Maharashtra Board Class 6 English Unit 1 Chapter 1.7 Param Vir Chakra Our Heroes Solutions

1. Read the passage and answer the following questions:

Question a. What is 'Param Vir Chakra'?
Answer: Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the most conspicuous bravery of some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice by our brave soilders, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
In simple words: The Param Vir Chakra is India's top military award given for exceptional bravery, courage, or self-sacrifice by soldiers facing the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on understanding the primary criteria for receiving the Param Vir Chakra, as this is a key definitional point.

Question b. What is seen on the obverse and reverse of the PVC medal?
Answer: On the obverse, it has the Indian National Emblem at the centre, surrounded by four replicas of 'Indra's Vajra'. On the reverse, the words Param Vir Chakra are engraved in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers in between them.
In simple words: The front of the medal shows India's National Emblem and four 'Indra's Vajra' replicas, while the back has 'Param Vir Chakra' written in Hindi and English, separated by two lotus flowers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember specific details about the medal's design, as questions often test knowledge of symbolic elements.

Question c. Who designed the PVC medal?
Answer: The Param Vir Chakra medal was designed by Savitribai Khanolkar.
In simple words: Savitribai Khanolkar was the person who created the design for the Param Vir Chakra medal.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing the name of the designer is a factual recall point that can earn easy marks.

Question d. What makes Indra's Vajra or thunderbolt invincible?
Answer: The Indra's Vajra or thunderbolt was fashioned from the bones of Sage Dadhichi, and the supreme sacrifice of the Sage makes the weapon invincible.
In simple words: Indra's Vajra became invincible because it was made from Sage Dadhichi's bones, symbolizing his ultimate sacrifice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the mythical origin and the significance of sacrifice associated with Indra's Vajra.

2. Write the story of Sage Dadhichi's sacrifice in your own words.

Question 1. Write the story of Sage Dadhichi's sacrifice in your own words.
Answer: Many, many years ago, a demon set out on a mission- stealing all the water in the world! The consequence was very serious. Innocent people suffered and lost their lives. They had no water to quench their thirst. Defeating this demon with an ordinary weapon was not possible.
An extraordinary weapon was required. Sage Dadhichi whose bone had extraordinary power was the only person who could save the people from the clutches of the demon. But how could anyone ask a man for his bones?
A noble man that Sage Dadhichi was, he himself sacrificed his life and gave his own bones to help the people. Using the bones of Sage Dadhichi, Indra's weapon of thunderbolt was designed, and this matchless weapon helped Indra to defeat the demon. Through Sage Dadhichi's sacrifice, we learn the value of selflessness and the significance of sacrificing our own life for the larger good.
In simple words: A demon once stole all the world's water, causing suffering. To defeat him, an extraordinary weapon was needed, which could only be made from Sage Dadhichi's powerful bones. The noble Sage selflessly sacrificed his life, allowing his bones to be used to create Indra's thunderbolt, thus defeating the demon and saving humanity.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the sequence of events and the central theme of self-sacrifice demonstrated by Sage Dadhichi.

3. Read aloud the account of how Flying Officer Nirmal iii Singh Sekhon sacrificed his life lo defend our country.

Question 1. Read aloud the account of how Flying Officer Nirmal iii Singh Sekhon sacrificed his life lo defend our country.
Answer:
(i) Sending them sweets on festive occasions.
(ii) Collecting funds and contributing it towards various initiatives organised by soldiers.
(iii) Visiting them and organising cultural programmes for them.
(iv) Writing letters to them and expressing our gratitude to them for giving us a sense of security.
(v) Inviting them to the school on occasions like Independence Day, Republic Day etc., and deriving inspiration from their words of wisdom.
In simple words: To show support, people can send sweets on festivals, donate to soldier initiatives, visit them and organize cultural events, write gratitude letters, and invite them to school functions for inspiration.

🎯 Exam Tip: While the question asks to read an account of sacrifice, the provided answer lists ways to support soldiers. Ensure you differentiate between these two concepts and provide the expected response for each.

4. Find more information about other Param Vir Chakra awardees. Prepare a collage using photographs, pictures and text matter written In beautiful handwriting.

Question 1. Find more information about other Param Vir Chakra awardees. Prepare a collage using photographs, pictures and text matter written In beautiful handwriting.
Answer:
In simple words: This question asks students to research other Param Vir Chakra recipients and create a visual project with their findings.

🎯 Exam Tip: For activity-based questions like this, focus on active research and creative presentation. Ensure your collage is informative and aesthetically pleasing.

5. Find more information about the Indian Armed Forces: The Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Question 1. Find more information about the Indian Armed Forces: The Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
Answer: The Indian Armed Forces- the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are the military forces of our country. They are supported by paramilitary organisations.
Indian Air Force is the air arm of the IAF. The highest rank is Air Marshal.
Indian Army is the land based branch commanded by a 4 star General or the Chief of Army Staff.
Indian Navy is the naval branch. The chief of Naval staff is a 4 star officer in the rank of Admiral.
Rank of Air Force Officers
Marshal - Air Chief Marshal
Air Vice - Marshal - Air Commodore
Group Captain - Wing Commander
Squadron Leader - Flight Lieutenent Flying Officer
In simple words: The Indian Armed Forces consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, supported by paramilitary groups, each with its own command structure and ranks, such as Air Marshal for the Air Force, General for the Army, and Admiral for the Navy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the distinct roles, highest ranks, and command structures of each branch of the Indian Armed Forces.

Question 6. What can you do to show your love, respect and support to the soldiers who fight for the country? Discuss this in the classroom. For example, you can send greeting cards to them on various occasions, with the help of your teacher.
Answer:
In simple words: This question encourages students to brainstorm and discuss practical ways to express gratitude and support for soldiers, such as sending cards or organizing events.

🎯 Exam Tip: For discussion-based questions, think broadly about civic duties and expressions of patriotism, considering both personal and collective actions.

Sometimes, we use two or three adjectives together to describe a noun. In such cases, the order in which adjectives are used depends on the meaning. The adjectives that express/show your opinion about something are usually put first. The other adjectives are normally put in the following order: size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, use or purpose. Examples:
- a nice little basket
- a brave young woman.
- a big red, plastic bag.
- a noisy, old, drilling machine

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1. How are the brave deeds of our brave soldiers honoured?
Answer: The brave deeds of our brave soldiers are honoured by bestowing military decorations on them.
In simple words: Soldiers' brave acts are recognized and celebrated by giving them special military awards.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand that military decorations are a formal way to acknowledge and honor exceptional bravery and service.

Question 2. Which is India's highest military decorations?
Answer: The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration.
In simple words: The Param Vir Chakra holds the top position among India's military awards.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the name of India's highest military decoration as it is a fundamental piece of information.

Question 3. Why is the Param Vir Chakra awarded?
Answer: The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air.
In simple words: The Param Vir Chakra is given for outstanding acts of bravery, courage, or self-sacrifice demonstrated while facing the enemy in any combat environment.

🎯 Exam Tip: Key phrases to remember for this answer are "most conspicuous bravery," "daring act of valour," and "self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy."

Question 4. Where does the Indian Military derive its inspiration from?
Answer: The Indian Military derives its strength and inspiration from the sacrifice of the bravest of the brave - The Param Vir Chakra holders.
In simple words: The Indian Military draws its courage and motivation from the heroic sacrifices made by its most valorous members, especially those awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize the connection between the sacrifices of Param Vir Chakra holders and the inspiration for the entire military.

Complete the fact file on: The Param Vir Chakra

Question. Complete the fact file on: The Param Vir Chakra
Answer:
(i) Name of the: The Param Vir Chakra medal
(ii) Name of the : Savitribai Khanolkar designer:
(iii) Description : Made of bronze, fitted with swivel mounting and has a plain purple ribbon.
(iv) Obverse of the: Has the Indian National PVC medal Emblem at the centre surrounded by four replicas of iridra's Vajra.'
(v) Reverse of the : The words 'Param Vir PVC Medal Chakra' are engraved in Hindi and English, with two lotus flowers in between them.
In simple words: The Param Vir Chakra is a bronze medal with a plain purple ribbon, designed by Savitribai Khanolkar. Its front features the Indian National Emblem and four Indra's Vajra replicas, while the back has "Param Vir PVC Medal Chakra" in Hindi and English with lotus flowers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the key details of the Param Vir Chakra's description, including its material, ribbon color, designer, and the imagery on both sides.

Reading Skills, Grammar And Vocabulary

Read the following extract and complete the activities that follow.

Pre-reading Activity

Question 1. Complete the following web diagram.
Answer:
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह एक वेब डायग्राम है जो 'अपनी मातृभूमि के प्रति हमारे प्रेम को व्यक्त करने के तरीके' को दर्शाता है। केंद्र में 'Ways to express our love towards our motherland' लिखा है, जिसके चारों ओर चार गोलाकार नोड्स हैं। ये नोड्स हैं: 'Join the armed forces', 'Carry out our national duties well', 'Live unitedly' और 'Contribute towards nation's progress and prosperity'। यह आरेख बताता है कि एक नागरिक कैसे देश के प्रति अपना प्रेम और कर्तव्य निभा सकता है।
In simple words: This web diagram illustrates various ways citizens can show love for their country, including joining the armed forces, fulfilling national duties, living unitedly, and contributing to national progress.

🎯 Exam Tip: For web diagrams, ensure all interconnected elements are clearly understood and their relationships are accurately described.

Question 2. Which martyr is paid tribute to in this extract?
Answer: Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon is the martyr who is paid tribute to in this extract.
In simple words: The extract honors Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the key individual mentioned in the text for whom the tribute is being paid.

Question 3. What happened on the 14th of December, 1971?
Answer: On the 14th of December, 1971, Srinagar Airfield was attacked by a wave of six enemy Sabre aircraft.
In simple words: On December 14, 1971, Srinagar Airfield was attacked by six enemy Sabre planes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the specific date, location, and nature of the attack, as these details are crucial for historical context.

Question 4. What problem did Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon encounter?
Answer: Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon who was on readiness duty could not take off immediately because of the clouds of dust raised by another aircraft.
In simple words: Flying Officer Sekhon faced a delay in taking off due to dust clouds created by another aircraft while he was on standby.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the immediate obstacle Sekhon faced and how it impacted his response time.

Question 5. Give a brief account of the act of valour displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon.
Answer: Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon took off in his Gnat fighter the moment he could. He began to combat the powerful Sabre jet aircraft of the enemy. He damaged two of them. His fight with the attacking aircraft then continued at tree-top height. At last, the enemy aircraft fled from the scene of battle. The airfield and the town of Srinagar were saved.
In simple words: Flying Officer Sekhon bravely took off in his Gnat fighter, fought against enemy Sabre jets, damaged two, and continued the battle at low altitude until the enemy retreated, successfully saving Srinagar airfield and town.

🎯 Exam Tip: Detail the specific actions and outcomes of Sekhon's combat, highlighting his determination and effectiveness against a superior enemy force.

Question 6. How did Flying Officer Sekhon lose his life?
Answer: Even though Flying Officer Sekhon succeeded in forcing the enemy aircraft to retreat, and the airfield and town of Srinagar were saved, unfortunately Flying Officer Skehon's aircraft too crashed, and he lost his life.
In simple words: After successfully repelling the enemy and saving Srinagar, Flying Officer Sekhon's aircraft crashed, leading to his death.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the tragic outcome of his heroic mission- his success in defending, followed by his fatal crash.

Question 7. Which qualities did Flying Officer Sekhon display?
Answer: Flying Officer Sekhon displayed great flying skill and determination in the face of certain death. He also showed unmatched heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
In simple words: Flying Officer Sekhon showed exceptional flying skill, unwavering determination, and extraordinary heroism far beyond what was expected, even when facing death.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize attributes like flying skill, determination, and heroism that exemplify his valor.

Question 8. He damaged two of them. (Change the voice.)
Answer: Two of them were damaged by him.
In simple words: Changing the sentence from active to passive voice, "He damaged two of them" becomes "Two of them were damaged by him."

🎯 Exam Tip: When changing voice, ensure the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence, and the original subject becomes the agent.

Question 9. Circle the odd word: plain purple ribbon (power)
Answer: power
In simple words: In the given list, 'power' is the odd word out because 'plain', 'purple', and 'ribbon' describe parts or characteristics of the Param Vir Chakra medal, while 'power' is an abstract concept.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify the odd word, look for common categories or relationships among the words and find the one that doesn't fit.

Question 10. How has the account of bravery displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon inspired you? Write in detail.
Answer: The bravery displayed by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon has inspired me to give my best for my nation's safety and security. It has aroused the value of patriotism in me and I am also willing to make the highest sacrifice for my motherland.
In simple words: Flying Officer Sekhon's courage has instilled a strong sense of patriotism, motivating me to contribute my utmost to national security and even be prepared for supreme sacrifice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Personal reflection questions require expressing genuine feelings and connecting them to the values demonstrated by the subject, such as patriotism and dedication.

Language Study

Do as directed.

Question 1. Their brave deeds are honoured by bestowing military decorations on them. (Pick out the adjectives.)
Answer: Adjectives - brave, military
In simple words: In the sentence, 'brave' describes 'deeds' and 'military' describes 'decorations', identifying them as adjectives.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns.

Question 2. Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration. (Change the degree of comparison.)
Answer: No other military decoration in India is as high as Param Vir Chakra.
In simple words: To change the degree of comparison, we express the same idea by saying that no other military decoration in India matches the height of Param Vir Chakra.

🎯 Exam Tip: When changing to the positive degree, use "no other" or "very few" constructions, followed by "as...as" or "so...as."

Question 3. The Param Vir Chakra is a very rare honour. (Make it exclamatory.)
Answer: What a rare honour the Param Vir Chakra is!
In simple words: To make the sentence exclamatory, we emphasize the rarity of the honour by starting with "What" or "How" and ending with an exclamation mark.

🎯 Exam Tip: Exclamatory sentences often begin with "What a/an" or "How" to express strong emotion or surprise.

Question 4. Fourteen of these awards were given posthumously. (Pick out the adverb.)
Answer: Adverb - posthumously
In simple words: The word 'posthumously' is an adverb as it describes when the awards were given, specifically after death.

🎯 Exam Tip: Adverbs often end in "-ly" and modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, telling us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.

Question 5. Something extraordinary was required. (Form a Wh-question to get the underlined part as the answer.)
Answer: What was required?
In simple words: To form a Wh-question for "Something extraordinary," we ask "What" to inquire about the subject.

🎯 Exam Tip: When forming a Wh-question, identify the part of the sentence that needs to be answered and use the appropriate interrogative word (who, what, when, where, why, how).

Question 6. Innocent people were suffering and dying without water. (Use not only... but also.)
Answer: Innocent people were not only suffering but also dying without water.
In simple words: To combine the two actions, we use "not only... but also" to show that innocent people were experiencing both suffering and dying due to lack of water.

🎯 Exam Tip: "Not only... but also" is used to emphasize that two actions or conditions are true, adding a sense of intensity or completeness.

Question 7. Sage Dadhichi was a noble person. (Make it Interrogative).
Answer: Wasn't Sage Dadhichi a noble person?
In simple words: To make the statement interrogative, we convert it into a question, often by using a negative question tag or by inverting the subject and auxiliary verb.

🎯 Exam Tip: When forming an interrogative sentence from an affirmative statement, you can often use a negative question form to imply confirmation or rhetorical inquiry.

Question 8. The airfield and the town of Srinagar were saved. (Separate the Subject and Predicate.)
Answer: Subject: The airfield and the town of Srinagar Predicate: were saved.
In simple words: In this sentence, the subject is "The airfield and the town of Srinagar" because it performs the action or is described, and the predicate is "were saved" as it tells what the subject did or what happened to it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that the subject is who or what the sentence is about, and the predicate contains the verb and provides information about the subject.

Question 9. The medal itself is very simple in appearance. (Pick out the naming word.)
Answer: Naming word - medal
In simple words: A naming word, or noun, identifies a person, place, thing, or idea, and in this sentence, 'medal' is the object being named.

🎯 Exam Tip: A naming word (noun) is typically a person, place, thing, or idea; in this sentence, 'medal' refers to a specific object.

Question 10. Savitribai loved India and took Indian citizenship. (Pick out two proper nouns.)
Answer: Savitribai, India
In simple words: 'Savitribai' is a specific person's name and 'India' is a specific country's name, making both proper nouns.

🎯 Exam Tip: Proper nouns refer to specific names of people, places, organizations, or things, and are always capitalized.

Question. Give the antonyms of:
Answer:
(i) past x present
(ii) presence x absence
(iii) strength x weakness
(iv) clear x unclear
(v) powerful x weak
(vi) certain x uncertain
In simple words: Antonyms are words with opposite meanings, such as 'past' and 'present', 'strength' and 'weakness', or 'clear' and 'unclear'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice identifying antonyms by understanding the core meaning of a word and then finding its exact opposite.

Question. Make sentences using the following phrases.
Answer:
(i) to take off: The flight took off before he arrived at the airport.
(ii) to attack: The enemy attacked the kingdom and took everyone by surprise.
(iii) to show unmatched heroism: The soldier displayed unmatched heroism before sacrificing his life for his motherland.
In simple words: This exercise involves constructing meaningful sentences that correctly incorporate the given phrases, demonstrating understanding of their usage.

🎯 Exam Tip: When making sentences with phrases, ensure that the phrase is used grammatically correctly and contextually relevant to the sentence's meaning.

Question. Use two or three adjectives together to describe a noun.
Answer:
- A sweet, little girl.
- A courageous, brave soldier.
- A fragrant, red rose.
- A long, pink gown.
- A small, green parrot.
- An old, pleasant, cheerful man.
- A kind, compassionate, helpful lady.
In simple words: This task demonstrates how multiple adjectives can be used in sequence to provide a more detailed description of a single noun.

🎯 Exam Tip: When using multiple adjectives, generally follow the order of opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, and material.

Do you know!
1. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces.
2. The Indian Armed Forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence, the Government of India.
3. More than 1.3 million personnel are working in the Indian Armed Forces.
4. The Indian Armed Forces have been engaged in various military operations.
5. December 7 is observed as Armed Forces Flag Day

Param Vir Chakra: Our Heroes Summary In English

The author begins by narrating the sacrifice of Sage Dadhichi who laid down his life and gave his own bones for the larger good. He did this to help the people from a demon who had stolen all the water in the world. Indra's Vajra - Indra's weapon of thunderbolt was fashioned from Sage Dadhichi's bones and the demon was defeated. According to him, just as Indra's Vajra derived power from sage Dadhichi's bones, the Indian military derives its strength and power from the sacrifice of the bravest of the brave - the Param Vir Chakra holders. The lesson goes on to describe the Param Vir Chakra medal. It also provides us a list of 21 bravest of the brave i.e., Param Vir. The lesson also provides information about the bravery and sacrifice made by selfless patriot Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, a Param Vir. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon sacrificed his life to save an airfield and town of Srinagar from the enemy. Let us derive inspiration from our brave, selfless soldiers and be willing to make the final sacrifice for our country, our motherland, India.

Introduction:

We live in our country with a sense of security because our brave soldiers, even at the cost of their lives are guarding us with their presence on land, at sea or in the air. Their extraordinary acts of bravery are recognised by bestowing military decorations on them. The highest military decoration is the Param Vir Chakra. This lesson tells us more about Param Vir Chakra.

Glossary:

1. legendary (adj) - very famous and admired
2. extraordinary (adj) - very special
3. bestowing (v) - presenting
4. military (n) - soldiers of all armed forces
5. conspicuous (adj) - outstanding, easily attracting attention
6. pre-eminent (adj) - outstanding
7. valour (n) - bravery
8. self-sacrifice (n) - giving up one's life for a cause
9. posthumously (adv) - after a person's death
10. matchless (adj) - something which cannot be equaled
11. invincible (adj) - unconquerable
12. noble (adj) - morally good
13. thunderbolts (n) a flash of lightning with a clap of thunder that strikes at something
14. derives (v) - obtains
15. inspiring (v) - motivating
16. aircraft (n) a machine used to fly in air