Chapter Sketch
‘Bholi’ is the story of Sulekha. She is a young girl neglected by all. Education transforms her. It inspires courage and confidence in her. She raises her voice for her rights.
About the Characters
- Bholi: Her real name is Sulekha and she is Numberdar Ramlal’s youngest daughter. School education changes her outlook towards life.
- Ramlal (Bholi’s father): He is a prosperous father of seven children who has a narrow mindset. For him, daughters are born for marriage only.
- Bholi’s mother : She is a typical conservative mother. She does not take proper care of Bholi.
- Bholi’s schoolteacher : She educates Bholi and encourages her.
- Bishamber : Bholi’s prospective husband who is a greedy man and a dowry-seeker.
OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER
Bholi’s First Few Years :
Bholi was one of seven children of Ramlal. Ramlal is a well-to-do man as he is the Numberdar of the village. There was no lack of comforts in his home but Bholi was still neglected. She fell off her cot when she was just ten months old. Her brain suffered some damage and she was slow in learning things. So, everyone called her Bholi. An attack of small pox at the age of two years leaves her pock-marked on her entire body. She learned to speak when she was five but she stammered. Everyone made fun of her. Even her parents took her to be just an ugly burden.
Bholi’s Goes to School :
Once the Tehsildar came to inaugurate a new primary school in the village. He asked Ramlal to send his daughters to school. Ramlal could not say no to him. His wife objects that no one would marry the girls if they went to school. But, then she felt that Bholi is ugly and it will be difficult to get her married. So, they decided to send only Bholi to school.
Bholi Prepares for School :
Bholi was fearful of going to school at first. Then, she was given new and clean clothes to wear. She was given a bath and her hair was oiled. Now, she felt better. She thought of school as a nice place. All these years no one had taken so much caTe of her.
Bholi’s First Day at School :
Bholi finds the classroom full of girls like her. She was afraid and sat in one corner. She was attracted to the colourful pictures on the wall. She was much impressed by the realistic pictures of birds and animals. The teacher asked her name. Bholi stammered and then started crying. After the other children leave, the teacher came back to her. She called her lovingly. This time Bholi was able to speak her name better. The teacher encouraged her. She asked her to be fearless. She also told her to come to school everyday. Bholi felt as if a new life was beginning for her.
A Match for Bholi :
After a few years, Bholi’s parents get a marriage proposal for her. Ramlal is not very happy. The man was a widower with grown up children. But, his wife was unconcerned. She just feels that as Bholi was so ugly that proposal was good for her. Her father wants to know how Bholi felt about the proposal but her mother refused to ask Bholi about it.
Bholi Stands up for her Rights :
When the wedding was about to take place, Bishamber Nath asks for five thousand rupees to marry Bholi as she had pock-marks. He also threatens to walk away from the ceremony. Ramlal was afraid of the humiliation and so, with tears in his eyes, he hands the dowry money to Bishamber. Bishamber proceeds to garland Bholi but Bholi throws the garland away. She asks her father to take back the money and refuses to marry the greedy coward. Everyone goes away. Ramlal asks her what she will do now. She just tells him she would work as a teacher in the same school where she had studied. Her education has change her outlook.
Chapter Highlights
- Bholi, the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal in a village, was a simple and pock-marked girl. Her real name was Sulekha.
- At ten months she fell off her cot, damaging her brain and making her a simpleton.
- At two years she was a victim of small pox, which left her pock-marked.
- She learnt to talk at five years, but used to stammer.
- When a primary school was opened in the village, the Tehsildar told Ramlal to send his daughters to school.
- Though Ramlal’s wife felt that sending daughters to school affected their chances of marriage, Bholi’s parents decided to send Bholi to school because they felt she would be difficult to get married anyway as she is ugly.
- Bholi was initially afraid of going to school, but due to the encouragement of her teacher, she continued her studies.
- After a few years the village became a small town and Bholi received an offer of marriage from a widower who was lame but rich. He also did not ask for any dowry.
- At the time of the wedding, the bridegroom saw Bholi’s pock-marked face and demanded ? 5000 as dowry, which Ramlal gave.
- Bholi refused tp marry the greedy widower. She later on said that she will take care of her parents and teach in the same school where she got her education.
WORD MEANINGS
The given page nos. correspond to the pages in the prescribed textbook.
GrocerOne who sells food and household goods
| Word | Meaning | ||
| PAGE 54 | |||
| Pock-marks | Marks on the skin left by the small-pox disease | ||
| Mimicked | Copy the behaviour or speech of other people | ||
| Stammered | To speak with many pauses or repititions because of having speech problem | ||
| Disfigured | To spoil or damage the appearence of | ||
| PAGE 55 | |||
| Revenue | The income that a government receives regularly, or an amount representing such income | ||
| PAGE 56 | |||
| Matted (of hair) | Tangled into a thick mass | ||
| Squatted | Sat with knees bent | ||
| PAGE 57 | |||
| Scurried | To move quickly with short steps | ||
| Soothing | Having a gently calming effect | ||
| PAGE 58 | |||
| Blossomed (of a tree or plant) | To produce flowers | ||
| Throbbing | To beat with a strong, steady rythm | ||
| PAGE 59 | |||
| Witless | Very foolish or stupid | ||
| Prompted | To cause (someone) to do something | ||
| Poised | Not moving but ready to move | ||
| Humiliate | To make someone feel very ashamed or foolish | ||
| Streaming | Flowing | ||
| Muttered | To speak quietly so that it is difficult for other peoplft to hear what you say. | ||
| PAGE 60 | |||
| Triumphant | Victorious | ||
| Prospective | Likely to be or become something specified in the future | ||
| Streak | Flash | ||
| Contempt | Disregard for something that should be considered | ||
| PAGE 61 | |||
| Thunderstruck | Extremely surprised or shocked | ||
| Contemplating | Thinking deeply or carefully about something | ||
For More Resources
- NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English
- CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Chapter Wise Question Bank
- CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter Wise Question Bank
- CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Extra Questions
- CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Extra Questions
- CBSE Revision Notes for Class 10 English First Flight
- CBSE Revision Notes for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet
The topic seems to be a synopsis or analysis of a chapter from a book or a piece of literature. The information provided revolves around the story of 'Bholi' (Sulekha) and her transformative journey through education, overcoming neglect, discrimination, and standing up for her rights.
To address your request comprehensively, let's break down the concepts and terms used in the article:
-
Bholi (Sulekha): The central character of the story, neglected due to her appearance and considered an unfit match for marriage. Education transforms her perspective and confidence.
-
Ramlal (Bholi’s father): A prosperous yet narrow-minded father who perceives daughters as meant only for marriage, reflecting societal norms of the time.
-
Bholi’s mother: A conservative figure who neglects Bholi and holds traditional views, particularly concerning her daughter's marriage prospects.
-
Bholi’s schoolteacher: Instrumental in educating and encouraging Bholi, fostering her courage and self-belief.
-
Bishamber: A prospective husband, a greedy man seeking dowry, and displaying shallowness by judging Bholi based on her appearance.
The story's progression covers various key events:
-
Early Years of Bholi: Her neglected upbringing due to her physical appearance and learning difficulties.
-
Education Transforms Bholi: The introduction of schooling and how it changes her outlook on life, providing her with confidence.
-
Marriage Proposal and Bholi's Stand: A marriage proposal surfaces, revealing societal prejudices about her appearance. Bholi refuses to marry a greedy man who demands a dowry, standing up for her rights and rejecting societal norms.
The narrative showcases themes of discrimination, the transformative power of education, and the courage to stand against societal expectations.
The article also includes word meanings, aiding in understanding the text, such as "pock-marks," "stammered," "disfigured," and more.
Feel free to ask if you'd like a deeper analysis of specific themes, character development, or any other aspects of this literary piece!
