A Tale of Valour - Textual Notes

Major Somnath Sharma (1923–1947), the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest gallantry award.

Historical Event: On 03 November 1947, Major Somnath Sharma led D Company (90 soldiers) of 4 KUMAON against nearly 500 Pakistani-backed infiltrators at Badgam to protect the Srinagar airfield.

Theme: Duty, courage, leadership, and supreme sacrifice for the motherland. 

Let us do these activities before we read (Page 49)

I. Questions on Republic Day Parade:

1. What do you think about the Republic Day Parade on 26 January?

It is a grand and proud national event held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi that displays India's military strength and rich cultural diversity.

2. What are the highlights of this parade?

The marching contingents of the armed forces, military equipment displays, colorful state tableaux, cultural dances by children, and the thrilling flypast by Air Force fighter jets.

3. What bravery awards are given on this day, and who receives them? 

Gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are given to brave military personnel and civilians.  

II. Group Discussion Questions:

1. What qualities do you think a soldier should have? 

A soldier should have bravery, discipline, love for the nation, leadership, determination, and a strong sense of duty.

2. If you had to share a message with a soldier, what would it be? 

"Thank you for your selfless service and sacrifices to keep our nation safe and free."

Let us discuss (Page 59)

I. Arrange the events in chronological order (Page 59):

(1) Major Somnath Sharma was born in 1923 in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. 

 (4) Major Somnath Sharma underwent training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. 

 (6) Major Somnath Sharma was commissioned into the 19th Hyderabad Regiment in 1942. 

 (3) The D Company, under the command of Major Somnath Sharma, was flown into Srinagar. 

(5) Major Somnath Sharma requested air strikes to combat the enemy at Badgam. 

(7) Major Somnath Sharma was killed immediately after a mortar shell hit him. 

(2) Even after losing Major Somnath Sharma, the soldiers fought bravely to save Srinagar for India. 

 (8) Major Somnath Sharma was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.

Let us think and reflect (Pages 59–61)

I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:

Extract 1 (Pages 59–60):

"Vastly outnumbered and facing devastating fire, Major Somnath Sharma and his men stood resolute..."

(i) What can be inferred from the line: 'The air was thick with gunfire...'?

B. There was intense fighting on the battlefield.

(ii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason:

Major Somnath Sharma continued to lead his men despite heavy casualties because he wanted to encourage them to hold their ground and prevent the enemy from capturing the Srinagar airfield.

(iii) Select the correct option for Assertion (A) and Reason (R):

(A): Major Somnath Sharma moved fearlessly through the battlefield, even though he was injured.

(R): He believed his courage was important to motivate the soldiers.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

(iv) Fill in the blank:

• Major Somnath Sharma was filling magazines and encouraging his men to hold their ground despite injuries.

Extract 2 (Pages 60–61):

"Born on 31 January 1923, in the picturesque town of Dadh in Kangra..."

(i) What can be inferred about Somnath Sharma's early influences?

• Answer: C. His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.

(ii) Identify whether the statement is True or False:

• "Somnath Sharma belonged to a wealthy family."

• Answer: False (Text mentions he belonged to a family with a rich military legacy, not a wealthy family).

(iii) What does the phrase 'served the nation with distinction' tell us about Major General Amar Nath Sharma?

He performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence.

(iv) Replace the underlined phrase with a word from the extract:

visually charming - picturesque

II. Short / Long Answer Questions (Page 61)

1. 'Major Somnath's legacy of courage and devotion to the nation remains forever alive, forever alive...' What is the significance of the repetition in this line?

The repetition emphasizes that his sacrifice and patriotism will never be forgotten and will continuously inspire future generations.

2. Why do you think Major Somnath's leadership was critical during the Battle of Badgam?

His company of 90 men was heavily outnumbered by 500 enemy invaders. His fearlessness, tactical decisions, and motivation kept his men fighting long enough to delay the enemy until reinforcements arrived.

3. What were Major Somnath's last words? What do they reflect about his sense of duty?

His last words were: "I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round." This reflects his unmatched courage, supreme dedication, and refusal to surrender under any circumstances.

4. What might have been the outcome of the Battle of Badgam if Major Somnath and his company had not held their ground? 

The enemy invaders would have overrun the Srinagar airfield and captured Kashmir, threatening the security of India. 

5. Why do you think Major Somnath's story continues to inspire soldiers and civilians today? 

Because he showed extraordinary courage, selflessness, and leadership by putting his country above his own life. 

6. How can the values demonstrated by Major Somnath Sharma—courage, duty, and self-sacrifice—be applied in our daily lives?  

We can apply these values by standing up for what is right, fulfilling our duties as responsible citizens, helping others, and working hard for the common good.  

VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR (Pages 62–66)

I. Match expressions in Column 1 with situations in Column 2 & complete sentences (Page 62):

1. Fight to the last man -> (ii) The soldiers fought valiantly until each one laid down his life for the nation. 

2. Foil the plan -> (iv) A spy disrupts the enemy's efforts to invade a country by intercepting their communications. 

3. Deliver a blow -> (i) A sports team scores a last-minute goal, giving them the lead and shaking the opponent's confidence. 

4. Hold their ground -> (iii) Soldiers stay in their position and fight back, even though the enemy is stronger.  

Complete the sentences using Column 1 expressions: 

 A. The detective managed to foil the plan by finding the hidden evidence... 

 B. The company's new advertising campaign was meant to deliver a blow to their competitors' sales. 

 C. The hikers chose to hold their ground despite the heavy rain... 

 D. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the soldiers vowed to defend their homeland and fight to the last man.  

II. Match Collective Nouns & Fill in the Blanks (Pages 62–63):

1. regiment -> (ii) a permanent unit of an army typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel/colonel and divided into several companies. 

2.  squadron -> (iii) a small unit, typically comprising 12-24 aircrafts and their crews... 

3. fleet -> (iv) a group of ships sailing together... 

4. battalion -> (i) a large body of troops ready for battle, especially an infantry unit.  

Fill in the blanks: 

 A. The commanding officer addressed the entire battalion of soldiers during the morning assembly. 

 B. The admiral ordered the entire fleet to set sail for battle. 

 C. The regiment of infantry advanced slowly through the dense forest. 

 D. A squadron of fighter jets was sent to intercept the enemy planes.

III. Words starting with 'Over' (Page 64): 

 1. To take and seize control: overthrow 

2.  To invade or occupy an area in large numbers: overrun 

3.  To flood or overpower someone or something emotionally: overwhelm  

Five additional verbs starting with 'over':

Overcome: She managed to overcome all obstacles to win the race.

Overflow: The river began to overflow after heavy rain.

Overlook: Do not overlook small details while studying.

Overtake: Drive carefully when you try to overtake another vehicle.

Overhear: I happened to overhear their conversation accidentally.

IV. Noun vs. Verb Pairs (-ce vs -se) (Page 64):

1. The teacher's (i) advice is always helpful, and she continues to (ii) advise students on their career choices. 

2.  The musician believes that daily (i) practice helps a lot, so she is always ready to (ii) practise her harmonium lessons. 

3.  The scientist uses a strange (i) device to (ii) devise new methods for his analysis. 

4.  The village (i) council met to discuss issues and decided to (ii) counsel the villagers on important matters.  

V. Subject-Verb Agreement (Page 65): 

1.  The bouquet of flowers is beautiful. 

2. Neither the teacher nor the students have noticed the change in the schedule. 

3.  Each of the participants has submitted their projects on time. 

4. The data collected by the researchers shows significant trends. 

5.  One of the players was injured during the match.

6. Either the children or their guardian has to attend the meeting. 

7. A pair of shoes is missing from the rack. 

8.  Neither of the statements is true. 

9.  The members of the jury have delivered their verdict to the court. 

10.  Mathematics is an interesting subject for many students.

VI. Subject-Verb Error Correction Passage (Pages 65–66):

Incorrect Text:

"A battalion of soldiers stand at attention as the National flag are raised. Each soldier salute with pride while the commander and his assistants inspects the parade. The sound of marching feet echo through the air as a group of cadets prepare for their drill. Meanwhile, a convoy of military vehicles pass by, drawing cheers from the gathered crowd."  

Corrected Text:

A battalion of soldiers stands at attention as the National flag is raised. Each soldier salutes with pride while the commander and his assistants inspect the parade. The sound of marching feet echoes through the air as a group of cadets prepares for their drill. Meanwhile, a convoy of military vehicles passes by, drawing cheers from the gathered crowd.

LISTENING EXERCISE (Page 66 & Transcript Page 98)

Fill in the blanks based on the Param Vir Chakra talk:

1. The Param Vir Chakra signifies the 'Wheel of the Ultimate Brave'.  

2. The Param Vir Chakra is awarded to someone who shows exemplary bravery while fighting with the enemy. 

3. The Param Vir Chakra was introduced as a Gallantry Medal in 1947 by the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. 

4. The design of the Param Vir Chakra is inspired by Sage Dadhichi, who was a Vedic rishi. 

5. The state emblem in the centre of the Param Vir Chakra is surrounded by four replicas of the Vajra and lotus flowers.

LETTER OF ENQUIRY (Pages 67–68) 

Greenwood High School

Jangaon, 

Telangana

14 July 2026

The Incharge

National War Memorial

New Delhi - 110001

Subject: Enquiry about a School Visit to the National War Memorial

Dear Sir,

This is to enquire about organizing an educational visit for a group of 50 students from Grade 7 to the National War Memorial. We wish to help students learn about the courage and sacrifices of our soldiers.

Firstly, I request you to share the available dates and timings for school group visits during August 2026. Secondly, I would appreciate it if you could explain the duration of the guided tour, entry fees (if any), and guidelines to be followed by students inside the premises. Lastly, could you clarify if prior permission or a list of visiting students is required?

An early reply will be greatly appreciated, as it will help us make the necessary travel arrangements. I look forward to your guidance and support in making this visit meaningful for our students.

Yours sincerely,

Ananya Sharma

Student Representative