NCERT Solutions for Chapter 4 A Tale of Valour: Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam Class 8 English
Book Solutions1
1. What do you think about the Republic Day Parade on 26 January?
2. What are the highlights of this parade?
3. What bravery awards are given on this day, and who receives them?
Answer
1. The Republic Day Parade is a grand event that shows India’s pride, strength, and unity. It makes me feel proud to be Indian.2.The parade includes marching soldiers, colourful floats, cultural dances, military vehicles, and air shows, displaying India’s diversity and power.
3. 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.
2
1. What qualities do you think a soldier should have?
2. If you had to share a message with a soldier, what would it be?
Answer
1. A soldier should be brave, disciplined, strong, loyal, and ready to protect the country even in danger.2. Thank you for your courage and sacrifice. You keep us safe, and we are proud of you!
3
1. Major Somnath Sharma was born in 1923 in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. (1)
2. Even after losing Major Somnath Sharma, the soldiers fought bravely to save Srinagar for India.
3. The D Company, under the command of Major Somnath Sharma, was flown into Srinagar.
4. Major Somnath Sharma underwent training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
5. Major Somnath Sharma requested air strikes to combat the enemy at Badgam.
6. Major Somnath Sharma was commissioned into the 19th Hyderabad Regiment in 1942.
7. Major Somnath Sharma was killed immediately after a mortar shell hit him.
8. Major Somnath Sharma was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. (8)
Answer
(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.
4
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.
(i) What can be inferred about the conditions from the line: ‘The air was thick with gunfire...’
A. The gunshots had stopped for a while.
B. There was intense fighting on the battlefield.
C. The invaders were retreating from the fight.
D. The Indian soldiers had achieved victory.
(ii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
Despite heavy casualties, Major Somnath Sharma continued to lead his men because ______________
(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):
(iv) Fill in the blank with the correct word from those given in the brackets: Major Somnath Sharma was filling magazines, and encouraging his men to hold their ground despite ___________________________. (injuries/worry)
Answer
(i) 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) 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) 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.
(iv) Major Somnath Sharma was filling magazines and encouraging his men to hold their ground despite injuries.
5
(i) What can be inferred about Somnath Sharma’s early influences on his career?
A. He was primarily influenced by his father’s achievements in the military.
B. His inspiration came solely from the tales of the Mahabharata.
C. His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.
D. He decided to join the military out of necessity rather than passion.
(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false:
Somnath Sharma belonged to a wealthy family.
(iii) What does the phrase ‘served the nation with distinction’ tell us about Major General Amar Nath Sharma?
(iv) Replace the underlined phrase with a word from the extract that has a similar meaning.
My family and I visited a popular hill station and stayed in an old but visually charming house surrounded by trees.
Answer
(i) 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.
(ii) False
Reason: The story talks about his family’s military legacy, not wealth.
(iii) He performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence. He was highly respected for his contributions to the country.
(iv) Picturesque
Reason: In the extract, picturesque means beautiful and visually pleasing, just like the old charming house described.
6
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?
2. Why do you think Major Somnath’s leadership was critical during the Battle of Badgam?
3. What were Major Somnath’s last words? What do they reflect about his sense of duty?
4. What might have been the outcome of the Battle of Badgam if Major Somnath and his company had not held their ground?
5. Why do you think Major Somnath’s story continues to inspire soldiers and civilians today?
6. How can the values demonstrated by Major Somnath Sharma—courage, duty, and self-sacrifice—be applied in our daily lives?
Answer
1. The repetition emphasises that Major Somnath’s courage and sacrifice will always be remembered and inspire people forever.2. His leadership was critical because he kept his men fighting despite being outnumbered, guided airstrikes, and held the position to save Srinagar.
3. 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.
4. The enemy might have captured Srinagar airport and the Kashmir Valley, weakening India’s control over the region.
5. His story inspires because it shows bravery, sacrifice, and love for the country, encouraging others to be courageous and patriotic.
6. We can show courage by facing challenges, doing our duties honestly, and helping others selflessly, like studying hard or helping our community.
7
Answer
8
A. The detective managed to ______________ by finding the hidden evidence before the culprit could get rid of it.
B. The company’s new advertising campaign was meant to ______________ to their competitors’ sales.
C. The hikers chose to ______________ despite the heavy rain, refusing to turn back on their journey.
D. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the soldiers vowed to defend their homeland and ______________, refusing to surrender to the enemy forces.
Answer
A. The detective managed to foil the planby 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.
9
A contingent of troops posted to Jammu and Kashmir was air-lifted into Srinagar… There are many such collective nouns used in the context of armed forces.
Match the collective nouns in Column 1 to their meanings in Column 2.
You may refer to a dictionary
Answer
10
A. The commanding officer addressed the entire ________ of soldiers during the morning assembly.
B. The admiral ordered the entire ________ to set sail for battle.
C. The ________ of infantry advanced slowly through the dense forest.
D. A ________ of fighter jets was sent to intercept the enemy planes.
Answer
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.
11
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: ____________
2. To invade or occupy an area in large numbers: ____________
3. To flood or overpower someone or something emotionally:____________
Answer
1. To take and seize control: overthrow2. To invade or occupy an area in large numbers: overrun
3. To flood or overpower someone or something emotionally: overwhelm
12
Answer
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.
13
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)
2. The musician believes that daily (i) ____________ helps a lot, so she is always ready to (ii) ____________ her harmonium lessons. (practice/practise)
3. The scientist uses a strange (i) ____________ for experiments and plans to (ii) ____________ new methods for his analysis. (device/devise)
4. The village (i) ____________ met to discuss issues and decided to(ii) ____________ the villagers on important matters. (council/counsel)
Answer
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 for experiments and plans 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.
14
• …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.
2. Neither the teacher nor the students __________ (was/were) aware ofthe change in the schedule.
3. Each of the participants __________ (has/have) submitted their projectson time.
4. The data collected by the researchers __________ (shows/show)significant trends.
5. One of the players __________ (was/were) injured during the match.
6. Either the children or their guardian __________ (has/have) to attend the meeting.
7. A pair of shoes __________ (is/are) missing from the rack.
8. Neither of the statements __________ (is/are) true.
9. The members of the jury __________ (has deliver/have delivered) their verdict to the court.
10. Mathematics __________ (is/are) an interesting subject for many students.
Answer
1. The bouquet of flowers is beautiful.2. Neither the teacher nor the students were aware of the change in the schedule.
3. Each of the participants has submitted their projects on time.
4. The data collected by the researchers show 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.
15
A battalion of soldiers stand at attention as the National flag are raised.
A battalion of soldiers stands at attention as the National flag is 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.
Answer
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.16
1. The Param Vir Chakra signifies the ‘Wheel of the Ultimate ____________’.
2. The Param Vir Chakra is awarded to someone who shows exemplary bravery while fighting with the ____________.
3. The Param Vir Chakra was introduced as a Gallantry Medal in 1947by the ____________.
4. The design of the Param Vir Chakra is inspired by Sage Dadhichi, who was a ____________.
5. The state emblem in the centre of the Param Vir Chakra is surrounded by the Vajra and ____________.
Answer
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.
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 the Vajra and lotus flowers.
17
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.
Answer
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.
18
• Follow the given layout.
• Use the cues given below to draft the letter.
Answer
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]
19
Answer
20
• 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.
Answer
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.
21
Answer
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.22
Answer
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.
23
Answer
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