Bholi

Question 1

Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?

Answer 1

Bholi was different from other children. She neither had good looks nor intelligence. Bholi’s father was worried about finding a good bridegroom for Bholi.

Question 2

For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?

Answer 2

Tehsildar had ordered Bholi’s father Ramlal to send his daughters to school to set an example. Ramlal’s wife felt that sending daughters to school would impact their marriage prospects. However, she said that Bholi could be sent to school because there are anyway less chances of her getting married with such an ugly face and no intelligence. Thus, Bholi was sent to school.

Question 3

Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?

Answer 3

Yes, Bholi enjoyed her first day at school. Initially, she was frightened. But, she was delighted to find so many girls of her own age present there. She felt that one of the girls might become her friend. Also, there were a lot of pictures on the classroom wall that enticed her.

Question 4

Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?

Answer 4

Yes, she finds her teacher quite different from the people at home. At home, she is never spoken to in a polite manner but her teacher spoke to her in a very soothing way.

At home, she was disregarded for stammering but her teacher encouraged her to speak with confidence instead of making fun of her. This touched her heart.

Question 5

Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?

Answer 5

Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s marriage proposal because they thought that Bholi might never get another marriage proposal and might stay unmarried for her entire life. Bishamber was a well-to-do grocer and had not asked for dowry too.

Question 6

Why does the marriage not take place?

Answer 6

When Bishamber saw the pock-marks on Bholi’s face, he demanded five thousand rupees from Ramlal. Due to the demand of dowry, Bholi refused to get married to him.

Question 7

Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?

Answer 7

Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She had seen Lakshmi, their old cow, getting sold out.

When Bholi was given clean clothes to wear, was bathed and her hair was oiled, she felt that she was going to a better place than her home.

Question 8

Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?

Answer 8

Bholi agreed to an unequal match at first because she had overheard her parents talking about the marriage proposal. They were concerned about her marriage and thought that this was the best proposal Bholi could get as the man had not even asked for dowry.

On the day of marriage, when the bridegroom saw Bholi’s pock-marks, he demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees. He humiliated her father for the dowry. That is why she rejected the marriage.

This tells us that Bholi has self-respect and confidence. She did not want her father to give dowry for her marriage. She was able to take a brave and wise decision on her own.

Question 9

Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?

Answer 9

Bholi means simpleton. She never takes her stand. She follows what is told. She even agrees to an unequal match for the sake of her parents. But, towards the end of the story, when she sees her father pleading in front of the bridegroom and getting humiliated, she refuses to get married. She is called Sulekha at that point in the story because she is now a mature and intelligent girl who is able to take her own decisions. She is aware of her rights and does not let anyone humiliate her family.

Question 10

Why is Sulekha called ‘Bholi’?

Answer 10

Sulekha is called ‘Bholi’ because she is a simpleton due to her suffering some brain damage after falling off a cot when she was ten months old. As a result, she is not as smart as children of her age.

Question 11

Why did Sulekha start stammering?

Answer 11

Sulekha was a baby when she fell down from a cot. Her brain was damaged. She could not speak till the age of five years. She was mentally slow and lacked confidence. That is why she started stammering.

Question 12

What happened to Bholi when she was two years old?

Answer 12

Bholi fell a victim to small pox at the age of two years. Her face and body became full of pock marks. She was still fortunate as her eyes had remained untouched and were fine.

Question 13

How did Bholi react when the teacher asked her name?

Answer 13

Bholi stammered when she spoke and could not tell her name completely when the teacher asked her to do so. So, she broke into tears.

Question 14

Bholi was fascinated by the walls of the classroom. Why?

Answer 14

The walls of the classroom had bright and colourful pictures of a horse, a goat, a parrot and a cow. They all looked familiar to Bholi and were like the ones in the village. That is why she was fascinated to see those pictures.

Question 15

Bholi found her teacher to be different from others. How?

Answer 15

Others had always neglected Bholi. They made fun of her all the time. But, she found her teacher to be different. Her voice was calm, her manner comforting and touch was full of affection.

Question 16

What filled Bholi’, a dumb cow, with a new hope in her?

Answer 16

Bholi’s first day of school brought a hope of a new life. She had found a loving and kind teacher. The teacher had inspired her and given her a book and had made Bholi feel confident about herself.

Question 17

In what way did the village change over time?

Answer 17

The village changed into a small town over a period of time. The primary school had become a high school. The village had a cinema and a cotton ginning mill. The mail train also stopped at the village railway station.

Question 18

What objections does Ramlal have to Bishamber’s proposal?

Answer 18

Ramlal was not very happy with the proposal. He did not like the fact that Bishamber was of his age. He had a limp and children were quite grown up. It was not a very satisfactory proposition.

Question 19

Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?

Answer 19

Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s marriage proposal because they were happy that he was well off and had not asked for dowry.

Question 20

Why did Bishamber’s marriage with Bholi not take place?

Answer 20

Bishamber’s marriage with Bholi did not take place because he had demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees from her father for the marriage. So, Bholi refused to marry him.

Question 21

Why was Ramlal thunderstruck?

Answer 21

Ramlal had always taken his daughter to be dumb. He was thunderstruck when she loudly asked him to take back the money and declared that she was not going to marry Bishamber because of his greed.

Question 22

The last line of the text talks about an artist and the masterpiece. Elaborate.

Answer 22

The ‘artist’ is the teacher and the ‘masterpiece’ is Bholi. It was her teacher who had turned Bholi into a strong and independent girl who was aware of her place in society.

Question 23

What kind of mother was Ramal’s wife?

Answer 23

Ramlal’s wife was a traditional housewife who believed that daughters should not be educated, as it would be difficult to find husbands for them. She neglected looking after her Bholi because she was a slow learner.

Question 24

Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi and not about his other children?

Answer 24

All other children of Ramlal were healthy and good looking. Bholi was the only girl who was neither intelligent nor good looking. She was a simpleton, she stammered also. Ramlal was extremely worried about her future.

Question 25

Why did the Tehsildar come to Ramlal’s village? What did he ask Ramlal to do?

Answer 25

The Tehsildar came to Ramlal’s village to inaugurate the primary school. He asked Ramlal to set an example for others by sending his daughters to school.

Question 26

Did Bholi enjoy her first day in school? What made her happy on this very day?

Answer 26

It was a mixed day for Bholi. She was happy to see the girls of her age. She was fascinated with the colourful pictures on the wall of the classrooms. But when the teacher asked her name she could not answer properly and other girls laughed at her. She cried. But her teacher’s soft words made her happy on this very day.

Question 27

Why did Bholi look at Bishamber with cold contempt?

Answer 27

Bholi looked at Bishamber with cold contempt because he had demanded 5000 to get married to her. Bholi saw how her father got humiliated; she realised that Bishamber was greedy and exploiting her father due to her look.

Question 28

How did Bholi react when her father caught her by the hand to take her to school? Why?

Answer 28

When Ramlal caught Bholi by the hand to take her to school, she was frightened. She did not know what a school was like. She thought her father was turning her out of the house. She shouted in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip.

Question 29

How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?

Answer 29

Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life. She was polite and friendly which touched her heart. She encouraged her every time and was affectionate towards her. The teacher transformed her into a confident person who could read, write and speak clearly. This gave her the required confidence. Moreover, teacher’s appreciation and encouragement helped her overcome her own morale.
She played an important role in changing the course of her life and making her a confident person who could read, write and speak with clarity.

Question 30

‘Dowry is negation of the girl’s dignity’. Discuss with reference to the story ‘Bholi’.

Answer 30

A girl is an individual in her own right. Equal opportunities in life can help her become independent and strong. She is not a burdensome object to be given away with money as compensation. Thus dowry negates the girl’s dignity and self respect.

The story ‘Bholi’ shows this in a dramatic manner. Bholi is thought to be ugly and dumb by her parents. So, they are willing to pay dowry to an old man with a limp. So that he marries her. Bholi, on the other hand, refuses to marry that man. She is educated; assertive and capable of taking care of herself. She dedicates her life to service of her parents and teaching at school.

Question 31

Bholi chose a dignified life of service rather than surrendering herself to a greedy old man for the rest of her life. Education provides the required stimulus to overcome one’s personal barriers. Explain the role of education in shaping the life of a child with respect to the lesson ‘Bholi’.

Answer 31

Education is the answer to all social ills. Illiteracy and ignorance bring nothing but poverty, suffering and misery. Bholi lacks confidence initially because of her disabilities. She is silent, timid and weak in mind. Her ugliness and her stammer do not let her progress. She is afraid to speak as others make fun of her.
School changes her life completely. It opens a new world of hope for her. Her teacher treats her with love and kindness. Her affection and support help Bholi to have faith in herself. She studies and grows into a confident young woman. She knows her rights and she asserts them as well. She refuses to marry a man who demands dowry. Thus, being educated changes the life of Bholi.

Question 32

The chapter ‘Bholi’ highlights the discrimination against the girl child. Analyse.

Answer 32

Nature does not discriminate, but society does. From time immemorial the world has discriminated against the girl child. The chapter, ‘Bholi’ throws up many such instances. Randal’s sons go to school and college. His daughters are not educated but married off. Her mother does not think it necessary to take Bholi’s consent for her marriage. The groom is old and lame. Still he demands dowry. Her father is ready to pay him also. It is the girl herself who raises her voice against this marriage. She is criticised and humiliated for standing up for her dignity. But she is firm and decides the course of her life.

Question 33

Bholi is a child different from others. This difference makes her an object of neglect and laughter. Elaborate.

Answer 33

Society does not tolerate difference very easily. Bholi is not like others. She is slow for her age. She stammers when she speaks. Small pox leaves her all covered with pock-marks. As a result, she has to suffer a lot.
Her parents do not even bathe her. She is ignored and neglected. They take her only as a burden. People laugh at her. Children imitate her when she speaks. So, she remains silent most of the time. She has no confidence or self esteem.
Society must realise that it must accept those who are ” different. They must be treated with the same love and respect as others.

Question 34

School education turned Bholi from a dumb cow into a bold girl. How did she save her father from a huge expense and become his support in his old age?

Answer 34

Ironically, Bholi was sent to school as her mother believed she was a burden and let the teachers at the school worry for her. The teacher showed affection and encouraged her to shed her fear. She was assured by her teacher that she would speak like others one day.

Years of hard work transformed Bholi into a bold and confident young woman. Bishamber refused to marry Bholi due to her appearance and demanded five thousand rupees. Bholi saw how her father was humiliated for no reason. She refused to marry a greedy, mean and contemptible coward. She assured her father that she would serve him and her mother in their old age. She had a mission in her life; she would spread the light of education in her village.

Question 35

Write a character sketch of Bholi.
“Bholi’s whole personality underwent a complete transformation towards the end of the story”. Explain.

Answer 35

Bholi’s real name was Sulekha but she was called Bholi, the simpleton as she was a backward child. She started speaking only when she turned five but she stammered when she spoke and as a result she was always mimicked or made fun of by the other children. Therefore, Bholi talked very little.

Bholi did not know what exactly a school was and what happened there, in the class when her teacher asked her name, she stammered and began to cry. She kept her head down throughout the class. The teacher was very encouraging and friendly to her and this made her gain confidence to speak. She started seeing a ray of hope for a new life.

After years of gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was greedy and asked money from her father to marry her. On seeing her father worried about her marriage, she said that he need not worry as she would teach in the same school where she learnt so much and would take care of him and her mother in their old age.

Question 36

‘Love and encouragement make the impossible possible. Explain this statement on the basis of the story ‘Bholi’.

Answer 36

Bholi was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden. She was neglected by her parents as she was not beautiful and lacked intelligence. The teacher in the school asked her to tell her name. She stammered and began to cry. The teacher showed her affection and encouraged her in a friendly manner to put aside her fear.

Bholi somehow told her name. Bholi was surprised. The teacher asked her to come to school regularly. Love and encouragement shown by the teacher brought out drastic changes in Bholi’s personality. Within a few years she became so confident that she refused to marry a greedy man.