Class 10 English Chapter 8 Question Answers - Bholi

Q1. What were the two steps taken by Ramlal to persuade Bishamber to marry Bholi?
Ans: Ramlal persuaded Bishamber to marry Bholi by offering a dowry of five thousand rupees. Initially, Bishamber demanded this amount, stating that he would not proceed with the marriage otherwise. In a desperate attempt to avoid humiliation, Ramlal placed his turban—a symbol of his honour—at Bishamber's feet and pleaded for a lower amount. However, Bishamber remained firm, insisting on the full dowry. Ultimately, Ramlal, in tears, retrieved the money from his safe and presented it to Bishamber, securing the marriage.

Q2. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi’s wedding was a grand one.
Ans: Bholi's wedding was truly grand for several reasons. Firstly, her groom, Bishamber, was a wealthy man with a large shop, his own house, and a substantial bank balance. This financial stability added to the grandeur of the occasion. Secondly, the wedding procession was lively, featuring a brass band playing a popular tune from an Indian film, which set a festive atmosphere. Additionally, Bishamber arrived riding a decorated horse, accompanied by a large group of friends and relatives, resembling a grand parade.

Q3. What two actions did Bholi take to stop her marriage to Bishamber?
Ans: Bholi took two decisive actions to stop her marriage to Bishamber. First, she threw the garland into the fire, rejecting the marriage outright. Then, she discarded her veil and firmly told her father to take back the dowry money, stating clearly, “I am not going to marry this man.” Despite the shock and disapproval from her family and guests, Bholi stood her ground, refusing to accept a marriage with someone she deemed mean and greedy.

Q4. How did Bholi console her father in the end?
Ans: Bholi consoled her father by assuring him that even if she did not get married, she would care for her parents in their old age. She also expressed her desire to teach at the same school where she had learned so much, promising to contribute positively to their lives.

Q5. Conclude as to why Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece.
Ans: Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece because she witnessed the profound impact of her support on Bholi. Through her encouraging words and education, the teacher helped Bholi gain the confidence to face the world. This transformation turned Bholi from an unsure, backward child into a bold and confident girl, making the teacher proud of her role in this journey.

Q6. How does she become a masterpiece?
Ans: Bholi was initially seen as a witless fool who stammered and was neglected. However, her teacher played a crucial role in her transformation. With encouragement and support, Bholi grew into a confident and articulate woman. She made the brave decision to refuse a marriage proposal from a greedy man, choosing instead to care for her parents in their old age. Through these choices, she truly became a masterpiece.

Q7. What ideas do you form of Ramlal’s personality?
Ans: Ramlal was the revenue officer of the village and a successful farmer with seven children. He held traditional views and opposed the idea of sending girls to school, fearing it would hinder their chances of finding suitable husbands. Ramlal was particularly concerned about his youngest daughter, Bholi, whom he deemed unattractive and lacking intelligence. He wished to rid himself of her, believing she would be a burden due to her perceived shortcomings.

Q8. Describe two accidents that had disfigured Bholi and made her a backward child.
Ans: Bholi faced two significant accidents in her early life that led to her being perceived as a backward child. Firstly, when she was just ten months old, she fell off her cot, which likely caused damage to her brain. This injury contributed to her developmental delays, making her slower to learn and communicate. Secondly, at the age of two, Bholi contracted smallpox, which left her body permanently marked with deep pock-marks. These physical scars, combined with her speech difficulties, led to her being ridiculed by others.

Q9. Was Ramlal happy to send Bholi to school? If not, why did he send her there?
Ans: No girl in the family had ever attended school. Bholi's mother feared that sending their daughters to school would make them undesirable for marriage. However, the Tehsildar, who opened the first girls' school in the village, urged Ramlal to set an example for the community by sending his daughters to school. Ramlal felt he could not refuse the Tehsildar's request. Ultimately, he decided to send Bholi to school, as his wife suggested it would be unlikely for her to find a husband due to her appearance and lack of intelligence.

Q10. Why was Bholi frightened to go to school?
Ans: Bholi was frightened to go to school because no girl in her family had ever attended. When her father, Ramlal, took her hand to lead her there, she felt terrified. She had no idea what school was and feared that her parents were punishing her by sending her away. In her panic, she cried out and pulled her hand away from her father's grip, believing she was being taken somewhere dreadful.

Q11. Why did Sulekha start stammering?
Ans: Sulekha could not speak until she was five years old. When she finally learned to talk, she began to stammer because other children often made fun of her and mimicked her speech. This teasing led her to speak very little.

Q12. Describe the family of Ramlal, the Numberdar.
Ans: Ramlal was a Numberdar responsible for collecting revenue from the village. He had a total of seven children: three sons and four daughters. The eldest daughter, Radha, was already married, while the second daughter, Mangla, had her marriage arranged. All his daughters were attractive and healthy. Ramlal sent his sons to the city for their education. However, he was particularly concerned about his youngest daughter, Bholi, who lacked both beauty and intelligence, making it challenging to find a suitable husband for her.

Q13. What changes did the village see after some years?
Ans: The years passed, and the village transformed into a small town. The primary school evolved into a high school. A cinema was established under a tin shed, and a cotton-ginning mill was built. Additionally, the mail train began to stop at their railway station.

Q14. Was Ramlal happy with Bishamber’s proposal? What was the opinion of Bholi’s mother about this unequal match?
Ans: Bishamber was initially pleased with the proposal for Bholi's marriage, as he saw it as a fortunate opportunity. His wife supported the idea, believing that Bholi was lucky to have such a wealthy groom. Bishamber owned a large shop, a house, and had several thousand rupees in the bank, and he was not demanding any dower. However, Bholi's mother acknowledged the disparity in their ages and Bishamber's limp, but she dismissed these concerns, arguing that he was still a good match. She felt that if they rejected this proposal, Bholi might remain unmarried for life.

Q15. Was Bishamber a suitable bridegroom for Bholi? Give your opinion.
Ans: No, Bishamber was not a suitable match for Bholi. Although he was wealthy, owning a large shop and having a substantial bank balance, his character was deeply flawed. He was mean and greedy, which became evident when he learned about Bholi's pockmarks. He demanded a dowry of 5000 rupees to marry her, showing his lack of compassion. Even Ramlal's humble gesture of placing his turban at Bishamber's feet did not sway him. Bholi made the right choice in rejecting him.

Q16. Why didn’t Bholi at first oppose the proposal of the unequal match? Why did she agree to it?
Ans: Bholi initially accepted the marriage proposal because she felt like a burden to her parents. They viewed her as worthless and had no hope of finding a suitable match for her. When she saw her parents' happiness at the prospect of a well-off groom, she chose to comply with their wishes to preserve the family's honour. Despite the groom being much older and having children from a previous marriage, Bholi did not voice her opposition at first.

Q17. What happened when Bishamber took a quick glance at his bride’s face?
Ans: The auspicious moment arrived as the bridegroom lifted the garland of yellow marigolds. A woman removed the bride's silken veil, and Bishamber took a quick glance at her face. The garland hesitated in his hand as he exclaimed that the bride had pockmarks. He demanded that her father pay him five thousand rupees to proceed with the marriage.

Q18. How did Ramlal react after the ceremony ended with the departure of the bridegroom alone?
Ans: After the ceremony ended with the bridegroom leaving alone, Ramlal stood silently, overwhelmed by grief and shame. His head was bowed low, reflecting his sorrow. He turned to Bholi and expressed his concern, saying, “But what about you? No one will ever marry you now. What shall we do with you?”