A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers — Class 7 English Poorvi Questions and Answers

A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers questions and answers for Class 7 Poorvi explain Soumya and Ananda’s letters, the National War Memorial, vocabulary and clauses. Find textbook-based listening answers and sample speaking, letter-writing and research activities.

Source: NCERT Poorvi, Grade 7, Unit 5, printed pages 179–198 (listening transcript 223); supplied reprint 2026–27. Open-ended and personal responses are examples to adapt. These explanations are study support, not an official NCERT answer key.

About the chapter

“A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers” is the opening prose piece of Unit 5, ‘Bravehearts’. It is written as an exchange of two letters between two friends, Soumya (from Bengaluru) and Ananda (from Chandigarh). Soumya writes to share her experience of an educational trip to the National War Memorial in New Delhi, describing the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the four Chakras and the citations of war heroes such as Lance Naik Albert Ekka and Major Padmapani Acharya. Ananda replies with her own reflections, recalling a war memorial in Chandigarh and the poem ‘Pushp ki Abhilasha’. Through their letters the chapter pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.

About the text

The supplied chapter gives no individual author byline. Its two-letter format presents Soumya’s visit and Ananda’s response alongside information about memorials and gallantry citations. The Hindi poem referred to in the reply, Pushp ki Abhilasha, is by Makhanlal Chaturvedi. Distinguish the student-letter framework from independently checkable historical facts.

Open the four-circle comparison at full size. Amar means immortality (obelisk and flame); Veerta means bravery (bronze murals); Tyag means sacrifice (names on walls); Raksha means protection (outer trees).

Historical checks: The memorial was inaugurated on 25 February 2019. The flame established at India Gate in January 1972 was merged with the National War Memorial flame on 21 January 2022. Tablet and name counts in the textbook are historical figures and can change. See the official memorial description.

The book’s p. 181 wording groups Major Hoshiar Singh with posthumous 1971 PVC recipients. His award was not posthumous; he survived the battle. See his official citation. The official Param Vir Chakra account also explains the 1950 institution date and retrospective effect.

Summary

In her letter, Soumya tells Ananda about a school trip to New Delhi. She describes the National War Memorial, spread over forty acres near India Gate, which was envisioned and inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in February 2019. She explains that even after Independence in 1947 India had to fight several wars to protect her borders, and that the memorial honours soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in conflicts such as the 1962 Indo-China war, the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars and the 1999 Kargil war. Each ‘tablet’ bears a fallen soldier’s name; the textbook reports 29,000 tablets carrying more than 26,000 names.

Soumya writes about the gallantry awards – the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra – and shares the citation of Lance Naik Albert Ekka (PVC), who silenced enemy machine guns at Gangasagar in 1971 and made the supreme sacrifice. She describes the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame in the obelisk, and the four concentric circles – Amar Chakra (Immortality), Veerta Chakra (Bravery), Tyag Chakra (Sacrifice) and Raksha Chakra (Protection). She also mentions her class presentation on Major Padmapani Acharya (MVC) of the Kargil war, who quoted the Bhagavad Gita before battle.

In her reply, Ananda says she was moved by Soumya’s letter. She agrees that a war memorial is an expression of deep gratitude for soldiers’ supreme sacrifice and admits she is thinking of joining the Armed Forces. She recalls visiting a war memorial in a Chandigarh garden and the poem ‘Pushp ki Abhilasha’, mentions the ‘National War Memorial and Museum’ mobile app and a memoir on Captain Anuj Nayyar (MVC), and shares her hobby of philately (stamp-collecting). The two letters together honour India’s bravehearts.

Theme & message

The central theme is gratitude, patriotism and remembrance – honouring the courage and supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers who protect the nation’s freedom. Through the National War Memorial, the citations and the heroes’ stories, the text reminds us of “the cost of freedom”. Its message is that the peace and liberty we enjoy are gifts of the bravehearts, and that it is our duty to remember, respect and pay homage to them – and perhaps even to serve the nation ourselves.

Word meanings

Let us discuss (after Letter I)

I. Complete the table of war heroes

I. Complete the table given below. An example has been done for you. (Columns: Name of the War Hero | Contribution and Achievement | Award Given)

II. Find the paragraph(s) and sentences in the text that evoke the feelings given below. 1. feeling of wonder 2. heartening 3. sense of motivation 4. pride 5. visually inspiring 6. sadness 7. gratitude 8. inspiration

III. Which is India’s highest gallantry award?

IV. How would Ananda feel after reading this letter?

V. Do you think Soumya enjoyed writing this letter? Why or why not?

Let us discuss (after Letter II)

I. Why was Ananda reminded of the poem ‘Pushp ki Abhilasha’?

II. How does Soumya’s letter help Ananda in pursuing her hobby?

III. Ananda is inspired to act after reading the letter from Soumya. What actions does she intend to take up? Fill in the table citing the sentences from the text. (1. visit 2. mobile app 3. sharing ideas 4. creating a collage 5. joining the army 6. website)

Let us think and reflect

I.1. Extract – “You can see the obelisk surrounded by wreaths that have been placed as a mark of respect. The lighting design is planned in such a way that it transforms the monument’s landscape as sunlight changes from dawn to dusk. It truly is a majestic site that filled me with pride for our nation. I was also overwhelmed by the interminable flame as a metaphor for eternal stories of courage and valour.”

I.2. Extract – “I was happy to hear that you got an opportunity to visit the National War Memorial. I have heard a lot about it. Some people might see a war memorial as just a monument, statue, an edifice to celebrate a war or victory and commemorate those who sacrificed their lives or got injured in the war. In my view, it is also an expression of deep gratitude for the supreme sacrifice made by our brave soldiers defending the sovereignty and integrity of the country.”

II. Answer the following questions.

Let us learn

I. Prefixes – match and complete

I. Match the prefixes with their meanings and the root words to create a new word. (Prefixes: re-, mal-, un-, anti-, extra-, ex-, de-; an example: extra- + ordinary = Extraordinary)

Now complete the paragraph using the new words. “Soldiers undergo (i) extraordinary training… They learn to (ii) ___ explosives and handle (iii) ___ equipment… They stand as a powerful force against (iv) ___ elements, displaying (v) ___ bravery. (vi) ___ members often share their experiences… Their service can continually (vii) ___ the essence of commitment and sacrifice.”

II. Words associated with ‘brave’ (fill in the missing vowels)

II. Find words associated with ‘brave’ by filling in the missing vowels.

III. Opposites of ‘brave’

III. Fill in the blanks with the correct opposite words of ‘brave’ from the box (fear, cowardly, timid, afraid).

IV. Main and subordinate clauses

The textbook’s simplified explanation treats a reason phrase like a clause. A finite clause needs a subject and finite verb; the distinction above prevents learning an incorrect grammar rule.

V. Combine using subordinating conjunctions

V. Combine the pairs using suitable subordinating conjunctions (because, unless, when, where, though).

VI. Complete the sentences with a suitable clause

VI. Complete the following sentences with a suitable main clause or subordinate clause. (Sample answers given.)

Let us listen / speak / write / explore

Before reading — p. 179

I. Sample discussion: We remember people whose courage and service helped others. We may show respect through remembrance, flowers, letters or community service. II. Sample sentences: “The class paid homage to those who served the country.” “Our team celebrated its victory respectfully.” Use your own examples in the word table.

Let us listen — p. 197; transcript p. 223

For item 3, the full idea is that discipline keeps the mind and body active. “Body active” is an exact two-word fragment that fits the requested length; a full explanation can mention both mind and body.

Let us speak — p. 197

Professions in the picture: carpenter, teacher, cricketer/sportsperson, pilot, farmer, doctor, painter/artist, chef and dancer. The children in the centre are thinking about careers.

Sample: “I would like to become a teacher because I enjoy explaining ideas. I would study my subjects carefully, practise communicating clearly and learn how to support different learners.” Choose your own profession. Possible preparation includes practical craft skills for a carpenter, subject knowledge for a teacher, coached practice for a sportsperson, science and supervised training for a pilot or doctor, crop knowledge for a farmer, art practice for a painter, food preparation for a chef, and regular rehearsal for a dancer. Actual entry requirements need separate current research.

Let us write — pp. 197–198

Sample friendly letter about service during peace:

This is an original model letter, not a claim that the writer witnessed a rescue or visited a camp.

Let us explore — p. 198

Mottos in the textbook: Army — Service Before Self; Air Force — Touch the Sky with Glory; Navy — Be Auspicious Unto Us, O Varuna. For other forces, record the exact motto, its meaning and the official source you consulted.

Collage: Choose inspiring people, verify each name and achievement, write a short original caption and use a permitted photograph. Women in the Armed Forces: prepare a brief researched profile with service/role, training and an achievement supported by an official biography. Share it with classmates and explain what you learned; this research task has many possible answers.

Additional ClearStudy questions

This practice is separate from the printed textbook exercises.

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. When was the National War Memorial built and inaugurated, and by whom?

2. What is the Amar Jawan Jyoti and what does it symbolise?

3. Name the four Chakras of the National War Memorial and what each represents.

4. What did Major Padmapani Acharya write before going into battle?

5. What is ‘philately’, and how is it connected to Ananda?

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. Describe the structure and significance of the National War Memorial as explained in the chapter.

7. How do the two letters in this chapter pay homage to India’s brave soldiers?

ClearStudy MCQs and assertion–reason practice

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.

Exam tips & common mistakes

FAQs

Textbook-based exercises and additional ClearStudy practice are identified separately. Use your textbook alongside these explanations.