A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers | CBSE Class 7 English Notes

This note covers the chapter "A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers": a part-by-part summary of the two letters, the main characters, the themes, key quotations, the poetic and language devices used, and answers to the chapter's own textbook questions.

What is this chapter about?

The chapter is written as an exchange of letters between two friends, Soumya and Ananda. Soumya, who lives in Bengaluru, writes first after an educational trip to New Delhi during which her school visited the National War Memorial.

She describes what she learnt there about soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country, the gallantry awards given to them, and the design of the memorial itself.

Ananda, who lives in Chandigarh, replies with her own reflections, her memory of visiting a war memorial in a garden in her city, a poem that the visit reminded her of, and news she had read about another decorated soldier.

The two letters together build a tribute to Indian soldiers and explain why remembering their sacrifice matters.

The chapter's purpose, as the introductory note to the unit states, is that it "is a tribute to the real heroes of our nation—our soldiers, the embodiment of patriotism." Both letters move between personal feeling and factual information, so the chapter works as a piece of creative, informative writing rather than a story with a plot in the usual sense.

What happens in the story, part by part?

Soumya's letter: the visit to the National War Memorial

Soumya writes to Ananda about a school trip to New Delhi. She recalls their earlier conversation about war and the long struggle India had to protect its territorial integrity after Independence.

She tells Ananda she now knows more about the brave men and women who fought in these wars, because her class visited the National War Memorial.

She explains that the memorial's construction started in April 2018 and was completed in February 2019; it was envisioned and then inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in February 2019. It is spread over 40 acres near India Gate and is a tribute to some of India's bravest soldiers.

Her teacher told the class that even after 1947, India had to fight several wars, including the Indo-China conflict of 1962, the Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971, and the Kargil War of 1999.

Each brick of the memorial, called a tablet, bears the names of fallen soldiers: there are 29,000 tablets with more than 26,000 names etched on them.

Soumya's letter: gallantry awards and the citation of Albert Ekka

Soumya describes the awards given to soldiers: the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest wartime gallantry medal, given to 21 bravehearts, along with the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Kirti Chakra (KC), Vir Chakra (VrC) and Shaurya Chakra (SC).

Major Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded the first PVC for the Battle of Badgam in 1947.

She lists soldiers awarded the PVC posthumously in the 1971 war, including Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and Major Hoshiar Singh, and mentions Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, who received the MVC.

Her teacher then read out the full official citation of Lance Naik Albert Ekka's PVC, describing how he silenced two enemy guns despite being seriously wounded, and finally died after the objective was captured.

Soumya writes that the class was "awestruck and humbled by his bravery."

Soumya's letter: the Amar Jawan Jyoti and the four Chakras

Soumya then describes the Amar Jawan Jyoti, an immortal flame kept burning day and night, which was earlier lit under the arch of India Gate in January 1972 to mark India's victory in the 1971 war, and which now stands merged within the memorial's central obelisk, fifteen metres tall and surrounded by wreaths.

Her teacher explained the four concentric circles of the memorial: the innermost Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality) holding the obelisk and flame; the Veerta Chakra (Circle of Bravery) with six bronze murals of battle action; the Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice), whose granite walls, arranged like the ancient Chakravyuh formation, carry tablets dedicated to each fallen hero; and the outermost Raksha Chakra (Circle of Protection), where a row of trees represents the soldiers guarding the nation's borders.

Soumya's letter: Major Padmapani Acharya and the class presentation

Soumya tells Ananda that her class decided to make presentations on soldiers they had learnt about, divided into five groups. She chose Major Padmapani Acharya, who fought in the 1999 Kargil War and was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

Before the battle, he wrote to his father quoting a verse from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, saying he was not afraid of losing his life for the motherland.

The citation describes how, as a Company Commander with 2 Rajputana Rifles, he led his reserve platoon through artillery fire, continued attacking despite being severely injured, and ordered his men to leave him so that they could capture the enemy position; he died of his injuries afterwards.

Soumya ends her letter asking Ananda to share the memorial's website with friends.

Ananda's letter: the Bougainvillea Garden and a remembered poem

Ananda replies from Chandigarh, saying she enjoyed Soumya's letter and feels it is "our duty" to visit such memorials to honour soldiers.

She recalls visiting the Bougainvillea Garden in Sector 3, where people were offering flowers at a war memorial, and this reminded her of the poem "Pushp ki Abhilasha" by Makhanlal Chaturvedi, in which a flower wishes to be thrown on the path where soldiers walk to offer their heads for the motherland, rather than be woven into garlands of pride or vanity.

Ananda's letter: Captain Anuj Nayyar and the memorial app

Ananda mentions reading about Captain Anuj Nayyar, an officer of the 17 Jat regiment, posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for the 1999 Kargil War.

She notes that his mother, Meena Nayyar, wrote a memoir titled Tiger of Drass, Capt. Anuj Nayyar, 23, Kargil Hero, and shares a short excerpt from her interview about writing about her son.

Ananda also tells Soumya that she and her friends found a mobile app called "National War Memorial and Museum," which is interactive and answers questions in 21 languages, and that she enjoys collecting stamps, a hobby she calls philately, having just received a stamp celebrating India's independence.

She ends by thanking Soumya for her letter and sharing breakfast news.

Who are the characters?

Soumya

Soumya is the writer of the first letter, living in Bengaluru. She is a curious and reflective student who had long wondered about the identities of the soldiers who protected India after Independence.

Her school trip to the National War Memorial answers these questions for her, and her letter shows her growing admiration for soldiers such as Albert Ekka and Major Padmapani Acharya.

She says she aspires "to be courageous like him when I join the Army," showing that the visit has personally inspired her.

Ananda

Ananda, writing from Chandigarh, is Soumya's close friend and pen pal. She is described by Soumya as "the sensitive person that you are," and her own letter proves this: she connects Soumya's experience to her own memory of a local war memorial and to a Hindi poem.

Ananda is also shown as someone with her own interests, such as collecting stamps, and she says she is "seriously thinking of joining the Armed Forces to serve my motherland."

Lance Naik Albert Ekka

Albert Ekka is a soldier whose official PVC citation is quoted in full in the chapter.

Serving with a Battalion of the Brigade of Guards in the attack at Gangasagar, he showed "complete disregard to his personal safety," silencing enemy machine guns even after being seriously wounded, until he finally succumbed to his injuries after the objective was captured.

Major Padmapani Acharya

Major Padmapani Acharya is the soldier Soumya chooses for her class presentation. A Company Commander with 2 Rajputana Rifles during the 1999 Kargil War, his citation describes how he led his reserve platoon under heavy fire, continued the assault despite severe injury, and ordered his men to leave him so the mission could succeed.

His letter to his father, quoting the Bhagavad Gita, shows his calm acceptance of possible death in service of the country.

What themes does the chapter explore?

Patriotism and gratitude

Both letters express deep gratitude for the freedom made possible by soldiers' sacrifices. Soumya writes about wanting to know "who were these brave Indian people," while Ananda calls the memorial "an expression of deep gratitude for the supreme sacrifice made by our brave soldiers defending the sovereignty and integrity of the country."

Courage, sacrifice and selflessness

The citations of Albert Ekka and Major Padmapani Acharya show soldiers acting with "complete disregard" for their own safety. Their stories illustrate that courage in the chapter is linked directly to selflessness, since both men continued fighting, and ordering others ahead of themselves, even while fatally wounded.

Remembrance and the role of memorials

The chapter repeatedly returns to the idea that memorials exist "so that we should never forget the cost of freedom." The detailed description of the National War Memorial's tablets, flame and four Chakras shows how physical structures are designed to keep the memory of fallen soldiers alive for future generations.

Friendship and shared learning

The letter form itself carries a theme of friendship: Soumya and Ananda share experiences, feelings and new knowledge with each other across distance. Ananda notes she enjoys receiving Soumya's letters not only for their content but for the stamps they carry, showing how the friendship deepens through this exchange.

What key quotations matter?

"Won't you say, a long-desired aspiration was fulfilled?" — Soumya, on the National War Memorial.

"...so that we should never forget the cost of freedom." — Soumya, explaining why the memorial matters.

"...displayed the most conspicuous valour, determination and made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Army." — from Lance Naik Albert Ekka's citation.

"If you fight, you will either be slain on the battlefield and go to the celestial abode, or you will gain victory and enjoy the kingdom on the earth." — Bhagavad Gita, quoted by Major Padmapani Acharya.

"...it is also an expression of deep gratitude for the supreme sacrifice made by our brave soldiers..." — Ananda, in her letter to Soumya.

"I was also overwhelmed by the interminable flame as a metaphor for eternal stories of courage and valour." — Soumya, describing the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

What poetic devices and imagery appear in the chapter?

The chapter is built as a pair of personal letters, so its language mixes informal, friendly address ("Give my regards to your mom and dad") with formal, factual description of the memorial and the gallantry awards. This contrast lets the writers move easily between emotion and information.

Soumya uses rhetorical questions to involve Ananda, such as "Won't you say, a long-desired aspiration was fulfilled?" and "Isn't it amazing!" These questions mimic conversation and draw the reader into her excitement.

The chapter also quotes official military citations word for word, which gives the letters an authentic, documentary quality alongside the personal voice.

Ananda's letter includes a Hindi poem, "Pushp ki Abhilasha," quoted in full, which uses the image of a flower wishing to be thrown on the soldiers' path rather than worn for vanity, a symbol of humble, willing sacrifice. The poem's refrain of "Chaah Nahi" (I do not wish) repeated at the start of the poem's first four stanzas builds its rhetorical pattern, rejecting vain honours in favour of this one humble wish.

The flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti is also described as a "metaphor for eternal stories of courage and valour," directly naming the figure of speech used. The chapter further uses visual imagery — such as the lighting design that "transforms the monument's landscape as sunlight changes from dawn to dusk," to make the memorial vivid for a reader who has not seen it.

What is the significance of the National War Memorial?

The National War Memorial stands near India Gate on 40 acres of land, and its 29,000 tablets carry more than 26,000 names of soldiers who died in independent India's wars, from 1947 onward, including 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999.

According to the chapter, this matters "so that we should never forget the cost of freedom."

The memorial's four Chakras each give a different meaning to remembrance: immortality at the centre, bravery in the bronze murals, sacrifice in the tablets arranged like the ancient Chakravyuh, and protection in the outer ring of trees.

Together with the Amar Jawan Jyoti, which merges the older flame from India Gate, the memorial turns a simple visit into what Soumya calls "an emotive experience that was visually inspiring."

What are the answers to the textbook questions?

Which is India's highest gallantry award? The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime gallantry medal, as stated in Soumya's letter.

What is the significance of the National War Memorial? It is a tribute, spread over 40 acres near India Gate, whose 29,000 tablets bear more than 26,000 names of soldiers who died defending the country from 1947 onward, so that the nation never forgets "the cost of freedom."

Lance Naik Albert Ekka is an example of selflessness, determination, and exceptional courage. Elaborate. His citation describes how, though seriously wounded while attacking enemy positions at Gangasagar, he continued fighting, crawled forward under fire to silence a machine gun, scaled a wall under fire to silence another, and fought on until the objective was captured, finally dying of his injuries, displaying what the citation calls "the most conspicuous valour."

Explain how the National War Memorial and Museum app will be helpful in spreading awareness about war heroes. Ananda's letter says the app is interactive and answers questions in 21 languages, which lets people across India learn about the memorial and its soldiers in their own language rather than only by visiting in person.

Why is it our duty to pay homage to our brave soldiers? Ananda explains that soldiers' sacrifices "enable us to walk freely in our country without fear of enemy threats," so visiting memorials and honouring them is a way of showing gratitude for the freedom their service makes possible.

What is the main idea of this text? How does it justify the title? The letters together build a tribute, a homage, to Indian soldiers by describing the National War Memorial, its gallantry award winners and their citations, matching the title "A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers."

Why were the students awestruck and humbled? After hearing the full citation of Lance Naik Albert Ekka's Param Vir Chakra, describing his courage despite serious wounds, the students felt awestruck and humbled by the scale of his bravery and sacrifice.

How are difficult or formal words used in the chapter?

The chapter carries several formal or unfamiliar words directly glossed beside the text, because it mixes everyday letter-writing with official military language. Words such as territorial integrity, envisioned and tribute appear early, as Soumya sets the scene of the memorial's history.

Words drawn from the military citations, such as etched, gallantry, posthumously and citation carry the formal register of official documents, giving these passages a serious, factual tone very different from the personal parts of the letters.

Later, descriptive words such as obelisk, wreaths, interminable and murals help build the visual picture of the memorial itself for a reader who has not seen it.

Ananda's letter introduces softer, more personal vocabulary, such as edifice, valiant and memoir, matching her more reflective, home-based tone compared with Soumya's excited, descriptive account of her trip.

Why do letters work well to tell this story?

Choosing the letter format lets the writers speak directly and personally about their feelings, rather than describing events from a distance. Soumya can write "I aspire to be courageous like him when I join the Army!" as a spontaneous reaction, which would feel less natural in a plain report.

The format also allows two different perspectives on the same subject: Soumya's first-hand account of visiting Delhi's memorial, and Ananda's memory of her own city's memorial and the poem it recalls for her.

Readers get both a factual account of the National War Memorial and a reflective response to it, since Ananda adds her own emotional and poetic connection rather than simply reacting to Soumya's news.

Because letters are addressed to a specific friend, the writers can mix serious national history with small personal details, such as missing "chhole bhature" or sharing breakfast news, which keeps the tone warm even while discussing loss and sacrifice.

Glossary

• Territorial integrity — the safeguarding of a nation's borders and land, so that no part of the country's territory is lost to invasion or conflict.
• Envisioned — visualised or imagined in advance, as a plan or an idea in the mind, before it was built and completed as a real monument.
• Tribute — something said or done to show respect and gratitude publicly towards a person, in this case the soldiers who died for the country.
• Etched — engraved or cut permanently into a hard surface such as stone, so that the names of fallen soldiers remain visible for a long time.
• Gallantry — exceptional courage shown especially in battle, the quality recognised officially through medals such as the Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.
• Posthumously — done or awarded after a person's death, as when a soldier's gallantry medal is given to his family once he has already died in battle.
• Citation — an official written record describing a soldier's meritorious performance of duty, read out publicly and used to justify the award given to him.
• Awestruck — amazed or filled with wonder, as the students felt after hearing the full citation describing Lance Naik Albert Ekka's bravery in battle.
• Obelisk — a tall, tapering stone pillar, in this case the fifteen-metre-tall central structure of the National War Memorial that holds the eternal flame.
• Wreaths — circular arrangements of flowers placed as a mark of respect and remembrance for a person who has died, seen around the memorial's obelisk.
• Murals — large paintings or images made directly on a wall, such as the six bronze murals in the Veerta Chakra showing valiant battle actions.
• Edifice — a large, impressive building, a word Ananda uses when describing how some people view a war memorial as simply a monument or structure.
• Valiant — very brave, a word used to describe the soldiers whom Ananda feels it is everyone's duty to honour for their great sacrifices.
• Memoir — a written account of a person's own life and experiences, such as the book Captain Anuj Nayyar's mother wrote about her son.

Common errors and misconceptions

• Misconception: Students think the National War Memorial and India Gate are the same monument. Correct: the memorial is a separate monument near India Gate, and the Amar Jawan Jyoti was later merged from the original site under the India Gate arch into the memorial's obelisk.
• Misconception: The Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra are assumed to be the same award. Correct: the PVC is India's highest wartime gallantry medal, while the MVC is a separate, second-highest award, as given to Captain Anuj Nayyar.
• Misconception: All four Chakras are thought to represent the same idea. Correct: each Chakra stands for a different idea: immortality, bravery, sacrifice and protection.
• Misconception: Students assume Lance Naik Albert Ekka survived his battle. Correct: his citation states he succumbed to his injuries after the objective was captured.
• Misconception: The poem "Pushp ki Abhilasha" is assumed to be written by one of the letter writers. Correct: it is a Hindi poem by Makhanlal Chaturvedi that Ananda recalls while describing her visit to a garden memorial.
• Misconception: Readers think both letters are written from Delhi. Correct: Soumya writes from Bengaluru about her Delhi trip, while Ananda writes from Chandigarh about a local memorial.

Exam-style questions with model answers

Q1. Which award is described as India's highest wartime gallantry medal? [1 mark]

1. The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime gallantry medal, as stated in the chapter.

Q2. Where is the National War Memorial located, and how much land does it cover? [2 marks]

1. The National War Memorial is located near the iconic India Gate in New Delhi.
2. It is spread over 40 acres of land, and is a tribute to some of India's bravest soldiers.

Q3. Using the details given in the chapter, describe the construction, inauguration and purpose of the National War Memorial. [3 marks]

1. Construction of the National War Memorial started in April 2018 and was completed in February 2019.
2. It was envisioned and then inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in February 2019.
3. It is spread over 40 acres of land near India Gate, and is a tribute to some of India's bravest soldiers.
4. Each brick of the memorial, called a tablet, bears the names of fallen soldiers; there are 29,000 tablets carrying more than 26,000 names etched on them.

Q4. Name four soldiers posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for the 1971 war, and explain what the Param Vir Chakra is. [4 marks]

1. The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime gallantry medal, given for exceptional gallantry in battle.
2. Lance Naik Albert Ekka was posthumously awarded the PVC for his action in the 1971 war.
3. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was also posthumously awarded the PVC for the 1971 war.
4. Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and Major Hoshiar Singh were the other two soldiers posthumously awarded the PVC for the 1971 war.

Q5. Explain, using the citation quoted in the chapter, how Lance Naik Albert Ekka showed selflessness, determination and courage. [5 marks]

1. He was in the left forward company during the attack on enemy defences at Gangasagar on the eastern front.
2. He noticed an enemy Light Machine Gun causing heavy casualties and charged the bunker, bayoneting two soldiers and silencing it, though seriously wounded.
3. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight alongside his comrades, clearing bunker after bunker.
4. When a Medium Machine Gun held up the attack from a fortified building, he crawled forward under fire and lobbed a grenade into it.
5. When the gun still fired, he scaled a side wall, bayoneted the enemy and silenced it, ensuring the attack succeeded, but died of his wounds afterwards.

Q6. Describe the four Chakras of the National War Memorial and what each one represents. [5 marks]

1. The innermost Amar Chakra, the Circle of Immortality, holds the obelisk with the eternal Amar Jawan Jyoti flame.
2. The Veerta Chakra, the Circle of Bravery, has a covered gallery with six bronze murals showing battle actions.
3. The Tyag Chakra, the Circle of Sacrifice, has circular walls shaped like the ancient Chakravyuh formation, with tablets for each fallen hero of post-Independent India.
4. The outermost Raksha Chakra, the Circle of Protection, has a row of trees representing soldiers guarding the nation's borders.
5. Together the four circles move outward from remembrance of the dead to the ongoing protection of the living.

Q7. Why does Ananda feel it is her duty to visit war memorials, according to her letter? [2 marks]

1. Ananda feels it is their duty to periodically visit such places to honour soldiers who have made great sacrifices for the nation.
2. She says these sacrifices enable citizens to walk freely in the country without fear of enemy threats.

Q8. Using details from both letters, explain why the chapter is titled "A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers." [4 marks]

1. Soumya's letter describes the National War Memorial, its tablets and gallantry citations, built to honour fallen soldiers.
2. Her account of Albert Ekka and Major Padmapani Acharya shows personal sacrifice in detail, inspiring her to aspire to similar courage.
3. Ananda's letter adds her own memory of a local war memorial and a poem about willing sacrifice.
4. Both letters together form a shared tribute, a homage, matching the chapter's title.

Key takeaways

• The National War Memorial, completed in February 2019 near India Gate, has 29,000 tablets bearing more than 26,000 names of fallen soldiers.
• The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest wartime gallantry medal; Major Somnath Sharma received the first one posthumously for the Battle of Badgam, 1947.
• Lance Naik Albert Ekka's citation shows him silencing two enemy guns despite serious wounds before dying of his injuries.
• Major Padmapani Acharya, awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, quoted the Bhagavad Gita before the Kargil battle in which he died.
• The memorial has four Chakras: Amar (immortality), Veerta (bravery), Tyag (sacrifice) and Raksha (protection).
• The Amar Jawan Jyoti, once at India Gate from January 1972, now burns within the memorial's obelisk.
• Ananda's letter recalls the poem "Pushp ki Abhilasha" by Makhanlal Chaturvedi after visiting a memorial in Chandigarh.
• Captain Anuj Nayyar received the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for the 1999 Kargil War; his mother wrote a memoir about him.

Test yourself

What is the highest wartime gallantry award in India?

The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest wartime gallantry award, as named in the chapter.

How many tablets does the National War Memorial have, and how many names do they carry?

There are 29,000 tablets carrying more than 26,000 names of fallen soldiers.

Who received the first Param Vir Chakra, and for what action?

Major Somnath Sharma received the first Param Vir Chakra, posthumously, for the Battle of Badgam in 1947.

What does the Amar Chakra represent?

The Amar Chakra, the innermost circle, represents the Circle of Immortality and holds the obelisk with the eternal Amar Jawan Jyoti flame.

Which poem does Ananda recall, and who wrote it?

Ananda recalls "Pushp ki Abhilasha" by Makhanlal Chaturvedi, after visiting a war memorial in a Chandigarh garden.

Who was Captain Anuj Nayyar, and what award did he receive?

Captain Anuj Nayyar was an officer of the 17 Jat regiment, posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for the 1999 Kargil War.

What hobby does Ananda mention in her letter?

Ananda mentions collecting stamps, a hobby she learns is called philately.

Why does Major Padmapani Acharya quote the Bhagavad Gita in his letter to his father?

He quotes it to say he is not afraid of losing his life while protecting the motherland, accepting either death in battle or victory.