Class 10 English Chapter 8 Question Answers - Bholi

Q.1.” God cannot be everywhere, so he created Mothers”. Do you think Bholi’s mother complies with this statement? Give at least three reasons to support your answer.
Ans. Bholi’s mother does not comply with this statement- Following are the reasons for it:
(i)Bholi’s mother never took care of her — neither in childhood or in young age,
(ii) She was not concerned about her studies or clothing.
(iii) She did not bother about Bholi’s groom. Whether he was an aged person or a greedy one, whether he will honor her daughter or keep her as a slave in his house.

Q.2. What were the two steps taken by Ramlal to persuade Bishamber to marry Bholi?
Ans. Ramlal persuaded Bishamber to marry Bholi by giving him the dowry of five thousand rupees.

Q.3. Describe Bholi’s feelings when her teacher assured to make her the most learned in her village.
Ans. Bholi was sent to school because the Tehsildar compelled Ramlal to send one of his daughters to school, so that it may prove a role model for other girls. She was a slow learner and stammered while speaking and all the children in the school made fun of her. But her teacher encouraged her and made all efforts to make her the most learned in her village. She was impressed by her soft and soothing voice. She felt comfortable and stopped stammering. Now she was full of confidence and learned all the syllabus taught by her teacher.

Q.4. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi’s wedding was a grand one.
Ans. Bholi’s marriage was fixed with Bishamber who had a big shop, his own house and several thousand in the bank. It was a grand marriage. A brass-band playing a popular tune from an Indian film headed the procession. Secondly, the bridegroom was riding on a decorated horse. He came there with a big party of friends and relatives which looked like a procession.

Q.5. What two actions did Bholi take to stop her marriage to Bishamber?
Ans. Bholi’s marriage was going to take place with Bishamber who himself was forty-five or fifty years old. He also limped and had two children from his first wife. Even then he demanded 5000 rupees as dowry. Bholi stopped the marriage by throwing away the garland in the fire. She threw away the veil and asked her father to take back the money and refused to marry Bishamber.

Q.6. How did Bholi console her father in the end?
Ans. Bholi consoled her father that even if she did not get married, she would take care of her parents in their old age. She also tells them that she would teach in the same school where she had learned so much.

Q.7. Draw a conclusion as to why Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece.
Ans. Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece, when she realized how her soothing words, education, and motivation gave confidence to Bholi to face the world and transformed her from a girl who was unsure about herself and a backward child, to a bold and confident girl.

Q.8. What did the Tehsildar suggest to Ramlal?
Ans. The Tehsildar had come to the village to open the first primary school for girls. He told Ramlal that as a revenue official he is the representative of the government in the village, and so should set an example for the villagers by sending his daughters to school.

Q.9. Everyone’s first day at school is generally filled with fun, joy and happiness. How was Bholi’s first day at school?
Ans. The teacher gave her a book having colorful pictures of animals. With every picture was a word in big black letters. The teacher told her that she would be able to read that book in a month. Then she would give her a bigger book. She liked the book very much. Thus she enjoyed her first day in school.

Q.10. How was Bholi different from the other children at home?
Ans. When Bholi was 10 months old, she fell from a cot. This damaged a part of her brain and affected her intelligence. She became a slow learner, a retarded child. So, she was called Bholi’, a simpleton. When she was two years old, she had an attack of smallpox that left pockmarks on her face and she looked ugly. Rest of her brothers and sisters were normal.

Q.11. What ideas do you form of Ramlal’s personality?
Ans. Ramlal was the revenue officer of the village. He was a prosperous farmer and had seven children. He was orthodox. He did not believe in the ideology of sending girls to school as it would be difficult to find a good match for them. He wanted to get rid of Bholi as she was ugly and not intelligent.

Q.12. Describe two accidents that had disfigured Bholi and made her a backward child.
Ans. At birth, Bholi was very fair and pretty. When she was two years old, she had an attack of smallpox. Her entire body was permanently disfigured with deep pock-marks. When she was just ten months old, she fell off her cot. Perhaps a part of her brain was damaged. It made her a backward child. She learned to speak at the age of five and stammered while speaking.

Q.13.Was Ramlal happy to send Bholi to school? If not, why did he send her there?
Ans. No girl in the family had ever gone to school. Bholi’s mother believed if they sent their daughters to school, then no one would marry them. But an unexpected thing happened. The Tehsildar who inaugurated the first girl school in the village asked Ramlal to set an example before the villagers. He must send his daughters to school. Ramlal couldn’t afford to disobey the Tehsildar. So, Bholi was sent to school.

Q.14. Why was Bholi frightened to go to school?
Ans. No girl in the family had ever gone to school. The next day, when Ramlal held her hand to take her to school, Bholi was frightened. She did not know what school was. She thought that perhaps her parents were punishing her by sending her to school. So, she cried out in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip.

Q.15. What preparations were made to send Bholi to school? When did she begin to think that school was a better place than her home?
Ans. Ramlal asked his wife to arrange some decent clothes for Bholi. He didn’t want the teachers and other school girls to make any bad image of the family. Therefore, Bholi was lucky to get a clean dress that didn’t fit Champa. Bholi was bathed. Oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only then Bholi began to think that she was going to a better place than to her home.

Q.16.How was Bholi’s first day at the school? Did she enjoy it?
Ans. Ramlal handed over Bholi to the headmistress. She asked Bholi to sit down in a corner in one of the classes. Bholi was glad to find so many girls of her age in the class. She hoped to make one of them her friend. She couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying. She liked the pictures of birds and animals on the wall. The teacher asked her name but Bholi couldn’t pronounce it in spite of many forts. The kind and friendly teacher encouraged her and Bholi could say. “Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi”. The teacher patted her on her success. Bholi felt comforted and relieved.

Q.17. How did the teacher help Bholi to pronounce her name full and clearly?
Ans. The teacher asked Bholi to tell her name. She could stammer “Bh-Bho-Bho” only. She began to cry, and tears rolled down her eyes. Girls still laughed at her. But the teacher comforted her. Her voice was very soothing. She made another effort but failed. The teacher encouraged her. And Bholi made the last effort and spoke, Bh — Bh — Bho — Bholi.” She was relieved as if it was a great achievement. The teacher patted her on her success.

Q.18. “In time you will be more learned than anyone else in the village,” said the teacher to Bholi. What was the basis of reposting such confidence in a girl who couldn’t pronounce her name properly?
Ans. Bholi stammered and couldn’t even pronounce her full name to the teacher. The teacher succeeded and made her say: “Bh! Bh — Bho — Bholi.” She asked her to come to school every day. The teacher gave her a picture book and hoped that she would finish it within a month. In time, she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. Then, no one would ever be able to laugh at her.

Q.19. When and why did Bholi feel that her heart was throbbing with new hope and a new life?
Ans. Bholi had achieved what she could have never even dreamed. With the encouragement and help of her teacher she could pronounce her name: “Bh —Bho — Bholi” and say: “Ye — Ye-Yes.” Then the teacher gave her a picture book. She was sure that Bholi would finish it within a week. In time she would be more learned than anyone in the village. Then, nobody would ever dare to laugh at her. Bholi felt her heart throbbing with new hope and new life.

Q.20. What changes did the village see after some years?
Ans. The years passed. The village became a small town. The primary school became a high school. There was a cinema under the tin-shed. There was a cotton-ginning mill. The mail train now stopped at their railway station.

Q.21. Was Ramlal happy with Bishamber’s proposal? What was the opinion of Bholi’s mother about this unequal match?
Ans. Bishamber was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks or intelligence. The proposal of Bishamber for her marriage was a pleasant surprise for him. His wife gave her acceptance to this unequal match. She felt that Bholi was lucky to have such a rich bridegroom. He had a big shop, his own house and several thousand rupees in the bank. Moreover, he was not asking for dowry.

Q.22. Was Bishamber a suitable bridegroom for Bholi? Give your opinion.
Ans. No, Bishamber was not at all a suitable match for Bholi. No doubt, he was rich, had a big shop, a house of his own and thousands of rupees in the bank. But he was mean, greedy and a worthless man. When he came to know of the pock-marks on Bholi’s face, he demanded a dowry of 5000 rupees to marry her. Even the turban of Ramlal at his feet couldn’t melt his heart. Bholi did the right thing to reject him.

Q.23. Why didn’t Bholi at first opposed the proposal of the unequal match? Why did she agree to it?
Ans. Bholi knew that she was just a burden for her parents. They thought her worthless and couldn’t even dream of a good marriage proposal for her. When she realised that her parents were happy to find such a rich and prosperous bridegroom for her, she bowed to their wishes. She didn’t oppose it to keep the honor of the family intact. He agreed to many a man who was of the age of her father and had grown-up children from his first wife.

Q.24. What preparations had Bishamber made on the wedding day? What was the reaction of Bholi’s parents and elder sisters regarding the celebrations?
Ans. The bridegroom, Bishamber, was a well-to-do grocer. He was happy and excited about the wedding day. He had come with a large party of friends and relatives with him for the wedding. A brass-band headed the procession. It was playing a popular tune of a film. Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendor. Bholi’s elder sisters were envious of her luck.

Q.25. What happened when Bishamber took a quick glance at his bride’s face?
Ans. The auspicious moment had come. The bridegroom lifted the garland of yellow marigolds. A woman slipped back the silken veil from the bride’s face. Bishamber took a quick glance. The garland remained poised in his hand. He shouted that the bride had pockmarks on her face. If he was to marry her, her father must give him five thousand rupees.

Q.26. How did Ramlal react to Bishamber’s demand of 5000 rupees to marry Bholi?
Ans. Bishamber clearly declared that if he married Bholi, her father would give him 5000 rupees. Ramlal went and placed his turban at Bishamber’s feet. He begged him not to humiliate him in that manner. He was ready to give 2000 rupees. Bishamber didn’t budge. Ramlal went inside and came back with the money and placed the bundle of notes at Bishamber’s feet.

Q.27. Why did Bholi throw the wedding garland into the fire?
Or
Why did Bholi refuse to accept Bishamber as her husband when she had agreed to his proposal earlier?
Ans. Earlier, Bholi couldn’t oppose the proposal as she wanted to save the honor of the family. But now enough was enough. Bishamber had no regard and respect for her parents. He was ready to marry her for 5000 rupees. When he moved forward to garland her, she threw the wedding garland away into the force. She declared that she would not have such a mean, greedy and cowardly person as her husband.

Q.28. How did Bholi react to the remarks of an old woman who called her “a shameless girl” and “a harmless dumb cow?”
Ans. When Bholi refused to accept a mean, greedy and cowardly man as her husband, everybody was stunned. An old woman called her “a shameless girl.” She had thought her “a harmless dumb cow.” Bholi turned violently on the old woman. She told that everybody had thought her a dumb cow and so they wanted to hand her over to such a heartless creature. She reminded that the ‘dumb cow’ had got a tongue now and she could speak out to defend herself.

Q.29. How did Ramlal react after the ceremony ended with the departure of the bridegroom alone?
Ans. Ramlal stood silently rooted to the ground. His head bowed with the weight of grief and sorrow. He turned to Bholi and asked what would happen to her now. No one would ever marry her. He asked, “What shall we do with you?”

Q.30. A grieving father asked Bholi: “But what about you? No one will ever marry you now,” What was Bholi’s reply to his grieving father?
Or
What did Bholi tell her father about her future plans when he was grieving at the break up of the marriage?
Ans. When her grieving father showed her anxiety about her still unmarried daughter, Bholi replied calmly and steadily. He asked her father not to worry about her. She assured that she would serve him and her mother in their old age. And she also said that she would teach in the same school where she had learned so much.

Q.31. How did the teacher react to Bholi’s wish expressed in the end?
Ans. The teacher had all along stood there in a corner. She had been watching the whole drama. She also heard Bholi saying that she would teach in the same school where she had learned so much. Bholi turned to the teacher for affirmation. The teacher replied, “Yes, Bholi, of course’. She felt as if her mission had been completed.

Q.32. Why was Sulekha called Bholi, the simpleton?
Ans.` Sulekha’ means a woman who writes with a beautiful hand. Ironically, Bholi of the story was considered to be a backward child. She was called a ‘simpleton’ or a witless girl. She fell off her cot in early childhood, and a part of her brain was damaged. All the girls of Ramlal except Bholi were good looking and healthy. Bholi couldn’t speak properly and stammered. Her pock-marks made her far from being pretty. Everyone mocked and made fun of such a stammering simpleton.

Q.33. Describe the family of Ramlal, the Numberdar.
Ans. Ramlal was a Numberdar and collected revenue for the government from the village. He had seven children — three sons and four daughters. Radha, the eldest girl was married. Mangla was the second daughter. Her marriage had been fixed. All his daughters were good looking and healthy. The boys were sent to the city for studies. Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks or intelligence. It was rather difficult to get her married off.

Q.34. Why was Sulekha nicknamed Bholi?
Ans. When Sulekha was ten months old, she fell down from the cot on her head. Some part of her brain was damaged. That was why she remained a backward child and came to be called as Bholi, the simpleton.

Q.35. Why did Sulekha start stammering?
Ans. Sulekha could not speak until she was five. When at last she learned to speak she started stammering because other children often made fun of her and mimicked her.

Q.36. Why did the Tehsildar come to Ramlal’s village? What did he ask Randal to do?
Ans. The Tehsildar came to Ramlal’s village to perform the opening ceremony of a primary school for girls. Ramlal was the Numberdar of the village. So, the Tehsildar asked him to set an example before the village by sending his daughters to school.

Q.37. Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father?
Ans. 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.

Q.38. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Ans. Bholi was a neglected child. But that day she was given a clean dress. She was bathed. Even oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. This made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home.

Q.39. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamher’s marriage proposal? Give three reasons.
Ans. Bholi’s parents agreed to marry their daughter Bholi to Bishamber because :
(i)   Bishamber was a rich grocer and he did not demand any dowry.
(ii)  He was from another village and did not know about her pock-marks and lack of sense.      
(iii)  If they did not accept the proposal Bholi was likely to remain unmarried all her life.

Q.40. How does she become a masterpiece?
Ans. Bholi was a witless fool. She stammered. She was totally neglected. But her teacher encouraged and inspired her. She became a confident and vocal woman. She refused to marry a greedy man. She resolved to serve her parents in old age. Thus, she becomes a masterpiece.

Q.41. Give detail about Ramlal’s children.
Ans. Ramlal had seven children-four daughters and three sons. All of his children except Bholi were healthy. His sons studied in schools and colleges. Bholi was his youngest daughter. She was a backward child.