A Tale of Valour: Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam NCERT Solutions | English Poorvi Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

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

Ans: The Republic Day Parade is a grand event that shows India’s pride, strength, and unity. It makes me feel proud to be Indian.

Q2: What are the highlights of this parade?

Ans: The parade includes marching soldiers, colourful floats, cultural dances, military vehicles, and air shows, displaying India’s diversity and power.

Q3: What bravery awards are given on this day, and who receives them?

Ans: Bravery awards, such as the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra, are given to soldiers and occasionally civilians for their exceptional courage.

II. Work in groups of four and discuss.

Q1: What qualities do you think a soldier should have?

Ans: A soldier should be brave, disciplined, strong, loyal, and ready to protect the country even in danger.

Q2: If you had to share a message with a soldier, what would it be?

Ans: Thank you for your courage and sacrifice. You keep us safe, and we are proud of you!

Let us discuss (Page 59)

Ans:

(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 (Page 59)

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

1. Vastly outnumbered and facing devastating fire, Major Somnath Sharma and his men stood resolute. The air was thick with the sound of gunfire and the cries of battle, but Major Somnath Sharma’s voice cut through the chaos, urging his men to fight with tenacity and valour. Despite heavy casualties and his injuries, Major Somnath Sharma displayed unparalleled bravery. He moved fearlessly through the battlefield, directing fire, filling magazines for his gunners, and encouraging his men to hold their ground.

Ans: B. There was intense fighting on the battlefield.

Reason: The line means that there was a lot of shooting and noise from the battle, showing the fight was going on fiercely.

(ii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. 

Despite heavy casualties, Major Somnath Sharma continued to lead his men because ______________

Ans: ​he was determined to protect Srinagar and inspire his soldiers to keep fighting.
Reason: Even though he was injured, he still gave orders, helped load guns, and motivated his men to be brave.

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

(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).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.(iii) 
Select the correct option for both Assertion (A) and Reason (R):

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

• (A) is true: He walked through the battlefield without fear, even when hurt.
• (R) is true: He knew that if his soldiers saw his courage, they would also feel brave.
• R explains A: He showed courage to inspire his soldiers to keep fighting.
  

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

Ans: C. His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.
Reason: Both his father’s military service and his grandfather’s stories from the Mahabharata motivated him to be brave and serve the country.

Ans: False 
Reason: The text talks about his family’s military legacy, not wealth.

Ans: He performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence. He was highly respected for his contributions to the country.

Ans: Picturesque
Reason: In the extract, picturesque means beautiful and visually pleasing, just like the old charming house described.

Ans: The repetition emphasises that Major Somnath’s courage and sacrifice will always be remembered and inspire people forever.

Ans: His leadership was critical because he kept his men fighting despite being outnumbered, guided airstrikes, and held the position to save Srinagar.

Ans: His last words were, “The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.” They show his strong duty to protect his country and never give up.

Ans: The enemy might have captured Srinagar airport and the Kashmir Valley, weakening India’s control over the region.

Ans: His story inspires because it shows bravery, sacrifice, and love for the country, encouraging others to be courageous and patriotic.

Ans: We can show courage by facing challenges, doing our duties honestly, and helping others selflessly, like studying hard or helping our community.

Ans:

Now, complete the following sentences using the expressions from Column 1.

A. The detective managed to foil the plan by finding the hidden evidence before the culprit could get rid of it.
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, refusing to turn back on their journey.
D. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the soldiers vowed to defend their homeland and fight to the last man, refusing to surrender to the enemy forces.

Ans: 

Now, fill in the blanks suitably with words from Column 1 in the table.

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

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

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

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

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

Ans:  The regiment of infantry advanced slowly through the dense forest.

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

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

III. Read the following words from the text and fill in the blanks with the correct words by taking clues from the meanings given below in the box.Meanings

1. To take and seize control: ____________
Ans: To take and seize control: overthrow
2. To invade or occupy an area in large numbers: ____________
Ans: To invade or occupy an area in large numbers: overrun
3. To flood or overpower someone or something emotionally:____________ 
Ans: To flood or overpower someone or something emotionally: overwhelm
Now, create a list of at least five other verbs that begin with ‘over’ and frame sentences of your own.

Ans:

1.Overcome – She managed to overcome her fear of public speaking.
2.Overestimate – Don’t overestimate your ability to complete the project in one day.
3.Overreact – Please don’t overreact to a small mistake.
4. Overcook – He overcooked the pasta, so it turned out too soft.
5. Overlook – I overlooked the spelling error in the report.

IV. In the following pairs of words, ‘c’ is used for nouns, while ‘s’ is used for verbs.

• advice (noun) and advise (verb)
• practice (noun) and practise (verb)
• device (noun) and devise (verb)
• council (noun) and counsel (verb) 

Now, fill in the blanks correctly with the words given in the brackets.
1. The teacher’s (i) ____________ is always helpful, and she continues to(ii) ____________ students on their career choices. (advice/advise)

Ans:  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) ____________ helps a lot, so she is always ready to (ii) ____________ her harmonium lessons. (practice/practise)

Ans: 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) ____________ for experiments and plans to (ii) ____________ new methods for his analysis. (device/devise)

Ans: The scientist uses a strange (i) device for experiments and plans to (ii) devise new methods for his analysis.

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

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

V. Read the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text.

• …ended with echoes of courage that serve as an inspiration…
• A contingent of troops posted to Jammu and Kashmir was airlifted into Srinagar…
• D Company with 90 soldiers was the last, and they were expected to return by 2:00 p.m.
• The life and sacrifice of Major Somnath Sharma embody the highest ideals of duty, honour, and patriotism.

The highlighted words are either singular verbs or plural verbs. They are in agreement with the subject of the sentence. This is called Subject-Verb Agreement.

Now, fill in the blanks for the following sentences by choosing the correct verb given within brackets.

1. The bouquet of flowers __________ (is/are) beautiful.

Ans: The bouquet of flowers is beautiful.

2. Neither the teacher nor the students __________ (was/were) aware ofthe change in the schedule.

Ans: Neither the teacher nor the students were aware of the change in the schedule.

3. Each of the participants __________ (has/have) submitted their projectson time.

Ans: Each of the participants has submitted their projects on time.

4. The data collected by the researchers __________ (shows/show)significant trends.

Ans: The data collected by the researchers show significant trends.

5. One of the players __________ (was/were) injured during the match.

Ans: One of the players was injured during the match.

6. Either the children or their guardian __________ (has/have) to attend the meeting.

Ans: Either the children or their guardian has to attend the meeting.

7. A pair of shoes __________ (is/are) missing from the rack.

Ans: A pair of shoes is missing from the rack.

8. Neither of the statements __________ (is/are) true.

Ans: Neither of the statements is true.

9. The members of the jury __________ (has deliver/have delivered) their verdict to the court.

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

10. Mathematics __________ (is/are) an interesting subject for many students.

Ans: Mathematics is an interesting subject for many students.

Ans: 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.

Let us listen (Page 66)

Ans: The Param Vir Chakra signifies the ‘Wheel of the Ultimate Brave’.

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

Ans: The Param Vir Chakra was introduced as a Gallantry Medal in 1947 by the President of India.

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

Let us speak (Page 66)

I. As the citizens of a nation, we all must fulfil our duty. In groups of 4–5, speak about how you propose to serve your nation.You can choose from the themes given below:

You may use the sentence prompts given below to organise what you speak about.
• I believe one of the best ways to serve the nation is by...
• A small change we can make is... and it will have a big impact because...
• If everyone contributes by... it can lead to...
• One of the biggest challenges we face is... and I propose we address it by...
• We can make a difference by working together as a team, if we...
• Serving the nation is not just about big actions; even small efforts like...matter.

Ans: This is a classroom activity. In groups of 4-5, discuss how to serve the nation using these prompts:

Example: I believe one of the best ways to serve the nation is by saving the environment. A small change we can make is planting trees, and it will have a big impact because it keeps the air clean. If everyone contributes by recycling, it can lead to a healthier planet. One of the biggest challenges we face is pollution, and I propose we address it by using less plastic.

Let us write (Page 67)

I. A letter of enquiry is a formal letter written to seek detailed information about something the writer wants to know. For example, it can be used for joining a course, organising an event, knowing details about a trip, etc. The language used is formal and specific, with relevant queries. Now, write a letter of enquiry. Your school wishes to organise a visit to a Memorial in your state/region. Write the letter to the person in charge of that memorial, requesting information regarding available dates for visits, the duration of the tour, any entry fees, and guidelines for student groups.
• Follow the given layout.
• Use the cues given below to draft the letter.

Ans:

Your Address
[City, State, ZIP Code]
31 July 2025

The In charge
National War Memorial
[City, State]

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

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is to enquire about organizing a school visit to the National War Memorial for our students. Could you please provide details about available dates for visits? Secondly, I would appreciate it if you could explain the duration of the tour and any entry fees. Lastly, could you clarify if there are specific guidelines for student groups? An early reply will be greatly appreciated, as it will help us plan a meaningful trip.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

I. Out of twenty-one PVC awardees, Major Somnath Sharma was the first recipient of the PVC, and Captain Vikram Batra was the last recipient of the PVC, the highest gallantry award. Captain Vikram Batra is popularly remembered as the “Shershah of Kargil”. His iconic success signal was‘Yeh Dil Mange More’. Captain Vikram Batra, the D Company commander, was tasked to capture Point 5140 on 20 June 1999, which he did with exemplary courage. After Point 5140 was captured, 13 JAK RIF was tasked to capture Point 4875. On 07 July 1999, Captain Batra led the assault from the front and engaged in a physical fight with the enemy. He killed five enemy soldiers at point-blank range and sustained serious injuries himself. Despite his injuries, his dauntless determination inspired his men to clear the enemy from a dominating position. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. His fearless determination and leadership encouraged his company men to avenge his death and finally capture Point 4875. His inspiring leadership, dedication to duty, and steadfast love for his country continue to be an inspiration for the younger generation. He attended the call of duty with absolute disregard for his safety. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumously).

II. Gallantry awards in India are given to military personnel and others for displaying extraordinary courage in the line of duty. Some of the gallantry awards in India are:
• Param Vir Chakra: The highest military award in India, awarded for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Maha Vir Chakra: The second-highest military award in India, awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.
• Vir Chakra: Awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy. 
Find out more about gallantry awards.

Ans: Gallantry awards in India include:
- Param Vir Chakra: The Highest award for bravery against the enemy, like Major Somnath Sharma received.
- Maha Vir Chakra: Second-highest award for gallantry in battle.
- Vir Chakra: Given for courageous acts against the enemy.

Ans: Women in the Indian Army serve as officers, doctors, nurses, engineers, and in logistics. They also work in communication, intelligence, and training roles, contributing bravely to the nation’s defence.

IV. Birsa Munda: A Saga of Courage and Sacrifice Birsa Munda, a revered tribal freedom fighter, spiritual leader, and folk hero, belonged to the Munda tribe. Celebrated as an avenging warrior and a charismatic figure, he emerged as a powerful symbol of tribal resistance against British colonial rule. Among the people of Jharkhand, he is affectionately known as Dharti Aaba—Father of the Land—and is honoured as a divine figure for his selfless dedication to his people. A commemorative stamp designed by Shri Sankha Samanta captures his powerful presence. It features Birsa Munda addressing his followers with a determined expression that reflects his unwavering vision of tribal unity, empowerment, and self-governance. This stamp serves as a lasting tribute to his pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle and his relentless commitment to protecting tribal rights.

V. Make a list of the patriotic songs in any language, including songs from your region. Share the songs with your classmates and teacher.

Ans: Examples of patriotic songs:
1. Vande Mataram
2. Jana Gana Mana
3. Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon
4. Mera Rang De Basanti Chola
5. Sare Jahan Se Achha