7th Unit-8 A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers

Unit-8: A Homage to our Brave Soldiers

Visual Glossary

Sl No	Word/phrase	Meaning in English	Explanatory image
1	Homage (n)	Respect
2	National War Memorial (n.phr)	The National War Memorial represents the gratitude of a nation to its Armed Forces.
3	Territorial Integrity (n.phr.)	Safeguarding the nation’s borders
4	Envisioned (v)	Visualised	--
5	Iconic (adj)	widely recognized and well-established
6	Tribute (n)	Showing respect and gratitude
7	Etched (v)	Engraved
8	Gallantry	Exceptional courage, especially in battle	--
9	Commemorate (v)	Remember officially and give respect
10	Wreaths (n)	Circular arrangement of flowers used as a respect and remembrance for a person who had died
11	Mural (n)	A large picture on a wall
12	Discourse (n)	Serious discussion of a subject
13	Devastation (n)	Damage and destruction

1. Where is the National War Memorial and why is it important?
It is near India Gate in New Delhi. It is important because it honours soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country and reminds everyone of their bravery and sacrifice.

2. What is the nation’s highest gallantry award?
The Param Vir Chakra.

3. What do the walls of the National War Memorial show?
The walls have the names of brave soldiers and beautiful murals showing their acts of bravery.

4. Pick any sentences or paragraphs that made you feel strongly.

i) “The murals on the walls are enchanting.” – Wonder and pride.

ii) “The various discourses on the day brought tears to my eyes.” – Sadness and gratitude.

iii) “I feel motivated and I am seriously thinking of joining the Armed Forces.” – Inspiration and patriotism.

iv) “The endless flame burns day and night in honour of the martyrs.” – Respect and devotion.

v) “Names of thousands of soldiers are engraved on the granite tablets.” – Awe and humility.

vi) “I salute our brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the country.” – Pride and thankfulness.

vii) “The National War Memorial stands as a tribute to the valour of our armed forces.” – Honour and respect.

viii) “It was a great learning experience indeed!” – Happiness and appreciation.

1. Which book does Ananda want to read and why?

She wants to read Tiger of Drass – Capt. Anuj Nayyar – 23 – Kargil Hero because she wants to know more about his life and bravery.

2. How did Ananda feel after reading about the National War Memorial?
She felt proud, inspired, and thankful to the soldiers. She also thought about serving the country.

3. Why was she reminded of the poem Pushp ki Abhilasha?

Because people were offering flowers to honour the soldiers, just like the wish in the poem.

4. What does Ananda want to do after this experience?

o Visit the memorial.

o Use the memorial’s mobile app.

o Share stories of soldiers with friends.

o Make a school presentation.

o Think about joining the Armed Forces.

1. Why are war memorials built?
To remember and honour soldiers who died for our country.

2. Why is it our duty to pay homage to our brave soldiers?
Because they keep our country safe and give their lives for us.

3. Why is making a presentation in front of the whole school a good idea?

So all students can learn about soldiers’ sacrifices and be inspired.

4. Why were the students awestruck and humbled?
They saw thousands of soldiers’ names and heard stories of bravery, which made them feel amazed and respectful.

5. Complete the table with the names of the wars, the years in which they were fought, and the soldiers associated.

Name of the War	Year(s)	Soldiers Associated
Indo–China War	1962	Subedar Joginder Singh
Indo–Pakistan War	1965, 1971	Lt. Col. A.B. Tarapore, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon
Kargil War	1999	Captain Anuj Nayyar, Major Padmapani Acharya

1. Find the odd one out from the words given in the box.

a) valiant, martyr, brave, heroic, courageous → martyr
(Reason: All others are adjectives describing bravery; “martyr” is a noun.)

b) memorial, monument, statue, cenotaph, victory → victory
(Reason: All others are types of structures; “victory” is an achievement.)

c) gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation, respect, gratefulness → respect
(Reason: All others mean “thankfulness”; “respect” has a different meaning.)

d) unique, simple, matchless, exclusive, one-off → simple
(Reason: All others mean “special” or “one of a kind”; “simple” means plain or easy.)

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs given in brackets

The medal was instituted as a Gallantry Medal with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

The medal was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolkar. The designer drew inspiration from Sage Dadhichi, a Vedic rishi who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up his body so that the gods could make a deadly weapon called the Vajra (Thunderbolt) from his spine.

The medal is cast in bronze. In the centre, on a raised circle, is the state emblem, surrounded by four replicas of Indra’s Vajra and flanked by…

3. Match the words with their meanings

territorial integrity → keeping the country’s borders safe
iconic → famous and respected
envisioned → imagined
etched → carved or written on a surface
posthumously → after death
awestruck → amazed
obelisk → tall stone pillar
majestic → grand or beautiful
interminable flame → flame that never goes out
valiant → very brave

4. Complete the short story of an unknown soldier

He was posted at the Indian border to safeguard our national boundary. He had been motivated by the hundreds of stories of the soldiers who had died in action and were celebrated after their deaths for bravery. One night as the war intensified, he was asked to take his platoon to the place of action. He displayed outstanding valour and led from the front. All the fellow soldiers were awestruck at his courage, especially as he made the supreme sacrifice without any hesitation. He too was awarded posthumously after he died in the war. His action touched everyone’s heart deeply.

1. Have a class discussion on the topic, ‘When there is no dialogue war begins’.

Answer:
When people or countries stop talking, they may not understand each other. Misunderstandings can lead to anger and fighting. Talking and listening can solve problems and prevent war.

2. Find out any poem or story in your mother tongue/context about the sacrifices/bravery of soldiers. Make a presentation in the class.

Answer:
I will present the poem Pushp ki Abhilasha by Makhanlal Chaturvedi. It tells about a flower that wants to be offered to the motherland. The poem shows love and sacrifice for the country.

3. People have switched to emails and WhatsApp instead of writing notes and letters to each other. Which form of communication do you prefer and why? Share with your friends in class.

Answer:
I prefer WhatsApp for quick messages because it is fast and easy. But for important or special occasions, I like to write letters because they feel more personal.

4. Write a paragraph on the army’s work during peace-time.
Answer:
During peace-time, the army helps in floods, earthquakes, and other disasters. They rescue people, build roads and bridges, guard the borders, and take part in peace missions in other countries.

5. As the citizens of a nation, we all must fulfil our duty. Write a letter to your friend describing how you propose to serve your nation. You can choose from the themes given below:

Theme chosen: Save the Environment

Dear Ravi,

I want to serve the nation by saving the environment. I will plant more trees, avoid using plastic, and keep my surroundings clean. I will also encourage others to take care of nature because a clean environment keeps our country healthy and beautiful.

Yours lovingly,
Priya

Meadow Surprises (poem)

1. Read the lines in which the following phrases occur. Then discuss with your partner the meaning of each phrase in its context.

i) velvet grass – soft and smooth grass.
ii) drinking straws – long, thin stems of grass or flowers from which butterflies or bees drink nectar.
iii) meadow houses – homes of small animals or insects in the meadow, like burrows or nests.
iv) amazing mound – a small hill made by ants.
v) fuzzy head – soft, hairy top of a flower like a dandelion.

2. Which line in the poem suggests that you need a keen eye and a sharp ear to enjoy a meadow? Read aloud the stanza that contains this line.

Answer: The line is: “You may discover these yourself, if you look and listen well.”

3. Find pictures of the kinds of birds, insects and scenes mentioned in the poem.

Answer: Pictures can include:

· Butterflies

· Rabbits

· Ants and ant hills

· Birds’ nests

· Dandelion flowers

4. Watch a tree or a plant, or walk across a field or park at the same time every day for a week. Keep a diary of what you see and hear. At the end of the week, write a short paragraph or a poem about your experiences. Put your writing up on the class bulletin board.

Answer:
Last week, I watched a mango tree every day. I saw sparrows and parrots on the branches. Bees and butterflies came to the flowers. The leaves moved gently in the wind, and I heard birds chirping. It was peaceful and made me happy.

7th Unit-8 A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers

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