Class 10 English Chapter 8 Question Answers - Bholi

Q.1. Although Bholi never got the deserved love, care and acceptance from her family, she is ready to reciprocate like all daughters in Indian society. Discuss the character of Bholi in the light of the above-mentioned.
Ans. 

• Bholi was the fourth daughter of Ramlal. She got her brain damaged when she was only ten months old. At the age of two, she had an attack of smallpox which left permanent pockmarks on her body. 
• She stammered while speaking. Thus she was a neglected child in her family. Nobody took care of her. Nobody loved her. Nobody had any expectations from her. Her parents called her a dumb cow and treated her so. 
• The old dresses of her sister were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. New clothes had never been made for Bholi. No one oiled her hair or tried to teach her anything. 
• Luckily she was sent to school and her teacher changed her life entirely. Now she was a learned girl. When her parents decided to marry her to Bishamber a fifty-year-old lame, greedy person, she did not speak a word and agreed to it silently for the sake of her parents. She did not even protest. 
• Later on, when Bishamber insulted her parents and demanded 5000 rupees, she refused to marry him and declared that she will never marry anyone and will always serve her parents in their old age. Thus in spite of being a neglected child, Bholi acted like all daughters in Indian societies.

Q.2. Bholi challenged the dowry seeker. She used to be a meek girl. What changed her attitude towards life? 
Ans. 

• Bholi used to be a meek girl. She had pockmarks on her body. Her brain got damaged when she was just ten months. She was also a slow learner. She could not speak until she was five. Later on, she started stammering while speaking.
• She was sent to school just for formality. Her parents were not serious about her studies. But her teacher changed her life. She encouraged her to speak properly and to learn more and more in school. Then she knew what is good or what is bad. 
• Now she could differentiate between right and wrong. Education totally changed her personality. 
• Even then she behaved like an obedient girl and agreed to marry Bishamber— fifty years old. But she could not stand his demand of dowry. 
• She refused to fulfill Bishamber’s demand of five thousand rupees and denied to marry him. Thus education changed her attitude towards her life.

Q.3. 'And in her smiling eyes was the light of deep satisfaction that an artist feels when he is contemplating the completion of his masterpiece.’ Imagine you are Bholi’s teacher. You are overwhelmed with a sense of satisfaction to see the conversion of Bholi’ to `Sulekha’. Express your feelings in the form of a diary entry.
Ans. Diary Entry
Date: 1/01/2021
Today I felt very much satisfied as I got success in changing Bholi to Sulekhalecta. As her name signifies Bholi was really a simple girl. I cannot forget her first entry into my class. A frightened, confused and simple girl; was her first appearance. She used to stammer while speaking. But my two words of affection filled her with confidence. She left stammering and became a confident, determined girl. She was determined to learn everything silently.
In her family, nobody noticed the changes that took place in her personality and got her engaged to a fifty-year-old lame man with two children. She kept the honor of her parents and agreed to this marriage. But she could not stand with the demand of dowry. She threw away her garland in the fire and asked her father to take back the money. She raised her voice against dowry. She asked the ladies of the village why girls should be treated like dumb cows. This was the change I always wanted to see in her personality. Today, I feel I have completed my masterpiece without any error. Today she signified her real name 'Sulekha'.

Q.4. Demanding dowry is an evil practice. Describe how Bholi, a dumb cowgirl fought against this evil.
Ans. 

• Bholi was considered a dumb cowgirl. She was sent to school just to obey the orders of the Tehsildar. Her teacher played an important role in changing her life from Bholi to Sulekha. 
• Now she became a confident, educated girl but nobody noticed any change in her personality because she was no one for her family. She got engaged with a fifty years old lame man for which she agreed silently. 
• But when he demanded five thousand rupees as dowry, Bholi at once stood up against it. She refused to marry him. She gave her consent for a mismatched marriage but she did not support dowry. 
• She called Bishamber a mean, greedy and contemptible coward. She was no more a dumb driven cow. She set an example for society and became a role model for all the girls.

Q.5. Who was Bishamber? Why did Bholi’s parents accept his marriage proposal?
Ans. 

• Bishamber Nath was a well-to-do grocer of the same age as Bholi’s father. He was a widower who had a house of his own and a big bank balance. To marry off his daughter to Bishamber was a dream for Ramlal, who, after initial hesitation, was overjoyed to accept his proposal for marriage. 
• Moreover, Bishamber did not demand dowry. For Ramlal, Bholi was the fourth daughter. Her pock-marked face, her slowness in understanding things, and her stammering were real problems, for Ramlal in marrying her off. 
• However, Bishamber Nath yeas not aware of these ‘flaws’ of Bholi. So when he proposed to Ramlal, he readily accepted fearing that if he rejected the proposal Bholi would remain unmarried all her life. She would then be a burden on her parents. Thus, Ramlal felt lucky to have a groom like Bishamber Nath for his daughter.

Q.6. It was a twist of fate that Bholi’s future was made better.’ Rate the above statement with reference to how Bholi was sent to school and educated.
Ans. 

• Bholi was a weak, timid person. She was an ignored child. Her parents treated her like a burden. She was neglected, ill-treated and considered a dumb cow by her family. 
• She was sent to school, her parents thought she would not be able to get a match with her slow brain and pockmarked ugly fact. This was a twist of fate for her.
• At the school, she luckily got a motivating, encouraging teacher who instilled in her traits of self-confidence, self-respect and courage. To relieve her parents from worry, she agreed to marry a lame, widower with grown-up children.
• At the time of garlanding, the widower, Bishmabar noticed pockmarks on Bholi’s face. He demanded Rs. 5000 as dowry money. Her father pleaded to lessen the amount but he stuck to his demand. This aroused Bholi’s self-respect and she refused in front of all to marry such a greedy, mean and heartless fellow. 
• She decided to become a school teacher and serve her parents in their old age. Her school teacher changed her future and made it better. She transformed a timid, tome, dumb cow into a bold, courageous, confident and self-respecting person.

Q.7. Bholi’s father was worried about her. Why didn’t Bholi’s parents treat her at par with other siblings? Parents are the ones who the children look up to. What values should the parents possess that help their children share a strong bond with them?
Ans. 

• When Bholi was ten months old, she fell down from a cot. This damaged a part of her brain and affected her intelligence and speech. She became a slow learner and started speaking with a stammer. So she was called a simpleton. 
• Besides, at the age of two, she got an attack of smallpox which left pockmarks on her face making her ugly. This was her father’s worry. She was ill-treated and ignored by her family. She remained backward and neglected. 
• She never got new clothes. The old dresses of her sisters were passed onto her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes, put oil in her hair or comb them properly. She was never able to understand the reason for such differences. She could never connect herself with her parents. 
• The values that children share with their parents were missing from them. She got these values from her teacher. She became an obedient and well-behaved daughter of her parents.

Q.8. The story, Thule throws light on some social evils being practiced in our society. Bholi took a stand and succeeded in overcoming social bathers. What can you contribute to change the social attitudes illustrated in the story?
Ans. 

• Bholi was an ill-treated and ignored child. She had pockmarks on her face making her ugly. She was also a slow learner, a retarded child and also stammered while talking. Her parents always neglected her and she was a nuisance for them. 
• When she grew up, the parents received a marriage proposal for her from Bishamber. He was a lame, old widower with grown-up children. Her parents were happy to get the proposal.
•  At the time of marriage when Bishamber saw pockmarks on Bholi’s face, he asked a dowry of Rs. 5000 to marry her. Bholi’s father agreed. This aroused the self-respect of Bholi and she refused to marry such a greedy, mean and heartless, lame, old man. 
• Her behavior revealed that she took a stand and succeeded in overcoming social barriers. She announced to remain a spinster and to never marry. We can also contribute to change the social attitudes by educating our girls. 
• We should make them self-confident and independent. We can all follow the norm ‘each one teaches one’ to eradicate illiteracy and spread awareness, as only education guarantees a better future.

Q.9. Bholi’s teacher was not an ordinary teacher. She was more than that. Suppose you become a teacher. What qualities of Bholi’s teacher will you imbibe to help students to overcome social discrimination?
Ans. 

• If I become a teacher, I would install all the qualities that Bholi’s teacher has, to help students to overcome social discrimination.
• Bholi was sent to school because of her ugly face and lack of intelligence; she had little chance of getting a match. “Let the teachers at school worry about her,” said her mother.
• Her teacher worked on her as an artist. She motivated and encouraged her, instilled in her traits of self-confidence, self-respect and courage. Education and the teacher’s efforts produced wonderful results. She stopped stammering. 
• She hoped to be respected after completing her education. Her teacher was a caring, affectionate, kind lady who brought a change in her life. She built up Bholi’s confidence and self-respect. 
• Only because of her teacher’s instincts she could have the courage to refuse to marry a mean, greedy, lame old man.

Q.10. Describe the teacher’s role in molding the life of Bholi.
Or
Discuss the role of Bholi’s teacher is transforming her.
Ans. 

• Bholi was sent to school because with her ugly face and lack of intelligence, she had little chance of getting a match. “Let the teachers at school worry about her,” said her mother. 
• Bholi was unwilling to go because she thought that she was being sold and turned out of the house like her cow Lakshmi. She was given clean clothes to wear for the first time. 
• Her school visit proved a turning point in the life of this neglected girl. Her teacher worked on her as an artist. She spoke to her lovingly and sweetly in her soft, soothing voice. She consoled and encouraged her to speak without a stammer. She raised in her the hope of a new and respectable life. 
• Education and the teacher’s efforts produced wonderful results. The teacher played a key role in Bholi’s life. She made her a confident, bold, and self-respecting person. The teacher realized that the frightened girl only needed some tender care and encouragement.
• Education gave her strength, knowledge, and understanding. From a fool, she became an enlightened girl.

Q.11. Give a brief character sketch of Bholi and describe the role the teacher played in her life.
Or
In light of the chapter, how far would you agree that “education is an eye-opener.”
Ans. 

• Bholi’s real name was Sulekha. But everyone started calling her a fool since the time that she was a little child. When she was ten months old, she fell off the cot and damaged some parts of her brain. This affected her intelligence and her speech. 
• She couldn’t speak till she was five. And even after that, she would stammer. She was laughed at and mimicked by other children. So she talked very little. 
• Fate played a cruel joke on her. An attack of smallpox left pockmarks all over her face and body. The fair and pretty two-year-old child is ugly-looking. She remained backward and neglected. She never got new clothes to wear. 
• Transformation in her life started at seven when she was sent to school. Her teacher was a caring, affectionate, kind lady who brought a change in her life. Her parents were worried about Bholi’s future. They wanted to marry her off to a lame old man. But her teacher built up Bholi’s confidence and power of speech. 
• She had become confident, bold, and self-respecting having the courage to refuse to marry a mean, greedy, lame old man. Thus, a loving mentor and a good education changed Bholi’s life forever.

Q.12. Give a character sketch of Bholi’s teacher who taught at the primary village school.
Ans. 

• The lady teacher who taught Bholi’s class was an ideal teacher. She had all the mobility and maturity that are the hallmarks of her profession. She was kind-hearted and understanding. She knew how to deal with a child with special needs like Bholi. 
• When she noticed her, she smiled and asked her name. Bholi stammered: “Bho —Bho —Bho.” The girls laughed but the teacher assured her. The teacher’s voice was soft and soothing. She again asked to tell her name. It was not a command. All her life she had never been called like that.
• The teacher persisted in her efforts to make her pronounce her full name without stammering. And she did succeed. Bholi pronounced: “Bh—Bh—Bho—Bholi.” Even Bholi was surprised at how she was able to say it.
• With affection and tender love, the teacher dealt with the unfortunate child. She gave her a book of pictures and hoped she would finish it within a month. She assured Bholi that one day she would be more learned than anybody else in the village.
• The teacher had all along stood in a corner during the wedding day of Bholi. She was watching the whole drama. She heard Bholi say that she would teach in the same school where she had learned so much. Bholi looked towards her for her confirmation. The teacher replied promptly; “Yes, Bholi, of course.”

Q.13. Who was Bishamber Nath? Did Bholi do the right thing by rejecting such a person?
Or
Give a character sketch of Bishamber Nath.
Ans. 

• Bishamber Nath was a well-to-do grocer. He had a big shop. He had a house of his own and thousands of rupees in the bank. He was a widower. He had children from his first wife. They were quite grown up now. 
• Bishamber was an unequal match for Bholi. He was almost of the age of her father. He limped too. But Bholi’s parents thought him a good match for Bholi. He ignored his age and limping and accepted Bishamber’s proposal of marriage. 
• Of course, Bholi was not even consulted. Bishamber Nath wanted to dazzle Bholi’s parents with his wealth. He came with a large party of friends and relatives for the wedding. A brass band moved ahead playing a popular filmy tune. Ramlal was overjoyed to see this pomp and grandeur. 
• Bishamber Nath showed his true color when he found that the bride had pockmarks on her face. He shamelessly demanded five thousand rupees as dowry to marry such a girl. Ramlal put even his turban at his feet. Bishamber didn’t budge and Ramlal put a bundle of notes at his feet.
• Bishamber was rightly punished and humiliated in the end. The ‘dumb cow’ got her tongue now. She threw away the wedding garland into the fire. She refused to many such a mean, greedy, and worthless man. Bholi did the right thing by rejecting such a person.

Q.14. What kind of treatment does Bholi get from her parents? Does she deserve it? Comment.
Ans. 

• Sulekha (Bholi) was the fourth and youngest daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. At birth, Bholi was quite fair and pretty. When she was just ten months old, she fell off the cot. Perhaps, she damaged a part of her brain. 
• When she was two years old, an attack of smallpox disfigured her. She had deep black pock-marks all over her body. All the other daughters of Ramlal were good-looking and healthy. Bholi’s parents were worried, as Bholi had neither good looks nor intelligence. 
• The parents had no problem marrying the other girls. They thought that no one would ever marry such a girl. Bholi’s parents considered her a backward child. Her stammering made children laugh.
• Bholi was sent to school. It was not because her parents wanted to give her a good education. Being a Numberdar, he couldn’t disobey the Tehsildar who asked him to send his daughters to school. 
• The way Bholi’s parents treated Bholi in finalising her marriage with Bishamber shows their callousness and indifference towards their daughter. Marrying her to an old and limping man with grown-up children showed their callous disregard for the happiness of their unfortunate child.

Q.15. Draw a pen-portrait of Ramlal in about 120 words.
Ans. 

• Ramlal was a well-to-do farmer. In his prosperous household, they had enough to eat and drink. Following the tradition of the times, he maintained a big family. He had seven children — three boys and four girls. 
• Boys were sent to the city to get a proper education. All his children, except Bholi, were good-looking and healthy. Ramlal and his wife were more interested in marrying off their daughters than in giving them a good education. Bholi was sent to school because Ramlal couldn’t disobey the Tehsildar. He had asked him to send his daughters to school. 
• Ramlal was a pragmatic and practical man. He was not burdened with the weight of morality. Money and wealth were more important to him than anything else. He was happy to marry off Bholi to an old and limping man.
• Being the Numberdar of the village, Ramlal had a high sense of himself and his family’s honor. He even put his turban at Bishamber’s feet to save the honor or ‘izzat’ of his family. 
• He was even ready to give 5000 rupees as demanded by Bishamber. He was always worried about Bholi. She was neither good-looking or had any intelligence. He was worried that no man would ever marry her.

Q.16. Narrate Bholi’s first experience in the class. How was she treated by her teacher?
Ans. 

• Bholi was afraid of going to school. She didn’t know what school was like. When Ramlal caught her hand to take her to school, she shouted in terror; “N—n—n—No.” She pulled her hand away. 
• Ramlal banded over Bholi to the headmistress. Bholi was sent to one of the classrooms. She sat in a corner. At last, she was happy to find so many girls there. They were of her age. She hoped to befriend one of them. Bholi was impressed by the colourful pictures of birds and animals on the wall.
• The woman who made Bholi’s first experience at the school pleasant and enjoyable was her teacher. She smiled at her and asked her name. Bholi could only stammer; “Bh—Bho—Bho—”. She couldn’t pronounce her full name. She began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes. She felt helpless. 
• The girls laughed at her. But the soothing voice of the teacher comforted her. In her soft voice, the teacher asked to make another try. It was not a command. It was a friendly request. The teacher encouraged her. “Come on, now — the full name”. At last, Bholi was able to say, “Bh — Bh — Bho —Bholi.” She felt relieved. She wondered at her success.
• Bholi was fortunate to have such a teacher. She gave a picture book to Bholi. She hoped that she would finish it within a month. She assured Bholi that one day she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. Then nobody would be able to laugh at her.

Q.17. Draw a character-sketch of Bholi in your own words, highlighting her transformation from a harmless dumb cow’ to a fearless and independent girl. Or Bholi was known to be a “dumb cow.” How did she turn out to be an outspoken and fearless girl?
Ans. 

• Bholi was the youngest of Ramlal’s four daughters. All other daughters were good-looking and healthy. Bholi was considered just a simpleton. Her stammering made her a stock of laughter for children. Her pock-marks had disfigured her badly. She had neither good looks or intelligence. 
• She was like “a harmless dumb cow” who didn’t know how to express herself properly. At birth, Bholi was very fair and pretty. When she was just ten months old, she fell off her cot. Perhaps a part of her brain was damaged. When she was two years old, she had an attack of smallpox. Her eyes were saved but deep black pock-marks disfigured her.
• Bholi’s teacher at the village primary school changed her life. In her teaching, she found a kind and helpful human being. She taught her how to pronounce her name properly. She gave Bholi all the confidence and encouragement that she needed so badly. The teacher assured that one day she would be more learned than anyone else in the village.
• Being an obedient child, Bholi didn’t oppose the proposal of an old and lame person. She did so for the honor of the family. But when Bishamber insisted on demanding five thousand rupees for marrying a girl with pock-marks, she revolted. 
• She threw the wedding garland into the fire. She refused to marry such a greedy and mean person. She also decided to serve her parents in their old age. She declared that she would teach in the same school where she had learned so much.

Q.18. On the basis of your understanding of the story, sketch the character of Bholi and describe the role of the teacher played in her life.
Ans. 

• Bholi was Ramlal’s youngest daughter. When she was ten months old she fell down from the cot and a part of her brain was damaged. So she remained a backward child. Her face was permanently disfigured by pock-marks when she was two years old. 
• She began to speak at the age of five years but she stammered. She was a neglected child. None cared for her. They called her a witless fool. Other children mimicked and laughed at her. But when she was sent to school her life totally changed. 
• Her teacher was kind and sympathetic. She encouraged and inspired her to rise higher in life. The teacher gave her confidence. She made her speak without a stammer. She was learned. She refused to marry a mean and greedy man. She decided to serve her old parents and her village by teaching other girls.

Q.19. What was new hope and new life for Bholi?
Or
Describe Bholi’s experience on her first day at school.
Ans. 

• One day Ramlal held Bholi’s hand and asked her to go to school. Bholi did not know what a school was like. She thought that her father was turning her out of his house like their old cow Lakshmi. She shouted in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip. 
• On the first day of school, she was frightened. But after some time she seemed to be enjoying the pictures on the wall. She was happy to see so many girls of her age in the class. 
• The real thing that made her happy on this very day was the loving and soothing treatment of the teacher. The teacher spoke to her in a soft and soothing voice. No one had ever spoken to her gently. This touched her heart. 
• The teacher told Bholi that if she came to school regularly she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. She would speak without a stammer and everyone would listen to her with respect. This was a new hope and new life for Bholi.

Q.20. What ideas do you form of Ramlal’s personality?    
Or
Give a brief sketch of Ramlal’s character.
Ans. 

• Ramlal was the Numberdar of his village. He had a respectable position in the village. He had four daughters and three sons. He was a loving father. He sent his sons to the city for education. 
• He searched for good bridegrooms for his three daughters. He was worried about his youngest daughter Bholi. He took her to school. He asked his wife to bathe Bholi and give her clean clothes. 
• He did not want to marry Bholi with Bishamber who was almost of his age. He wanted to consult Bholi in this matter. But it seems that he was in his wife’s influence. Even in the end, he parted with five thousand rupees for the sake of Bholi’s happiness. Thus he was a good father.

Q.21. Give a brief account of Ramlal’s children.
Ans. 

• Randal had seven children—three sons and four daughters. The names of his daughters were Radha, Mangla. Champa and Sulekha. Sulekha, who was known as Bholi, was the youngest of the seven of Ramlal’s children. 
• Ramlal was a prosperous farmer. All his children except Bholi were quite healthy and intelligent. His sons were sent to the city for education. Later they were sent to college. His three daughters Radha, Mangla and Champa were very beautiful. 
• Ramlal had no problem regarding their marriages but he was much worried about Bholi. Bholi was a backward child. She had pock-marks on her face. She spoke with a stammer. She was a neglected child. None cared for her.

Q.22. What kind of treatment is given to Bholi by her parents? Is it justified?
Ans. 

• Bholi was the youngest of the seven of Ramlal’s children. Her real name was Sulekha. When she was ten months old, she fell down from the cot on her head. Some part of her brain was damaged. So she remained a backward child. 
• She had pock-marks on her face. She spoke with a stammer. The treatment of her parents towards her was very discouraging. They called her a witless fool. They did little to take care of her. They didn’t give her new clothes. 
• None washed her clothes and cared for her bath. They thought her a burden on their shoulders. They sent her to school only to take off this burden from their shoulders to that of the teacher’s.