Rani Abbakka — Class 7 English Poorvi Questions and Answers

Rani Abbakka questions and answers for Class 7 Poorvi follow the NCERT graphic narrative panel by panel. Review the corrected riddle, cause-and-effect table, vocabulary, reported speech, Gaidinliu listening key and sample conversation.

Class: 7 Subject: English Book: Poorvi Unit: 5 – Bravehearts Type: Story (graphic-novel format) Source copy: Reprint 2026–27

Source: NCERT Poorvi, Grade 7, Unit 5, printed pages 206–222 (listening transcript 224–225); supplied reprint 2026–27. Open-ended and personal responses are examples to adapt. These explanations are study support, not an official NCERT answer key.

Read both the illustrated panels and their captions on pp. 207–212. The summary below follows this textbook narrative; it is not a complete historical biography.

On this page

About the chapter

“Rani Abbakka” is the final piece in Unit 5, ‘Bravehearts’, and is presented as a graphic novel. It dramatises the life of Rani Abbakka Chowta, the sixteenth-century Tuluva queen of Ullal, a small coastal kingdom in present-day Karnataka. When the powerful Portuguese demanded an annual tribute, Abbakka refused, declaring that Ullal was a sovereign country. She built merchant ships, allied with the Zamorin of Kozhikode, and led her people in a fierce, long resistance against a far stronger colonial force. The chapter celebrates her courage, leadership, independence and love for her motherland – the qualities that make her one of India’s earliest freedom-fighting queens.

About the text

This graphic narrative tells the story through captions, pictures and dialogue. The supplied pages do not give an individual author byline; p. 212 cites the Ministry of Culture’s Unsung Heroes project. Historical accounts vary and may discuss more than one Abbakka: the IGNCA account explains this issue. Use the actual NCERT sequence for reading-comprehension answers, and identify outside history separately.

Conceptual Rani Abbakka in a mustard sari and green blouse beside merchants and wooden sailing ships on the Karnataka coast
Original conceptual interpretation of Rani Abbakka’s leadership and maritime trade in the NCERT narrative. Clothing, likeness, ships and harbour are illustrative, not authenticated historical reconstructions.

Summary

In the opening panel, Queen Hiriya Abbakka is on her deathbed. Her daughter and successor, Abbakka Devi, promises to drive the Portuguese from the west coast. After being crowned the next day, she asks for cooperation to make Ullal stronger, secure and free. She then tells her husband, Veera Narasimha of Bangadi, that she will stop paying tribute and selling spices and cloth to the Portuguese. He fears their anger and orders soldiers to stop her, but the soldiers choose to follow her.

Other rajas reject her request for united resistance, strengthening her resolve. When the Portuguese envoy demands overdue tribute, she asserts Ullal’s sovereignty. She builds merchant ships and, with the Zamorin of Kozhikode, develops profitable trade with Arabia.

The Portuguese navy intercepts returning ships. The commander’s ship does not return after he helps the others escape. Abbakka sends an envoy to Mangalore, but the Portuguese respond with an attack. Her forces counterattack their fort; the commander Ribero escapes to Goa for help. During the next attack, Ullal’s forces hold out through four days of battle and the Portuguese retreat. The final caption refers to Abbakka’s later help to Venkatappa Nayak and to Shivappa Nayak’s eventual expulsion of the Portuguese from Mangalore. The NCERT narrative ends with victory; it does not show Abbakka’s capture or death.

सार — पाठ की घटनाओं के अनुसार

रानी हिरिया अब्बक्का की पुत्री अब्बक्का देवी उल्लाल को स्वतंत्र बनाने का संकल्प लेती हैं। राज्याभिषेक के बाद वे पुर्तगालियों को कर देने और उन्हें मसाले तथा कपड़ा बेचने से मना करती हैं। पति और अन्य राजाओं की असहमति के बावजूद सैनिक उनका साथ देते हैं। वे ज़ामोरिन के सहयोग से अरब के साथ व्यापार बढ़ाती हैं। पुर्तगालियों द्वारा जहाज़ रोके जाने और आक्रमण किए जाने पर उनकी सेना प्रतिकार करती है। चार दिनों के युद्ध के बाद पुर्तगाली पीछे हटते हैं। पाठ का अंत विजय से होता है; इसमें रानी की गिरफ्तारी या मृत्यु नहीं दिखाई गई है।

Theme & message

The central theme is courage, sovereignty and resistance to foreign domination. Long before India’s organised freedom struggle, a small coastal queen dared to tell a great colonial power that her land was free and would pay no tribute. The story celebrates fearless leadership, self-respect and patriotism, and the strength that comes from uniting one’s people and forging wise alliances. Its message is that bravery and determination matter more than size or wealth, and that defending one’s freedom and dignity is a duty worth any sacrifice. Abbakka’s example reminds students that India’s ‘bravehearts’ include many forgotten heroes, especially women.

Word meanings

WordEnglish meaningHindi meaning
vassala state controlled by a more powerful country and made to pay tributeआश्रित / करद देने वाला राज्य
tributemoney a weaker state is forced to pay a stronger oneखिराज / भेंट
sovereign countrya country with its own government and complete authorityस्वतंत्र / सार्वभौम देश
coronationthe ceremony at which a person is made king or queenराज्याभिषेक / ताजपोशी
successora person who comes after another and takes their placeउत्तराधिकारी
rashacting without thinking about the consequencesउतावला / बिना सोचे
leaguean association or partnershipसंघ / गठबंधन
seizeto take hold of suddenly or by force; to captureबलपूर्वक छीनना / कब्जा करना
wrathextreme angerक्रोध / प्रचंड क्रोध
resolvefirm determinationदृढ़ संकल्प / निश्चय
ragedhappened in a violent wayभड़कना / उग्र रूप से चलना
decisiveshowing the ability to make decisions effectivelyनिर्णायक / दृढ़निश्चयी
apprehendedcaught or arrestedपकड़ा गया / गिरफ्तार किया गया
dauntlessfearless and braveनिर्भीक / भयमुक्त
avengeto take revenge for a wrongबदला लेना
envoya messenger or representative sent on a missionदूत / संदेशवाहक
defyto openly refuse to obeyचुनौती देना / आज्ञा न मानना
integritythe state of being whole and undivided (here, a nation’s wholeness)अखंडता

Let us do before we read

I. Riddle — p. 206

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. The sword and child carried on her back are clues associated with Lakshmibai. The pre-reading riddle introduces women warriors; its answer is not automatically the title character, Rani Abbakka.

II. Other women who resisted British rule — sample discussion

You could discuss Rani Lakshmibai, Rani Chennamma of Kittur or Captain Lakshmi Sahgal. The Ministry of Culture account of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment is one starting point for research. Do not describe every admired historical queen as a participant in the modern anti-British independence struggle; their periods and roles differ.

Let us discuss

I. Match the words in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2

Match the words in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2. Share your answers with your classmates and the teacher.

Column 1 (word)Matched meaning (Column 2)
1. vassal (n)(x) a country/state that is controlled by a more powerful country and has to pay money when needed
2. coronation (n)(vi) a ceremony at which a person is made king or queen
3. successor (n)(xi) a person who succeeds another
4. rash (adj.)(iv) acting or doing something without thinking about the consequences
5. sovereign country (n)(ix) a country with a government having complete authority
6. league (n)(v) association or partnership
7. wrath (n)(i) extreme anger
8. seize (v)(ii) take hold of suddenly or forcibly
9. resolve (n)(xiv) determination
10. raged (v)(iii) happen in a violent way
11. decisive (adj.)(xiii) showing the ability to make decisions effectively
12. apprehended (v)(viii) capture
13. dauntless (adj.)(vii) fearless
14. avenge (v)(xii) take revenge for

Quick key: 1-(x), 2-(vi), 3-(xi), 4-(iv), 5-(ix), 6-(v), 7-(i), 8-(ii), 9-(xiv), 10-(iii), 11-(xiii), 12-(viii), 13-(vii), 14-(xii).

II. Cause and effect — pp. 208–211

CauseEffect
1. Ullal had been captured by the Portuguese.(i) It had to pay tribute to the colonial power (given).
2. Abbakka decided to stop paying tribute and to stop selling spices and cloth to the Portuguese.(ii) Veera Narsimha felt this was a hasty decision.
3. Veera Narsimha ordered the soldiers to stop and seize Abbakka.(iii) Not a soldier moved; they decided to follow their brave queen.
4. The rajas said their forces were no match for the Portuguese and advised her not to provoke them.(iv) Their reactions strengthened her resolve; she decided to fight even without their support.
5. The Portuguese responded to her envoy by attacking Ullal.(v) Abbakka’s forces counterattacked the Portuguese fort.

These answers are checked against the visible panels, rather than inferred from general history.

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.Portuguese envoy: Our Governor has sent me to remind you that the annual tribute from Ullal is long overdue and… Rani Abbakka: We are a sovereign country. We don’t pay tribute to Portugal. And we don’t take orders from the Portuguese! Portuguese envoy: Your Majesty, you will regret your stand. Abbakka ordered merchant ships to be built and in alliance with the Zamorin of Kozhikode, she defied the Portuguese and established a hugely profitable trading relation with Arabia.

ANSWER 1. What does the word ‘tribute’ mean in this context? Here ‘tribute’ means the money or payment that a weaker or controlled state is forced to pay regularly to a more powerful ruling power – in this case, the money the Portuguese demanded from Ullal each year. 2. Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. Rani Abbakka says, “We are a sovereign country” because… …Ullal had its own ruler and government with complete authority, and so it was free and independent and not bound to obey or pay money to the Portuguese. 3. Identify whether the following statement is true or false: The Portuguese envoy threatened Rani Abbakka. True. The envoy warned her, “Your Majesty, you will regret your stand,” which is clearly a threat. 4. Choose a word given in brackets to replace the underlined word. “…she defied the Portuguese…” (defeated/disobeyed) disobeyed. 5. Choose the option that lists the qualities of Rani Abbakka, based on this extract. C. (i), (iii), and (v) – she is bold, capable and determined.

II. Answer the following questions.

ANSWER 1. Rani Abbakka spoke to her mother on her deathbed. How might these words have made her mother feel? Her brave words would have filled her mother with deep pride and peace. A dying mother would feel reassured that her daughter was fearless, would defend Ullal and protect their people, and would carry forward the family’s honour – so she could leave the world without worry. 2. What does the support of the people of Ullal and the soldiers for Rani Abbakka suggest about their mindset? It shows that the people and soldiers loved and trusted their queen and shared her love of freedom. They were brave, loyal and patriotic, willing to risk their lives rather than live as subjects of a foreign power. It also shows they believed in her leadership and in their right to remain independent. 3. How might the people of Ullal have felt when the mighty Portuguese were defeated? They would have felt overjoyed, proud and victorious. Seeing a small kingdom defeat such a powerful enemy would have filled them with confidence, gratitude towards their queen, and a renewed sense of freedom and self-respect. 4. Why do you think Rani Abbakka’s victory against the Portuguese would have inspired other rulers to go against a foreign power? Her victory proved that even a small kingdom could resist and defeat a mighty colonial force through courage, unity and clever alliances. It showed other rulers that the Portuguese were not invincible, that freedom was worth fighting for, and that standing together against foreign domination could succeed – encouraging them to resist too.

Let us learn

I. Fill in the blanks with ‘ie’ or ‘ei’

Spelling aid: ‘i’ before ‘e’ except after ‘c’ is a limited mnemonic, not a universal rule (for example: receive, deceive). Now, fill in the blanks with ‘ie’ or ‘ei’ for the following words.

ANSWER 1. ceiling   2. believe   3. thief   4. achieve   5. perceive 6. protein   7. society   8. shield   9. weight   10. friend

Exceptions in this task include protein and weight. The pattern also depends on pronunciation, so check an unfamiliar spelling rather than applying the mnemonic mechanically.

II. Silent letters

Study the highlighted word: “…and Bangadi too may have to face their wrath.” Was the initial letter ‘w’ pronounced? Words where certain letters are spelt but not pronounced are called ‘silent letters’ (for example: campaign, knowledge, pneumonia, honour, calm). Now, find more words with silent letters.

ANSWER No – the ‘w’ in wrath is silent. More words with silent letters: knee, knife, knock, write, wrist, comb, thumb, doubt, debt, island, listen, castle, hour, ghost, scissors, muscle, autumn, sword, half, talk, would.

III. ‘Laugh’ expressions

Read the expressions from the text: laughing stock, last laugh. Use the dictionary page to find the meanings of: burst out laughing, don’t make me laugh, laugh until you cry, have a good laugh. Now, use these expressions in sentences of your own.

ANSWER – meanings burst out laughing – to suddenly start laughing loudly. don’t make me laugh – said when you think an idea or claim is silly or impossible. laugh until you cry – to laugh so hard that tears come to your eyes. have a good laugh – to enjoy laughing a lot about something funny.
ANSWER – sample sentences 1. When the clown slipped on the banana peel, the whole class burst out laughing. 2. You think you can finish the whole syllabus in one night? Don’t make me laugh! 3. The comedian’s jokes were so funny that we laughed until we cried. 4. We watched old family videos and had a good laugh all evening.

IV. Direct speech to indirect (reported) speech

Rewrite the following sentences in direct speech to indirect speech. Remember to make the necessary changes.

ANSWER 1. The teacher said, “Women of valour have made significant contributions throughout history.” → The teacher remarked that women of valour had made significant contributions throughout history. 2. “I enjoy reading historical novels,” said Smitha. → Smitha shared that she enjoyed reading historical novels. 3. The captain said to the coach, “Our team won the championship last year.” → The captain told the coach that their team had won the championship the previous year. 4. The class teacher said, “Please turn off the lights when you leave.” → The class teacher requested the students to turn off the lights when they left. 5. “Finish the work before dinner,” said mother to Ravi. → Mother advised Ravi to finish the work before dinner. 6. The vet said to the pet owner, “Take the dog for a walk.” → The vet instructed the pet owner to take the dog for a walk.

Backshift is the exercise’s convention. A continuing fact can remain in the present: “women of valour have made…” is also acceptable. Pronouns depend on who reports the speech; they do not always change in one fixed way. Singular “they” avoids assuming the player’s gender.

V. Transform the dialogue into reported speech

Read the conversation between the Captain and the team and complete the paragraph by transforming the dialogue into the indirect form of speech.Captain: We need to focus on our strategy for the final match. Player: I have some ideas on how we can improve our strategy. Captain: Make sure to share those ideas with the team during practice.

ANSWER The Captain remarked that they needed to focus on their strategy for the final match. To which one of the players replied that they had some ideas on how they could improve their strategy. The Captain advised the player to share those ideas with the team during practice.

Let us listen, speak, write & explore

Let us listen — pp. 220–221; transcript pp. 224–225

Missing entries as stated in the listening text:
  1. 26
  2. Manipur
  3. 13
  4. 1932
  5. 16
  6. Rani
  7. Padma Bhushan
  8. statue
  9. 2015

Source inconsistency: the transcript says she was born on 26 January 1915, joined in 1927 aged 13, and was arrested in 1932 aged 16. These ages do not agree with its dates: 1927 would make her about 12, and 1932 makes her 17. The table above records what a listener hears; do not repeat the inconsistent ages as verified history. An IGNOU historical account identifies her as seventeen at arrest. Check sources separately for a biographical project.

Let us speak — p. 221

WordPractice
vassalVAS-uhl: stress the first syllable. Its ending is similar to that of “apple”, but the complete words do not rhyme.
successorsuhk-SES-uh: stress the second syllable. Final r is omitted in non-rhotic accents and pronounced in rhotic accents.
rashOne syllable; a as in rat.
leagueOne syllable; long ee as in seed.
wrathSilent w; the vowel differs between accents.
seize“seez”, with long ee and final z; different from “size”.
resolveri-ZOLV: stress the second syllable; s sounds like z.

A one-syllable word has no choice of an internally stressed syllable, but it can still receive stress in a sentence. The book’s statement that such words have “no stress” is an oversimplification.

Let us write — pp. 221–222

Original sample: six turns each, with six sentences for each student.

Pratap: Tarana, I respect Rani Abbakka for defending Ullal’s freedom.

Tarana: Her story shows us that leadership is not limited by gender.

Pratap: Women have also helped shape India through teaching, farming and public service.

Tarana: We should notice that everyday work as well as famous achievements.

Pratap: Kalpana Chawla’s journey into space encourages students to study science.

Tarana: Girls need equal opportunities to develop such interests and skills.

Pratap: At home and school, we can share responsibilities fairly.

Tarana: We can also listen to women’s ideas and respect their choices.

Pratap: For our presentation, let us research one contribution using reliable sources.

Tarana: We should explain both the achievement and the preparation behind it.

Pratap: That will help us understand how many people contribute to a strong nation.

Tarana: I agree that respect should lead to fair opportunities and responsible action.

Let us explore — p. 222

In a group of five, select one of the women listed in the book or another well-supported choice. Divide research into childhood, training/education, achievements, contributions and what you learned. Keep the person’s dates and role clear, cite a reliable biography, and identify a source for each image. Present in your own words; this open research activity has no single fixed answer.

Additional ClearStudy questions

This practice is separate from the printed textbook exercises.

Text-based revision questions

1. How does the narrative begin?

Hiriya Abbakka is on her deathbed. Her daughter promises to resist Portuguese control and is crowned queen the following day.

2. Why does Veera Narasimha oppose her plans?

He fears that the Portuguese will think Bangadi is allied with her and punish his kingdom. He calls her decision rash.

3. Why do the soldiers refuse to seize Abbakka?

The narrator says her courage inspires them to follow her as their leader.

4. How does she develop trade?

She orders merchant ships and works with the Zamorin of Kozhikode to establish profitable trade with Arabia.

5. Why does she counterattack the fort?

After the interception of her ships, she sends an envoy to Mangalore. The Portuguese respond with an attack, and she sends her forces against their fort.

6. What does the final battle show about her leadership?

She rallies her troops to fight with determination. After four days, the Portuguese retreat and she thinks of her mother’s dream of a free Ullal. This outcome emphasises courage, cooperation and resolve in the textbook narrative.

7. Why is it important to distinguish the story from a full biography?

The comic selects and dramatises events through speech and pictures. Reading answers should follow those panels. Further historical claims require their own evidence, especially because accounts may discuss different queens named Abbakka.

ClearStudy MCQs and assertion–reason practice

1. In the NCERT Poorvi textbook, ‘Rani Abbakka’ is presented in the form of a –

(a) poem   (b) graphic novel (comic strip)   (c) play script   (d) letter

ANSWER(b) graphic novel (comic strip).

2. Rani Abbakka was the queen of –

(a) Jhansi   (b) Kittur   (c) Ullal   (d) Kozhikode

ANSWER(c) Ullal.

3. Which colonial power demanded a tribute from Ullal?

(a) the British   (b) the French   (c) the Dutch   (d) the Portuguese

ANSWER(d) the Portuguese.

4. What did Rani Abbakka mean when she said, “We are a sovereign country”?

(a) Ullal was very rich   (b) Ullal was free and self-ruling   (c) Ullal was at war   (d) Ullal was small

ANSWER(b) Ullal was free and self-ruling.

5. With whom did Rani Abbakka form an alliance to defy the Portuguese?

(a) the Zamorin of Kozhikode   (b) the Nizam of Hyderabad   (c) the Marathas   (d) the Mughals

ANSWER(a) the Zamorin of Kozhikode.

6. To strengthen her kingdom, Rani Abbakka ordered the building of –

(a) temples   (b) merchant ships   (c) palaces   (d) bridges

ANSWER(b) merchant ships.

7. Rani Abbakka established a hugely profitable trading relation with –

(a) Arabia   (b) China   (c) Portugal   (d) Africa

ANSWER(a) Arabia.

8. The word ‘dauntless’, used for Rani Abbakka, means –

(a) wealthy   (b) fearless   (c) clever   (d) gentle

ANSWER(b) fearless.

9. When the Portuguese envoy said, “you will regret your stand,” he was –

(a) apologising   (b) praising her   (c) threatening her   (d) joking

ANSWER(c) threatening her.

10. The unit in which ‘Rani Abbakka’ appears is titled –

(a) Environment   (b) Bravehearts   (c) Travel   (d) Wonders

ANSWER(b) Bravehearts.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(d), 4-(b), 5-(a), 6-(b), 7-(a), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Rani Abbakka refused to pay tribute to the Portuguese.

Reason (R): She believed Ullal was a sovereign country that did not take orders from Portugal.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Rani Abbakka ordered merchant ships to be built and traded with Arabia.

Reason (R): She wanted to strengthen her kingdom and defy the Portuguese.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): The story of Rani Abbakka is told in the form of a graphic novel.

Reason (R): Graphic novels use illustrated panels and dialogue to tell a story.

ANSWER(b) Both statements are true, but R does not explain why this particular story was chosen for the graphic-novel form; it identifies the features of a graphic narrative; this alone does not establish the artist’s reason for choosing the format.

4. Assertion (A): Rani Abbakka was easily frightened by the Portuguese threats.

Reason (R): She was a dauntless queen who fought the Portuguese for years.

ANSWER(d) A is false (she was fearless, not frightened), while R is true.

5. Assertion (A): The people and soldiers of Ullal supported Rani Abbakka in her fight.

Reason (R): They were loyal and shared her love of freedom and self-rule.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

Exam tips & common mistakes

Exam tips

• Remember the key facts: queen of Ullal, Chowta dynasty, fought the Portuguese, allied with the Zamorin of Kozhikode, traded with Arabia.
• In quality answers, use words from the chapter such as sovereign, tribute, defy, dauntless, resolve – and support your interpretation with a panel or caption.
• For the reported-speech exercise, change the tense one step back, and adjust pronouns and time/place words (last year → the previous year).
• For value-based questions, highlight courage, patriotism, leadership and self-respect.

Common mistakes

• Do not confuse Rani Abbakka with Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi – Abbakka ruled Ullal and fought the Portuguese, not the British.
• In reported speech, do not forget to back-shift the tense (won → had won) and change ‘our/we’ to ‘their/they’.
• The ‘w’ in wrath is silent – do not mark it as pronounced.
• Remember ‘i before e except after c’: it is ceiling, perceive, receive (ei), but believe, achieve, friend (ie).

FAQs

Who is Rani Abbakka in Class 7 Poorvi?

The graphic narrative presents Abbakka Devi as queen of Ullal on the Karnataka coast, resisting Portuguese demands for tribute and supporting independent trade.

Who is the answer to the pre-reading queen riddle?

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. The sword and child on her back are the clues; the riddle is not about Rani Abbakka simply because it precedes her chapter.

How does the NCERT narrative end?

After four days of battle, the Portuguese retreat and Ullal is free in the narrative. The final caption refers to later actions involving Venkatappa Nayak and Shivappa Nayak; the chapter does not show Abbakka’s capture or death.

The listening answers record the supplied transcript. Its age/date inconsistency is explained above. Creative responses are samples, and additional practice is separate from NCERT exercises.

Scroll to Top