Chapter 9 - Bholi
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Summary of this Chapter :-
This is a story about a simple village girl named Bholi. Her real name was Sulekha. When she was ten months old, she fell off a cot and hurt her brain, making it hard for her to speak until she was five. She also stammered when she spoke. At the age of two, she had smallpox, which left marks on her body. Other children teased her and made fun of her, so she became quiet.
On her first day, Bholi was nervous and stammered when the teacher asked her name. The other children laughed, and she started crying. But the teacher was kind and encouraged her. With time, Bholi's stammer improved, and she became more confident.
As years went by, the village turned into a small town. Bholi's parents considered a proposal for her marriage from a grocer named Bishamber. Bholi overheard their conversation and didn't want to marry him. When the groom saw her face with pox marks, he demanded a dowry. Bholi spoke clearly and refused to marry him, surprising everyone. The groom left, and Bholi promised to take care of her parents and continue teaching in the same school where she learned.
In simple words, this story is about a girl named Bholi who faced difficulties due to her health issues but overcame them with determination. She went to school, improved her speech, and bravely stood up for herself when it came to her marriage, showing strength and resilience.
Read and Find Out
1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Answer
Bholi’s father was worried about her as she had neither good looks nor intelligence. He did not know how he would find a suitable groom for her.
2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Answer
Bholi is sent to school because there is little chance of her getting married, with her ugly face and lack of sense.
Read and Find Out
1. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?Answer
Yes, Bholi enjoys her first day at school as she was glad to find so many girls almost of her own age present there. She hoped that one of these girls might become her friend.
2. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?Answer
Read and Find Out
1. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?Answer
Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal because if they don't accept it, she would not be married for the rest of her life.
2. Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer
The marriage does not take place because the groom demanded dowry.
Answer
Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She remembered how their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. When she got a clean dress, bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry hair, only then she felt that she was going to a better place than her home.
2. How did Bholi’s 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 and said to Bholi to put her fears of not able to speak aside. The teacher transformed her into a confident person who could read, write and speak clearly.
3. 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
Bholi at first agreed to an unequal match because she was lucky to get a well-to-do bridegroom who owned a big shop, had a house of his own and had several thousand in the bank. Moreover, he was not asking for any dowry. Bholi also heard her mother saying that he did not know about her pock-marks and her lack of sense. If the proposal was not accepted she might remain unmarried all her life. She later rejected the marriage because the bridegroom demanded five thousand rupees as dowry. On seeing the father pleading and humiliated she decided not to marry him.
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 world Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story, she had been a simpleton hardly expressing her opinion. The word Sulekha means the person with a beautiful sense of letters. In this story, this word has a larger meaning of being a literate, intelligent and mature individual. After her education, Bholi has really changed to Sulekha and her assertion during the marriage is her announcement to the world that she is no more a Bholi but Sulekha.
2. Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer
The marriage does not take place because the groom demanded dowry.
Think About it
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
Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She remembered how their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. When she got a clean dress, bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry hair, only then she felt that she was going to a better place than her home.
2. How did Bholi’s 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 and said to Bholi to put her fears of not able to speak aside. The teacher transformed her into a confident person who could read, write and speak clearly.
3. 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
Bholi at first agreed to an unequal match because she was lucky to get a well-to-do bridegroom who owned a big shop, had a house of his own and had several thousand in the bank. Moreover, he was not asking for any dowry. Bholi also heard her mother saying that he did not know about her pock-marks and her lack of sense. If the proposal was not accepted she might remain unmarried all her life. She later rejected the marriage because the bridegroom demanded five thousand rupees as dowry. On seeing the father pleading and humiliated she decided not to marry him.
This tells us that she has self-respect and knows what is right or wrong and is able to take a wise decision.
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 world Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story, she had been a simpleton hardly expressing her opinion. The word Sulekha means the person with a beautiful sense of letters. In this story, this word has a larger meaning of being a literate, intelligent and mature individual. After her education, Bholi has really changed to Sulekha and her assertion during the marriage is her announcement to the world that she is no more a Bholi but Sulekha.