Short Answer Questions: Bholi

Q1. What were the two steps taken by Ramlal to persuade Bishamber to marry Bholi?
Ans: Ramlal first tried to persuade Bishamber by agreeing to give the demanded dowry of five thousand rupees. When Bishamber still refused to show mercy, Ramlal humbled himself by placing his turban, the symbol of his honour, at Bishamber's feet and finally brought the money from his safe and handed it over to secure the marriage.

Q2. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi's wedding was a grand one.
Ans: The wedding appeared grand chiefly because the groom, Bishamber, was wealthy: he owned a large shop, a house and had a good bank balance. The procession also looked festive, with a brass band playing a popular film tune and Bishamber riding a decorated horse, accompanied by many friends and relatives.

Q3. What two actions did Bholi take to stop her marriage to Bishamber?
Ans: Bholi first threw the garland into the fire to reject the marriage. She then cast off her veil and told her father to take the dowry money back, clearly saying, "I am not going to marry this man." Despite the shock of those present, she stood firm in her refusal.

Q4. How did Bholi console her father in the end?
Ans: Bholi comforted her father by assuring him that she would care for her parents when they grew old. She also said she wanted to teach at the same school where she had studied, promising to be responsible and to support the family.

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 had helped shape Bholi's character and confidence. Through patient encouragement and education the teacher transformed a timid, neglected girl into a bold and self-respecting woman. Seeing this change made the teacher proud of her efforts.

Q6. How does she become a masterpiece?
Ans: Bholi began as a shy, neglected child who stammered and was ridiculed. Her teacher's kindness and encouragement helped her gain confidence and speak clearly. By refusing a marriage to a greedy man and choosing to look after her parents and teach, Bholi proved her strength of character and thus became a true masterpiece.

Q7. What ideas do you form of Ramlal's personality?
Ans: Ramlal was a traditional, conservative man who cared deeply about social honour and reputation. As the village Numberdar, he felt bound by social customs and public opinion. Though he was concerned about Bholi's future, he lacked the courage to oppose society and therefore treated her as a burden because of her looks and learning difficulties.

Q8. Describe two accidents that had disfigured Bholi and made her a backward child.
Ans: When Bholi was about ten months old, she fell from her cot, which likely damaged her brain and delayed her development. At the age of two she suffered from smallpox, which left deep pock-marks on her face. These two events affected her speech and appearance and led others to treat her as a backward child.

Q9. Was Ramlal happy to send Bholi to school? If not, why did he send her there?
Ans: Ramlal was not happy about sending Bholi to school because he did not believe in educating girls. He agreed to send her mainly because the Tehsildar, who had opened the first girls' school in the village, asked him to set an example. His wife also thought that Bholi was unlikely to find a husband, so sending her to school seemed acceptable.

Q10. Why was Bholi frightened to go to school?
Ans: Bholi was frightened because no girl in her family had ever gone to school and she did not know what to expect. When her father took her hand to lead her there, she felt terrified and thought she was being punished. In her fear she cried and tried to pull her hand away.
Q11. Why did Sulekha start stammering?
Ans: Sulekha began to stammer because she had suffered a head injury after falling from her cot in infancy, which affected her development. Later, when she started speaking, the constant teasing and mocking by other children made her nervous and withdrawn, worsening her stammer.

Q12. Describe the family of Ramlal, the Numberdar.
Ans: Ramlal was the village Numberdar and had seven children: three sons and four daughters. The eldest daughter, Radha, was married and the second daughter, Mangla, was already promised in marriage. His sons were sent to the city for education. All his daughters except Bholi were healthy and attractive; Bholi was considered unattractive and slow, which worried Ramlal.

Q13. What changes did the village see after some years?
Ans: Over the years the village grew into a small town. The primary school became a high school, a cinema started under a tin shed, a cotton-ginning mill was established, and the mail train began stopping at the local railway station.

Q14. Was Ramlal happy with Bishamber's proposal? What was the opinion of Bholi's mother about this unequal match?
Ans: Ramlal accepted Bishamber's proposal because he welcomed the prospect of a wealthy groom for his youngest daughter. Bholi's mother felt that, despite the age difference and Bishamber's limp, he was a good match because he was wealthy. She believed that rejecting such a proposal might leave Bholi unmarried for life.

Q15. Was Bishamber a suitable bridegroom for Bholi? Give your opinion.
Ans: No. Although Bishamber was financially well off, he was not a suitable match in character. He proved to be mean and greedy when he demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees after seeing Bholi's pock-marks. His behaviour showed a lack of compassion, so Bholi rightly refused him.

Q16. Why didn't Bholi at first oppose the proposal of the unequal match? Why did she agree to it?
Ans: Bholi did not oppose the proposal at first because she considered herself a burden on her family and had always been neglected. She agreed to the marriage to obey her parents and to preserve the family's honour, even though the match was unequal and the groom was much older.

Q17. What happened when Bishamber took a quick glance at his bride's face?
Ans: When Bishamber lifted the garland and saw Bholi's face, he noticed her pock-marks and became displeased. He halted the ceremony and demanded that her father pay him five thousand rupees before he would accept her as his wife.

Q18. How did Ramlal react after the ceremony ended with the departure of the bridegroom alone?
Ans: Ramlal stood silently, bowed with shame and grief after the bridegroom left alone. He felt crushed and worried for Bholi's future, asking her, "But what about you? No one will ever marry you now. What shall we do with you?"