NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (Footprints without Feet) Chapter 8 Bholi

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 10th

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Class : 10th
Subject : English-2
Chapter : 9
Chapter Name : Bholi

Q1 Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?

Answer. Bholi’s father was worried about her as she had neither good looks nor intelligence. He
did not know how he would nd a suitable groom for her.

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Q2 For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?

Answer. The tehsildar had performed the opening ceremony of the primary school for girls that
had just opened in Ramlal’s village. He told Ramlal that as he was a representative of the
government in the village, he should set an example for the villagers by sending his daughters to
the school. When Ramlal discussed this matter with his wife, she said that if girls were sent to
school, no one would marry them. Since Ramlal did not have the courage to disobey the
tehsildar, his wife suggested that they should send Bholi to the school. She felt that as there
were little chances of her getting married with her ugly face and lack of sense, she might as well
go to the school.

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Q3 Does Bholi enjoy her rst day at school?

Answer. Bholi found everything new at the school. She felt glad to see many girls of her age
present there. She was fascinated by the bright colours of the pictures on the walls. She cried
when she kept stammering on being asked her name. However, she saw how kind the teacher was
and nally, managed to speak her name. She was given a book by the teacher. The teacher
behaved with her like no one had ever done, thereby lling her with con dence At the end of her
rst day at school, her heart was throbbing with a new hope and a new life.

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Q4 Does she nd her teacher different from the people at home?

Answer. Yes, she found her teacher different from the people at home. Her teacher was very kind
and spoke to her affectionately. She did not scold or command her, but encouraged her in a

soothing voice. She told her that in time, she would be more learned than anyone else in the
village, and no one would ever be able to laugh at her. People would listen to her and respect her.
This lled Bholi with a new hope.

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Q5 Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?

Answer. Bholi’s parents felt that if they did not accept Bishamber’s proposal, she might remain
unmarried all her life. Her mother said they were lucky that Bishamber was from another village
and hence, did not know about Bholi’s pock-marks and her lack of sense. Moreover, he had not
even asked for any dowry. Hence, Bholi’s parents accepted the marriage proposal.

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Q6 Why does the marriage not take place?

Answer. The marriage did not take place because Bholi refused to marry Bishamber. When the
groom saw that her face was covered with pock-marks, he declared that he would marry her only
if her father paid him a dowry of ve thousand rupees. Bishamber did not budge from his stand
in spite of repeated pleadings by Ramlal. Finally, Ramlal placed the dowry amount at the
groom’s feet. Consequently, when Bishamber was about to place the garland around Bholi’s
neck, she struck out her hand and the garland was ung into the re. She said that she was
willing to marry that man only because of her father’s honour. However, on seeing that the man
was mean, greedy and contemptible, she had decided not to go ahead with the marriage.

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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 felt that she was going to a better place than her home when she got the
treatment that she had never got before. New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old
dresses of her sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. However,
before being sent off to the school, she received a clean dress. She was even bathed, and oil was
rubbed into her dry and matted hair. It was then that she began to believe that she was being
taken to a place better than her home.

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

Answer. Bholi’s teacher played a very important role in changing her life. She was the rst one to
have spoken to her affectionately. She encouraged her to speak out her name without any fear.
She gave her a book, thereby aiming to inculcate in her the desire to learn. She told her that in

time, she would be more learned than anyone else in the village, and no one would ever be able
to laugh at her. People would listen to her and respect her. This lled Bholi with a new hope.

Page : 62 , Block Name : Think About It

Q3 Why did Bholi at rst agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage?
What does this tell us about her?

Answer. At rst, Bholi had agreed to marry an old man because of her father’s honour, thereby
placing her family’s interest over her own. However, she later refused to marry him because she
saw how mean, greedy and contemptible he was. By demanding a hefty dowry, he took
advantage of her bad looks and the desperateness of her father to get her married. This is why
she rejected the marriage and silenced everybody else who called her shameless. This tells us
that Bholi had grown in con dence and could very well speak for herself.

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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. Sulekha was called Bholi because everyone considered her to be a backward child and a
simpleton. The name Bholi thus symbolises her under con dence and ignorance. After
mentioning her real name at the beginning of the story, the author mentions it again only in the
second-last paragraph. This is a deliberate attempt on the part of the author to show that
Sulekha has nally attained her true identity by literally throwing aside the veil that hid her
personality.

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Q5 Bholi’s story must have moved you. Do you think girl children are not treated at par with
boys? You are aware that the government has introduced a scheme to save the girl child as the
sex ratio is declining. The scheme is called Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Save the Girl Child. Read
about the scheme and design a poster in groups of four and display on the school notice board.

Answer. DIY

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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. DIY

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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. Missing

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