NCERT Solutions for Class 4th English Chapter 12 A. Answer the following. — Let us Think
Book page 128 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
Who was Ahilya Bai?
Answer
Ahilya Bai was the queen who ruled over Maheshwar, a place in Madhya Pradesh.
Chachi tells the children four things about her:
She was a warrior queen — a queen who could also fight for her land.
She belonged to the great Holkar family, who ruled the kingdom.
She ordered a strong and beautiful fort to be built on the banks of the Narmada River.
She protected her people and built temples, schools and wells.
The lesson says she “ruled with kindness and wisdom and people loved her.”
Why people loved her: A ruler who only fights is feared, not loved. Ahilya Bai did both — she kept her people safe, and she gave them temples, schools and wells that made daily life better. That is why the chapter joins kindness and wisdom in one line.
Q2.
Where is Maheshwar Fort located? What makes its location special?
Answer
Maheshwar Fort is in Maheshwar, a place in Madhya Pradesh. The lesson says this place “is just 95 kilometres away from Indore”, and that the fort stands “on the banks of the Narmada River”.
What makes the place special — three things from the lesson:
The fort is built on a hill. From there the Queen “could see her entire kingdom of Maheshwar”.
It looks down on two different things at once — “overlooking the town of Maheshwar on one side and the Narmada River on the other”.
There are many beautifully designed temples near the fort.
Why a hill was the right place: From a high place you can see far in every direction. The Queen could watch over her whole kingdom, and anyone coming towards the fort could be seen long before they arrived. A hill also makes the walls much harder to climb.
Tip: The fort has a second name too. The lesson says, “This fort is also known as Ahilya Fort.”
Q3.
What materials were used to build Maheshwar Fort, and where did they come from?
Answer
The fort was made of special red stones. The lesson says they were “brought from Gujarat and Rajasthan”.
Chachi says this in the same breath as the other thing the fort is known for: “The fort is known for its unique style of construction and grand staircases. It was made of special red stones brought from Gujarat and Rajasthan.”
Why bring stone from so far: Not every kind of stone is found everywhere. The red stone the builders wanted came from those two places, so it had to be carried all the way to Maheshwar. That tells us how much care went into building this fort.
Link to the picture: That is why the fort in the picture on pages 126–127 looks reddish-brown, not grey or white.
Q4.
What does the statue of Queen Ahilya Bai in front of the palace represent?
Answer
It represents the Queen as a guardian of her land. The lesson says the 13-feet tall statue “stands even today in front of the palace, like a guardian watching over her land”.
A guardian is someone who watches over others and keeps them safe. So the statue says two things:
She protected her people when she was alive, just as the lesson tells us.
Her people still remember and love her, which is why the statue is kept in front of the palace even today.
Why it stands in front: A guard stands at the front, not at the back. Putting the statue in front of the palace makes it look as though the Queen is still on duty, facing her land and her people.
Did you notice? 13 feet is more than twice the height of a tall grown-up. The statue was made big on purpose, so that it can be seen from far away.