Early Struggles of Bholi
Once upon a time in a village, there was a girl named Bholi. She had a hard time speaking clearly because of a sickness in her brain. Also, smallpox left marks on her face, making her look different. People made fun of her, calling her Bholi, meaning backward.
Bholi’s Family;
Bholi was the youngest in a family with seven kids. Her parents worried about her because she was not as healthy as her siblings. They also worried about finding a good husband for her.
A New Beginning: School Opening::
One day, an important person came to start a school in the village. He asked Bholi’s father to send her to school. Bholi’s mother wasn’t sure but eventually agreed.
Bholi’s School bays:
At first, Bholi was scared of going to school. But she got nice clothes and felt happy to be around other kids. She couldn’t speak well when the teacher asked her name, and the other kids laughed. The teacher was kind and told Bholi she could improve if she came to school daily.
Bholi’s Progress:
Time passed, and the village became a small town. Bholi’s little school turned into a big one. Bholi not only learned to speak without stammering but also became confident and smart.
Unexpected Marriage Proposal:
One day, someone wanted to marry Bholi, but he was only interested in money. He refused to marry her without a big payment.
BhoIi’s Brave Decision:
Even though her family managed to gather the money, Bholi said no. She surprised everyone by speaking confidently. She refused to marry someone who cared only about money. She promised to take care of her parents and teach in the school that changed her life.
Conclusion: Bholi’s Inspiring Story:
Bholi’s story teaches us that with support and going to school, anyone can overcome difficulties. Bholi faced her problems and stood up for herself, becoming an inspiration for others.
1 Her name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been calling her Bholiz the simpleton. She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton. At birth, the child was very fair and pretty.But when she was two years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved, but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pockmarks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often made fun of her and mimicked her. The other children often made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.”
1) What did Sulekha later on come to be known as?
Ans. Sulekha later on came to be known as Bholi.
2) Why did children make fun of her?
Ans. Children made fun of her because she stammered while speaking.
3) What does the word ‘mimicked’ mean?
Ans. The word ‘mimicked’ means to copy the speech of others.
2 “What’s your name, little one?” “Bh-Bho-Bho-.” She could stammer no further than that. Then she began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes in a helpless flood. She kept her head down as she sat in her corner, not daring to look up at the girls, who, she knew, were still laughing at her. When the school bell rang, all the girls scurried out of the classroom, but Bholi dared not leave her corner. Her head still lowered, she kept on sobbing. “Bholi.” The teacher’s voice was so soft and soothing! in all her life she had never been called like that. It touched her heart. “Set up,” said the teacher. It was not a command, but just a friendly suggestion. Bholi got up. “Now tell me your name.”
1) Who is ‘she’?
Ans. ‘She’ is Sulekha, also known as Bholi.
2) Why were the girls laughing at her?
Ans. The girls were laughing at her because she had stammered while speaking her name when asked by the teacher.
3) What does the word ‘daring’ mean in the context of the extract?
Ans. The word ‘daring’ means lack of courage to do something.
Short Answer Questions (40-50 words each)
1. Why did Bishamber’s marriage with Bholi not take place? [CBSE 2013]
Answer: Bholi rejected Bishamber’s marriage proposal as he demanded a dowry of 5000 rupees. Bholi believed in love over material demands, refusing to support the outdated dowry tradition. Her father, sharing her values, declined the demand, stating his daughter’s worth couldn’t be measured by money. Bishamber insisted on the dowry, but Bholi stood firm. News of her refusal spread, making her a symbol of resistance against the harmful practice. Bholi’s decision not only spared her from a problematic marriage but also inspired others in the village to question and challenge age-old traditions, promoting healthier relationships based on love and respect.
2. Did Bholi enjoy her first day in school? What made her happy on this very day?
Answer: It was a mixed day for Bholi. She was happy to see the girls of her age. She was fascinated with the colorful pictures on the walls of the classrooms. But when the teacher asked her name she could not answer properly and the other girls laughed at her. She cried. But her teacher’s soft words made her happy on this very day.
3. How did Bholis teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Answer:· 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.
4. ’Dowry is negation of the girl’s dignity*. Discuss with reference to the story ‘Bholi’.
Answer- 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 1BhoIi’ dramatically shows this. Bholi is thought to be ugly and dumb by her parents. So, they are willing to pay a 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 the service of her parents and teaching at school, parents. So, they are willing to pay a 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 the service of her parents and teaching at school.
5. Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi and not about his other children?
Answer”· 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.
6. What impact did Bholi’s first day at school have on her?
Answer: Bholi initially felt nervous and cried due to the other children laughing at her stammer. However, her teacher’s kind words and encouragement gave her hope and made her feel valued for the first time.
7. The chapter ‘Bholi’ highlights the discrimination against the girl child. Analyse.
Answer: Nature does not discriminate, but society does. From time immemorial the world has discriminated against the girl child. The chapter, 1BhoIi’ 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 criticized and humiliated for standing up for her dignity. But she is firm and decides the course of her life.
8. Bholi is a child different from others. This difference makes her an object of neglect and laughter. Elaborate.
Answer: Society does not tolerate differences very easily. Bholi is not like others. She is slow for her age. She stammers when she speaks. Smallpox 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 realize that it must accept those who are ” different. They must be treated with the same love and respect as others.
9. “Bholi’s whole personality underwent a transformation towards the end of the story”. Explain.
Answer: 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.
10. ‘Love and encouragement make the impossible possible. Explain this statement on the basis of the story ,Bholi,.
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. The 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 ref used to marry a greedy man.
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