Bholi - Q&A
Think about it
1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Bholi felt she was going to a better place because she was treated with care for the first time. On the day she was taken to school, she was bathed, oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair, and she was given a clean dress that had shrunk and no longer fitted her sister Champa. This unusual attention made her believe that the school must be a better place than her own home.
2. How did Bholi's teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Bholi's teacher played a crucial role by treating her with kindness and encouragement. Unlike others who mimicked her stammer, the teacher spoke to her in a soft, soothing voice. She motivated Bholi to speak without fear and instilled confidence in her. She gave her a book and promised to make her more learned than anyone in the village. This support transformed the frightened, stammering Bholi into a confident young woman named Sulekha who could stand up for her rights.
3. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
At first, Bholi agreed to the unequal match to uphold her family's honour ("izzat") and because she considered herself lucky to find a well-to-do groom despite her pock-marks and lack of intelligence.
She later rejected the marriage because the groom, Bishamber, demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees after seeing her pock-marks, humiliating her father. She refused to marry a "mean, greedy and contemptible coward."
This tells us that she has self-respect, courage, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. She is no longer a "dumb cow" but an educated woman who refuses to be exploited.
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?
She is called Sulekha again at the end to signify her transformation. Throughout the story, she is referred to as "Bholi" (the simpleton) because she is seen as backward and foolish. However, when she confidently rejects the dowry-seeking groom and speaks clearly without stammering, she proves she is no longer a simpleton. She has become an educated, wise, and courageous individual, rightfully reclaiming her real name, Sulekha.
5. 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.
(Model Answer) Yes, Bholi's story is moving and highlights how girl children are often neglected compared to boys. In many families, sons are sent to good schools while daughters are kept at home or married off early.
Poster Concept for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao':
Title: SAVE THE GIRL CHILD, EDUCATE THE GIRL CHILD
Slogan: "A Daughter is a Flower, Not a Thorn. Let Her Bloom!"
Visual: A picture of a girl holding a book and smiling, with the sun rising behind her.
Key Points:
- Stop Female Foeticide.
- Education is her Birthright.
- An Educated Girl = An Educated Nation.
Issued by: Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
Talk about it
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?
(Model Answer) We can contribute by:
1. Treating everyone with respect, regardless of their appearance or abilities.
2. Not making fun of people who stammer or have disabilities.
3. Encouraging girls in our neighbourhood to go to school and study.
4. Standing up against practices like dowry and discrimination.
5. Helping those who are less fortunate by teaching them or sharing resources.
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 girls' rights and boys' rights?
Yes, girls should be absolutely aware of their rights and assert them to live with dignity. Yes, girls and boys should have the same rights, duties, and privileges because they are equals.
Differences in treatment: Society often expects girls to be submissive, do household chores, and get married early, while boys are encouraged to study, play, and work outside. Boys are often given better food and freedom.
Human Rights: No, human rights are universal. We do not differentiate between girls' and boys' rights; every human being is entitled to the same fundamental rights of life, liberty, and education.
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, the characters were not speaking in English. They were likely speaking in Hindi or a local rural dialect of North India. The clues are in the names (Ramlal, Bishamber Nath, Sulekha, Bholi) and the Hindi words used in the text, such as "Numberdar", "Tehsildar", "Pitaji", and "Izzat".