The poem 'National War Memorial'

Open your book, Poorvi, at page 160 and read the poem 'National War Memorial'. It comes just after the few facts about the memorial in New Delhi. Read it aloud, as your book asks on page 161, and try to recite it with your class.

Here is what the poem tells, in short. In the heart of Bharat (New Delhi, the capital) stands the National War Memorial, a grand sight to behold, that is, to look at and take in. It honours the brave stories of our soldiers, which are told again and again. It stands with respect, grace and pride.

At the memorial, the name of each soldier is etched, that is, carved into stone so that it stays forever, and every stone keeps a story. Read a name, and you are reminded of one soldier's own story.

The soldiers stood for Bharat side by side, on battlefields, in the skies and on the wide oceans. That is our Army on land, our Air Force in the sky and our Navy at sea.

The eternal flame glows there in silence. It pays homage to the soldiers' courage: to pay homage means to show deep respect. Their sacrifice, the poem says, will always be in our minds.

The poem ends by asking all of us to remember, with pride and respect, the sacrifice of the soldiers honoured at the National War Memorial, forever.