Bholi Bholi

Notes
25

BHOLI

A little girl Bholi fails to develop self confidence due to her parental attitude.
Read the lesson and find out, how?

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
• explain the importance of emotional security and family support for children;
• indicate the need of love, encouragement and education for the disabled to
fight against their odds;
• demonstrate the use of simple past and past perfect tense in speech and
writing.
• use appropriate form of words in context.

25.1 SECTION I
From her very childhood Bholi was a little slow. She had smallpox marks on
her face and she stammered. Why did her teacher take special interest in
her? Did Bholi measure up to her teacher’s expectations?
Her name was Sulekha, but since her childhood everyone had been calling her
Bholi, the simpleton.
She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was ten months
old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it had damaged some part
of her brain. That was why she remained a backward child and came to be known
as Bholi, the simpleton.

ENGLISH 203
 Bholi Bholi

At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two years old, she
had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved, but the entire body was
permanently disfigured by deep black pock-marks. Little Sulekha could not speak
till she was five, and when at last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other
Notes children often made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.

Ramlal had seven children — three sons and four daughters, and the youngest of
them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household and there was plenty to
eat and drink. All the children except Bholi were healthy and strong. The sons had
been sent to the city to study in schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters,
Radha, the eldest, had already been married. The second daughter Mangla’s
marriage had also been settled, and when that was done, Ramlal would think of
the third, Champa. They were good-looking, healthy girls, and it was not difficult
to find bridegrooms for them.

But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks nor intelligence.

Bholi was seven years old when Mangla was married. The same year a primary
school for girls was opened in their village. The Tehsildar sahib came to perform
its opening ceremony. He said to Ramlal, “As a revenue official you are the
representative of the government in the village and so you must set an example to
the villagers. You must send your daughters to school.”

That night when Ramlal consulted his wife, she cried, “Are you crazy? If girls go to
school, who will marry them?”

But Ramlal had not the courage to disobey the Tehsildar. At last his wife said, “I
will tell you what to do. Send Bholi to school. As it is, there is little chance of her
getting married, with her ugly face and lack of sense. Let the teachers at school
worry about her.”

The next day Ramlal caught Bholi by the hand and said, “Come with me. I will
take you to school.” Bholi was frightened. She did not know what a school was
like. She remembered how a few days ago their old cow, Lakshmi, had been
turned out of the house and sold.

“N-n-n-n NO, no-no-no,” she shouted in terror and pulled her hand away from
her father’s grip.

“What’s the matter with you, you fool?” shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to
school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today, or else
what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls think of us when they “see her?”

New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were

204 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. But today she was
lucky to receive a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and no
longer fitted Champa. She was even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and
matted hair. Only then did she begin to believe that she was being taken to a place
better than her home! Notes

INTEXT QUESTIONS 25.1

A. 1. What incident made Bholi a backward child?
2 At what age did Bholi have an attack of small pox? What was its effect on
her looks?
3 Why did Bholi talk very little? Give two reasons.
4 What kind of farmer Ramlal was? What was his worry about Bholi.
5 Why did the Tehsildar ask Ramlal to send his daughters to school? Give
two reasons.
6 Why Ramlal’s wife disagreed when he consulted her for sending Bholi to
school?
7 How finally Ramlal’s wife agreed to send Bholi to school?
8 Why Bholi felt frightened at the idea of being taken to school? Give two
reasons.
9 New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters
were passed on to her. What light does this statement reflect about her
parents behaviour.
B. Activity
You noticed your younger brother mimicking his friend (who limps) and making
fun of him. Write a paragraph in about 100 words to make him understand
that it was not desirable. You may use the following clues:
- it can happen to any body,
- he cant help it.
- it will hurt him emotionally and move his self confidence.
C. Inferential questions
1. Pickup the relevant facts from the unit which suggest that the society was
against girls education.

ENGLISH 205
 Bholi Bholi

2. Pickup two examples from the unit that suggest discriminatory behaviour of
Bholi’s parents.
3. Going to school was turning point in Bholi’s life. Elaborate the statement with
examples from the story
Notes

25.2 SECTION II
A girl who had not heard the name of school or who did not know what a school
was and who felt terrified to go to school developed attachment with the school.
How did it happen? Read the second unit of the story.

When they reached the school, the children were already in their classrooms.
Ramlal handed over his daughter to the headmistress. Left alone, the poor girl
looked about her with fear-laden eyes. There were several rooms, and in each
room girls like her squatted on mats, reading from books or writing on slates. The
headmistress asked Bholi to sit down in a corner in one of the classrooms.
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was like and what happened there, but
she was glad to find so many girls almost of her own age present there. She hoped
that one of these girls might become her friend.
The lady teacher who was in the class was saying something to the girls but Bholi
could understand nothing. She looked at the pictures on the wall. The colours
fascinated her—the horse was brown just like the horse on which the Tehsildar
had come to visit their village; the goat was black like the goat of their neighbour;
the parrot was green like the parrots she had seen in the mango orchard; and the
cow was just like their Lakshmi. And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher was
standing by her side, smiling at her.
“What’s your name, little one?”
“Bh-Bho-Bho.” She could stammer no further than that.
Then she began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes in a helpless flood. She kept
her head down as she sat in her corner, not daring to look up at the girls who, she
knew, were still laughing at her.
When the school bell rang, all the girls scurried out of the classroom, but Bholi
dared not leave her corner. Her head still lowered, she kept on sobbing.
“Bholi.”

The teacher’s voice was so soft and soothing! In all her life she had never been
called like that. It touched her heart.

206 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

“Get up,” said the teacher. It was not a command, but just a friendly suggestion.
Bholi got up.

“Now tell me your name.”

Notes
Sweat broke out over her whole body. Would her stammering tongue again disgrace
her?’ For the sake of this kind woman, however, she decided to make an effort.
She had such a soothing voice; she would not laugh at her.

“Bh-Bh-Bho-Bho,” she began to stammer.

“Well done, well done,” the teacher encouraged her. “Come on, now — the full
name?”

“Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi.” At last she was able to say it and felt relieved as if it was a
great achievement.

“Well done.” The teacher patted her affectionately and said, “Put the fear out of
your heart and you will be able to speak like everyone else.”

Bholi looked up as if to ask, “Really?”

“Yes, yes, it will be very easy. You just come to school every day. Will you come?”
Bholi nodded. “No, say it aloud.”

“Ye-Ye-Yes.” And Bholi herself was astonished that she had been able to say it.

“Didn’t I tell you? Now take this book.”

The book was full of nice pictures and the pictures were in colour — dog, cat,
goat, horse, parrot, tiger and a cow just like Lakshmi. And with every picture was
a word in big black letters.

“In one month you will be able to read this book. Then I will give you a bigger
book, then a still bigger one. In time you will be more learned than anyone else in
the village. Then no one will ever be able to laugh at you. People will listen to you
with respect and you will be able to speak without the slightest stammer.
Understand? Now go home, and come back early tomorrow morning.”

Bholi felt as if suddenly all the bells in the village temple were ringing and the trees
in front of the school-house had blossomed into big red flowers. Her heart was
throbbing with a new hope and a new life.

Thus the years passed.

ENGLISH 207
 Bholi Bholi

INTEXT QUESTIONS 25.2

(A) Complete the following sentences:
Notes
1. Bholi was taken to school by her father because ………………. .
2. Bholi was ………………. when she reached school and saw so many
girls of her age.
3. Bholi liked ……………. pictures on the wall.
4. The teacher, in the class, asked Bholi …………….
5. Bholi stammered and …………….. when the teacher talked to her.
6. The teacher’s ……………. address touched Bholi’s heart.
7. She felt relaxed and relieved because …………..
8. Bholi could stammer her full name later because …………
9. Bholi was no longer scared of the teacher or anybody else in the class
because ………………..
10. Bholi was assured by the teacher that soon in a month’s time she would
be able to i) …………….. and ii) …………..
11. Bholi felt (i) …………. at these assurances of the teacher and she became
hopeful of (ii) ………………..
(B) Find words from the passage which have similar meanings.
i) sit on one’s heels with knees bent up
ii) frightened
iii) attracted
iv) paid attention
v) examine closely
(C) Here is a table of cause and effect of certain actions and events match them.
Cause Effect
1. Bholi was nervous. A. Bholi kept looking at the pictures
in the classroom.
2. The teacher assured Bholi that she B. Bholi was sweating all over her
would get respect from all and she body.
would be the most learned person.

208 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

3. The teacher patted Bholi C. Bholi became hopeful of a better

affectionately. tomorrow.
4. Bholi couldn’t understand what D. the class girls were laughing at her.
the teacher taught.
5. The headmistress had asked her to E. Bholi could overcome her Notes
sit there in the corner. nervousness soon.
6. There were many girls of Bholi’s F. Bholi hoped she would make friend
age in the class. with any one of the girls.
7. The teacher asked Bholi to getup G. Bholi sat in a corner of the class.
in a suggested manner.
8. She feared her stammering tongue H. Bholi’s heart throbbed with new
would betray and disgrace her again. hope for new life.
9. The teacher was very encouraging I. Bholi had no fear of being laughed
and spoke in soothing words. at.
10. The teacher affectionately patted her.
J. Bholi left the corner where she sat
for a long time.
11. The teacher assured better treatment K. Bholi felt cheered up and confident.
from people of the village.

25.3 SECTION III

You have read that the simple little girl Bholi who had deep pock marks was
regarded as a backward child. Her father sent her to school where she sat in a
corner and looked around with fear. The teacher tried to encourage her to speak.
Over the years Bholi had learnt a lot and also gained a lot of confident.

Read the unit III to find out how Bholi showed her confidence and her decision
making faculty.

The village became a small town. The little primary school became a high school.
There were now a cinema under a tin shed and a cotton ginning mill. The mail train
began to stop at their railway station.
One night, after dinner, Ramlal said to his wife, “Then, shall I accept Bishamber’s
proposal?”
“Yes, certainly,” his wife said. “Bholi will be lucky to get such a well-to-do
bridegroom. A big shop, a house of his own and I hear several thousand in the
bank. Moreover, he is not asking for any dowry.”
“That’s right, but he is not so young, you know — almost the same age as I am —
and he also limps. Moreover, the children from his first wife are quite grown up.”

ENGLISH 209
 Bholi Bholi

“So what does it matter?” his wife replied. “Forty-five or fifty —it is no great age
for a man. We are lucky that he is from another village and does not know about
her pock-marks and her lack of sense. If we don’t accept this proposal, she may
remain unmarried all her life.”
Notes
“Yes, but I wonder what Bholi will say.”
“What will that witless one say? She is like a dumb cow.”
“May be you are right,” muttered Ramlal.
In the other corner of the courtyard, Bholi lay awake on her cot, listening to her
parents’ whispered conversation.
Bishamber Nath was a well-to-do grocer. He came with a big party of friends and
relations with him for the wedding. A brass-band playing a popular tune from an
Indian film headed the procession, with the bridegroom riding a decorated horse.
Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendour. He had never dreamt that
his fourth daughter would have such a grand wedding. Bholi’s elder sisters who
had come for the occasion were envious of her luck.
When the auspicious moment came the priest said, “Bring the bride.”
Bholi, clad in a red silken bridal dress, was led to the bride’s place near the sacred
fire.
“Garland the bride,” one of his friends prompted Bishamber Nath.
The bridegroom lifted the garland of yellow marigolds. A woman slipped back the
silken veil from the bride’s face. Bishamber took a quick glance. The garland
remained poised in his hands. The bride slowly pulled down the veil over her face.
“Have you seen her?” said Bishamber to the friend next to him “She has pock-
marks on her face.”
“So what? You are not young either.”
“May be. But if I am to marry her, her father must give me five thousand rupees.”
Ramlal went and placed his turban — his honour — at Bishamber’s feet. “Do not
humiliate me so. Take two thousand rupees.”
“No. Five thousand, or we go back. Keep your daughter.”
“Be a little considerate, please. If you go back, I can never show my face in the
village.”
‘Then out with five thousand.”
Tears streaming down his face, Ramlal went in, opened the safe and counted out
the notes. He placed the bundle at the bridegroom’s feet.

210 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

On Bishamber’s greedy face appeared a triumphant smile. He had gambled and

won. “Give me the garland,” he announced.
Once again the veil was slipped back from the bride’s face, but this time her eyes
were not downcast. She was looking up, looking straight at her prospective Notes
husband, and in her eyes there was neither anger nor hate, only cold contempt.
Bishamber raised the garland to place it round the bride’s neck; but before he
could do so, Bholi’s hand struck out like a streak of lightning and the garland was
flung into the fire. She got up and threw away the veil.
“Pitaji!” said Bholi in a clear loud voice; and her father, mother, sisters, brothers,
relations and neighbours were startled to hear her speak without even the slightest
stammer.
“Pitaji!” Take back your money. I am not going to marry this man.”
Ramlal was thunderstruck. The guests began to whisper, “So shameless! So ugly
and so shameless!”
“Bholi, are you crazy?” shouted Ramlal. “You want to disgrace your family? Have
some regard for our izzat!”
“For the sake of your izzat,” said Bholi, “I was willing to marry this lame old man.
But I will not have such a mean, greedy and contemptible coward as my husband.
I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.”
“What a shameless girl! We all thought she was a harmless dumb cow.”
Bholi turned violently on the old woman, “Yes, Aunty, you are right. You all thought
I was a dumb-driven cow. That’s why you wanted to hand me over to this heartless
creature. But now the dumb cow, the stammering fool, is speaking. Do you want
to hear more?”
Bishamber Nath, the grocer, started to go back with his party. The confused
bandsmen thought this was the end of the ceremony and struck up a closing song.
Ramlal stood rooted to the ground, his head bowed low with the weight of grief
and shame.
The flames of the sacred fire slowly died down. Everyone was gone. Ramlal turned
to Bholi and said, “But what about you, no one will ever marry you now. What
shall we do with you?”
And Sulekha said in a voice that was calm and steady, “Don’t you worry, Pitaji!
In your old age I will serve you and Mother and I will teach in the same school
where I learnt so much. Isn’t that right, Ma’am?”

ENGLISH 211
 Bholi Bholi

The teacher had all along stood in a corner, watching the drama. “Yes, Bholi, of
course,” she replied. And in her smiling eyes was the light of a deep satisfaction
that an artist feels when he contemplates the completion of his masterpiece.
- K.A. Abbas
Notes

INTEXT QUESTIONS 25.3

1. State whether the statements given below are True (T) or False (F):
(a) The village did not change at all.
(b) Ramlal’s wife was in a hurry to marry off Bholi to anyone.
(c) Ramlal was reluctant to get Bholi married to Bishamber.
(d) On seeing the grand wedding Bholi’s sister envied Bholi’s luck.
(e) Bholi’s father readily gave Rs. 5,000/- to the bridegroom.
(f) In the end the dumb cow Bholi had gathered enough courage to face
any difficulty.
2. Tick the right choice. Bishmaber had asked for Rs. 5,000/- because:
(a) he did not want to marry Bholi.
(b) he wanted to humiliate Bholi.
(c) he had gambled and won.
(d) he urgently needed some money.
3. Tick the right answer. Bholi’s decision not to marry Bishamber showed that
she was now:
(a) shameless and ill-mannered.
(b) bold and confident.
(c) a dumb and harmless cow.
(d) sharp and rude.
4. What changes came over the village in a few years?
5. How was Bishamber a well to do bridegroom?
6. Why did Bholi’s mother not consult Bholi for her marriage?
7. What condition did Bishamber lay down to marry Bholi and why?

212 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

8. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?

9. There was a light of deep satisfaction in the teacher’s eyes. Why?
10. Find words from the passage which mean the same as under:
(a) of good omen Notes
(b) jealous
(c) victorious
(d) despicable
(e) to consider
11. Given below are the events in a jumbled form. Rewrite them in order as they
occur in the story.
(a) Bishamber refused to marry Bholi and demanded money.
(b) The marriage was a show of great pomp and splendour.
(c) The teacher felt a deep satisfaction on seeing Bholi as a bold and confident
girl.
(d) The bandsmen got confused and struck up a closing song.
(e) Bishamber was considered a well to do bridegroom for Bholi by her
parents.
(f) Bholi confidently told her father to take back the money and refused to
marry Bishamber.
(g) A great transformation had taken over the village.
(h) The guests called Bholi shameless and a disgrace to the family.

GRAMMAR
Describing words: Adjectives

Read the describing words given below:

a. small town.
b. well-to-do bridegroom
c. big shop
d. dumb cow
e. decorated house
Notice that all the above words describe the underlined words. They tell us
something more about them. So, these words are called describing words or
adjectives.

ENGLISH 213
 Bholi Bholi

Lets read some more examples of describing words from the lesson ‘Bholi’.
a. grand wedding
b. suspicious moment
c. red silken bridal dress
Notes
d. sacred fire
e. greedy face
1. List out some more describing words from Unit III.
2. Complete the passage given below with adjectives given in the box:

perfect happy pleasant luxury enjoyable

cloudy content green clear nearby
quiet delicious
It was a ____ and ____ day. A ____ day to go out for a picnic. We decided
to book a ____ bus and go to the ____ lake. The lake was full of ____ water
and the ____ meadows were an added attraction. Many picnickers had
surrounded the place but we managed to get a ____ place near the trees. The
____ food was a pleasure to eat. We returned ____ and ____ after an ____
picnic.
3. Word Formation

Look at the table given below. The words appear in the Ist and 2nd unit of the
lesson ‘Bholi’. Notice the word transformation. Some words (nouns) have been
transformed to verbs and some to adjectives.

Noun Verb Adjectives

intelligence - intelligent
ceremony ceremonial, ceremonious
consultation consult
courage courageous
fascination fascinate
suggestion suggeste
achievement achieve
encouragement encourage
affection affectionate
astonishment astonish

214 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

4. Transform the nouns given below in verbs and vice versa:

Nouns Verbs
a. Conversation ___________
Notes
b. ___________ humiliate
c. Consideration ___________
d. ___________ announce
e. Satisfaction ___________
f. ___________ contemplate
g. Completion ___________

OVERALL QUESTIONS
1. Bholi’s meeting with her teacher was a turning point in her life. From then on
there was no looking back. She bloomed into a thinking individual with self
esteem and decision-making skills. Illustrate this with examples from the story.
2. Society is by and large insensitive to a person who does not fit into its concept
of ‘normal’. Illustrate this with reference to Bholi’s situation.
3. Do you think Bholi would have had a better childhood if her parents had been
suitably advised or counseled? Discuss, mentioning her parents attitude and
general treatment given to her.
VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable words given in the brackets.
Bholi suffered ___________ (disfigure, disfigurement) following a bout of
small pox. As a results she became withdrawn and spoke very seldom. When
she did speak it was with a ___________ (stammer, stammering) and children
mimicked her. This ___________ (mimic, mimicking) and ___________
(humiliate, humiliation) prevented her ___________ (grow, growth).
Then she met her teacher who treated Bholi with ___________ (understand,
understanding) and spoke to her as to an ___________ (intelligence,
intelligent) person. She provided her with a book to read and a lot of
___________ (encourage, encouragement). As a result she lost her fear and
blossomed into a self confident girl. This was her ___________ (triumph,
triumphant) over her short coming.

ENGLISH 215
 Bholi Bholi

2. Read the following sentences and complete them using the correct form of the
words given below.
disgrace terror disobey respect place
Notes suggest consider contempt achieve satisfy
1. Making fun of others and calling their names is ___________ behaviour.
We must learn to ___________ the individuality of persons and treat no
one in a ___________ manner.
2. Hard work and perseverance can help anyone to earn a ___________
___________ in society.
3. ___________ is looked upon as a serious offence in the army. No
___________ is shown towards a rule breaker.
4. I was ___________ of the dark. My friend ___________ that I should
overcome my fear by practising stepping into a familiar dark ___________
to begin with. I think his ___________ has helped me in controlling this
___________ of the dark that I had.
5. As I look back at my ___________ with ___________ I remember my
teacher who showed me the right direction.
GRAMMAR
Simple Past and Past Perfect Tense
1. In each of the following sentences two sets of events are given. Read these
and complete the table as indicated.
a) Bholi was given a dress which her sister had discarded.
b) When the teacher came up to Bholi, all the girls had left.
c) Bholi went to school after her father had been advised by the Tehsildar.
d) The teacher was worried because Bholi had not spoken a single word.
e) Bholi decided not to marry Bishamber after he had demanded extra money
from her father.
No. Event that happened first Event that happened later

a. ...sister had discarded her dress Bholi was given the (same) dress…
b.
c.
d.
e.

216 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

The verbs under the first heading ‘Events that took place first’ are in the Past
Perfect Tense (had + Past Participle). The tense acquires meaning and
perspective when it is contrasted with simple Past Tense (in column 2)
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words given in brackets. Notes
a. When the authorities ___________ (wake up), most of the forest
___________ ___________ (disappear).
b. Children in that village ___________ (be) healthy because their parents
___________ ___________ ___________ (taken care) of their
immunization.
c. I ___________ (can) decide quickly since my teacher ___________
___________ (teach) me how to take conscious decisions, way back in
school.
d. Everyone ___________ (appreciate) the lovely painting that she
___________ ___________ (make)
e. We ___________ (run) outside to look at the new car uncle___________
___________ (buy)
f. My aunt ___________ (like) the sweater I ___________ ___________
(knit) for her.
3. Look at the situations and complete the sentences below
a. A: When _______ you _______ the film?
B: I saw it last week.
b. A: _______ _______ you _______ _______to the police?
B: I was afraid to do so.
c. A: _______ _______ you _______ for your holiday.
B: Oh, we went to Kashmir.
d. A: _______ _______ the principal _______ you?
B: He told me to be careful in future.
e. A: _______ _______ you last _______ your medicines?
B: About an hour back.
4. Look at these sentences. They present the negative form of Past tense. For
example: They were not worried about the examination so they did not study.
Complete the sentences below:
a. You were sleeping so deeply when I came in, so I _______ (not disturb)
you.
b. It was raining the whole day, so I _______ _______ _______ (not go)
out.

ENGLISH 217
 Bholi Bholi

c. Sumeet was deeply hurt by Rekha’s word, so he _______ _______ _______

(not attend) her party.
d. The man looked suspicious, so Deepak _______ _______ _______ (not
let) him enter the house.
Notes
e. The road looked very crowded, so I _______ _______ _______(not take)
it. I took a different route.

COMPREHENSION
Read the following passage and answer questions that follow:

Do you remember the arguments that you had with your parents during
adolescence? How you disagreed on various issues? You must have expected to
be treated as a ‘grown up’, to be allowed to take your own decisions, to be given
more freedom, and so on and your parents may have refused. You must have
resented the restraints imposed by them. You must have not liked your parent’s
objections to the things that you wanted to do. You may have felt at that time that
your parents do not understand you; that they do not love you, and this may have
made you feel irritated and miserable.

So, what would you suggest to the parents of adolescents? Yes, first of all, as has
been mentioned earlier, they should educate their children about the rapid changes
during adolescence; they should appreciate the adolescent’s troubled emotional
state due to the physical changes and be more tolerant; they should stop treating
the adolescent as if she is still a child; they should be understanding, and should be
both friends and guides to the adolescent.

Lack of control by parents is also harmful. If parents do not impose any constraints
on the adolescents, then they have a tendency to go astray and choose the wrong
path, and later become difficult to discipline. Such adolescents feel let down and
think that nobody cares for them. Hence some discipline from parents is necessary.

The kind of disciplinary techniques that parents use has a great impact on the
adolescent. If parents are very strict and do not give the adolescents a chance to
speak on any matter, then the adolescents may go against their wishes. On the
other hand, if they would reason out and give the adolescents a chance to express
their opinion, adolescents would also listen to and respect their parents.

1. Read the passage and give it a suitable title.

2. Adolescents like to be treated as _______.
a) children

218 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

b) grown-up
c) equals
3. The resentment of adolescents stems from their parents _______
Notes
a) refusing to talk to them
b) refusing to advice them
c) putting restrictions on them
4. Many adolescents feel miserable and irritable because they think_______
a) their parents do not love them
b) their parents do not understand them
c) their parents put too much responsibility on them
5. Parents ought to _______
a) allow adolescents to go their way
b) impose a strict discipline on adolescent
c) impose a reasonable amount of discipline on adolescent
6. Read the passage again and state whether the following statements are True
or False.
a) Parents should educate their children about the changes that occur during
adolescents.
b) They should treat adolescents as children.
c) When there is not discipline adolescents feel let down.
d) Parents should give a patient hearing to their children and hear their views.
e) Adolescents never listen to reason.
7. Complete these sentences based on your understanding of the text.
a) often a clash of _______ gives rise to disagreement between adolescents
and their parents.
b) Too much of _______ affects the adolescents adversely. They might
become rebellious.
c) Parents should handle the adolescents with (i) _______ and (ii) _______.
They should act as _______ and _______ .
d) If parents give the adolescents a very long rope they might be in the
danger of going (i) _______. Hence a bit of (ii) _______ is necessary.
e) Adolescents respect parents who give them a chance to express their (i)
_______ . This leads to mutual (ii) _______ and (iii) _______.

ENGLISH 219
 Bholi Bholi

8. Answer the following questions by selecting the correct alternatives.

a) The text is a factual description/narration.
b) The text favours parents/adolescents/none
Notes
c) The text is in the simple present Tense because it talks of facts/it presents
opinions/it narrates events.

LET’S WRITE
1. Write a case history of a girl child or boy of your locality who was denied the
right to education.
2. Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper to express your views how
child labour is a waste of human wealth.
3. Write a case history of a boy who had fallen prey to smoking and drugs.
Followup: Prepare a case history of any such case followed by preparing a poster
to create awareness against such a practice.

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

Intext Questions 25.1
1. Bholi had fallen off form the cot and some part of her brain was damaged.
2. Bholi had an attack of small pox when she was only two years old. It left
black pock-marks on her whole body only eyes remained intact.
3. Bholi talked very little because she stammered while speaking. She developed
inhibition. Secondly she was laughed at and mimicked by the children.
4. Ramlal was a prosperous farmer. He was worried about Bholi’s marriage as
she had neither good looks nor intelligence.
5. Tehsildar asked Ramlal to send his daughter to school because- a new primary
school for girls was opened and new admission were required. Secondly
Ramlal being representative of government in the village was expected to get
an example before the villagers.
6. Ramlal’s wife didn’t agree to send her daughters to school because of her
apprehension that it would be difficult to get them married off if they were
educated.
7. Ramlal’s wife suggested him to sent Bholi because- It would satisfy Tehsildar
and secondly Bholi being with ugly face and little sense had very little chance

220 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

to get married
8. Bholi was frightened at the idea of being taken to school because:
(i) she had no idea of what a school is,
Notes
(ii) She had seen earlier a cow being taken out of the house to be sold.
9. She was neglected and treated as a second grade member in the family. Her
needs and emotions were never given any consideration. In other words Bholi’s
parents had discriminatory attitude towards her.
Intext Questions 25.2
(A)
1. …. The Tehsildar had insisted that his daughter’s should be sent to the village
school to set an example.
2. …. Excited/glad
3. ….colourful ….
4. ….to get up and tell her name ….
5. …. Could tell full word ….
6. …. Soft and soothing ….
7. ….no one had ever called ….
8. …. The teacher encouraged her
9. …. The teacher was kind and sympathetic
10. (i) read the school book and then she would get bigger books
(ii) She would be more learned than anyone else in the village/no one would
laugh at her/people in the village will speak with respect/she would be able to
speak without the slightest stammer.
11. (i) relaxed/relieved
(ii) a new life
(B) i) squat
ii) fear-laden
iii) fascinated
iv) noticed

ENGLISH 221
 Bholi Bholi

v) look at
(C) 1 – D, 2- H, 3- K, 4 –A, 5- G, 6-F, 7-J, 8-B, 9-E, 10-I, 11- C
Intext Questions 25.3
Notes 1. a. False b. True
c. True d. True
e. False f. True
2. c. he had gambled and won
3. b. Bold and confident
4. Village became a small town. Primary school became a high school. A cinema
hall and a cotton ginning mill had come up. The mail train had began to stop.
5. Bishamber had a big shop, a house of his own and several thousand rupees in
the bank.
6. The mother regarded Bholi as a senseless, dumb cow. She felt Bholi did not
have enough courage to either refuse or revolt.
7. Because of her ugly face covered with pock marks. He asked for five thousand
rupees.
8. Because Bholi felt the old and lame Bishamber was a greedy and despicable
man.
9. Because the teacher was satisfied that learning in the school had transformed
the stammering dumb cow Bholi into a very bold and confident girl
10. a. auspicious d. contemptible
b. envious e. contemplate
c. triumphant
11. Sequence of the story
a. g b. e
c. b d. a
e. f f. h
g. d h. c
Grammar
1. a. triumphant smile

222 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

b. a clear loud voice

c. greedy and contemptible coward
d. harmless dumb cow
Notes
e. heartless creature
f. confused bandsman
g. calm and steady voice
2. i) pleasant ii) cloudy iii) perfect iv) luxury
v) nearby vi) clear vii) green viii) quiet
ix) delicious x) happy xi) content xii) enjoyable
4. a. converse
b. humiliation
c. considerate
d. announcement
e. satisfy
f. contemplation
g. complete
Overall Questions
1. • Teacher was the first person who showed her respect as individual.
• Earlier she was neglected, treated as dumb cow
• Under teacher’s guidance read books, learnt and obtained education.
• Learnt to be self-reliant and self-confident
• Was able to take decisions and did not let anyone push her-even into
marriage.
2. A person with a physical/mental shortcoming or a person quiet and withdrawn
normally rejected by society.
• Bholi’s own mother called her names was neglected her. Was unwilling to
send her to school.
• Her friends mocked at her. People humiliated her. No one interacted with her
leading to her insecurity and stammer.
• People were outraged to find her speak her mind at her marriage and called
her Shameless as if they wanted her to remain suppressed for ever.

ENGLISH 223
 Bholi Bholi

3. Bholi’s mother and father too in an indirect way neglected her thinking. She
was ugly, dumb and slow. (no bath, old clothes, no interaction).
• This was partly out of ignorance.
Notes • Had they been counselled how to make a ‘challenged’ person’s live meaningful
they would not have neglected her.
• It was Tehsildar who stepped in to bring about a change in her life.
• Her parents needed to be told that even she could achieve in life.
Vocabulary
1. disfigurement stammer mimicking humiliation
growth understanding intelligent encouragement
triumph
2. 1. disgraceful, respect, contemptuous.
2. respectable place
3. disobedience, consideration
4. terrified, suggested, place, suggestion, terror
5. achievements, satisfaction
Grammar
1. Events that happened first Events that happened later
a) … sister had discarded Bholi was given the (same) dress
(her dress)
b) … the girls had left Teacher came up to Bholi
(the school)
c) … father had been advised Bholi went to school
by the Tehsildar
d) Bholi had not spoken The teacher was worried
a single word
e) Bishamber had demanded Bholi decided not to marry him
extra money from her
father
2. a) woke up, had disappeared
b) were, had taken care
c) could, had taught

224 ENGLISH
 Bholi Bholi

d) appreciated, had made

e) van, had bought
f) liked, had knitted
Notes
3. a) When did you see the film?
b) Why did you not report to the police?
c) Where did you go for your holiday?
d) What did the principal tell you?
e) When did you last take your medicines.
4. a) did not disturb
b) did not go
c) did not attend
d) did not let
e) did not take
Passage for comprehension

1. Any suitable tile carrying the idea about Role of Parents in the life of an
adolescent
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. c
6. (a) True
(b) False
(c) False
(d) True
(e) False
7. (a) ideology
(b) discipline
(c) (i) understanding

ENGLISH 225
 Bholi Bholi

(ii) sympathy
(iii) friends, guides
(d) (i) astray
Notes (ii) control
(e) (i) emotions/opinions
(ii) understanding
(iii) respect
8. (a) narration
(b) adolescent
(c) the text is in the simple present tense because it talks of facts.

226 ENGLISH