his friend was disappointing to everyone.
- The timid child hid behind his mother, too scared to meet the new teacher.
- Anjali’s fear of heights prevented her from climbing the tall ladder.
- Sushma felt afraid as she entered the dark, abandoned building alone.
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
|---|---|
| I aspire to be courageous like him | when I join the army! |
| They exchange letters and share their feelings of gratitude for the freedom they enjoy | because of the sacrifices made by the bravehearts of the country. |
| Though seriously wounded in this encounter, | he continued to fight alongside his comrades. |
| The sacrifices of the soldiers make monuments like the National War Memorial extremely important | so that we should never forget the cost of freedom. |
- Wasi burst into tears when he heard the good news.
- Though Himani was very nervous, she delivered a great presentation.
- This is the place where I was born.
- The students performed very well because they studied diligently.
- Unless you water the plants, they will die.
- Farheen was late to work because she missed the bus.
- The dog started barking when a stranger opened the gate.
- She completed the marathon although she had a sprained ankle.
- The children spotted a deer while they were hiking in the mountains.
- Abhishek received a promotion after he completed the project successfully.
- The students submitted their projects before the deadline approached.
- We waited in the car until the rain stopped.
- The children built sandcastles as the waves rushed to the shore.
Let us listen
- What type of job does Gunjan think the Armed Forces is? – most honourable job
- What feature of the Armed Forces fills Gunjan with pride? – wearing the uniform
- How does the disciplined life impact the body and mind? – keeps them active
- One aspect that helps someone grow – new experiences and adventures
- Two things life in the Armed Forces teaches – loyalty duty (also service, honesty)
Let us speak
This is an oral pair activity. Students should speak about the professions in the picture using the prompts given in the textbook.
Let us write
24, Gandhi Road
Nagpur
10 August 20XX
Dear Neha,
I hope you are well. Today I want to tell you about the work our Armed Forces do even when there is no war.
During floods and earthquakes, soldiers are the first to reach the affected areas. They rescue people, provide food, water and medicines, and set up relief camps. During the Kerala floods of 2018, they rescued thousands of people.
The Army also builds roads and bridges in remote hilly areas. These help villagers reach schools, hospitals and markets. The Border Roads Organisation has built some of the highest roads in the world.
Soldiers also organise free medical camps and set up schools and libraries in border villages. In this way they care for people in peace as well as in war.
I feel very proud of them. Do write back and tell me what you think.
Your loving friend,
Priya
Let us explore
Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles, National Security Guard (NSG) and the Indian Coast Guard.
Avani Chaturvedi, one of India’s first women fighter pilots; Shivangi Singh, the first woman to fly the Rafale; Gunjan Saxena, who flew in the Kargil War; and Lt General Punita Arora, the first woman to reach that rank.
These are reading and group activities. Students should read the mottos and prepare a collage on an inspiring person.