READ AND FIND OUT 

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Q1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?

Answer: Bholi’s father, Ramlal, is worried about her because she has neither good looks nor intelligence. She has a pock-marked face, she stammers, and she is considered a simpleton. This makes it difficult to find a suitable bridegroom for her.

Q2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?

Answer: Bholi is sent to school for unusual reasons. The Tehsildar sahib orders Ramlal to set an example for the villagers by sending his daughters to school. However, Bholi’s mother agrees to send her only because she believes there is little chance of her getting married anyway, and she wants the teachers to worry about her instead of them.

READ AND FIND OUT 

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Q1. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?

Answer: Bholi is initially frightened on her first day at school. However, she begins to enjoy it when she sees the other girls who are her age and hopes that one of them might become her friend. She is also fascinated by the pictures on the wall, and the teacher’s soft and soothing voice makes her feel safe and comfortable.

Q2. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?

Answer: Yes, Bholi finds her teacher to be completely different from the people at home. Her teacher is kind, soft-spoken, and encouraging. She calls her by her name in a soothing voice, which touches her heart, and she gives her a book with colourful pictures. This kindness and affection make Bholi feel hopeful for the first time in her life.

READ AND FIND OUT

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Q1. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?

Answer: Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal because he is a well-to-do grocer with a big shop, his own house, and several thousand in the bank. They are also relieved that he is from another village and does not know about Bholi’s pock-marks and her lack of intelligence. They believe that they are lucky to find such a well-to-do bridegroom who is not asking for a dowry.

Q2. Why does the marriage not take place?

Answer: The marriage does not take place because Bishamber demands a dowry of five thousand rupees when he sees Bholi’s pock-marked face. After Bholi’s father agrees to pay the dowry, Bholi, who has gained confidence and courage from her education, refuses to marry Bishamber. She calls him a mean, greedy, and contemptible coward and rejects him.

Think about it

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Q1. 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 had many apprehensions about going to school because she did not know what a school was like. She was frightened and even thought she was going to be sold like their old cow, Lakshmi. She was used to being neglected and wearing her sisters’ old clothes. However, when her father insisted that she wear decent clothes and she was given a clean dress and bathed, she began to believe that she was being taken to a place better than her home.

Q2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?

Answer: Bholi’s teacher played a crucial role in changing the course of her life. She was the first person to speak to Bholi in a soft, soothing, and affectionate voice. She encouraged her to speak without stammering and gave her a book with colourful pictures. The teacher’s words of encouragement, love, and affection instilled in Bholi a new hope and a new life. Her teacher helped her to overcome her fear and gain confidence, which enabled her to stand up for herself and reject the unequal marriage.

Q3. 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 at first agreed to the unequal match because she was like a “dumb cow” and was willing to marry the old, lame man for the sake of her family’s honor. She had not yet found her voice and was still being influenced by her parents’ decisions. She later rejected the marriage when Bishamber demanded a dowry and humiliated her father. This shows that her education and her teacher’s encouragement had transformed her into a confident and self-respecting woman. She was no longer a “dumb cow” but a person with a clear voice and a strong will to stand up for herself and her family’s dignity.

Q4. 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: Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. She is called Sulekha again at the end of the story to signify her transformation. The name “Bholi” means a simpleton, and it was given to her because she was considered simple-minded. However, when she rejects the marriage, she shows that she is no longer the “Bholi” her family thought she was. She is now an educated, confident, and self-respecting woman, and her real name, Sulekha, which means “a person with a beautiful script,” suits her new identity.

Talk about it

Q1. Bholi’s teacher helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. How do you think you can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in this story?

Answer: This is an interactive activity and the answer will vary depending on the student’s perspective.

I can contribute to changing social attitudes by being an advocate for education for all, especially for girls. I would encourage parents to send their daughters to school and make them understand that education is not a barrier to marriage but a key to a better life. I would also speak out against social injustices like dowry and discrimination.

Q2. Should girls be aware of their rights, and assert them? Should girls and boys have the same rights, duties and privileges? What are some of the ways in which society treats them differently? When we speak of ‘human rights’, do we differentiate between girls’ rights and boys’ rights?

Answer: Yes, girls should be aware of their rights and assert them, just as boys do. Girls and boys should have the same rights, duties, and privileges in a just society. Some of the ways in which society treats them differently are:

1. Girls are often pressured to marry at a young age, while boys are encouraged to pursue higher education and a career.
2. Girls are sometimes denied access to education and are given more household duties than boys.
3. Society often has different expectations for girls and boys. Boys are expected to be strong and unemotional, while girls are expected to be submissive and quiet.
   When we speak of “human rights,” we do not differentiate between girls’ rights and boys’ rights, as they are universal and apply to every human being.

Q3. Do you think the characters in the story were speaking to each other in English? If not, in which language were they speaking? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and the non-English words used in the story.)

Answer: No, the characters were not speaking to each other in English. The story is a translation. The names of the characters, such as Ramlal, Sulekha, and Bishamber Nath, and the use of words like “Pitajil,” “Numberdar,” and “Izzat,” suggest that they were speaking in a local Indian language, likely Hindi or a related dialect.