Welcome to our comprehensive guide on “Bholi” from the NCERT English book, Footprints Without Feet. In this post, we delve into the story of Bholi, exploring its summary, key themes, vocabulary, and character sketches. Click here to see Q&A of this lesson ‘Bholi’.
Chapter Notes – Bholi
Summary of “Bholi”:
The story “Bholi” is about a girl named Sulekha, who was nicknamed “Bholi” because she was considered simple and slow. As a child, she suffered from smallpox, which left her face scarred, and she stammered when she spoke. Due to these issues, she was neglected by her family, who worried about her future.
When a new girls’ school opened in the village, Bholi’s father sent her to school. At first, Bholi was scared, but her kind teacher helped her gain confidence and overcome her stammering. Over time, Bholi grew into a confident and educated young woman.
When her parents arranged her marriage to an older, greedy man named Bishamber, Bholi showed great courage by rejecting him because he demanded a dowry at the last moment. She stood up for herself and chose to live independently, promising to take care of her parents and work as a teacher.
The story highlights themes of empowerment through education, self-respect, and breaking free from societal expectations.
Vocabulary Notes:
Here are some important words and phrases from the story “Bholi,” along with their meanings in English and Hindi:
- Simpleton
- A person who is considered foolish or lacking intelligence.
- सीधा-सादा, भोला व्यक्ति
- Disfigured
- To spoil the appearance of something or someone.
- विकृत, बिगड़ा हुआ
- Stammer
- To speak with difficulty, often repeating the first sound of words.
- हकलाना
- Prosperous
- Wealthy or successful in material terms.
- समृद्ध, खुशहाल
- Tehsildar
- A revenue officer in charge of a tehsil (an administrative division).
- तहसीलदार, राजस्व अधिकारी
- Contempt
- The feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath respect.
- तिरस्कार, अवमानना
- Sacred fire
- A holy fire used in Hindu wedding rituals.
- पवित्र अग्नि
- Pock-marks
- Small scars or indentations on the skin, often caused by smallpox.
- चेचक के दाग
- Triumphant
- Feeling or expressing victory or success.
- विजयी, सफल
- Humiliate
- To make someone feel ashamed or foolish.
- अपमानित करना
- Blossomed
- To develop, grow, or come to full potential.
- खिलना, विकसित होना
Short Explanation of the story “Bholi”
Introduction:
Bholi’s real name was Sulekha, but everyone called her “Bholi,” meaning simple or foolish. She was the youngest daughter of Numberdar Ramlal, a prosperous farmer in the village.
Bholi’s Childhood:
When Bholi was a baby, she fell from her cot and injured her head, which affected her brain. As a result, she grew up a little slower than other children. At birth, Bholi was beautiful, but when she was two years old, she got smallpox. The disease left her face covered with black scars. She also didn’t speak until she was five, and when she did, she stammered. Other children teased her for this, so she talked very little.
Bholi’s Family:
Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters. His other children were healthy and good-looking. The sons went to school and college, while two of the daughters were already married. But Ramlal was worried about Bholi because of her appearance and slow mind. He feared no one would marry her.
Bholi Goes to School:
A new girls’ school opened in the village, and the village officer (Tehsildar) asked Ramlal to set an example by sending his daughters to school. Ramlal’s wife was against the idea, thinking that educated girls wouldn’t find husbands. But since Bholi had little chance of marriage anyway, they decided to send her to school.
Bholi was scared when she first went to school. She thought she might be thrown away like their old cow. However, she was given clean clothes and looked nice for the first time. At school, Bholi was nervous but was attracted to the colorful pictures on the wall.
Bholi’s Transformation:
At school, her teacher spoke to her kindly. Bholi stammered when asked her name, but the teacher encouraged her with patience. Slowly, Bholi gained confidence and spoke without fear. The teacher gave her a book and promised that Bholi would become knowledgeable and respected one day. This gave Bholi new hope, and she started to feel confident about her future.
The Proposal:
Years passed, and Bholi grew older. One day, Ramlal talked to his wife about a marriage proposal for Bholi. A man named Bishamber Nath, a wealthy grocer, was willing to marry her. He was much older and limped, but since he didn’t ask for dowry, Ramlal’s wife thought Bholi was lucky. Ramlal hesitated because Bishamber was older, but they felt Bholi wouldn’t get another proposal.
The Wedding:
Bholi listened to her parents talking about the proposal. On the wedding day, Bishamber saw her face and demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees because of her pockmarks. Ramlal begged him not to disgrace the family, but Bishamber insisted. In tears, Ramlal gave him the money.
Bholi’s Courage:
At the last moment, Bholi surprised everyone. She refused to marry Bishamber, calling him greedy and cowardly. For the first time, she spoke clearly and loudly, shocking her family and the guests. She threw the garland into the fire and stood up for herself, saying she would not marry such a mean man.
Bholi’s Decision:
Bholi’s family was worried about what would happen to her, but she calmly said she would stay with her parents and take care of them. She planned to become a teacher in the same school where she had learned. Her teacher, who had watched everything, was proud of Bholi’s courage and transformation.
Message of the Story: The story shows Bholi’s journey from being a shy, neglected girl to a confident and independent woman. It teaches that education and self-respect can change a person’s life. Bholi’s bravery in standing up for herself against a greedy man is an important lesson about self-worth and courage.
Important Themes in “Bholi”:
- Education as Empowerment:
Education plays a key role in transforming Bholi from a timid, neglected girl into a confident, self-assured woman. Through learning, she gains knowledge, self-respect, and the courage to stand up for herself. The story highlights how education can empower individuals, especially girls, to break free from societal norms and take control of their own lives. - Self-Respect and Courage:
Bholi’s decision to reject Bishamber’s marriage proposal shows the theme of self-respect. Despite being considered a “simpleton,” Bholi refuses to be treated unfairly. Her courage to stand up for herself and reject the greedy groom teaches the importance of self-worth and not settling for injustice. - Social Stigma and Appearance:
The story explores how society judges people based on physical appearance. Bholi is ridiculed and treated as less valuable because of her pockmarked face and stammering. The story shows the unfairness of such superficial judgments, emphasizing that true worth comes from character and intelligence, not looks. - Gender Discrimination:
Bholi’s parents are worried about her future because she is not “beautiful” or “intelligent,” reflecting the societal pressure on girls to conform to certain standards for marriage. The story critiques how girls are often seen as a burden if they are not able to get married, and how education is often denied to them because of this mindset. - Transformation and Growth:
Bholi’s journey from a scared, stammering girl to a confident woman who takes charge of her own future is a key theme. The story shows that people can grow and change with the right support, encouragement, and opportunities, regardless of their past or how others see them.
These themes make the story a powerful commentary on the importance of education, self-respect, and breaking free from societal pressures.
Moral of the story (Bholi):
The moral of the story “Bholi” is that education empowers individuals, especially women, to build confidence, self-respect, and independence. It teaches us that true strength comes from within and that physical appearance or societal judgments should not define a person’s worth. Additionally, the story highlights the importance of standing up against injustice and refusing to settle for less, even when pressured by society.
Character Sketch of Main Characters in “Bholi”:
Bholi (Sulekha): A timid, stammering girl who transforms into a confident and courageous woman, standing up for her self-respect after receiving education.
- Shy and Insecure (in her early life): Bholi was a timid, stammering girl who lacked confidence due to her physical appearance and the neglect she faced from her family and peers. She was scarred by smallpox, and her speech impediment made her feel inferior.
- Transformation: After receiving education and encouragement from her teacher, Bholi transformed into a confident and courageous young woman. She overcame her stammer and developed self-respect, rejecting societal norms and choosing to live with dignity.
- Courageous and Self-Respecting: Bholi displayed great strength and self-respect when she refused to marry Bishamber, who insulted her and demanded dowry. She stood up for herself and chose an independent future.
- Kind and Compassionate: Despite her harsh treatment, Bholi remained compassionate. She offered to take care of her parents in their old age, showing her sense of duty and kindness.
Ramlal (Bholi’s Father): A traditional, loving father who is concerned about Bholi’s future but is too weak to resist societal pressure and customs like dowry.
- Traditional and Concerned: Ramlal is a traditional farmer who worries about Bholi’s future because of her appearance and perceived lack of intelligence. Like many parents of his time, he was more focused on getting his daughters married rather than educating them.
- Loving but Weak: Though he cares for his daughter, Ramlal lacks the strength to fight societal pressures. He reluctantly sends Bholi to school and later tries to marry her off to an older man just to secure her future, even at the cost of her happiness.
- Helpless and Emotional: Ramlal feels helpless when Bishamber demands dowry, and his inability to stand up for Bholi highlights the emotional struggles of a father caught between love for his daughter and societal expectations.
Bholi’s Teacher: A kind, supportive woman who empowers Bholi by encouraging her to overcome her fears and realize her potential through education.
- Kind and Supportive: The teacher plays a pivotal role in Bholi’s transformation. She is patient, kind, and encourages Bholi to overcome her fears and insecurities. Her warm and nurturing approach helps Bholi develop confidence and self-respect.
- Empowering Influence: The teacher instills in Bholi the belief that she is capable and intelligent. She teaches Bholi to speak up for herself, showing the power of education and positive mentorship.
Bishamber Nath: A greedy, selfish man who demands dowry for marriage, showing his cowardice and superficial judgment of others based on appearance.
- Greedy and Selfish: Bishamber is an older, wealthy grocer who agrees to marry Bholi despite her physical appearance but only for a large dowry. His greed is evident when he demands extra money after seeing her pockmarked face.
- Cowardly: Bishamber is a cowardly man who humiliates Bholi’s family by making selfish demands, showing that he values money more than respect or relationships.
- Antagonist: He represents the negative aspects of societal customs like dowry and the superficial judgment of people based on appearance.
These characters, especially Bholi, illustrate the power of education and inner strength in overcoming societal challenges.
