EXERCISE

Think about it

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

Ans. Bholi had about alone in her home. No one was happy to talk her. But that day she was bathed oil rubbed her hairs and she dressed after washing many times the dress. All this made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home.

2. How did bholi’s teacherplay an important role in changing the course of her life?

Ans. When everyone else neglected bholi and gave her a second rate treatment, her teacher treated he sympathetically, with kind affection. From the very first day of her school. Bholi’s teacher in her soft, sweet, soothing voice encouraged and kindled in her the hope of a new life. She told her to have no fear that would help her to speak without stammer. She motivated her to get educated. Then people would respect her and listen to her. Moreover, education would make her confident and self-dependent. The teacher played a key role in changing the course of bholi’s life. She made her confident, daring and self-respecting person.

3. Why did bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell her about her?

Ans. Bholi at first agreed to an unequal  match because of her father and other family members. She later rejected the marriage because she knew that bishambher was a greedy man he greedy for money. This tells us that she became a brave girl who can face social barriers bravely.

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?

Ans. Sulekha was called ‘bholi’ which means a simpletion or a foolish girl. Throughout the story except as the end there is no incident or even that reflects that she was no longer a simpletion. In the end of the story when bholi refuses to many , means, lame greedy old man, everyone comes to know that she has gained wisdom and is no longer a foolish girl. The narrator has no point in calling her bholi any longer, so he uses her real name – ‘sulekha’.  

Talk about it

1. Bholi’s teacher  helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. How do you can contribute towards changing the social attitude illustrated in this story?

Ans. In the colony I live in, most of the houses have appointed part-time maid servants. They help in various hold chores. I last year when our old maid want to her village, we appointed a new don’t you send her to school?” her two elder brothers are already going to school. I can’t afford any more money on studies. Moreover, what will she do after schooling—household chores only? She can if she studies and gets educated. Well, about affording the money. There is in fees specially for girls in a government school.”

2. Should girls be aware of there 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?

Ans. Girls should be aware of their rights and assert them. Girls and boys should have the same rights, duties and privileges. Society treats them differently in education, marriage and taking work. When we speak of human rights we don’t differentiate between girls and boy’s rights.