A Tale of Valour (Major Somnath Sharma): NCERT Class 8 Story (Poorvi)

etmantra3 Nov 20267 min read

In November 1947, a small company of Indian soldiers stood between a large invading force and the Srinagar airport. This chapter tells how their young commander, Major Somnath Sharma, led them with courage and became the first person to receive the Param Vir Chakra. Students learn what duty and leadership really mean, and pick up strong new words along the way.

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From NCERT’s new English book Poorvi for Class 8, unit “Values and Dispositions”. Unit 2.

What your child learns

Strong words for courage and war: valour, resolute, tenacity, outnumbered, posthumously
Subject-verb agreement: 'A battalion of soldiers stands', 'Each of the soldiers has'
Expressions like 'hold their ground' and 'foil the plan', collective nouns (regiment, fleet, squadron), and nouns and verbs such as advice and advise
Writing a formal letter of enquiry and speaking about how to serve the nation

What the story is about

In August 1947, Pakistan launched Operation Gulmarg to take over the Kashmir Valley. Around a thousand trained invaders entered Kashmir in October, and Jammu and Kashmir became part of India on 26 October 1947. Indian troops were flown into Srinagar to defend it. On 31 October, the D Company of the 4th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment arrived under Major Somnath Sharma. His left hand was in plaster, but he refused to let his men go into action without him. On 3 November, while patrolling the village of Badgam near the airport, his 90 men were attacked by about 500 invaders. He called for air strikes, laid out ground panels to guide the aircraft, moved through the battlefield filling magazines and encouraging his men, and refused to pull back even when ammunition ran low. A mortar shell killed him in a trench, but his men held on for six more hours, giving time for reinforcements to arrive and saving Srinagar for India.

The chapter also tells us about his early life. He was born on 31 January 1923 in Dadh, Kangra, in Himachal Pradesh, in a family of soldiers, and grew up hearing tales of the Mahabharata from his grandfather. He studied at Sherwood College, Nainital, trained at Sandhurst and served in Burma in World War II. He died at just 24 and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra after his death, the first person ever to receive it. His name is on the Honour Wall of the National War Memorial, a reminder of the price of freedom.

New words, with Hindi meanings

valour: great courage, especially in battle (हिंदी: वीरता, शौर्य)
resolute: firm and determined; not giving up (हिंदी: दृढ़, अटल)
tenacity: the quality of holding on and not giving up (हिंदी: दृढ़ता, लगन)
outnumbered: facing a group much larger than your own (हिंदी: संख्या में कम पड़ जाना)
infiltrators: people who secretly enter a place to attack or take it (हिंदी: घुसपैठिए)
ammunition: bullets, shells and explosives used in guns (हिंदी: गोला-बारूद)
conspicuous: easy to notice; standing out (हिंदी: स्पष्ट, विशिष्ट)
posthumously: given or happening after a person's death (हिंदी: मरणोपरांत)
legacy: values and memories passed down to later generations (हिंदी: विरासत)
unparalleled: so great that nothing can be compared with it (हिंदी: बेमिसाल, अद्वितीय)

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.

Why was the village of Badgam so important to defend?
What did Major Somnath Sharma do when his company was outnumbered?
Why did he refuse to pull back when D Company ran out of ammunition?
How did the bravery of D Company help save Srinagar?
Think of a time you kept trying even when something was hard. What helped you hold on?

Answers for parents

Badgam was less than 5 kilometres from the Srinagar airport and stood higher than the airfield. Indian forces had to control it to protect their troops and the supplies arriving by air.
He asked for air strikes and laid out ground panels to guide the aircraft. He moved fearlessly through the battlefield, directing fire, filling magazines for his gunners and encouraging his men to hold their ground.
He knew how serious the situation was. The enemy was very close, and if his men withdrew, the airport and Srinagar could be lost, so he chose to fight to the last man and the last round.
Even after their Major was killed, his men held their position for over six more hours. This gave time for reinforcements to be flown in, and the enemy lost heart, so Srinagar stayed with India.
For example: I was learning to swim and kept swallowing water. I wanted to stop, but my coach kept encouraging me and I practised every day. After two weeks I could swim across the pool.

Grammar corner: Subject-verb agreement

The verb must agree with its subject: a singular subject takes a singular verb (is, was, has, stands), and a plural subject takes a plural verb (are, were, have, stand). With phrases like 'a group of', 'one of' or 'each of', look at the main word, not the nearest noun. A collective noun such as battalion, fleet or team usually takes a singular verb when it acts as one unit.

A company of brave soldiers guards the airfield.
One of the gunners was running short of ammunition.
The names of the bravehearts are carved on the Honour Wall.

Practice at home

Choose the correct verb: Each of the soldiers ___ (has / have) shown great courage.
Fill in with advice or advise: My grandfather gave me good ___ about being brave.
Make a sentence using the expression 'hold their ground'.

Answers: 1. has · 2. advice (the noun, with 'c') · 3. For example: Our football team held their ground against a much stronger side and drew the match.

Try this

Play 'Singular or plural?' at home. One person says a subject, such as 'a fleet of ships', 'the soldiers', 'one of my friends' or 'each student', and the other must make a quick sentence with the right verb (is or are, has or have). Then talk about the soldiers you have seen in the Republic Day Parade and make a list together of the qualities a good soldier needs.

Tip for parents

Tell the story of Major Somnath Sharma in Hindi first: वे अपने टूटे हाथ के साथ भी अपने सैनिकों के साथ गए, और 90 सैनिकों ने लगभग 500 हमलावरों का सामना किया. Then ask your child to retell it in English, even if Hindi words come in between. Use Hindi to explain hard words, like वीरता for valour and मरणोपरांत for posthumously, and praise every attempt.

Questions parents ask

What is A Tale of Valour about?

It is the true story of Major Somnath Sharma of the Kumaon Regiment, who led 90 soldiers against about 500 invaders at Badgam, near Srinagar airport, on 3 November 1947. He died in the battle, but his men held on until help arrived, and he became the first person to receive the Param Vir Chakra.

What were Major Somnath Sharma's last words?

When he was asked to pull back, he told headquarters that the enemy was only 50 yards away and that he would "fight to the last man and the last round". The words show his deep sense of duty to his men and his country.

Is A Tale of Valour in the new NCERT book?

Yes. It is Chapter 4 of Poorvi, NCERT's new English book for Class 8, in Unit 2 (Values and Dispositions).

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Every chapter of Poorvi, NCERT’s new Class 8 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.

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