NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
GLOSSARY
simpleton: a foolish person easily tricked by others
numberdar: an official who collects revenue
matted: entangled
squatted: sat on their heels
scurried: ran or moved hurriedly
ginning: separating raw cotton from its seeds
downcast: looking downwards
Question 1:
Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Answer
Bholi was not like other children. She fell off a cot as a child due to which her brain was slightly damaged. She learnt to speak very late and used to stammer. Her face and whole body was covered with pockmarks. Thus, her father was worried about her marriage prospects.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 2:
For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Answer
The Tehsildar urges Ramlal to send his daughters to school. But Ramlal’s wife is against sending girls to school. She thinks nobody marries girls who have been to school. But there is no chance of Bholi getting married. She is not good-looking and she lacks sense. So to get rid of her, the mother agrees to send her to school.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 3:
Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Answer
Yes, Bholi enjoys her first day at school as she was glad to find so many girls almost of her own age present there.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 4:
Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Answer
Yes, she finds her teacher different from the people at home as the teacher was polite and this touched her heart.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 5:
Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Answer
Bishamber is quite rich. He has a big shop, a house and a lot of money. He is not asking for any dowry. And Bholi is not good-looking. She lacks sense also. For all these reasons, Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 6:
Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer
At the time of marriage, Bishamber asked for a dowry of five thousand rupees because he saw Bholi’s pock-marked face. Ramlal had no choice but to pay. But, Bholi refused to marry the greedy man.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 7:
Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Answer
Bholi never got any good clothes to wear. She only got the old dresses of her sisters. But that day she was given a clean dress. She was bathed. Oil was rubbed into her hair. So she felt she was going to a better place than her home.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 8:
Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?
Answer
The word Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story she had been a simpleton who hardly expressed her opinion on any matter. The word Sulekha means ‘a person with a beautiful sense of letters’. In this story this word has a larger meaning of being a literate,_ intelligent and mature individual. After her education, Bholi has really changed to Sulekha and her assertion at the time of her marriage is her announcement to the world that she is no more a Bholi, but is a Sulekha.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 9:
How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Answer
Bholi was a mentally backward child. Everyone laughed at her. But her teacher brought a new hope in Bholi’s life. She filled her with confidence. Bholi refused to marry a greedy person. She decided to teach in the village school. In this way, Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
Question 10:
Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Answer
Bholi agreed to the match at first to fulfil her parents’ wishes. Later on, she rejected the marriage when the bridegroom asked for a dowry. This tells us that Bholi was not a timid – and dumb girl. She was aware of her rights. She also knew how to fight for her own dignity and feared no one.
NCERT Solution of Class 10 English Ch-8 Bholi
