Introduction: Bholi - Class 10 PDF Download

About the Author- K.A. Abbas
K.A. Abbas – A Short Biography

About the Author

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas was a famous Indian film director, novelist, screenwriter and a journalist in Urdu, Hindi and English languages. He was the maker of films like ‘SW Hindustani’ (1969), and ‘Do Boond Pani’ which won the National Film Award for the best feature film on National Integration. He wrote screen scripts of the best of Raj Kapoor’s films like `Awaara’, `Shri 420′, ‘Mera Naam Joker’, and ‘Bobby’. He was born in the family of the famous Urdu poet, Hall, who was a student of Mirza Ghalib. His grandfather was one of the chief rebels of 1857, First War of Independence. He was born in Panipat, Haryana on 7 June 1914 and died on 1 June 1987 at the age of 72, in Bombay. 

INTRODUCTION 

This is the story of a little girl named Bholi who was a slow-learner and stammered. She fell down from the cot in her childhood and a part of her brain was damaged. She had lost her beauty to smallpox. She was neglected as a witless fool even by his parents and her brothers and sisters. But the opening of a primary school for girls in her village changed her life. Her teacher was very kind and courageous to her. She gave her confidence. She made her speak without halts. The girl achieved what appeared to be impossible. She proved herself a real heroine when she refused to marry Bishamber Nath who demanded five thousand rupees cash from her father in dowry. 

Theme of the Story

Bholi is the story of a village girl who was discriminated as she had pock-marks on her face, stammered and was considered to be a simpleton. Bholi suffered an attack of smallpox when she was just two years old. She damaged a part of her brain when she fell off from the cot. Education transformed ‘a dumb cow’ into a fearless and courageous girl. First, she agreed to many an unequal match, Bishamber, just to maintain the honour of the family. Her father, Ramlal, put even his turban at the feet of the greedy bridegroom. He accepted to many a girl with pock-marks only after getting 5000 rupees as dowry. Bholi showed the courage of throwing away the ceremonial garland into the fire. She refused to have a mean, greedy and contemptible coward like Bishamber Nath as her husband. 

WORD-MEANINGS

Expectations = hopes (आशाएं); simpleton = very simple (भोली/सादी); numberdar = an official who collects revenue (नंबरदार); fallen off = dropped (गिर जाना); cot = bed (चारपाई); damaged = injured (क्षतिग्रस्त); brain = mind (मस्तिष्क/दिमाग); remained = to continue (रहना); backward = retarted (पिछड़ा हुआ); pretty = beautiful (सुंदर); attack = to assault (आक्रमण); small-pox = a disease (चेचक का रोग); entire = complete (समूचा/सम्पूर्ण); permanently = for ever (स्थाई रूप से); disfigured = made ugly (कुरूप बना दिया); pock-marks = marks left by smallpox (चेचक के निशान); stammered = spoke with halts (हकलाकर बोलना); mimicked = imitated (नकल करना); youngest = smallest in age (सबसे छोटी); prosperous =  rich (संपन्न); plenty = very much (बहुत अधिक)); except = leaving aside (सिवाय); strong= powerful (शक्तिशाली); settled = fixed (तय हो जाना); bridegrooms = male matches (दूल्हा); worried = anxious (चिंतित); intelligence = brilliance (प्रतिभा) I Simpleton— quite simple, not very clever, Cot— bed, lied, Damaged—injured, Backward— mental not wise, Disfigured— made ugly, Pretty—beautiful fair— fair complexioned, Pockmarks— marks of smallpox, Entire— completely, Stammered— stuttered, Mimicked— aped, imitated, copied Prosperous— well off, Household— family, Settled— fixed, Plenty— a lot of, Bridegrooms— male matches, 
Perform = to carry out (संपन्न करना); ceremony = religious rites (उत्सव); revenue = state’s income (राजस्व); representative = a member of the group (प्रतिनिधि); consulted = to ask advice of (परामर्श किया); crazy = mad (पागल); frightened = scared (भयभीत) 
Shouted = cried (चिल्लाया); terror = dread (भय); grip = hold (पकड़); decent = nice (बढ़िया); passed on = sent forward (आगे भेज देना); cared have folds (सिकुड़ जाना); matted = entangled (उलझे हुए); squatted = sat on the heels (पालथी मारकर बैठना)  
Exactly = accurately (सही रूप); glad = happy (प्रसन्न); almost = nearly (लगभग); present = existing now (उपस्थित); hoped = desired (आशा की); understand = to know (समझना); fascinated = attracted (आकर्षित होना); orchard = garden (बगीचा); noticed = observed (देखा); smiling = laughing slightly (मुस्कुराना); flowed = to run as a stream (बहना); scurried = hurried out (तेजी से बाहर आना); sobbing = weeping in suppressed manner (सुबकते हुए); soothing = be calming (सुहावनी); command = order (आदेश); sweat = perspiration (पसीना); disgrace = humiliate (अपमान); decided = took decision (निर्णय लिया); effort = attempt (प्रयास); encouraged = urged (हौंसला दिया); relieved = got free (मुक्त होना); achievement = attainment (उपलब्धि); patted = stroked (थपथपाना); affectionately = lovingly (प्यार से) I Fascinated— attracted, Orchard— a small garden, Scurried— hurried out, Sobbing— weeping with sobs, Soothing— comforting, Sweat—perspiration, Encouraged— urged, motivated, Command— order, Suggestion— advice, Disgraced — (here) insulted, Relieved— felt free, Achievement— attainment Patted— gave mild strokes, Affectionately—with love, 
Nodded = shook the head (सिर हिलाना); astonished = surprised (हैरान); slightest = least (हल्का-सा/थोड़ा-सा); blossomed = put forth flowers (फूल खिल जाना); throbbing = pulsating (धड़कते हुए); ginning = separating raw cotton from its seeds (रुई धुनना); limps = walks lamely (लंगड़ाता है) Nodded— shook her head, Astonished— greatly surprised, Slightest—very little Blossomed— became flowers, Throbbing— pounding, pulsating, Ginning— separating cotton from the seeds, Well-to-do—prosperous, Limps— walks limpingly, 
Proposal = scheme (प्रस्ताव); witless = foolish (मूर्ख,तर्कहीन); muttered = spoke slowly (बुड़बुड़ाया); courtyard = an enclosure before a house (आंगन); conversation = personal talk (बातचीत); procession = a group of persons moving forward (जुलूस); decorated = adorned (सजाया हुआ); overjoyed = too much happy (अत्यधिक प्रसन्न); pomp = splendour (शान-शौकत); splendour = grandeur (शान); grand = great (विशाल); occasion =chance (अवसर); envious = jealous (ईर्ष्यालु); auspicious= pious (पवित्र); clad in =dressed in (पहने हुए); prompted = urged (आग्रह किया); veil = mask (घूंघट); glance = look (देखना); poised = held in balance (साधा); humiliate = downcast (अपमानित करना); considerate = regard for others (विचारशील); streaming = flowing (बहना) IWhat does it matter — how does it affect?, Witless— foolish, Dumb cow— like a cow that can’t speak, Muttered— murmured, Grocer— one who sells household things, Whispered— spoken in low tone, Pomp— great show, Splendour— grand, Prompted— (here) encouraged,  Auspicious—fortunate, Marigolds – yellow flowers,Veil— (here) covering of the face, Poised— (here) stopped for a moment, Humiliate— insult, Considerate–keep regard, Streaming— flowing down, 
Triumphant = victorious (विजयी); gambled = played a game of chance for money (जुआ खेला); announced =  declared (घोषणा की); straight = direct (सीधे); prospective = would be (होने वाला); contempt = hatred (घृणा); struck out = hit out (टकराना); streak = a long irregular line of colour (धारा/रेखा); startled = amazed (चकित) 
Thunderstruck = amazed (चकित); contemptible = hateful (घृणित) ; coward = fearful person (कायर); dumb = unable to speak (गूंगी); confused = bewildered (घबराए हुए); ceremony = a religious observance (रस्म); rooted = fixed to the ground (जड़ हो जाना); grief = sorrow (दु:ख); sacred = pious (पवित्र); steady = firm (दृढ़); satisfaction = gratification (पूर्ण होना); contemplates = meditates (विचार करना); completion = accomplishment (पूर्ण होना); masterpiece = a piece of highest workmanship (सर्वोत्तम कलाकृति)