GSEB Class 10 English Solutions Chapter 9 Bholi

Read And Find Out (Textbook Page No. 54)

Question 1. Why is Bholi's father worried about her?
Answer: Bholi was unlike other children. She fell from a cot as a baby, which slightly harmed her brain. She learned to talk very late and would stammer. Her face and entire body were covered with pock-marks. So, her father was concerned about her future marriage possibilities.
In simple words: Bholi's father worried because she had a brain injury, stammered, and had pock-marks, making it hard to find a husband.

Exam Tip: When discussing character worries, always state the specific reasons given in the story for full marks.

Question 2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Answer: Since Ramlal was a government official, the Tehsildar asked him to send his daughters to the nearby village school. Bholi was sent to school simply to please the Tehsildar. Ramlal's wife felt that sending girls to school negatively impacted their marriage prospects, so she did not want to send any of her daughters. However, Bholi, with her pock-marked face and slow brain, would likely not get married anyway, so her parents decided to send her to school to satisfy the Tehsildar.
In simple words: Bholi was sent to school not for learning, but because her father, a government official, was asked by the Tehsildar to send his daughters, and her parents thought she wouldn't get married anyway.

Exam Tip: Note the ironic contrast between the typical reason for schooling and Bholi's specific circumstances.

Read And Find Out (Textbook Page No. 55)

Question 1. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Answer: Bholi felt scared on her first day at school. She even cried when her teacher asked for her name. She simply sat in a corner. However, the pretty pictures on the classroom wall caught her eye. Her teacher's gentle, kind, and loving manner made her feel comfortable. By the time her first day ended, she was looking forward to her new life. So, although she did not initially like it, by the time she went home, she had enjoyed school.
In simple words: At first, Bholi was scared and cried, but her kind teacher and pretty pictures made her feel better, and by the end of the day, she liked school.

Exam Tip: When describing a character's emotional journey, mention both initial feelings and how they change, along with the reasons for that change.

Question 2. Does she find her teacher to be different from the people at home?
Answer: Bholi had been an uncared-for child at home. She was never given a bath, nor were her clothes washed. Everyone criticized her and made fun of her. But, she found her teacher to be completely different. Her teacher did not mock her ugliness or her stammering. She gently encouraged her. Her affection deeply touched Bholi's heart.
In simple words: Yes, her teacher was very different. At home, she was neglected and mocked, but her teacher was kind, encouraging, and didn't make fun of her.

Exam Tip: Contrast Bholi's treatment at home with her teacher's behavior to highlight the transformative impact of kindness.

Read And Find Out (Textbook Page No. 58)

Question 1. Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal?
Answer: Bholi's parents agreed to Bishamber's marriage proposal because he was a wealthy grocer from the nearby village and had not asked for any dowry.
In simple words: Her parents said yes because Bishamber was rich, from a nearby village, and didn't ask for a dowry.

Exam Tip: Understand the social context: a good match often meant wealth and no dowry demands, which were important considerations for parents.

Question 2. Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer: At the time of the wedding, Bishamber saw Bholi's pock-marked face. He then demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees to marry her. Ramlal had no choice but to pay. However, Bholi refused to marry the greedy man. She stood up for her rights and self-respect. As a result, the wedding party was turned away.
In simple words: Bishamber saw Bholi's pock-marked face and demanded a dowry. Bholi then refused to marry him because he was greedy and she stood up for herself.

Exam Tip: Focus on Bholi's transformation and her assertion of dignity as the key reason for the marriage's cancellation.

Question 3. How did the teacher ignite a new hope in Rholi?
Answer: The teacher showed her care and gently encouraged Bholi to overcome her fear of stammering. Bholi managed to say her name. The teacher promised her that she would soon be able to speak like everyone else. Bholi was amazed. The teacher asked her to come to school daily. The love and encouragement from her teacher led to big changes in Bholi's character. Within a few years, she became so confident that she refused to marry a greedy man.
In simple words: The teacher kindly encouraged Bholi to speak without stammering and attend school regularly. This care boosted Bholi's confidence, changing her personality and giving her new hope.

Exam Tip: Highlight the specific actions of the teacher (affection, encouragement, assurance, regular attendance) and their direct impact on Bholi's development.

Think About It

Question 1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Answer: On the day she was going to school, her parents made her dress nicely. She was bathed, and her dry, tangled hair was neatly done. Until then, she had not been given proper care. The special attention she received made her feel that she was going to a better place.
In simple words: Getting new clothes, a bath, and neat hair made Bholi feel special and cared for, making her think school was better than home where she was usually neglected.

Exam Tip: Emphasize the contrast between her usual neglect and the sudden special treatment as the reason for her changed perception.

Question 2. How did Bholi's teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Answer: Bholi stammered and was very nervous when she first started school. Her teacher treated her kindly and encouraged her to have confidence and be brave. She taught her to read and write and helped her become an independent girl who understood her rights. So, her teacher completely changed her life's path.
In simple words: Bholi's teacher helped her overcome stammering and nervousness by being kind and encouraging. She taught her to read, write, and become an independent, aware young woman, completely changing her future.

Exam Tip: List the specific ways the teacher influenced Bholi: kindness, encouragement, education, and instilling awareness of rights.

Question 3. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell about her?
Answer: Bholi initially agreed to the match to fulfill her parents' wishes. Later, she rejected the marriage when the groom asked for dowry. This shows us that Bholi was not a shy or foolish girl. She was aware of her rights. She also knew how to fight for her own self-respect and feared no one.
In simple words: Bholi first agreed to make her parents happy. She rejected it later because the groom demanded dowry, showing she was smart, knew her rights, and was brave enough to stand up for herself.

Exam Tip: Analyze Bholi's actions to reveal her character development, focusing on her transition from obedience to self-assertion and dignity.

Question 4. 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: The word Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story, she had been a simple girl who rarely spoke her mind on any matter. The word Sulekha means 'a person with a beautiful sense of letters'. In this story, this word carries a deeper meaning of being a literate, smart, and mature person. After her education, Bholi truly transformed into Sulekha, and her strong stand during her marriage is her way of telling the world that she is no longer a simple Bholi, but a wise Sulekha.
In simple words: Bholi, meaning 'simpleton,' describes her early self. Being called Sulekha, meaning 'person with beautiful letters' or 'wise,' at the story's end shows her transformation into an educated, confident, and mature woman.

Exam Tip: Connect the names "Bholi" and "Sulekha" to Bholi's character arc, explaining how the name change signifies her development and empowerment.

Talk About It

Question 1. Bholi's teacher helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. How do you think you can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in this story?
Answer: We can help by refusing to give or take dowry. We must not treat boys and girls differently. Both should receive equal rights and chances to grow. We must also learn to respect those who are differently-abled and treat them equally.
In simple words: We can help change social attitudes by rejecting dowry, treating boys and girls equally, giving them the same opportunities, and respecting people with disabilities.

Exam Tip: Offer practical and ethical solutions to social issues, drawing directly from the themes of the story.

Question 2. Should girls be aware of their rights and assert them? Should girls and boys have the same rights, duties and privileges? What are some of the ways in which society treats them differently? When we speak of 'human rights, do we differentiate between girl's rights and boy's rights?
Answer: Yes, there is a difference between girls' and boys' rights. Even though they are equal in the eyes of the law, society often treats them differently. Parents often spend more on a boy's education than on a girl's. A girl is frequently just trained to be a wife and mother. Boys typically have special advantages in terms of food, career, or freedom. Girls must understand their rights to use them. They must use their education to maintain their independence and self-respect. They must be prepared to demand what they deserve and even fight for it.
In simple words: Yes, girls should know their rights and stand up for them. Boys and girls should have the same rights, but society often treats them differently, like spending more on boys' education. When we talk about human rights, there shouldn't be separate rights for girls and boys.

Exam Tip: Provide a balanced answer, acknowledging both legal equality and societal disparities, and emphasize the importance of girls' empowerment.

Question 3. Do you think the characters in the story were speaking to each other in English? If not, in which language were they speaking? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and the non-English words used in the story.)
Answer: No, we do not think so. They spoke in Hindi. Several words like 'number, tehsildar sahib, izzat, and pitaji' are clear evidence of that. Even the names of characters like 'Ramlal' and 'Bholi' support this.
In simple words: No, they likely spoke Hindi. Words like 'tehsildar sahib' and character names like 'Ramlal' and 'Bholi' suggest this, as these are not English.

Exam Tip: Use textual evidence, such as names and specific vocabulary, to support your answer about the language spoken in the story.

Bholi Summary:

This story is all about a simple village girl named Bholi. Her real name was Sulekha. But fate played a cruel trick, and when she was ten months old, she fell off her cot, damaging part of her brain. As a result, she could only begin speaking after she was five years old, and even then, she stammered. Later, when she was two years old, she had a smallpox attack that left her with black spots all over her body. Other children often made fun of her and copied her. Therefore, she spoke very little.

Ramlal had seven children in total – three sons and four daughters. Bholi was the youngest. All others were healthy and strong except Bholi. Bholi was seven years old when a primary school opened in their village. The tehsildar came to hold the school's opening ceremony. He told Ramlal that as a revenue official and a government representative in the village, he should send his daughter to school and set an example for the villagers. When he discussed the matter with his wife, she did not agree with him. Yet, she decided to send Bholi to school.

The next day, Bholi was given a bath and a new dress to wear. Her mother combed her hair, and then she was sent to school. When her father left her at school, she sat in a corner in the class. When her teacher asked her name, she stammered, and the other children started laughing.

At this, Bholi began crying. But the teacher's voice was soft and comforting. It greatly encouraged her, and finally, she could say her full name. Then the teacher told her that if she came to school every day, she would speak without a stammer and one day she would become the most educated girl in the village. Then no one would dare to laugh at her. Then everyone would listen to her carefully.

Years passed, and the village slowly turned into a small town. One night, Ramlal discussed with his wife the marriage proposal from Bishamber, a grocer in the neighboring village. His wife quickly agreed to it. Bholi was also listening to this conversation. The day of her wedding arrived. When the groom was about to garland her, a lady pulled her veil down, showing her face to him.

The groom took a quick look at her face and saw pock-marks on her face. At this, he asked Ramlal to give him five thousand rupees as dowry to marry that ugly girl. After some arguments, Ramlal handed the money over to Bishambar. But Bholi asked her father to take the money back from him, saying she did not want to marry that old, lame, and greedy person.

Everyone was surprised because Bholi was not stammering at all. The groom left with his wedding party. Ramlal could not lift his head due to shame and sorrow. He asked Bholi who would marry her now. But Bholi told him that she would serve her parents in their old age and teach in the same school where she had learned so much.