A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers: NCERT Class 7 English Lesson (Poorvi)

etmantra3 Nov 20266 min read

This chapter is told through two letters between friends. Soumya writes about her school trip to the National War Memorial, and Ananda writes back about what the soldiers' courage means to her. Children learn why we honour our soldiers, and how a warm, detailed letter is written.

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From NCERT’s new English book Poorvi for Class 7, unit “Bravehearts”. Unit 5.

What your child learns

Words about honour and bravery: homage, tribute, gallantry, valiant, commemorate
Prefixes that make new words: dis-, in-, im-, un-, mal-, anti-, extra-, ex-, de-, re-
Main and subordinate clauses joined by when, because, though and so that
How a friendly letter is set out, and how to share feelings in it

What the lesson is about

In the first letter, Soumya from Bengaluru writes to her friend Ananda about a school trip to New Delhi. Her favourite place was the National War Memorial near India Gate, built in 2018 and 2019. Its brick-like tablets carry the names of more than 26,000 soldiers who gave their lives for India after 1947. Her teacher told the class about gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra, and read the citations of Lance Naik Albert Ekka and Major Padmapani Acharya. Soumya also describes the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the flame that never goes out, and the four circles of the memorial: Immortality, Bravery, Sacrifice and Protection. The visit filled her with pride and sadness, and her class will now share the soldiers' stories in presentations.

In the second letter, Ananda from Chandigarh thanks Soumya and says a war memorial is also a way of saying thank you to soldiers. She remembers people offering flowers at the war memorial in her city, which reminds her of Makhanlal Chaturvedi's poem 'Pushp ki Abhilasha'. She writes about Captain Anuj Nayyar and his mother's book, a mobile app about the memorial, her plan to make a collage of inspiring lives, and her hobby of collecting stamps, called philately.

New words, with Hindi meanings

homage: something said or done to show public respect for someone (हिंदी: श्रद्धांजलि)
tribute: something that shows respect and thanks (हिंदी: सम्मान)
etched: cut deeply into a hard surface, like stone (हिंदी: उकेरा गया)
gallantry: great courage, especially in battle (हिंदी: वीरता)
posthumously: after a person's death (हिंदी: मरणोपरांत)
commemorate: to remember someone officially and show respect (हिंदी: याद में सम्मान करना)
obelisk: a tall stone pillar that gets thinner at the top (हिंदी: स्मारक स्तंभ)
wreath: a ring of flowers placed to remember a person who has died (हिंदी: पुष्पचक्र)
valiant: very brave (हिंदी: बहादुर)
philately: the hobby of collecting stamps (हिंदी: डाक टिकट संग्रह)

Talk about it

Ask these aloud after reading or watching. Let your child answer in English if they can, or mix in their home language. Both help.

Where did Soumya go on her school trip, and which place inspired her most?
What is written on the tablets of the National War Memorial?
What do the four circles of the memorial stand for?
Why was Ananda reminded of the poem 'Pushp ki Abhilasha'?
How would you like to thank the soldiers who protect our country?

Answers for parents

She went to New Delhi with her school. The National War Memorial, near India Gate, inspired her the most.
The names of soldiers who gave their lives for India in different wars after 1947. More than 26,000 names are etched on them.
The circles are Amar Chakra (immortality), Veerta Chakra (bravery), Tyag Chakra (sacrifice) and Raksha Chakra (protection).
At the war memorial in Chandigarh she saw people offering flowers to honour soldiers. The poem is about a flower that wishes to be thrown on the path of brave soldiers.
For example: I would like to visit a war memorial with my family, place flowers there, and write a thank-you card to soldiers on Republic Day.

Grammar corner: Main and subordinate clauses

A main clause makes complete sense on its own. A subordinate clause needs the main clause to make sense. Words like when (time), because (reason), though (contrast) and so that (purpose) join the two parts; they are called subordinating conjunctions.

We clapped loudly when the soldiers marched past. (when: time)
Riya wants to join the Navy because she loves the sea. (because: reason)
Though it was raining, the class visited the memorial. (though: contrast)

Practice at home

Fill in the blank with because, when or though: The children felt proud ___ they saw the eternal flame.
Add a prefix to make the opposite word: daunted, mortal, regard. (un- / im- / dis-)
Make a sentence using 'so that' about why we visit war memorials.

Answers: 1. when · 2. undaunted, immortal, disregard · 3. Sample: We visit war memorials so that we never forget the soldiers' sacrifice.

Try this

Thank-you card for a soldier: give your child a sheet of paper and ask them to fold it into a card. On the front, draw the national flag or a flower. Inside, write three lines: who the card is for, what the soldier does for us, and one promise (for example, 'I will keep my country clean'). Then let your child read the card aloud to the family, slowly and clearly, as if speaking at a school assembly.

Tip for parents

Ask your child in Hindi first: 'सैनिक हमारे लिए क्या-क्या करते हैं?' Let them answer in Hindi, then help them turn each idea into one English sentence with 'because', like 'We are safe because soldiers guard our borders.' Mixing both languages at first is fine; praise every full English sentence they make.

Questions parents ask

What is A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers about?

It is two letters between friends, Soumya and Ananda. Soumya describes her visit to the National War Memorial in New Delhi, and Ananda replies with her own thoughts on honouring India's soldiers.

Which soldiers are mentioned in A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers?

The letters mention Major Somnath Sharma, Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Major Hoshiar Singh, Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, Major Padmapani Acharya and Captain Anuj Nayyar.

Is A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers in the new NCERT book?

Yes. It is in Poorvi, NCERT's new English book for Class 7, in Unit 5 (Bravehearts).

Learn every Class 7 chapter with CALP

Every chapter of Poorvi, NCERT’s new Class 7 book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, listening, grammar, speaking and writing with feedback. ₹1,599 for the whole year.

See the free lessons and enrol →