Bholi

 Introduction:

This story tells us what a simple village girl is capable of. K A Abbas, the writer of this story highlights the triumph of Bholi against social injustice. Bholi was a target for everyone as she was dull and ugly because of a disease and a fall. Her life turns when she joins a nearby school where her teacher encourages her and helps her to become a learned and confident person. She refuses to marry a person who demanded dowry.

Meanings:

Cot= bed

Backward= slow learner

Pockmarks= spots on the skin

Stammered= fumbled for words

Mimicked= copy, imitate

Prosperous= doing well, rich

Plenty= a lot of

Tehsildar= an officer of the government

Representative= spokesperson

Consulted= discussed

Shrunk= reduced

Matted= untidy

Fear-laden= full of fear

Squatted= to sit with one’s knees bent

Fascinated= attracted

Orchard= land planted with fruit trees

Sobbing= noisy crying

Soothing= reduce pain or discomfort

Disgrace= dishonor, shame

Nodded= bow your head in a direction to give your approval, saying yes with a head gesture

Astonished= impressed, greatly surprised

Blossomed= grow, bloom

Throbbed= beat, pulse

Ginning= the process of treating (ginning) the cotton, dividing seed from cotton

Proposal= offer

Certainly= definitely

Witless= fool, not clever, without wisdom

Muttered= murmur

Grocer= a person who sells household goods and food items

Procession= March, Parade

Splendour= lavishness

Envious= jealous

Auspicious= good, favorable

Clad= dressed

Garland= wreath of flowers and leaves

Veil= cover

Poised= calm

Humiliate= insult

Considerate= thoughtful

Streaming= flowing

Triumphant= winning

Gambled= bet

Downcast= low, cast down

Prospective= would be

Contempt= disrespect, disregard

Struck= hit, bang

Flung= aim, launch

Startled= sudden shock

Thunderstruck= shocked

Contemptible= offensive

Violently= strong or extreme manner

Dumb= dull, not clever

Heartless= unkind

Rooted= fixed

Grief= sorrow

Steady= firm

Contemplating= thinking, observing

Summary:

Ramlal, the Numberdar had three sons and four daughters. Sulekha was the youngest of all. She was called ‘Bholi’ for being a simpleton. She was dull and stammered because some part of her brain had got damaged due to an injury during her childhood. She was ugly because of the pockmarks she got when she suffered from smallpox at the age of two. Ramlal was always worried about her as it seemed impossible to get her married as she had an ugly face and a dumb mind.

One day, the Tehsildar visited their village to open a girl’s primary school. He persuaded Ramlal to send his daughters to school. Ramlal’s wife was against sending girls to school because no boy would marry a girl who went to school. As she thought that Bholi had no chance of getting married, she suggested that Bholi should go to school.

Bholi felt that she was to visit a better place as she was dressed up and her hair was washed and oiled before being taken to school. In school, she met a teacher who was very kind and polite to her. She encouraged Bholi to study and speak with confidence. This filled hope in Bholi and she began to go to school every day.

As years passed the village became a small town with some facilities like a cotton mill, a cinema, and the primary school upgraded as a secondary school. Bholi’s parents decided to marry her to a lame wealthy old widower who was willing to marry her without any dowry. They thought it to be the best marriage proposal for their dumb daughter.  

On the wedding day, Bishamber, the bridegroom discovered that Bholi had pockmarks and demanded dowry of five thousand rupees. Though Ramlal begged for mercy and even placed his turban at the groom’s feet, the groom was not convinced. Ramlal had to give the money in order to save his family’s honour and his daughter’s marriage.

Bholi could not bear all this and refused to marry the greedy, contemptible old man. People accused her of being shameless. Ramlal was filled with grief and said that now no one would marry his daughter. He was worried about what would she do in the future. Bholi replied that she would take care of her parents when they grew old and would teach in her school. Her teacher was quietly watching all this and she was proud of the decision.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 54)

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

Bholi fell off a cot as a child due to which her brain was slightly damaged. She learned to speak very late and used to stammer. Her face and whole body were covered with pockmarks. Her father was worried about her marriage prospects.

2. For what unusual reason is Bholi sent to school?

The Tehsildar had asked Ramlal to send his daughters to the new school. As Ramlal’s wife felt that sending girls to school affected their marriage prospects adversely, she did not want to send any of her daughters to school. Anyway, Bholi’s marriage prospects were not good. So Bholi was sent to school.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 55)

1.Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?

Bholi was afraid at first. The gentle, and loving manner of her teacher made her comfortable. She was looking forward to her new life by the time the first day ended. Initially, she did not enjoy it, but by the time she went home, she had liked school.

2.Does she find her teacher to be different from the people at home?

Bholi had been a neglected child at home. She was criticised and everyone made fun of her. But, she found her teacher to be entirely different. Her teacher did not make fun of her ugliness or her stammering. She encouraged her tenderly. Her affection deeply touched Bholi’s heart.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 58)

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

Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s marriage proposal as he was a well-to-do grocer and had not asked for any dowry.

2. Why does the marriage not take place?

At the time of 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. But, Bholi refused to marry the greedy man. She asserted her rights and dignity. Thus the marriage party was turned away.

Think About It (Answers to the questions given on Page 62)

1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?

The day she was going to school forced her parents to dress her nicely. She was bathed and her hair was properly done. Until then she was not being taken care of. The special treatment she received made her feel that she was going to a better place.

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

Bholi stammered and was just a bundle of nerves when she attended school in the beginning. Her teacher treated her kindly and encouraged her to have confidence and be bold. She taught her to read and write and made her an independent girl who was aware of her rights. Thus, she changed her life.

3. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell about her?

Bholi agreed to the match at first to fulfil her parents’ wishes. Later on, she rejected the marriage when the bridegroom asked for dowry. This tells us that Bholi was not a timid and dumb girl. She was aware of her rights. She also knew how to fight for her own dignity and feared no one.

4. 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?

The word Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story, she had been a simpleton who hardly expressed her opinion on any matter. The word Sulekha means ‘a person with a beautiful sense of letters’. In this story, this word has a larger meaning of being a literate, intelligent, and mature individual. After her education, Bholi has really changed to Sulekha and her assertion at the time of her marriage is her announcement to the world that she is no more a Bholi, but is a Sulekha.

Talk about it (Answers to the questions given on Page 62)

1. 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?

We can contribute by saying no to taking or giving dowry. We must not discriminate between a boy and a girl. Both should be given equal rights and opportunities to grow. We must also learn to respect those who are differently-abled and treat them at par.

2. 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 girl’s rights and boy’s rights?

Yes, there is a differentiation between girl’s and boy’s rights. Although equal in the eyes of law, society treats them differently. Parents spend more on a boy’s education than that of a girl. A girl is just trained to be a wife and mother. Girls must make use of their education to preserve their self-reliance and dignity. They must be ready to demand their due and fight for it.

3. 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.)

No, I do not think so. They spoke in Hindi. Several words like ‘numbsrdar, tehsildar sahib, izzat, and pitaji’ are ample proof of that. Even the names of characters like ‘Ramlal’ and ‘Bholi’ support that.