Bholi by KA Abbas Summary Q&A Solved

Summary of "Bholi" by K.A. Abbas

Bholi, originally named Sulekha, was the youngest daughter of Ramlal, a prosperous farmer. An injury in her childhood left her mentally slow, and smallpox disfigured her face. She also struggled with a speech defect, which led to ridicule from her peers and neglect from her family. Unlike her siblings, Bholi was considered unintelligent and unattractive, leaving her future uncertain. Her parents, worried that she might never marry, decided to send her to school as a last resort.

At first, Bholi was terrified of going to school, associating it with rejection like the family cow that was sold. However, her experience at school proved transformative. Her teacher treated her with kindness and patience, helping her build confidence and overcome her speech impediment. Over time, Bholi blossomed into a confident young woman.

Years later, Bholi’s parents arranged her marriage to Bishamber, an older man who limped and had grown children. Though initially willing to marry him, Bholi rejected the match when Bishamber demanded a dowry upon seeing her face. In a moment of strength and clarity, she stood up for herself, refusing to marry a greedy and unkind man. In the end, Bholi decided she would stay with her parents and become a schoolteacher, embracing her newfound self-worth.

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Answers to Questions

1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
   
   Bholi's father was worried because she was neither beautiful nor intelligent, and he feared that she would never get married.

2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
   
   Bholi was sent to school because her parents thought that due to her appearance and perceived lack of intelligence, she had little chance of finding a husband. They believed schooling might be a way to care for her since marriage was unlikely.

3. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
   
   Initially, Bholi was scared on her first day at school, but her teacher's kindness made her feel safe and welcome. By the end of the day, she felt hopeful and excited about returning to school.

4. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home? 
   
   Yes, Bholi finds her teacher different because she is kind and supportive, unlike her neglectful family.

5. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
   
   Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s proposal because they believed that despite his age and limp, Bholi was fortunate to marry a well-off man, especially since he initially demanded no dowry.

6. Why does the marriage not take place? 
   
   The marriage did not take place because Bishamber demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees upon seeing Bholi's pockmarked face. Bholi, realizing his greed and lack of compassion, rejected the marriage.

7. Why is Bholi called Sulekha again at the end of the story?
   
   Bholi is called Sulekha at the end of the story to signify her transformation. She had grown into a confident and independent woman, leaving behind the timid and fearful girl who was once called Bholi, meaning "simpleton."

Think About It (Q&A)

1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
   

   
   Bholi was initially frightened of going to school because she didn't understand what school was like. However, she began to feel she was going to a better place when she was given clean clothes to wear and bathed properly, something she had never experienced before. This special treatment made her believe that school might be a place better than her home, where she had always been neglected.
   
   
2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
   
   
   Bholi’s teacher played a crucial role in transforming her life by showing her kindness, patience, and encouragement. The teacher helped Bholi overcome her fears and speech problems by making her feel confident and capable. She nurtured Bholi’s self-esteem and inspired her to continue her education, giving her the strength to stand up for herself later in life.
   
   
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?
   
   Bholi agreed to the unequal match with Bishamber initially out of a sense of duty to her family. She believed it was her responsibility to marry him to preserve her family's honor. However, when Bishamber demanded a dowry upon seeing her pockmarked face, she realized his greed and cruelty. She rejected the marriage, showing that she had gained the confidence to stand up for herself. This reveals her inner strength, self-respect, and newfound belief in her own worth.
   
   
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?
   
   Bholi is called Sulekha again at the end of the story to symbolize her transformation from a timid, insecure girl (Bholi, meaning "simpleton") to a confident, self-assured woman (Sulekha, her real name). The use of her real name at this point reflects her growth, maturity, and the realization of her true potential. It marks the completion of her journey from vulnerability to empowerment.

SHORT ANSWERS

1. What made Bholi feel she was going to a better place than her home?
   Bholi felt she was going to a better place because she was bathed, given clean clothes, and treated specially, unlike at home where she was neglected.
2. How did Bholi’s teacher change her life?
   Bholi’s teacher showed her kindness and encouraged her, helping her overcome her fears and stammer, building her confidence and self-respect.
3. Why did Bholi agree to the marriage and later reject it?
   Bholi agreed to the marriage out of duty but rejected it when Bishamber demanded dowry, showing she had gained self-respect and independence.
4. Why is Bholi called Sulekha at the end?
   She is called Sulekha at the end to symbolize her transformation into a confident and empowered person, shedding her old timid identity.

TALK ABOUT IT

Answer the following questions in simple and lucid language: 

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? 
   
   I can help change social attitudes by treating everyone with respect, encouraging those who are marginalized, and speaking out against discrimination.
   
   
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? 
   
   Yes, girls should know their rights and assert them. Both girls and boys should have the same rights, duties, and privileges. Society often treats them differently by limiting girls’ education and opportunities, and human rights should be the same for everyone without gender discrimination.
   
   
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.) 
   
   The characters were likely not speaking in English; they were probably speaking in Hindi or another regional language, as indicated by their names and cultural context.

Class X - First Flight- Poem - For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats

 

Poem - For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats

About the Poet

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and nationalist born in Dublin. His ideas and works were influenced by the religious and national turmoil in Ireland. He loved Irish folklore. He embraced metaphysical philosophy Folklore and mysticism dominated his thoughts and poetry. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.

Central Idea of the Poem

Yeats is of the view that most people love others just because they attract them physically. The complexion of the skin and the colour of the hair are more important to us than the 'real' worth of a person. We rarely love people for themselves alone. Even the beautiful Anne Gregory is not liked or loved for her inner beauty or her rare qualities of head and heart but for her beautiful yellow hair. Shallow-minded people adore only physical beauty. We should look for spiritual beauty before falling in love with a lady. Physical beauty is just skin-deep. It is momentary. Unfortunately, most people are attracted by the colour of skin and hair. Only God can love a person for himself alone.

Summary of the Poem

1. Love for Yellow Hair: This poem of W.B. Yeats has been addressed to a young and beautiful lady named Anne Gregory. The physical charm of the young lady is irresistible. Her honey-coloured blonde hair falling on her ear easily attract the onlookers. The hair falling on the ears look like the ramparts or wide walls around a castle. However, it is difficult to say that a young man is thrown into despair and starts loving her only for 'herself alone'. The physical beauty of her hair is so irresistible that the lover doesn't even bother to know whether the young lady has internal beauty and possesses nobility of the soul.

2. Superficial Physical Appearance: Anne Gregory's response in the second stanza is quite expected. She wants to say that she can get hair dye of any kind or colour. It depends on her if she colours her hair brown, black or carrot colour. She explodes the myth of physical beauty. She asks why a young man should fall in love with her and sigh in despair only after seeing the colour of her hair. If at all, any young man shows his love for her, then, that love should be based on her merits She should be loved, not for her outward appearance but for her inner beauty or personality. Her character. personality and inner beauty must be the cause of attraction and not her yellow hair.

3. God's Ability to Look Inside: The poet resolves the conflict in the third stanza. The poet quotes a religious text to prove his point Men are men Humans will fall to physical attractions quite easily. It is quite possible for a young man to be attracted by the beauty of Anne Gregory's blonde hair. Only God has the ability to resist outwardly physical temptations Only God can judge a man or a woman by what he or she is or his or her merits Human beings, without God's strength, can't look beyond outward appearances and physical beauty.

Main Points of the Poem

1. The poem is addressed to a young and beautiful lady named Anne Gregory.

2. Her hair is honey-coloured or blonde

3. Every young man loves Anne just because of her beautiful hair

4. Her hair falling on her ears look like the ramparts surrounding a castle.

5. The poet says that no one would love Anne Gregory for 'herself alone"

6. No one cares for her inner beauty or the nobility of her soul.

7. Her outward appearance and her yellow hair are the only causes for her attraction

8. In the second stanza, the lady, Anne Gregory herself settles the issue.

9. She says that she is free to choose what colour she uses to dye her hair 

10. She can dye her hair brown or black or the colour of a carrot

11. Any young man should fall in love with her only after judging her own merits.

12. Her yellow hair or outwardly appearance should not make any young man to sigh for her in despair.

13. She should be loved for 'herself alone'.

14. In the last stanza, the poet resolves the issue.

15. The poet quotes a religious text.

16. It is beyond human beings not to be attracted by physical appearance or beauty.

17. Human beings can be easily swayed by beautiful yellow hair or outwardly appearance.

18. Only God has the ability to withstand the temptations of physical beauty.

19. Men, without God's strength, simply can't look beyond physical appearances.

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED

Thinking About the poem(page 141)

Question 1. 

What does the young man mean by "great honey-coloured/Ramparts at your ear?" Why does he say that young men are "thrown into despair" by them?

Answer:

The "great honey-coloured ramparts" in the poem "For Anne Gregory" by William Butler Yeats refers to Anne's blonde hair. The metaphor of the ramparts suggests that her hair is striking and impressive, like the fortifications of a castle.

The color honey-colored is likely a reference to the golden and warm color of her hair and the use of the word "ramparts" emphasizes the striking visual impact of her hair. And as to why he says that young men are "thrown into despair" by them, the metaphor is a way of expressing how captivating and beautiful Anne's hair is and how it affects those who see it.

 

Question 2. 

What colour is the young woman's hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so?

Answer:

The colour of the young woman's hair is golden. Her hair can be called 'blonde'. She says that she can change the colour of her hair according to her choice. She can dye the hair brown, black or carrot colour. She wants to show that outward appearances can easily be changed. A young man should not fall in love with her only after seeing her yellow hair or outward appearance. 

Question 3. 

Objects have qualities which make them desirable to others. Can you think of some objects (a car, a phone, a dress.....) and say what qualities make one object more desirable than another? Imagine you were trying to sell an object: what qualities would you emphasise? 

Answer:

When comparing objects, different people may value different qualities, but some common ones that can make an object more desirable than another include:

• A car: fuel efficiency, speed, luxury features, safety ratings, brand reputation

• A phone: camera quality, battery life, processing power, storage capacity, design

• A dress: fabric quality, style, fit, brand, durability

When trying to sell an object, the qualities that are emphasized would depend on the target market and what they value most. For example, if trying to sell a car to a consumer who values fuel efficiency, the salesperson would emphasize the car's fuel efficiency and its cost savings. If trying to sell a phone to a consumer who values photography, the salesperson would emphasize the phone's camera quality and the features it has for photography. If trying to sell a dress to a consumer who values style, the salesperson would emphasize the dress's design, the designer and the style that is in trend.

In general, the most desirable qualities of an object are those that are most useful, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing to the consumer, and that meet the consumer's needs.

A car is an easy way of personal transport. A phone is the easiest way of communication. Similarly, a dress can be used to make your personality more presentable before others. While selling an object, I will emphasize not only its appearance but also its inherent positive characteristics and features.

Question 4.

What about people? Do we love others because we like their qualities, whether physical or mental? Or is it possible to love someone "for themselves alone"? Are some people 'more lovable' than others? Discuss this question in pairs or in groups, considering points like the following:

1. a parent or caregiver's love for a newborn baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy

2. the public's love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker. 

3. your love for a friend, or brother or sister. 

4. your love for a pet, and the pet's love for you.

Answer:

It is possible to both love someone for their qualities, whether physical or mental, and to love someone "for themselves alone." People can be attracted to certain qualities in others, but ultimately it is the person as a whole that is loved.

A parent or caregiver's love for a newborn baby is often based on the unconditional love and bond that is formed from the moment the baby is born. This type of love is often independent of the baby's physical or mental characteristics and is based on the bond and responsibility of being a parent.

The public's love for a film star, sportsperson, politician, or social worker can be based on both their qualities and their actions. For example, a film star may be loved for their acting ability and good looks, while a social worker may be loved for their selfless actions and dedication to helping others.

Similarly, one's love for a friend, brother, or sister can be based on both their qualities and their actions, as well as the shared history and bond that exists between them.

As for a pet, the love for it can be based on their companionship, loyalty, and affection. The pet's love for its owner can also be based on these factors and the bond that is formed through care and attention.

It can be said that people can be "more lovable" in the sense that certain people may possess qualities that are more attractive to certain individuals. However, it is important to note that the concept of "lovability" is subjective and can vary from person to person.

Question 5.

You have perhaps concluded that people are not objects to be valued for their qualities or riches rather than for themselves. But elsewhere Yeats asks the question: How can we separate the dancer from the dance? Is it possible to separate the person himself or herself from how the person looks, sounds, walks and so on? Think of how you or a friend or member of your family has changed over the years. Has your relationship also changed? In what way?

Answer:

It is true that people are not objects to be valued solely for their qualities or riches, but rather for themselves as individuals. However, it can be difficult to separate a person from their physical and mental characteristics, as these are integral parts of who they are.

In Yeats' poem, "How can we separate the dancer from the dance?" he is asking how we can separate the person from their actions and appearance. He is suggesting that it is difficult to love the person from how they look, sound, and walk, as these are all integral parts of their identity.

As people change over the years, their physical and mental characteristics change as well, and this can affect relationships. For example, as a person ages, their appearance may change and this can affect how others perceive them. Similarly, as a person's mental or physical health changes, their behavior and actions may change, which can affect how others interact with them.

It's important to remember that people are complex and multi-faceted, and that our relationship with them can change over time as we get to know them better and as they change. It's important to remember that one's worth is not based on their physical or mental characteristics but on their humanity, and that's what truly makes them valuable.

Class X - Supplementary Reader - Footprints without Feet L10-The Book That Saved the Earth

Class X - Supplementary Reader- Footprints without Feet L10-The Book That Saved the Earth

READ AND FIND OUT

• Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
  
  The twentieth century was called the 'Era of the Book' because it this century knowledge was transferred and stored through books. There were books about everything and any imaginable topic.
• Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
  
  Martians tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century.
• What guesses are made by Think–Tank about the books found on earth?He guesses that the books found on earth are actually sandwiches. He later adds that these might be communication sandwiches used by the earthlings for communication.

THINK ABOUT IT

1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
   
   Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank while correcting his mistakes by not correcting him directly. He always gives Think-Tank that he is just proving an extra information to his boss and master. The master is smart enough to improvise and use that information and correct himself.
2. If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?
   
   I would handle the Think-Tank's mistakes the same way as Noodle did because it is the best method to correct someone without offending him.
3. Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?
   
   Yes, I think that books are being replaced by electronic media. But it appears impossible to do away with books altogether in the near future.
4. Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion?
   
   Books are referred to as a man's best companion because books can be relied on in every situation. These guide and provide knowledge and provide solace to those who feel lonely.