BHOLI
- K.A Abbas
This story is about a girl, named Sulekha, who was known
as Bholi, the simpleton. She had a pockmarked face and
stammered while speaking. As she was different from her
siblings, she did not get proper care in her family. Her
father sends her to a school because of a command from the
tehsildar. The teacher in the school becomes the true mentor
of Bholi and helps her gain some confidence. Time flies and
with that Bholi becomes a young woman who is educated;
unlike her sisters. Because of her ugly looks and
pockmarked face, her father agrees to marry her off to a
person who is double her age. Bholi agrees with her parents’
decision. But when the bridegroom arrives he demands a
hefty dowry to marry her. Bholi’s decision at the time of
marriage proves her true worth as an educated and
independent individual.
SUMMARY
The story opens up with the introduction of a little girl named Sulekha. She was
called ‘Bholi’ for being a simpleton. This was so because some part of her brain
had got damaged due to an injury during her childhood. She stammered and had
pockmarks on her face which she got when she had contracted smallpox at the
age of two. She was a laughing stock for everyone. Her father Ramlal was a
Numberdar. He had three sons and four daughters, Bholi being the youngest of
all. Ramlal was always worried about her as it seemed impossible to marry her
with her having an ugly face and a dumb mind. One day, the Tehsildar visited their
village to inaugurate a girl’s primary school. He persuaded Ramlal to send his
daughters to school. Ramlal’s wife suggested to send Bholi to school, although
she was against sending girls to school because no boy would marry such a girl.
She reasoned that as Bholi had no chance of getting married, so she could go to
school. In the beginning, Bholi was frightened to leave her house but when for the
first time in her life, she was dressed up and her hair was washed and oiled, she
felt that she was to visit a better place.
SUMMARY
In the school, she met a teacher who was very kind and polite to her. She encouraged her to
study and speak with confidence. This filled hope in Bholi and she began to go to school every
day. Years passed and her village upgraded into a small town with some facilities like a cotton
mill, a cinema and the primary school being converted into a secondary school. One day
Bholi’s parents decided to marry her to a lame old man who was a widower but was rich and
had not demanded any dowry. They thought it to be the best marriage proposal for their dumb
daughter and fixed up her marriage. On the wedding day, the bridegroom arrived with great
pomp and show which filled Ramlal with joy. The groom discovered that Bholi had pock marks
and demanded dowry in return for marrying her. He demanded a sum of five thousand rupees.
Ramlal begged for mercy and even placed his turban in Bishamber’s feet but Bishamber Nath
did not agree. Ramlal had to give the money in order to save both his family’s honour and his
daughter’s marriage. Bholi could not bear all this and refused to marry a greedy old man.
People accused her of being shameless. The wedding party returned. The marriage ceremony
ended without Bholi getting married. Her father was surrounded by grief and said that now no
one would marry her and what would she do in future. To this, she replied that she would take
care of her parents when they grew old and would teach in her school. Her teacher who was
quietly watching all this felt proud of her decision.
THEMES
Treatment given to
people with disability.
Importance of emotional
support and security from
family.
Importance of
education.
Mental strength to fight
against social injustice –
menace of dowry.
CHARACTERS
BHOLI
Sulekha, referred to as Bholi( the simpleton).
had a pockmarked face, hence neglected by parents.
was timid and submissive since childhood.
learnt to talk very late and stammered a lot.
did not have the confidence to speak.
the compassion shown by her teacher changes her as a human being.
grows up to be an educated and independent individual.
raised her voice against social injustice.
decided to take care of her old parents and earn for her living.
CHARACTERS
RAMLAL
A wealthy man of the village.
He was a typical father to young girls and wanted them to get married.
Did not send them to school.
Neglected Bholi, due to her disabilities.
Like a father wanted her to get married, hence selected Bishamber without
thinking about her.
Suffered from a false sense of honour.
CHARACTERS
TEACHER
a true educator, looked beyond physical appearance.
Gave Bholi the guidance and support that she needed.
Changed her life for better.
Educated her and made her a confident individual to rise
against social injustice.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
TITLE
The eponymous character of the story Bholi was named
because of her physical disabilities. Since her brain was
damaged as a young girl she was named Bholi ( the
simpleton). She was someone who suffered a lot as a
child still remained a simpleton. The girl without
complexities rose into a confident young individual,
protesting against the heinous crimes committed against
women. By refusing to marry Bishamber, she
overshadowed the petty customs of the society and the
simple girl hence rises above all complications. She did
not hesitate for once before taking the responsibility of her
parents who neglected her as a child.
ASSIGNMENT
1. How did Bholi find her teacher to be different from others? (2)
2. What filled Bholi, ‘a dumb cow’, with a new hope in her? (3)
3. Why were Bholi’s sisters envious of her luck? (2)
4. The last line of the story talks about an artist and the masterpiece.
Elaborate. (3)
5. Bholi chose a dignified life of service rather than surrendering herself to
a greedy old man for the rest of her life. Education provides the required
stimulus to overcome one’s personal barriers. Explain the role of education
in shaping the life of a child with respect to the lesson ‘Bholi’. (5)
6. The story ‘Bholi’ highlights the discrimination against the girl child.
Analyze. (5)
Thank You