Bholi

BY KA ABBAS
Class : 10E
Subject : English
Submitted By: Sumbul & Rakhshanda
 INDEX

About the author

Chapter overview

About the characters

Role of teacher in Bholi ‘s life

Word Meanings and Chapter’s explanation

Read and Find out

Conclusion and Objectives

Story on fingertips
 ABOUT THE
Khawaja Ahmad Abbas was a famous Indian film
AUTHOR
director, novelist, screenwriter and a journalist in
Urdu, Hindi and English languages. He was the
maker of films like SW Hindustani' (1969), and
'Do Boond Pani' which won the National Award
for the best feature film on National Integration.
He wrote screen scripts of the best of Raj
Kapoor's films like Awaara Shri 420 Mera Naam
Joker, and 'Bobby’ . He was born in the family of
the famous Urdu poet, Hall, who was a student of
Mirza Ghalib . His grandfather was one of the
chief rebels of 1857, First War of Independence.
He was born in Panipat Haryana on 7 June 1914 K.A ABBAS
and died on 1 June 1987 at the age of 72, in
Bombay.
 CHAPTER
OVERVIEW
Bholi is a story written by K.A Abbas who was a popular
journalist, novelist and film director notably known for
his works in Urdu, Hindi and English languages.
The story revolves around a girl called Bholi (Sulekha)
who not only symbolizes simplicity but innocence too.
She is a young girl neglected by all due to her
unattractive physical appearance. Education inspires
courage and confidence in her. It gives her the strength
to raise her voice and fight for her rights. She stood up
for her honor and self-respect in the end and rebelled
against the evil practice of dowry system and social
injustice.
 About the characters
• Bholi :Her real name is Sulekha and she is Number Dar (Number Dar-a person
in village of high status) 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 school teacher :She educates Bholi and encourages her . Later on Bholi
wanted to be like her.

• Bishamber : Bholi's prospective husband who is a greedy man and a dowry-

seeker.
Role of teacher in Bholi ’s life
we observe that :
Bholi’ s teacher played an important role in changing the
course of her life. She was kind and spoke to her in a soft
and soothing voice and patted her affectionately and this
touched her heart .She kept encouraging her every time ,
was affectionate towards her and told Bholi to put her fears
of not being able to speak aside .
The teacher ‘s encouragement and motivation was
responsible for transforming her into a wise, confident ,
fearless person who could read , write and speak clearly.
 Word meanings
 Simpleton : A person with low
intelligence.
 Backward : having made less than
normal progress.
 Disfigured: damaged
 Stammer : to speak with difficulty.
 Mimic: imitate the voice or
behavior of
 Prosperous : Wealthy
 BHOLI AS A CHILD
Bholi's real name was Sulekha but from her childhood everyone called
her Bholi. She was the fourth daughter out of the seven children of
Ramlal, Numberdar of the village. When Bholi was 10 months old she
had fallen off the cot which had damaged some part of her brain.
Since then she remained a backward child. Further, when she was two
years old, she suffered from an attack of small pox and her entire body
was disfigured by deep black pock-marks. She learned to speak at the
age of five and stammered while speaking. So, everyone made fun of
her.
BHOLI’S FAMILY
Bholi 's father was a rich farmer who sent his sons to the city for
studies. The eldest daughter, Radha was already married whereas
Mangla and Champa were good looking and healthy girls. Ramlal was
only worried about Bholi as she was neither beautiful nor intelligent.
 Word meanings
 Revenue : income
 Consult : discuss

BHOLI GOES TO SCHOOL

Bholi was seven years old when a primary school opened in their village and Mangla her sister got
married. The Tehsildar who had come to inaugurate the school advised Ramlal to send his
daughter to school to set an example for others. Ramlal could not say no to him. His wife objected
that no one would marry the girls if they went to school. But then she felt that Bholi was ugly and
it would be difficult to get her married. So, they decided to sent only Bholi to school.
 Word meanings
 Pass on : To give something to
somebody else after receiving
or using it yourself first
 Mend : Repair
 Matted : Forming a thick
mass (of hair) because of
being wet or unclean.
 Fear-laden eyes: eyes that are
loaded with fear
 Handed over : To give up or
abandon something to
another
 Squatted: To sit on one's
heels
 Slate : A flat tablet used for
writing on in schools
Bholi prepares for school
Next day , Bholi was dressed to
go to school .Bholi was given new
clothes for the school .Earlier she
used to wear old clothes of her
sisters . She was given a bath and
oil was rubbed into her dry hair.
Bholi was filled with fear when
her father went back to village
after handling Bholi to the
headmistress. Her headmistress
asked her t sit in a corner in one
of the classrooms. She was glad to
see girls of her own age at school.
Word meanings
 Fascinated: Irresistibly interested and attracted.
 Orchard : A piece of land planted with fruit trees.
 Scurry : Run with short quick steps.
 Sob :Cry with loud gasps.
 Disgrace : Shame, humiliation
 Patted: Touched gently with the flat of the hand
 Astonished: surprised
 BLOSSAM : Flowers appearing in plant and trees.
 THROB: Beat or pulsate with a strong rhythm.

Bholi's First Day at School:

The lady teacher in the class said something to other girls but Bholi could not understand anything. 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 left,
the teacher came back to her. She called her lovingly and encouraged her to tell her name. This time Bholi tried
to speak her name and was successful. The teacher told Bholi to come to school everyday. Bholi felt as if a new
life was beginning for her.

The Teacher Gives her a Book:

The teacher gave a book to Bholi which had pictures of dog, cat, goat, etc. The teacher told her that she would
be able to read like everyone else in a month and then no one would laugh at her. Bholi way happy as the
teacher encouraged Bholi and gave her a hope of a new life .
 Word meanings
 COTTON GIN :A machine for
separating the seeds of a cotton plant
from the cotton.
 Well to do: Rich
 Limp :Walk or proceed with difficulty
 Witless: Stupid.
 Mutter: Say quietly and unclearly.
 Courtyard: A large open space that is a
part of a building, large house, etc
 Progress of Village:
Many years passed, the village progressed and converted into a small town. The
primary school became a high school. There were now a cinema under a tin shed and
a cotton ginning mill. The mail train began to stop at their railway station.

Bholi's Marriage Proposal:

One night after dinner Ramlal and his wife were talking
about a marriage proposal for Bholi. Bishamber was forty
five or fifty years old widower. He had grown up children
from his first wife. Bishamber was rich and had not
demanded any dowry. Rampal was not very happy from this
proposal but his wife believed that it was the best marriage
proposal for Bholi. She told Ramlal that since Bishamber was
from another village, he didn't know about Bholi's
pockmarks and lack of sense. So, Bholi's marriage was fixed.
 Word meanings
 AUSPICIOUS: Favorable
 PROMPT : Motivate
 POISE: Remain motionless
 CONSIDERATE : Compassionate,
unselfish
 TRIUMPHANT: Successful
 DOWN CAST: looking downwards
 CONTEMPT: Hatred
 Arrival of Bridegroom :
On the wedding day, Bishamber came as a bridegroom with his friends and
relatives. Bholi came out in red silken bridal dress.
A woman slipped Bholi's veil. Bishamber had a look at her face. He confirmed
with his friend if Bholi had pockmarks on her face. Bishamber's friend
replied that it did not matter since Bishamber was not very young.

A Hurdle in the Wedding:

When the wedding was about to take place, Bishamber Nath asked for five
thousand rupees to marry Bholi as she had pock-marks on her face. He also
threatened to walk away from the ceremony. Ramlal was afraid of the
humiliation and so, with tears in his eyes, he handed the dowry money to
Bishamber.
 Word meanings
 Streak: Move very rapidly
 Thunderstruck : Extremely shocked,
amazed
 Rooted: Motionless, due to fear, grief,
etc.
 Contemplate: think about
 Bholi Refuses to Marry:
Bishamber proceeded towards Bholi with a garland but Bholi threw the
garland away. She asked her father to take back the money and refused to
marry Bishamber.
The people around started talking and Ramlal asked Bholi to take care of his
respect. Bholi, however refused to marry such a greedy man. An old woman
now called her shameless which angered Bholi. The angry Bholi replied that
now she is not a dumb or a stammering fool.
The Courageous Bholi:
When Bisamber and everyone went away, Ramlal asked Bholi what she
would do with her future. Bholi told him that she would not marry and take
care of her parents in their old age. She also told them that she would teach at
the school just like her teacher.
Surekha's teacher who was watching all this drama approved Bholi's
decision. She smiled at her with satisfaction just like an artist who is satisfied
after completing her masterpiece.
 Read and Find Out (Page 54)
Q1) Why is Bholi's father worried about her?
Ans. Bholi's father, Ramlal was worried for Bholi because she was an ugly and dumb girl. She had pockmarks on
her face and stammered while speaking which might become a hurdle in her marriage.

Q2) For what unusual reason is Bholi sent to school?

Ans. Bholi was sent to school because when the primary school opened in their village the Tehsildar advised her
father to send his daughter to the school as an example for the villagers. After talking with his wife, it was
decided that if the ugly Bholi went to school, it would not harm their other daughter's marriage prospects.
(Page 55)
Q1) Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Ans. Initially, Bholi was scared to go to school. She cried and sat in the corner of her classroom. However, she
was fascinated by the colorful pictures on the walls which were very realistic . Therefore, Bholi was not
completely afraid in the school but did enjoy some part of it because of the kind teacher and the new life that it
would bring.
Q2) Does she find her teacher to be different from the people at home?
Ans. Yes, Bholi found her teacher to be different from the people at home. At home, she was neglected and no one
paid attention to her. She never bathed nor were her clothes washed. She was criticised and everyone made fun of her.
Her teacher was entirely different. She was kind. soft and affectionate. She encouraged her and filled her with a hope
of new life.

(Page 58)
Q1) Why do Bholi 's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal?
Ans. Bholi 's parents accepted Bishamber's marriage proposal as he was a prosperous grocer and had not asked for any
dowry.

Q2) Why does the marriage not take place? or Why did Bholi not marry Bishamber?
Ans. At the time of the 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. However, Bholi refused to marry the greedy man. Thus, the marriage
could not take place.
 1
CONCLUSI
ON
In the chapter – Bholi illustrates that proper
moral and emotional protection should be given
to children during the formative years of
childhood to help them grow up into responsible
citizens

OBJECTI
BHOLI 2
•
VE
To sensitize the students to the importance of
education.
• To explain the importance of emotional
security and family support for children.
• To indicate the need of love, encouragement
and education for the disabled to fight against
their odds.
• To demonstrate the use of simple past and past
perfect tense in speech and writing.
• To stuff moral values in the students such as
dowry is a social abuse, any disabled should
not be made fun of etc.
• Sulekha was the youngest child of Numberdar Ramlal.
• When she was ten months old she had fallen off the cot and hurt her head.
• The fall partially damaged her brain because of which she remained a backward child . Sulekha S
came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton. T
• At the age of two Bholi suffered from severe Chicken Pox, which permanently left deep dark pock-
marks all over her body. O
• Bholi could not speak until the age of five. Then when she learned to speak, she couldn't speak R
without stammering She was mocked and mimicked by the other children.
• When she was seven years old, a primary school for girls opened in Bholi's village. Y
• On Tehsildar's insistence and knowing that Bholi did not have much of a future, Ramlal decided to
send little Bholi to school.
• At first Bholi was afraid because she did not know what a school was. O
• Bholi's teacher was a kind-hearted lady. She encouraged Bholi to put fear out of her heart and N
continue with her education.
• Many years passed Bholi receives a marriage proposal.
• The prospective groom, Bishamber Nath, was a lame but rich widower in his late forties, who ran a
grocery shop in a neighbouring village. He had not asked for any dowry.
F
• Later, during the wedding rituals Bishamber Nath saw Bholi's face for the first time Seeing her I
pock-marked face, he demanded a sum of five thousand rupees from Ramlal as dowry.
• Ramlal had no other option than to give into Bishamber Nath's demands.
N
• Bholi refused to marry the greedy, mean and contemptible Bishamber Nath. She promised to look G
after her parents and become a teacher in the same school she went.
E
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T
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MADE BY: SUMBUL
& RAKHSHANDA