Footprints Bholi

FOOTPRINTS
BHOLI
BY Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
TEAM MEMBERS
1. ADRIEL SAMUEL
2. DHANWIN
3. LOHITRAJ
4. MOKSHI
5. TARUN KUMAR
6. TUSHAL REDDY
7. YESHWANTH
8. YUGESH BABU
"Technique and ability alone do
not get you to the top; it is the
willpower that is most important."
“
—JUNKO TABEI
Table of contents
01 02 03
Introduction Author Summary
WHO IS BHOLI Description
04 05
Main Story Conclusion
0
1
Introduction
Who is Bholi?
Introduction
Bholi is a story written by K.A. Abbas. The story Hi! Iam
revolves around a girl who due to an accidental fall Bholi. This
and disease in her childhood faces the problem of is my story
being dull and ugly. She is always a target by
everyone for not being good-looking and intelligent.
Her life turns when she joins a nearby school where
her teacher encourages her and helps her to become a
learned and confident person.
The effect of family on children is the main theme of

the story Bholi. Bholi is a little child who lacks self-
confidence as a result of her parents’ treatment of her.
The narrative makes hints as to why emotional
stability and family support are crucial for a child’s
healthy development. Children with disabilities must
also receive the same encouragement, love, and
education
02
Author
Description
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (7 June 1914 – 1 June
1987)[2] was an Indian film director,
screenwriter, novelist, and journalist in Urdu,
Hindi and English.
Born :7 June 1914 [Panipat, Punjab, British India
Died: 1 June 1987 (aged 72) Bombay, Maharashtra,
India
Other names: K A Abbas
Occupation(s): Film director, screenwriter, novelist,
j
Notable work
Saat Hindustani
Mera Naam Joker
Relatives Altaf Hussain Hali (grandfather)
Awards
National Film Awards
Golden Palm
03
Summary
SUMMARY
This story is about a girl, Bholi, whose real name was Sulekha. She suffered from
some brain-damage and thus used to stammer. Moreover, she suffered from the
disease of small-pox which left pock-marks on her face. This made her look ugly.
Thus, due to her dullness and ugly face, people made fun of her. Also, people called
her Bholi as she remained a backward child. Ramlal had seven children- three sons
and four daughters. Bholi was the youngest of all daughters. All others were healthy
and strong except Bholi. They would also worry about her marriage. One day,
Tehsildar Sahib came to perform the opening ceremony of a primary school opened
in the village. He asked Ramlal to send her daughter to school. However, Bholi’s
mother was not in support of sending her school. Yet, she agreed.
At first, Bholi was frightened to hear about school. However, when she was properly
cared for, given good clothes and other things, she began to believe that she was
being taken to a better place than her home. She was happy to see girls of her age.
She wanted to make one of them her friends. However, when the teacher asked her
name, she stammered and all the girls laughed. This discouraged her badly. She
started crying. But the teacher was a kind-hearted woman. She encouraged her to
speak. Moreover, she told her that she could overcome her stammering completely if
she came to school daily. This aroused a sign of hope and new life in Bholi.
04
Main Story
Early Childhood
 Her real name was Sulekha. But since her childhood
everyone had been calling her Bholi. She was given this
second name because she was simpleton.
 She was the fourth daughter of the village Numberdar,

Ramlal.
 When Bholi was just ten months old, she had fallen from the
cot. As a result, some part of her brain was damaged. She
grew up as a dull child.
 At the time of her birth, Bholi was very fair and pretty. But
due to ill-luck she had an attack of small-pox when she was
two years old.
 As a result, her body was disfigured by deep black pock-

marks. She could not speak clearly. When she stammered,
other children made fun of her.
Early Childhood
 Ramlal, Bholi's father, was quite worried about her future.
Bholi was the youngest of his seven children.
 All the children, except Bholi, Were healthy.
 Radha, the eldest daughter, was already married.
 Mangla and Champa were good-looking and healthy girls.
 Ramlal had no worries about these daughters. He was

worried only about Bholi. She was neither beautiful nor
intelligent.
Bholi at School
 Bholi was seven years old when a primary school was opened
in the village. The Tehsildar came to perform the opening
ceremony.
 He asked Ramlal to set an example for the villagers by

sending his daughters to school. Ramlal's wife objected to this
idea.
 She said "If girls go to school, who will marry them?" Still
Ramlal did not want to disobey the Tehsildar. His wife at last
agreed to send Bholi to school.
 Bholi was dressed in clean clothes that day. She was given a
bath, and oil was rubbed into her dry hair. This was something
new to her.
 Earlier she had to wear the old dresses of her sisters. Bholi
was filled with fear when her father went back after handing
her over to the headmistress.
HER TEACHER AND BHOLI
 The lady teacher in the class was saying something to the other girls. Bholi could not
understand anything. She just looked at the pictures on the wall.
 The teacher asked Bholi her name but she could only stammer. The teacher
encouraged her to speak out her name. After a few attempts, she spoke out her name
properly.
 The teacher patted her and advised her to cast out fear from her mind. The teacher
gives her a book
 The teacher gave a book to Bholi. It had nice pictures of dog, cat, goat, horse, parrot,
etc the teacher told her that she would be able to read in a month.
 Then she would read a bigger book. No one would laugh at her. Bholi fell very happy.
She felt as if the bells in the village temple were ringing. Her heart was beating with a
new hope and a new life.
Changes in Bholi's School
Many years rolled by. The village became

a small town. The primary school became
a high school. Now there was a cinema
and a cotton grinning mill. The mail train
began to stop all their railway station.
BHOLI’S MARRIAGE
 One night after dinner, Ramlal asked his wife if they should
accept Bishamber's proposal to marry Bholi. His wife was
happy to think that Bholi was going to marry a rich
bridegroom Bishamber was forty-five or fifty.
 He walked with a limp. He had children from his first wife.

But he had a big shop and a house of his own. Bholi heard
this talk between his parents.
 On the fixed date, Bishamber Nath came as a bridegroom.

He was riding a decorated mare. There was a brass-band
playing before the bridegroom. Bholi's sisters seemed to be
jealous of her. Ramlal was overjoyed to see all the pomp
and show. He had never dreamt that his youngest daughter
would enjoy such a fine wedding.
A Hurdle in the wedding
 At the fixed time, the priest asked for the bride's entry. Bholi
was dressed in a red silken bridal sari. One of Bishamber's
friends asked Bholi to garland the bridegroom.
 A woman slipped back Bholi's veil. Bishamber had a quick

look at her face. He asked his friend if he had seen the
pock-marks on Bholi's face.
 His friend replied that it did not matter since he was also not
young. Bishamber asked for a dowry of five thousand
rupees. Ramlal was upset.
 He put his turban, his honour, at Bishamber's feet. He

offered two thousand rupees. But Bishamber did not relax
his demand. So Ramlal had to give five thousand rupees.
Bholi's refusal to marry
Bholi was looking at Bishamber with contempt. When
Bishamber raised the garland to place it round Bholi's neck, she
caught the garland and threw it into the fire.
She told her father that she would never marry such a greedy
man. She had prepared herself to go for an unequal match. But
she would not like to marry a mean, greedy and hateful coward.
A woman remarked that Bholi had proved to be a shameless

girl. She wondered how a "dumb cow" like Bholi could behave
like that. Bholi replied that now this dumb cow had learnt to
speak.
Bishamber and his party decided to return and the ceremony

was cancelled. Bholi's father was filled with shame and grief.
Bholi talks about her future
When everybody was gone, Bholi's father asked her about her
future. Sulekha (Bholi) said in a calm voice that she would serve
her mother and father in their old age. She would teach in the
same school where she learnt so much. Sulekha's teacher, who
was watching this drama, approved of her decision. She looked at
Sulekha in the same way as an artist looks at his masterpiece.
05
Conclusion
CONCLUSION
In the conclusion of the chapter “Bholi,” she transforms from a
timid, insecure girl into a confident and self-assured young
woman. Despite the challenges she faces due to her stammer
and pockmarked appearance, Bholi gains confidence through the
support of her kind teacher and the education she receives.
When faced with the prospect of marrying a greedy and
insensitive man, she bravely refuses, choosing her self-respect
over societal pressure. She assures her father that she will care
for her parents in their old age and decides to become a teacher,
aiming to inspire and educate others as she was once inspired.
Her teacher, witnessing this, feels a deep sense of pride and
satisfaction in Bholi’s remarkable growth and courage.

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FOOTPRINTS

The effect of family on children is the main theme of

 She was the fourth daughter of the village Numberdar,

 As a result, her body was disfigured by deep black pock-

 All the children, except Bholi, Were healthy.

 Radha, the eldest daughter, was already married.

 Mangla and Champa were good-looking and healthy girls.

 Ramlal had no worries about these daughters. He was

 He asked Ramlal to set an example for the villagers by

Many years rolled by. The village became

 He walked with a limp. He had children from his first wife.

 On the fixed date, Bishamber Nath came as a bridegroom.

 A woman slipped back Bholi's veil. Bishamber had a quick

 He put his turban, his honour, at Bishamber's feet. He

A woman remarked that Bholi had proved to be a shameless

Bishamber and his party decided to return and the ceremony

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