Bholi      

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

Ans: The Tehsildar urges Ramlal to send his daughters to school. He wants him to sent an example for others but Ramlal’s wife is against sending girls to school. She thinks nobody marries girls who have been to school. Moreover, When Bholi was ten months old , she fell off the cot . It damaged some part of her brain . So she remains mentally backward. Hence, there is no chance of Bholi getting married. She is not good looking and lacks sense. So to get rid of her, her parents agreed to send her to school.   

         2.How does Bholi find her teacher different from the other people at home?

Ans: when Bholi was ten months old, she fell off the cot. It damaged some part of her brain. So , she remained mentally backward. At home, nobody cares for Bholi even her mother thinks her to be a burden. But at school, her teacher shows a great love and sympathy for her.  She speaks to her safety. She fills Bholi’s heart with a new hope and a new life.

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

Ans: Bishamber is quite rich. He has a big shop, a house and a lot of money. He not asking for any dowry. At the same time Bholi’s not good looking.  She lacks sense and even cannot speak clearly. She stammered badly. The other children in the house made  fun of her. So there is no chance of Bholi getting married. For all these reasons, Bholi’s parents accept Bishamer’s marriage proposal.

4. The ending of the story is very dramatic. Do you think Bholi’s decision not to marry Bishamber  makes her an outcast rebellions or is it an assertion of her being an individual and a woman of substance?

Ans: Bholi did not want to bring disagrace to her family. Therefore, she agreed to marry Bishamber. Who was of her father’s age but at the time of marriage, Bishamber demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees. Bholi’s father placed his turban at Bishamber’s feet. At this Bholi refused to marry a man who was so mean and greed. This shows that Bholi was a girl of great courage and confidence. She decided to serve her parents in their old age.

Q. 5. 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?

Ans: When Bholi was ten months old, she fell off the cot. It damaged some part of her brain. It made her mentally backward. That is why, she was called Bholi, the simpleton towards the end of the story when Bishamber demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees, Bholi gave Bishamber a befitting treatment. She was wise, confident, courageous and self-respecting. That is why in the end of the story she is referred to by her real name, Sulekha not Bholi the simpleton.

6. Write the character sketch of Bholi.

Ans: Bholi’s real name was Sulekha. Her parents called her Bholi because when Bholi was ten months old, she fell off the cot. It damaged some part of her brain. It made her mentally backward. She hardly speak to anyone. That is why Bholi was known to be a ‘Dumb Cow’.  But when she was sent to the school, her teacher shows a great love and sympathy for her, She speaks to her softly. She fills Bholi’s heart with a new hope and new life. She became a brave girl. We saw it at the end of the story when she refused to marry a greedy and cunning fellow Bishamber and decided to serve her parents in their old age. Bholi has full respect and care for her parents. That is why, She agreed to marry a Bishamber who  was middle aged and had grown-up children from his first wife. This proves that Bholi was very helpful, respectful and obedient to her parents. That is why, She agreed to marry a Bishamber was middle aged and had grown-up children from his first wife. This proves that Bholi was very helpful, respectful and obedient to her parents. At the end of story, she became wise, confident, courageous and self-respecting.

Q:2 What kind of treatment was given by Bholi’s parents to Bholi. Why she was called as ‘Dumb cow’?

Ans: Bholi was mentally backward child. She has ugly black pockmarks on her body. She stammered badly. Her parents thought her to be a mere burden. They neglected her completely. Even her hair remained mattered . She was given old dirty dresses of her sisters. Bholi bears all this and never complaints. She hardly speak anything with anyone. That is why she was called a ‘Dumb cow’.

Q:3 Given the character sketch of Bholi’s parents?

Ans: Bholi’s parents had threw sons and four daughters. The sons had been sent to the city to study of the daughters, Radha was the eldest. She had been married. The second daughter was Mangla. Her marriage  had been settled. The third daughter was chamba. Bholi’s  parents were not worried about her also. Bholi was the youngest. When she was ten months old, she fell off the cot. It damaged some part of her brain. So she remained mentally backward. Her parents thought her to be a mere burden. They neglected her completely. Even her hair remained mattered. She was given old dirty dresses of her sisters. Both Bholi’s father and her mother were followers of tradition and had not the courage to stand up against bad customs of the society.

Q:4  Given the character sketch of Bishamber?

Bishamber was a  middle –aged  grocer. He was almost as old as Bholi’s father. He limped while walking. He had grown-up children from his first wife. Even then Bholi’s parents accept his marriage proposal. They had their own reasons for it. Bishamber was quite rich. He had a big shop and a house. He had a lot of money in the bank. And he was demanding no dowry. But at the time of marriage, seeing ugly pockmarks on Bholi’s face, he starts demanding a big dowry. At this Bholi show her courage and self-respect. She refuse to marry such a mean fellow.

With Regards 

Nida 
(PITE Education Lal Chowk Sanjay Nagar Jammu)

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