Important Questions Chapter 4.2 “Bholi” Class 10 English Maharashtra Board

Important Question For All Chapters – English Class 10

Short Questions

1. Who is the author of the story “Bholi”?

• K.A. Abbas.

2. What is Bholi’s real name?

• Sulekha.

3. Why was Sulekha nicknamed Bholi?

• Because she was simple and slow-witted.

4. How did Bholi get her disfigured face?

• She had smallpox when she was two years old.

5. Why did Bholi’s parents decide to send her to school?

• They thought she had no marriage prospects.

6. What was Bholi’s initial reaction to going to school?

• She was scared and unwilling.

7. Who encouraged Bholi to gain confidence?

• Her kind and supportive teacher.

8. What role did Bholi’s teacher play in her life?

• The teacher helped Bholi gain confidence and overcome her fears.

9. Why did Bishamber Nath refuse to garland Bholi initially?

• He saw her pockmarked face and demanded dowry.

10. How much dowry did Bishamber Nath demand?

• ₹5000.

11. What did Bholi do when Bishamber demanded dowry?

• She refused to marry him.

12. What did Bholi decide to do instead of marrying Bishamber?

• She decided to care for her parents and become a teacher.

13. What does the story “Bholi” criticize?

• Social evils like dowry and discrimination.

14. What is the theme of the story?

• The power of education and self-respect.

15. How many siblings did Bholi have?

• Six (three brothers and three sisters).

16. What did the Tehsildar ask Ramlal to do?

• Send his daughters to school.

17. What was Bholi’s condition when she joined school?

• She was scared, shy, and stammered.

18. What change did education bring in Bholi?

• She became confident and self-reliant.

19. What was Bholi’s final decision about her life?

• To serve her parents and teach in her village school.

20. How does the story end?

• With Bholi rejecting societal norms and standing up for her self-respect.

Long Questions

1. Why was Bholi neglected by her family?

• Bholi was neglected because of her disfigured face, stammer, and slow-wittedness, making her seem like a burden to her parents. They believed she had no future and treated her as inferior to her siblings.

2. How did Bholi’s teacher change her life?

• Bholi’s teacher gave her love and encouragement, helping her overcome her fears and stammering. She inspired Bholi to develop confidence and believe in her abilities through education.

3. Why was Bholi sent to school despite her mother’s objection?

• The Tehsildar urged Ramlal to send his daughters to school, and Bholi was chosen because her parents thought she was unsuitable for marriage. Her mother reluctantly agreed, thinking education would make her someone else’s responsibility.

4. What made Bholi initially afraid of school?

• Bholi was terrified because she associated leaving home with being abandoned, as happened to their cow Lakshmi. She also lacked confidence and feared ridicule from others.

5. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber Nath?

• Bishamber demanded a dowry of ₹5000 after seeing her pockmarked face, which hurt Bholi’s self-respect. She boldly rejected the marriage, showing her strength and dignity.

6. How did education empower Bholi?

• Education gave Bholi the confidence to stand up for herself, voice her opinions, and fight against injustice. It transformed her from a timid girl into a courageous and self-reliant woman.

7. What role did Ramlal play in Bholi’s life?

• Ramlal, though initially hesitant, sent Bholi to school under the Tehsildar’s influence. Despite being protective, he later supported her decision to prioritize her self-respect.

8. What social evils are addressed in “Bholi”?

• The story critiques dowry, gender discrimination, and societal neglect of girls with disabilities. It also emphasizes the transformative power of education in challenging these evils.

9. What was the significance of the garland being thrown into the fire?

• Bholi’s act of throwing the garland into the fire symbolized her rejection of societal pressures and her demand for dignity. It was a turning point that marked her transformation into a strong, independent individual.

10. Why did Bholi decide to stay unmarried?

• Bholi chose to stay unmarried to care for her aging parents and work as a teacher. She proved that a woman’s worth is not dependent on marriage but on her values and choices.

11. How does the story “Bholi” reflect the importance of self-respect?

• Bholi rejected a greedy and opportunistic groom, proving that self-respect is more important than societal approval. She showed courage in choosing dignity over an unfair compromise.

12. What is the moral of the story “Bholi”?

• The story teaches that education is a powerful tool for empowerment and that self-respect is crucial. It encourages readers to challenge social evils and stand up for justice.