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Class 10 Chapter-8: Bholi

  Central Idea

The story shows how education and encouragement can transform a timid girl into a confident individual. It highlights the importance of self-respect, equality, and rejecting social evils like dowry.

Themes

  • Education as empowerment
  • Self-respect and courage
  • Gender inequality
  • Social evils (dowry, discrimination)
  • Transformation through love and support

Message / Moral

  • Education builds confidence and changes lives.
  • Don’t tolerate injustice or discrimination.
  • Self-respect is more important than marriage.
  • Every child deserves love, care, and opportunities.

Literary Devices

  • Character contrast – Bholi vs her sisters; Bholi vs Bishamber.
  • Symbolism – Bholi symbolizes neglected children; school symbolizes hope.
  • Irony – The weakest child becomes the strongest.
  • Imagery – Description of Bholi’s appearance and the school.

Title Justification: The title “Bholi” (meaning simple or innocent) suits the story because:

  • It represents the girl’s shy, fearful nature at the beginning.
  • Her transformation makes the title meaningful—showing her journey from ‘Bholi’ to bold.
    Thus, the title reflects her character growth.

Characters

Bholi (Sulekha)

  • Shy, stammering, ignored at home.
  • Blossoms into a confident and brave girl through education.

Ramlal (her father)

  • A government official.
  • Afraid of society; sends Bholi to school reluctantly.

Bholi’s Mother

  • Practical but insensitive; considers Bholi a burden.

Bishamber Nath

  • Greedy, older man.
  • Demands dowry; gets rejected by Bholi.

The Teacher

  • Kind, supportive.
  • Brings confidence and dignity into Bholi’s life.

Setting

  • A rural Indian village.
  • Poor family environment.
  • Village school with basic facilities.
    Emphasizes lack of education and social inequalities.

Tone and Mood

Tone: Sympathetic, serious, inspirational.

Mood:

  • Beginning: Sad, pitiful
  • Middle: Hopeful
  • End: Proud, uplifting

Perspective / Point of View

The story is written from a third-person omniscient point of view — the narrator knows everything about all characters, especially Bholi’s thoughts and feelings.

PYQs (Previous Year Questions)

  1. How did Bholi’s teacher change her life?
    → With kindness, encouragement, and patience, she helped Bholi gain confidence.
  2. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?
    → She rejected his demand for dowry and realized her self-worth.
  3. Why was Bholi called a dumb cow?
    → Because she stammered, was slow to learn, and was neglected by her family.
  4. What made Bholi different from other children?
    → Her pockmarks, stammering, and lack of confidence.

VBQs (Value-Based Questions)

  1. What values does Bholi show at the end of the story?
    → Courage, self-respect, independence, honesty.
  2. What lesson does the story teach about dowry?
    → Dowry is unjust, humiliating, and should be rejected firmly.
  3. Why is the teacher a role model?
    → She teaches patience, compassion, and empowerment.

HOTS (Higher-Order Thinking Skills)

  1. How is Bholi’s transformation symbolic?
    → It represents how education can uplift oppressed girls.
  2. Would Bholi’s life be different without her teacher?
    → Yes, she might have stayed timid and accepted injustice.
  3. How does the story question society’s attitude towards girls?
    → Shows neglect, discrimination, and pressure to marry, encouraging reform.

 

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