This post, “Bholi NCERT Solutions Class 10 English,” provides comprehensive NCERT solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 8: Bholi (K.A. Abbas). We recommend reading the summary of Bholi first to understand the chapter’s questions much better!
Read and Find Out (Page 47)
Q.1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Ans. Bholi was neither good-looking nor intelligent. Her face was covered with pock-marks, she was a backward child and she stammered. Her father was worried that no one would marry such a girl.
Q.2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Ans. The Tehsildar told Ramlal that, being a government official, he must set an example by sending his daughters to school. Ramlal’s wife suggested sending Bholi because she had little chance of getting married anyway, so let the teachers worry about her.
Read and Find Out (Page 48)
Q.1. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Ans. Partly. She was happy to see many girls of her own age and was fascinated by the colourful pictures on the wall. But she cried bitterly when she could not say her name and the girls laughed at her. By the end, the teacher’s kind words filled her heart with new hope.
Q.2. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Ans. Yes. At home no one loved her; she was scolded and called a fool. The teacher spoke to her in a soft, soothing voice, called her by her name, encouraged her and patted her affectionately. Bholi had never been treated with such love before.
Read and Find Out (Page 51)
Q.1. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Ans. Bishamber was a well-to-do grocer with a big shop, his own house and money in the bank, and he did not ask for any dowry. He was from another village and knew nothing about Bholi’s pock-marks. Her parents felt that otherwise she might remain unmarried all her life.
Q.2. Why does the marriage not take place?
Ans. At the wedding, Bishamber saw Bholi’s pock-marked face and demanded five thousand rupees to marry her. Ramlal paid the money with tears in his eyes. Bholi refused to marry such a mean and greedy man, flung the garland into the fire and threw away her veil.
Bholi Think About It Question Answer
Q.1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Ans. At home Bholi was always neglected; she wore her sisters’ old, unwashed clothes and no one cared for her. But that day she was given a clean dress, she was bathed, and oil was rubbed into her hair. This unusual care made her believe she was being taken to a place better than her home.
Q.2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Ans. The teacher treated Bholi with love and patience. She spoke to her gently, encouraged her to speak and told her to put the fear out of her heart. She gave her books and the confidence that one day she would be the most learned person in the village. This kindness turned a frightened, stammering girl into a bold, self-confident woman who could refuse an unjust marriage and decide to become a teacher herself.
Q.3. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Ans. Bholi agreed to marry the lame old man only for the sake of her father’s izzat (honour). She rejected the marriage when Bishamber demanded five thousand rupees, because she would not accept a mean, greedy and contemptible coward as her husband. This shows that Bholi was obedient and respected her parents, but she was also self-respecting, courageous and clear-minded about her own dignity.
Q.4. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?
Ans. “Bholi” means a simpleton, and she was called so as long as everyone thought her a witless, dumb girl. In the last but one paragraph she speaks calmly and confidently, promising to serve her parents and teach in her school. She is no longer a simpleton but an educated, sensible woman, so the author gives her back her real name, Sulekha.
Q.5. Do you think girl children are not treated at par with boys? (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao)
Ans. Yes. Even today, in many families boys are given better food, education and freedom, while girls are burdened with housework and married off early — just as Ramlal sent his sons to city colleges but had never thought of educating his daughters. To save the girl child and educate her, the Government of India launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme. (For the poster activity: draw a girl reading a book with slogans like “Educate a girl, empower a nation” and “Save the girl child”.)
Bholi Talk About It Question Answer
Q.1. How can you contribute towards changing the social attitudes shown in this story?
Ans. I can start with my own home and neighbourhood by treating girls equally, encouraging girls who drop out to return to school, speaking against dowry and early marriage, and never making fun of anyone for their looks or disability. Small acts of encouragement, like Bholi’s teacher’s, can change a whole life.
Q.2. Should girls be aware of their rights and assert them?
Ans. Yes. Girls and boys should have the same rights, duties and privileges. Society still treats them differently; boys get better education and freedom, girls are kept at home, given household work and married early. Human rights belong equally to all; there is no separate set of rights for girls and boys.
Q.3. In which language were the characters speaking?
Ans. No, they were not speaking in English. The names (Ramlal, Sulekha, Bishamber Nath, Champa) and words like Tehsildar, Numberdar, Pitaji and izzat show that they were speaking in Hindi.
