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(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter - 9) (Bholi), (Class - 10), Read and Find Out - I, Question 1:, Why is Bholi's father worried about her?, L Answer 1:, Bholi's real name was Sulekha. She was just 10 months old when she suffered a brain injury due to, which she always remained backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton. At birth, she was fair and pretty but at the age of two she suffered from small pox. Her entire body was fully, disfigured. These were the reasons her 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., Question 2:, For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?, Answer 2:, Being the revenue official of the government of the village Bholi's father was asked to set an example, by sending her daughters to school. Bholi was sent to school because there was a little chance of her, getting married, with her ugly face and lack of sense., Read and Find Out - II, Question 1:, Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?, . Answer 1:, 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., Question 2:, Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?, . Answer 2:, when she could not speak her own name other girls started laughing at her and she felt, embarrassed. She was treated the same way at her home. But she found her teacher different from, the people at home as the teacher was polite and this touched her heart., Read and Find Out - III, Question 1:, Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's marriage proposal?, E Answer 1:, Bholi's parents accepted Bishamber's marriage proposal because he was a well set man. He had own, house and a big shop. They feared that if they don't accept the proposal, she would not be married, for the rest of her life. They thought that this was their only chance as Bishamber was from another, village and did not about her pock-marks and lack of sense., Question 2:, Why does the marriage not take place?, 1

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(Footprints without Feet) (Chapter 9) (Bholi), (Class - 10), LAnswer 2:, When Bishamber saw Sulekha's face he was shocked to see her face. He did not want to marry her, then but put a condition that he will marry only if Bholi's father would pay him five thousand rupees., This was the reason marriage did not take place because the groom demanded dowry., Think about it, Question 1:, Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a, better place than her home?, E Answer 1:, Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. She compared herself to their old cow,, Lakshmi, who 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., Question 2:, How did Bholi's teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?, E Answer 2:, Bholi's teacher played an important role in changing the course of her life. While everyone at the, school laughed and made fun of her, she was polite and friendly which touched her heart. Her, teacher always encouraged her 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., Question 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?, . Answer 3:, Bholi's father agreed to this marriage proposal because according to him 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 did not ask for any dowry. He was totally unaware of Bholi's her pock-marks, and her lack of sense. She accepted the marriage proposal because of her father's pride. Later she, rejected the marriage because the bride groom demanded five thousand rupees as dowry. Bholi's, father was pleading and humiliated and could give only two thousand rupees to Bishamber. She, decided not to marry him. This tells us that she had self-respect and knows what is right or wrong, and is able to take a wise decision., Question 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 is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that, point in the story?, Answer 4:, The world Bholi means a simple person who is innocent at heart. Throughout the story she had been, a simpleton who hardly expressed her opinion. The word Sulekha means the person with beautiful, sense of letters. In this story this word has a well-built meaning of being a educated, gifted and, mature individual. After getting educated, Bholi had really changed to Sulekha and her affirmation, during marriage was her declaration to the world that she is no more a Bholi but Sulekha., 2

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(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter- 9) (Bholi), (Class - 10), Question 5:, Bholi's story must have moved you. Do you think girl children are not treated at par with boys? You, are aware that the government has introduced a scheme to save the girl child as the sex ratio is, declining. The scheme is called Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Save the Girl Child. Read about the scheme, and design a poster in groups of four and display on the school notice board., . Answer 5:, This is an activity, so do yourself., Talk about it, Question 1:, Bholi's teacher helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. How do, you think you can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in this story?, Answer 1:, Bholi's teacher has really played a nice job. She gave such encouragement to Bholi which made her, face the world. When Bholi was brought to school, she could hardly speak her name. The teacher, provided all help to her and inspired her. She developed the qualities of confidence. It was her, efforts which made her challenge the dowry-seeker. This story plays a very important role in giving, a message to those people who keep their daughter uneducated. The society should understand that, education can do any wonders and can help to do away with curse like dowry. Bholi has shocked, the world with her confidence and such serials should be telecast to change the attitude., Question 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?, Answer 2:, Girls' rights are very significant in our society. In fact girls form the backbone of the society as well, as economy. They have always been exploited and have become victims or rage. The rights and, duties are two faces of a coin. Right to equality, right to liberty, right to education, right to, constitutional remedies are very important for every girl child. There should be equality between, rights and duties of girls and boys. By making a distinction, we will be doing wrong. Although in, many fields girls are given privilege but that is meant to bring both the sexes together. A girl must, be educated as a priority. If we are educating a girl we are educating the whole family., Question 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.), . Answer 3:, In this story the main characters are village Tehsildar and Numberdar, who do not seem to possess, much education. The names such as Lakshmi for cow and Ramlal for head of family give reflection, of rural life. In such rural background the language spoken must be Hindi or regional. It is a very, new experience for Bholi to go to school and learn small English words. The dialect must be in rural, асcent., 3