A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers

1. About the text & its form

‘A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers’ is placed in Unit 5, ‘Bravehearts’, of the new NEP textbook Poorvi. It is written in the form of a personal letter from a girl named Soumya to her friend Ananda. In the letter, Soumya excitedly describes her recent visit to the National War Memorial in New Delhi and shares the deep emotions she felt there.

The letter form makes the chapter warm and personal, as if a friend is telling us directly about a meaningful experience. The word ‘homage’ in the title means showing great honour and respect — so the whole chapter is a tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country.

2. The National War Memorial

Soumya describes the National War Memorial, a grand monument in New Delhi built to honour the soldiers who have laid down their lives for India since Independence. It is a place of pride and remembrance, where visitors come to pay respect to the brave hearts who protected the nation.

At the centre stands a tall obelisk (a four-sided stone pillar) with an eternal flame burning at its base. The flame never goes out, symbolising the undying memory and immortal sacrifice of the soldiers. The memorial is built as a series of concentric circles (circles one inside another), each carrying a special meaning.

The walls of the memorial are inscribed with the names of thousands of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice. The strategic lighting changes through the day, and there are murals (large wall paintings) depicting famous battles and stories of courage.

3. Param Yodha Sthal & Amar Jawan Jyoti

Within the memorial complex is the Param Yodha Sthal, which honours the recipients of the Param Vir Chakra — India’s highest military gallantry award. Here, the busts (statues) of these greatest war heroes are displayed, keeping their memory and inspiring example alive for future generations. An eternal flame here symbolises their undying legacy.

Soumya also mentions the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the ‘flame of the immortal soldier’, another well-known tribute that honours the unknown soldiers who died for the country. Standing before these flames, Soumya felt a strong sense of gratitude and pride.

4. A hero remembered — Lance Naik Albert Ekka

Among the heroes Soumya learned about was Lance Naik Albert Ekka, a soldier honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his extraordinary courage in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. During a fierce battle, he single-handedly charged an enemy bunker (a fortified shelter) that was firing heavily on his comrades. Though severely wounded, he continued to fight, silencing the enemy gun and saving the lives of many fellow soldiers before he died of his injuries.

His story moved Soumya deeply, showing her that the soldiers honoured at the memorial were real people who gave up their lives so that others could live in safety and freedom.

5. Soumya’s feelings and reflections

Throughout the letter, Soumya shares the powerful emotions the visit stirred in her. She felt proud, grateful and humbled. She realised that the peace and freedom we enjoy every day come at a great price — paid by soldiers who leave their families and risk their lives at the borders.

She urges her friend Ananda to visit the memorial too, so that he can feel the same gratitude. She concludes that we must always remember and respect our soldiers, value our freedom, and never take their sacrifice for granted.

6. Theme & message

• Gratitude to soldiers: We owe our safety and freedom to the brave soldiers who guard the nation, and we must honour them.
• Freedom has a cost: Peace is not free; it is bought with the sacrifice of countless soldiers.
• Remembrance: Memorials like the National War Memorial keep the memory of fallen heroes alive and inspire future generations.
• Patriotism and pride: Learning about war heroes fills us with national pride and a desire to serve the country.
• Respect and humility: Standing before the eternal flame teaches us humility and deep respect for those who gave everything.

7. Word meanings (glossary)

• Homage — respect and honour shown to someone.
• Memorial — a structure built to remember a person or event.
• Obelisk — a tall, four-sided stone pillar that narrows to a point at the top.
• Eternal flame — a fire that is kept burning continuously as a symbol of remembrance.
• Concentric circles — circles that share the same centre, one inside another.
• Sovereignty — a nation’s power to govern itself freely.
• Mural — a large painting done directly on a wall.
• Bust — a sculpture of a person’s head and shoulders.
• Gallantry — great bravery, especially in battle.
• Bunker — a strong, protected shelter used in war.
• Sacrifice — giving up something precious (here, one’s life) for a greater cause.
• Supreme sacrifice — the giving up of one’s own life.