Class 10 : English – Lesson 27. Bholi
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
💠 Explanation
🌟 Introduction to the Lesson
“Bholi,” written by K.A. Abbas, is a moving short story from the Class 10 NCERT Footprints Without Feet. It narrates the transformation of a simple, neglected village girl into a confident young woman who finds her voice and dignity through education.
📚 About the Author
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (1914–1987) was a renowned Indian writer, journalist, and filmmaker. He is remembered for his socially conscious works highlighting poverty, women’s rights, and social justice. His stories often combine realism with a reformist message.
💡 Setting / Context
The story is set in rural India, where poverty, illiteracy, and gender inequality were common. Girls were often neglected and married off early, but education began to emerge as a tool for empowerment and social change.
🎭 Key Sections / Episodes
Bholi’s Early Life: Born as Sulekha, nicknamed “Bholi” for being simple and backward. She suffered from pockmarks and stammered, which made her family neglect her.
Her Parents’ Attitude: Her father, Ramlal, considered her a burden, unlike his other children. She was sent to school because there seemed no hope for her marriage.
First Day at School: At first, Bholi was fearful, but her teacher’s kindness gave her courage and confidence.
Marriage Proposal: Later, her parents arranged her marriage with Bishamber, a greedy, middle-aged man.
Bholi’s Courage: On the wedding day, Bishamber demanded dowry seeing her scars. Bholi boldly refused to marry him, rejecting the humiliation.
Her Transformation: She declared that she would serve her parents and continue teaching, showing her self-respect and independence.
🖋️ Tone, Style, and Devices
The tone is sympathetic, inspirational, and reformist. Abbas uses symbolism (Bholi as neglected girls in society), contrast (fearful child to courageous woman), and dialogue to make the narrative powerful.
🕊️ Themes and Takeaways
Education as Empowerment: Schooling transforms Bholi’s life.
Women’s Dignity: True strength lies in self-respect and independence.
Social Evils: Dowry and neglect of girls are criticised.
Transformation and Courage: Even the weakest can become strong with support and education.
💠 Summary
“Bholi” by K.A. Abbas is the story of Sulekha, called Bholi, a simple village girl who stammered and had pockmarks on her face. Neglected by her family, she was sent to school as they thought she was useless. At first timid, she gained confidence with her teacher’s encouragement. Later, her parents fixed her marriage with Bishamber, a greedy old man. On the wedding day, when Bishamber demanded dowry, Bholi showed great courage by refusing to marry him, choosing dignity over social pressure. She decided to support her parents and become a teacher. The story highlights how education transforms Bholi from a shy, neglected girl into a brave, independent woman.
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PASSAGE
PASSAGE
“Bholi was the fourth daughter of Ramlal, the Numberdar of the village. She had pockmarks all over her body due to smallpox. She stammered while speaking and was often laughed at by other children. Considered simple and backward, she was neglected by her parents and nicknamed ‘Bholi’, meaning simpleton.”
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
Why was the girl called ‘Bholi’?
Answer: She was called ‘Bholi’ because she stammered, looked unattractive due to pockmarks, and appeared simple and backward, which made her parents and others consider her a simpleton.
💠 (Multiple Choice)
What disease left Bholi with permanent marks on her body?
A. Chickenpox
B. Smallpox
C. Measles
D. Tuberculosis
Answer: B. Smallpox
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Bholi was the __ daughter of Ramlal, the Numberdar.
Answer: fourth
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Because of her stammer, Bholi was often __ by other children.
Answer: laughed at
💠 (Assertion and Reason)
Assertion (A): Bholi was loved and pampered by her parents.
Reason (R): She was considered simple and backward.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: C. A is false, but R is true.
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
How did society treat Bholi in her childhood?
Answer: Society and even her family neglected her, mocking her stammer and scars, which isolated her and made her feel unwanted and inferior.
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OTHER QUESTIONS: –
🔴 Q1. Who is the author of Bholi?
🔵 Answer: K.A. Abbas.
🔴 Q2. What was Bholi’s real name?
🔵 Answer: Her real name was Sulekha.
🔴 Q3. Why was she nicknamed Bholi?
🔵 Answer: She stammered, looked simple and backward, so people called her Bholi, meaning simpleton.
🔴 Q4. What disease disfigured Bholi’s face?
🔵 Answer: Smallpox left her face and body marked with pockmarks.
🔴 Q5. How did Bholi behave on her first day at school?
🔵 Answer: She was nervous and frightened but was comforted by her kind teacher.
🔴 Q6. How did the teacher encourage Bholi at school?
🔵 Answer: The teacher spoke kindly, gave her confidence, and told her she would become respected if she learned to read and write.
🔴 Q7. Why did Ramlal decide to send Bholi to school?
🔵 Answer: Since she was unattractive and unlikely to get married, her parents thought sending her to school would not harm her.
🔴 Q8. Who was Bishamber, and why did he agree to marry Bholi?
🔵 Answer: Bishamber was a middle-aged, greedy man who agreed to marry Bholi for a dowry of money.
🔴 Q9. What happened on Bholi’s wedding day?
🔵 Answer: Bishamber demanded extra dowry after seeing her pockmarked face, which humiliated Bholi and her family.
🔴 Q10. How did Bholi react to Bishamber’s dowry demand?
🔵 Answer: She boldly refused to marry him, asserting her dignity and self-respect.
🔴 Q11. How did Bholi’s refusal surprise everyone?
🔵 Answer: People had always considered her timid and simple, so her courageous rejection of Bishamber shocked everyone present.
🔴 Q12. How did education transform Bholi’s life?
🔵 Answer: Education gave her confidence, dignity, and courage to stand against injustice, changing her from a fearful girl to a bold woman.
🔴 Q13. What message does the story Bholi convey?
🔵 Answer: The story highlights the power of education, women’s dignity, and the rejection of social evils like dowry, showing that self-respect is more valuable than marriage.
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