Welfare Mission International School
Class -10th Session:2024-25
Chapter: Bholi
NCERT Questions Answers
Q1.Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Answer. Bholi’s father was worried about her as she had neither good looks nor
intelligence. He did not know how he would find a suitable groom for her.
Q2.For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Answer. Bholi is sent to school because there is little chance of her getting
married, with her ugly face and lack of sense.
Q3.Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Answer. Yes, Bholi enjoys her first day at school as 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.
Q4. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Answer. Yes, she finds her teacher different from the people at home as the
teacher was polite and this touched her heart.
Q5.Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Answer. Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal becsuse if they
don’t accept it, she would not be married for the rest of her life.
Q6.Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer. The marriage does not take place because the groom demanded dowry.
Q7. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that
she was going to a better place than her home?
Answer. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She remembered
how their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. When she
got a clean dress, bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry hair,only then she felt
that she was going to a better place than her home.
Q8. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her
life?
Answer. Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life.
She was polite and friendly which touched her heart. She encouraged her every
time and was affectionate towards her and said to Bholi to put her fears of not able
to speak aside. The teacher transformed her into a confident person who could
read, write and speak clearly.
Q9. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the
marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Answer. Bholi at first agreed to an unequal match because she was lucky to get a
well-to-do bridegroom who owned a big shop, had a house of his own and had
several thousand in the bank. Moreover, he was not asking for any dowry. Bholi
also heard her mother saying that he did not know about her pock-marks and her
lack of sense. If the proposal was not accept she might remain unmarried all her
life. She later rejected the marriage because the bride groom demanded five
thousand rupees as dowry. On seeing the father pleading and humiliated she
decided not to marry him.
This tells us that she has self respect and knows what is right or wrong and is able
to take a wise decision.
Q10.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?
Answer. The world Bholi means a simpleton. Throughout the story she had been a
simpleton hardly expressing her opinion. The word Sulekha means the person with
beautiful sense of letters. In this story this word has a larger meaning of being a
literate, intelligent and mature individual. After her education Bholi has really
changed to Sulekha and her assertion during marriage is her announcement to the
world that she is no more a Bholi but Sulekha..
