The NCERT Solutions for this prose chapter, prepared according to the latest NCERT syllabus and CBSE guidelines, help students study efficiently and perform well in their exams. Each textbook question is answered clearly and precisely in these solutions, aiding students to understand the story’s plot, characters, and its underlying themes effectively.
Chapter 8 of the Class 10 English textbook Footprints without Feet is titled “Bholi” by K.A. Abbas. This inspiring chapter narrates the story of Bholi, a simple and timid girl who faces many challenges due to her looks and lack of education. Despite her hardships, Bholi transforms into a confident and assertive young woman who stands up for herself and secures a better future. The story highlights themes of self-respect, courage, and the importance of education.
Get the Class 10 English Chapter 8 NCERT Solutions in PDF format for free. Here is how the story of courage, self-confidence, and transformation unfolds in Bholi:
Bholi is an inspiring story about a neglected and shy girl named Bholi who overcomes social stigma and personal insecurities to assert her dignity and make bold choices for her life. The story emphasizes the role of education and self-respect in empowering individuals.
This chapter explores key ideas such as:
OR Why was Numberdar Ramlal worried about Bholi? Ans. Ramlal had seven children. All of them except Bholi were good-looking, healthy and strong. Hence it was not difficult to find suitable good matches for them. But on the contrary Bholi had neither good looks nor intelligence. So her father was worried about her. 2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
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Why is Bholi sent to school? Ans. A primary school opened in Bholi's village. The Tehsildar asks Bholi's father to send his daughters to school. It is socially restricted to send girls to school. Nobody would marry a girl who has gone to school. But Bholi's father has no courage to disobey the tehsildar. Bholi's mother suggests that Bholi should be sent to school. She being ugly and witless already stood no chance of getting married. Thus they send Bholi to school to please the tehsildar. 3. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Ans. Yes, Bholi enjoyed her first day at school. She felt happy to see many girls there. The coloured picture on the wall fascinated her. She cried when the girls laughed at her stammer, but the teacher's soft and soothing voice encouraged her. 4. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Ans. Yes, she finds her teacher different from the people at home. Her teacher is kind, sympathetic encouraging and affectionate whereas the people at home neglect her. The teacher told that schooling will make her learned and respected. 5. Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal?
Ans. Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal because he is a wealthy grocer. He didn't demand dowry. They fear that being ugly and witless no one else will marry her. 6. Why does the marriage not take place?
Ans. The marriage does not take place because on seeing pockmarks on Bholi's ace, Bishamber demands dowry of Rs. 5000. Then, Bholi refuses to marry such a mean, greedy and contemptible coward.
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Discuss the role of Bholi's teacher in changing her entire life. Ans. Bholi's teacher played a very important role in changing her life. She was the first person who spoke to her affectionately. She encouraged her to speak out her name without any fear. She inculcated in her a desire to learn. Then she would be more learned. And no one would be able to laugh at her ever. Then people would listen to her and would respect her. She turned her into a confident, daring, self-respecting person who could take her own decisions. 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? Ans. Bholi agreed to an unequal match because she had pockmarks so no one else would marry her. Her parents were worried about her marriage so to free them from this worry she agreed to it. She later rejected the marriage because Bishamber, the groom, demanded Rs. 5000 when he saw her pockmarks. She refused to marry a mean, greedy and contemptible coward. This tells us about her that she is now a bold, confident, self-respecting and self-decisive girl and not a dumb-driven-cow. 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 in Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story? Ans. Sulekha was called Bholi because she was considered to be a simpleton or a foolish girl. Thus the name Bholi symbolises her lack of confidence and wisdom. There is no incident or event in the whole story except at the end that proves that she was no longer a simpleton. This is a conscious effort of the author to showcase that ultimately Sulekha has achieved her real identity by literally flinging her veil into the fire.
Ans. Bholi's teacher helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. I think I can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in this story by making people aware of the benefits of girls' education, by sending my own daughters to school and by guiding them free of cost for competitive exams. 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?
Ans. Yes, girls should be aware of their rights and assert them. Yes, girls and- boys should have the same rights, duties and privileges. These are some of the ways in which society treats them differently. Boys are given higher education whereas girls are given simple education. Girls face restrictions while boys enjoy freedom. When we speak of 'human rights', we do not differentiate between girls' rights and boys' rights. 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.)
Ans. According to me, the characters of the story don't talk in English with each other. Their names Bholi, Bishamber, Ramlal, Radha, Mangla, Champa, Sulekha, Laxmi etc. are all Hindi names. Moreover the use of certain Hindi words like Numberdar, Tehsildar, Ijjat, Pitaji, Sahib, disclose that the characters must be speaking in Hindi among themselves.
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