Education has the power to transform lives and challenge deep-rooted social prejudices.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8, Bholi, written by K.A. Abbas, is a heart-touching story of a simple girl who rises above her fears and social discrimination through education and self-confidence.
Q.
READ AND FIND OUT - 1
Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Q.
READ AND FIND OUT - 1
For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Q.
READ AND FIND OUT - 2
Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Q.
READ AND FIND OUT - 2
Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Q.
READ AND FIND OUT
Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Q.
READ AND FIND OUT
Why does the marriage not take place?
Q.
Think about it
Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Q.
Think about it
How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Q.
Think about it
Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Q.
Think about it
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?
Q.
Talk about it
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?
Q.
Talk about it
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?
Q.
Talk about it
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.)
The chapter narrates the journey of Bholi (Sulekha), a girl considered weak and unattractive by society, who gains confidence, self-respect, and courage with the help of an empathetic teacher. The story highlights themes such as gender equality, education, self-respect, social reform, and empowerment. This chapter is part of the Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet textbook.
The NCERT Solutions for Chapter 8 – Bholi provided below are written in clear, exam-oriented language to help students understand the story deeply and prepare confidently for school and board examinations. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet
Chapter 8 Questions & Answers – Bholi
Read and Find Out – 1
Q1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Solution: Bholi’s father is worried about her because she has neither good looks nor intelligence. Due to her stammering and pock-marks, he is unsure whether he will be able to find a suitable bridegroom for her.
Q2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Solution: Bholi is sent to school because her parents believe she has little chance of getting married due to her appearance and lack of confidence. Sending her to school is seen as a way to do something useful with her life.
Read and Find Out – 2
Q3. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Solution: Yes, Bholi enjoys her first day at school. She is happy to see girls of her own age and feels hopeful that she may make friends. Most importantly, her teacher speaks to her kindly, giving her confidence and hope.
Q4. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Solution: Yes, Bholi finds her teacher different from everyone at home. The teacher speaks to her gently and with affection, which touches Bholi’s heart and fills her with confidence.
Read and Find Out
Q5. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Solution: Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s proposal because they feel fortunate that someone is willing to marry her despite her physical appearance and stammering. Moreover, Bishamber does not initially demand any dowry.
Q6. Why does the marriage not take place?
Solution: The marriage does not take place because Bishamber demands a dowry of five thousand rupees after noticing Bholi’s pock-marks. Bholi refuses to marry such a greedy and disrespectful man.
Think About It
Q7. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel she was going to a better place?
Solution: On the day she was taken to school, Bholi was bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and her hair was oiled. This special treatment made her feel valued and gave her the impression that school was a better place than her home.
Q8. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Solution: Bholi’s teacher was the first person to treat her with kindness and respect. She encouraged Bholi to speak confidently, helped her learn to read, and instilled self-belief in her, transforming her into a confident individual.
Q9. Why did Bholi agree to an unequal match at first and later reject the marriage?
Solution: Bholi initially agreed to the marriage to protect her father’s honour. However, she rejected the marriage when Bishamber demanded dowry, showing her courage, self-respect, and confidence gained through education.
Q10. Why is Bholi called Sulekha again at the end of the story?
Solution: Bholi is called Sulekha again at the end because she regains her true identity. She becomes confident, articulate, and courageous, proving that she is no longer the timid and helpless girl she once was.
Talk About It
Q11. How can education help change social attitudes as shown in the story?
Solution: Education empowers individuals with confidence, self-respect, and awareness of their rights. Bholi’s transformation shows that education can challenge social evils like dowry and gender discrimination.
Q12. Should girls be aware of their rights and assert them?
Solution: Yes, girls should be aware of their rights and assert them. Education helps them become independent, confident, and capable of standing up against injustice.
Q13. Were the characters in the story speaking English? If not, which language were they speaking?
Solution: No, the characters were not speaking English. The story is set in a village in Haryana, so they were likely speaking the local language of the region.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 – FAQs
Q1. What is the central message of “Bholi”?
Answer: The story highlights the transformative power of education and emphasizes self-respect, gender equality, and courage.
Q2. How does Bholi’s character change by the end of the story?
Answer: Bholi transforms from a timid and insecure girl into a confident and self-respecting woman who stands up against injustice.
Q3. Why is this chapter important for board exams?
Answer: This chapter is frequently asked in exams for questions on character sketch, social message, women empowerment, and theme-based answers.