Chapter 9 Bholi Solutions
Question - 1 : - Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Answer - 1 : - Bholi was different from other children. She neither had good looks nor intelligence. Bholi’s father was worried about finding a good bridegroom for Bholi.
Question - 2 : - For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Answer - 2 : - Tehsildar had ordered Bholi’s father Ramlal to send his daughters to the school to set an example. Ramlal’s wife felt that sending daughters to school would impact their marriage prospects. However, she said that Bholi could be sent to school because there are anyway less chances of her getting married with such an ugly face and no intelligence. Thus, Bholi was sent to school.
Question - 3 : - Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Answer - 3 : - Yes, Bholi enjoyed her first day at school. Initially, she was frightened. But, she was delighted to find so many girls of her own age present there. She felt that one of the girls might become her friend. Also, there were a lot of pictures on the classroom wall that enticed her.
Question - 4 : - Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Answer - 4 : -
Yes, she finds her teacher quite different from the people at home. At home, she is never spoken to in a polite manner but her teacher spoke to her in a very soothing way.
At home, she was disregarded for stammering but her teacher encouraged her to speak with more confidence instead of making fun of her. This touched her heart.
Question - 5 : - Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Answer - 5 : - Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s marriage proposal because they thought that Bholi might never get another marriage proposal and might stay unmarried for her entire life. Bishamber was a well-to-do grocer and had not asked for dowry too.
Question - 6 : - Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer - 6 : - When Bishamber saw the pock-marks on Bholi’s face, he demanded five thousand rupees from Ramlal. Because of the demand of dowry, Bholi refused to get married to him.
Question - 7 : - Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school.
Answer - 7 : - What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Answer:
Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She had seen Lakshmi, their old cow, getting sold out.
When Bholi was given clean clothes to wear, was bathed and her hair was oiled, she felt that she was going to a better place than her home.
Question - 8 : - How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Answer - 8 : - Bholi’s teacher did not make fun of her stammering like others used to do. She encouraged her to speak without any fear. Unlike others, she was polite to Bholi. She played an important role in changing the course of her life and making her a confident person who could read, write and speak with clarity.
Question - 9 : - 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 - 9 : -
Bholi agreed to an unequal match at first because she had overheard her parents talking about the marriage proposal. They were concerned about her marriage and thought that this was the best proposal Bholi could get as the man had not even asked for dowry.
On the day of marriage, when the bridegroom saw Bholi’s pock-marks, he demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees. He humiliated her father for the dowry. That is why she rejected the marriage.
This tells us that Bholi has self-respect and confidence. She did not want her father to give dowry for her marriage. She was able to take a brave and wise decision on her own.
Question - 10 : - Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning.
Answer - 10 : - 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:
Bholi means simpleton. She never takes her stand. She follows what is told. She even agrees to an unequal match for the sake of her parents. But, towards the end of the story, when she sees her father pleading the bridegroom and getting humiliated, she refuses to get married. She is called Sulekha at that point in the story because she is now a mature and intelligent girl who is able to take her own decisions. She is aware of her rights and does not let anyone humiliate her family.