NCERT Textbook: Bholi | English Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


READ AND FIND OUT
• Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
• For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
HER name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been
calling her Bholi, the simpleton.
She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was
ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it
had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a
backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton.
At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two
years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved,
but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pock-
marks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at
last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often
made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.
 Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters, and
the youngest of them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household
and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi
were healthy and strong. The sons had been sent to the city to study in
schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters, Radha, the eldest, had
already been married. The second daughter Mangla’s marriage had also
been settled, and when that was done, Ramlal would think of the third,
Champa. They were good-looking, healthy girls, and it was not difficult
to find bridegrooms for them.
But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks
nor intelligence.
Bholi
8
F r o m h er v e r y c h i ldh o o d B h o li w a s
n e gle ct e d a t h o m e . W h y d i d h er t e a c h e r
t a k e sp e c ia l in t er e st in h e r ? D i d B h o li
m ea su r e u p t o h e r te a c h er ’ s e x p ec ta ti o n s?
Reprint 2024-25
Page 2


READ AND FIND OUT
• Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
• For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
HER name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been
calling her Bholi, the simpleton.
She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was
ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it
had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a
backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton.
At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two
years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved,
but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pock-
marks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at
last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often
made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.
 Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters, and
the youngest of them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household
and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi
were healthy and strong. The sons had been sent to the city to study in
schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters, Radha, the eldest, had
already been married. The second daughter Mangla’s marriage had also
been settled, and when that was done, Ramlal would think of the third,
Champa. They were good-looking, healthy girls, and it was not difficult
to find bridegrooms for them.
But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks
nor intelligence.
Bholi
8
F r o m h er v e r y c h i ldh o o d B h o li w a s
n e gle ct e d a t h o m e . W h y d i d h er t e a c h e r
t a k e sp e c ia l in t er e st in h e r ? D i d B h o li
m ea su r e u p t o h e r te a c h er ’ s e x p ec ta ti o n s?
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 48
Bholi was seven years old when Mangla was married. The same
year a primary school for girls was opened in their village. The Tehsildar
sahib came to perform its opening ceremony. He said to Ramlal, “As a
revenue official you are the representative of the government in the
village and so you must set an example to the villagers. You must send
your daughters to school.”
That night when Ramlal consulted his wife, she cried, “Are you
crazy? If girls go to school, who will marry them?”
But Ramlal had not the courage to disobey the Tehsildar. At last his
wife said, “I will tell you what to do. Send Bholi to school. As it is, there
is little chance of her getting married, with her ugly face and lack of
sense. Let the teachers at school worry about her.”
READ AND FIND OUT
• Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
• Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
The next day Ramlal caught Bholi by the hand and said, “Come
with me. I will take you to school.” Bholi was frightened. She did not
Reprint 2024-25
Page 3


READ AND FIND OUT
• Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
• For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
HER name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been
calling her Bholi, the simpleton.
She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was
ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it
had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a
backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton.
At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two
years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved,
but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pock-
marks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at
last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often
made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.
 Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters, and
the youngest of them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household
and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi
were healthy and strong. The sons had been sent to the city to study in
schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters, Radha, the eldest, had
already been married. The second daughter Mangla’s marriage had also
been settled, and when that was done, Ramlal would think of the third,
Champa. They were good-looking, healthy girls, and it was not difficult
to find bridegrooms for them.
But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks
nor intelligence.
Bholi
8
F r o m h er v e r y c h i ldh o o d B h o li w a s
n e gle ct e d a t h o m e . W h y d i d h er t e a c h e r
t a k e sp e c ia l in t er e st in h e r ? D i d B h o li
m ea su r e u p t o h e r te a c h er ’ s e x p ec ta ti o n s?
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 48
Bholi was seven years old when Mangla was married. The same
year a primary school for girls was opened in their village. The Tehsildar
sahib came to perform its opening ceremony. He said to Ramlal, “As a
revenue official you are the representative of the government in the
village and so you must set an example to the villagers. You must send
your daughters to school.”
That night when Ramlal consulted his wife, she cried, “Are you
crazy? If girls go to school, who will marry them?”
But Ramlal had not the courage to disobey the Tehsildar. At last his
wife said, “I will tell you what to do. Send Bholi to school. As it is, there
is little chance of her getting married, with her ugly face and lack of
sense. Let the teachers at school worry about her.”
READ AND FIND OUT
• Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
• Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
The next day Ramlal caught Bholi by the hand and said, “Come
with me. I will take you to school.” Bholi was frightened. She did not
Reprint 2024-25
Bholi 49
know what a school was like. She remembered how a few days ago
their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold.
“N-n-n-n NO, no-no-no,” she shouted in terror and pulled her hand
away from her father’s grip.
“What’s the matter with you, you fool?” shouted Ramlal. “I am only
taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent
clothes today, or else what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls
think of us when they see her?”
New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her
sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her
clothes. But today she was lucky to receive a clean dress which had
shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She was
even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only
then did she begin to believe that she was being taken to a place better
than her home!
When they reached the school, the children were already in their
classrooms. Ramlal handed over his daughter to the headmistress.
Left alone, the poor girl looked about her with fear-laden eyes. There
were several rooms, and in each room girls like her squatted on mats,
reading from books or writing on slates. The headmistress asked Bholi
to sit down in a corner in one of the classrooms.
Reprint 2024-25
Page 4


READ AND FIND OUT
• Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
• For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
HER name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been
calling her Bholi, the simpleton.
She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was
ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it
had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a
backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton.
At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two
years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved,
but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pock-
marks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at
last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often
made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.
 Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters, and
the youngest of them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household
and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi
were healthy and strong. The sons had been sent to the city to study in
schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters, Radha, the eldest, had
already been married. The second daughter Mangla’s marriage had also
been settled, and when that was done, Ramlal would think of the third,
Champa. They were good-looking, healthy girls, and it was not difficult
to find bridegrooms for them.
But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks
nor intelligence.
Bholi
8
F r o m h er v e r y c h i ldh o o d B h o li w a s
n e gle ct e d a t h o m e . W h y d i d h er t e a c h e r
t a k e sp e c ia l in t er e st in h e r ? D i d B h o li
m ea su r e u p t o h e r te a c h er ’ s e x p ec ta ti o n s?
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 48
Bholi was seven years old when Mangla was married. The same
year a primary school for girls was opened in their village. The Tehsildar
sahib came to perform its opening ceremony. He said to Ramlal, “As a
revenue official you are the representative of the government in the
village and so you must set an example to the villagers. You must send
your daughters to school.”
That night when Ramlal consulted his wife, she cried, “Are you
crazy? If girls go to school, who will marry them?”
But Ramlal had not the courage to disobey the Tehsildar. At last his
wife said, “I will tell you what to do. Send Bholi to school. As it is, there
is little chance of her getting married, with her ugly face and lack of
sense. Let the teachers at school worry about her.”
READ AND FIND OUT
• Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
• Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
The next day Ramlal caught Bholi by the hand and said, “Come
with me. I will take you to school.” Bholi was frightened. She did not
Reprint 2024-25
Bholi 49
know what a school was like. She remembered how a few days ago
their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold.
“N-n-n-n NO, no-no-no,” she shouted in terror and pulled her hand
away from her father’s grip.
“What’s the matter with you, you fool?” shouted Ramlal. “I am only
taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent
clothes today, or else what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls
think of us when they see her?”
New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her
sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her
clothes. But today she was lucky to receive a clean dress which had
shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She was
even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only
then did she begin to believe that she was being taken to a place better
than her home!
When they reached the school, the children were already in their
classrooms. Ramlal handed over his daughter to the headmistress.
Left alone, the poor girl looked about her with fear-laden eyes. There
were several rooms, and in each room girls like her squatted on mats,
reading from books or writing on slates. The headmistress asked Bholi
to sit down in a corner in one of the classrooms.
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 50
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was like and what
happened there, but 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.
The lady teacher who was in the class was saying something to the
girls but Bholi could understand nothing. She looked at the pictures
on the wall. The colours fascinated her — the horse was brown just
like the horse on which the Tehsildar had come to visit their village;
the goat was black like the goat of their neighbour; the parrot was
green like the parrots she had seen in the mango orchard; and the cow
was just like their Lakshmi. And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher
was standing by her side, smiling at her.
“What’s your name, little one?”
“Bh-Bho-Bho-.” She could stammer no further than that.
Then she began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes in a helpless
flood. She kept her head down as she sat in her corner, not daring to
look up at the girls who, she knew, were still laughing at her.
When the school bell rang, all the girls scurried out of the classroom,
but Bholi dared not leave her corner. Her head still lowered, she kept
on sobbing.
“Bholi.”
The teacher’s voice was so soft and soothing! In all her life she had
never been called like that. It touched her heart.
“Get up,” said the teacher. It was not a command, but just a friendly
suggestion. Bholi got up.
“Now tell me your name.”
Sweat broke out over her whole body. Would her stammering tongue
again disgrace her? For the sake of this kind woman, however, she
decided to make an effort. She had such a soothing voice; she would
not laugh at her.
“Bh-Bh-Bho-Bho-,” she began to stammer.
“Well done, well done,” the teacher encouraged her. “Come on, now —
the full name?”
“Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi.” At last she was able to say it and felt relieved
as if it was a great achievement.
“Well done.” The teacher patted her affectionately and said,
“Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like
everyone else.”
Bholi looked up as if to ask, ‘Really?’
Reprint 2024-25
Page 5


READ AND FIND OUT
• Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
• For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
HER name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been
calling her Bholi, the simpleton.
She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was
ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it
had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a
backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton.
At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two
years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved,
but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pock-
marks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at
last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often
made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.
 Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters, and
the youngest of them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household
and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi
were healthy and strong. The sons had been sent to the city to study in
schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters, Radha, the eldest, had
already been married. The second daughter Mangla’s marriage had also
been settled, and when that was done, Ramlal would think of the third,
Champa. They were good-looking, healthy girls, and it was not difficult
to find bridegrooms for them.
But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks
nor intelligence.
Bholi
8
F r o m h er v e r y c h i ldh o o d B h o li w a s
n e gle ct e d a t h o m e . W h y d i d h er t e a c h e r
t a k e sp e c ia l in t er e st in h e r ? D i d B h o li
m ea su r e u p t o h e r te a c h er ’ s e x p ec ta ti o n s?
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 48
Bholi was seven years old when Mangla was married. The same
year a primary school for girls was opened in their village. The Tehsildar
sahib came to perform its opening ceremony. He said to Ramlal, “As a
revenue official you are the representative of the government in the
village and so you must set an example to the villagers. You must send
your daughters to school.”
That night when Ramlal consulted his wife, she cried, “Are you
crazy? If girls go to school, who will marry them?”
But Ramlal had not the courage to disobey the Tehsildar. At last his
wife said, “I will tell you what to do. Send Bholi to school. As it is, there
is little chance of her getting married, with her ugly face and lack of
sense. Let the teachers at school worry about her.”
READ AND FIND OUT
• Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
• Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
The next day Ramlal caught Bholi by the hand and said, “Come
with me. I will take you to school.” Bholi was frightened. She did not
Reprint 2024-25
Bholi 49
know what a school was like. She remembered how a few days ago
their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold.
“N-n-n-n NO, no-no-no,” she shouted in terror and pulled her hand
away from her father’s grip.
“What’s the matter with you, you fool?” shouted Ramlal. “I am only
taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent
clothes today, or else what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls
think of us when they see her?”
New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her
sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her
clothes. But today she was lucky to receive a clean dress which had
shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She was
even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only
then did she begin to believe that she was being taken to a place better
than her home!
When they reached the school, the children were already in their
classrooms. Ramlal handed over his daughter to the headmistress.
Left alone, the poor girl looked about her with fear-laden eyes. There
were several rooms, and in each room girls like her squatted on mats,
reading from books or writing on slates. The headmistress asked Bholi
to sit down in a corner in one of the classrooms.
Reprint 2024-25
F ootprints without Feet 50
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was like and what
happened there, but 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.
The lady teacher who was in the class was saying something to the
girls but Bholi could understand nothing. She looked at the pictures
on the wall. The colours fascinated her — the horse was brown just
like the horse on which the Tehsildar had come to visit their village;
the goat was black like the goat of their neighbour; the parrot was
green like the parrots she had seen in the mango orchard; and the cow
was just like their Lakshmi. And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher
was standing by her side, smiling at her.
“What’s your name, little one?”
“Bh-Bho-Bho-.” She could stammer no further than that.
Then she began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes in a helpless
flood. She kept her head down as she sat in her corner, not daring to
look up at the girls who, she knew, were still laughing at her.
When the school bell rang, all the girls scurried out of the classroom,
but Bholi dared not leave her corner. Her head still lowered, she kept
on sobbing.
“Bholi.”
The teacher’s voice was so soft and soothing! In all her life she had
never been called like that. It touched her heart.
“Get up,” said the teacher. It was not a command, but just a friendly
suggestion. Bholi got up.
“Now tell me your name.”
Sweat broke out over her whole body. Would her stammering tongue
again disgrace her? For the sake of this kind woman, however, she
decided to make an effort. She had such a soothing voice; she would
not laugh at her.
“Bh-Bh-Bho-Bho-,” she began to stammer.
“Well done, well done,” the teacher encouraged her. “Come on, now —
the full name?”
“Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi.” At last she was able to say it and felt relieved
as if it was a great achievement.
“Well done.” The teacher patted her affectionately and said,
“Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like
everyone else.”
Bholi looked up as if to ask, ‘Really?’
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Bholi 51
“Yes, yes, it will be very easy. You just come to school everyday.
Will you come?”
Bholi nodded.
“No, say it aloud.”
“Ye-Ye-Yes.” And Bholi herself was astonished that she had been
able to say it.
“Didn’t I tell you? Now take this book.”
The book was full of nice pictures and the pictures were in colour —
dog, cat, goat, horse, parrot, tiger and a cow just like Lakshmi. And
with every picture was a word in big black letters.
“In one month you will be able to read this book. Then I will give you
a bigger book, then a still bigger one. In time you will be more learned
than anyone else in the village. Then no one will ever be able to laugh at
you. People will listen to you with respect and you will be able to speak
without the slightest stammer. Understand? Now go home, and come
back early tomorrow morning.”
Bholi felt as if suddenly all the bells in the village temple were
ringing and the trees in front of the school-house had blossomed
into big red flowers. Her heart was throbbing with a new hope and a
new life.
READ AND FIND OUT
• Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage  proposal?
• Why does the marriage not take place?
Thus the years passed.
The village became a small town. The little primary school became
a high school. There were now a cinema under a tin shed and a cotton
ginning mill. The mail train began to stop at their railway station.
One night, after dinner, Ramlal said to his wife, “Then, shall I
accept Bishamber’s proposal?”
“Yes, certainly,” his wife said. “Bholi will be lucky to get such a
well-to-do bridegroom. A big shop, a house of his own and I hear
several thousand in the bank. Moreover, he is not asking for any
dowry.”
“That’s right, but he is not so young, you know — almost the same
age as I am — and he also limps. Moreover, the children from his first
wife are quite grown up.”
Reprint 2024-25