Class 10 English · Original EZT practice
Bholi - K.A. Abbas (Class 10 English, Footprints without Feet, Chapter 8)
Bholi is Chapter 8 of Class 10 Footprints without Feet (Reprint 2026-27, pp. 47-55), K.A. Abbas's story of a girl everyone calls a simpleton. Neglected at home, marked by small-pox scars and a stammer, Sulekha - Bholi - is sent to school almost by accident, and there a kind teacher slowly builds her confidence. Years later, when her bridegroom demands five thousand rupees to marry her, Bholi does the unthinkable: she says no. This page gives a full summary, characters, theme, word meanings and fresh practice questions. (Note: this is original practice, not a textbook exercise key.)
6 original worked examples, 6 fresh self-check questions and 4 mixed questions, with explained answers. These are not copied textbook exercises, an official chapter index or a full answer key. No affiliation with NCERT is claimed.
Official sources for topic and edition context, checked 24 October 2026:
1. Summary - the simpleton who said no
Sulekha is called Bholi, 'the simpleton': a childhood fall perhaps damaged her brain, small-pox left deep black pock-marks, and she stammered so badly that other children mimicked her. Her father Ramlal has seven healthy children - but Bholi has 'neither good looks nor intelligence.' When a girls' primary school opens in the village, the Tehsildar tells Ramlal, as the government's representative, to set an example. His wife refuses to risk the other daughters' marriages - so Bholi, the one with 'little chance of getting married', is sent. On the first day Bholi is terrified - she remembers the old cow Lakshmi being sold - but a clean dress, a bath and oiled hair tell her she may be going 'to a place better than her home.' In class she cannot even stammer her name and weeps while the other girls laugh. The teacher speaks to her 'so soft and soothing' - a voice she has never heard. Patiently she coaxes out 'Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi', praises her, and promises: 'Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like everyone else.' She gives Bholi a picture book - in a month she will read it, then bigger books, until 'no one will ever be able to laugh at you.' Years pass; the village becomes a small town and the school a high school. A proposal comes from Bishamber Nath, a well-to-do grocer - nearly Ramlal's age, limping, with grown-up children from his first wife - but asking no dowry. Bholi's parents accept; Bholi overhears everything from her cot. At the wedding, as Bishamber lifts the garland, the veil slips - he sees the pock-marks and stops: 'her father must give me five thousand rupees.' Ramlal lays his turban at the bridegroom's feet, begs, and pays - tears streaming - the full five thousand. This time Bholi's eyes are not downcast: only 'cold contempt.' Her hand strikes out 'like a streak of lightning' and flings the garland into the sacred fire. 'Pitaji! Take back your money. I am not going to marry this man' - spoken without the slightest stammer. To the shocked guests and her shamed father she explains: for his izzat she was willing to marry a lame old man, but never 'such a mean, greedy and contemptible coward.' When Ramlal asks what will become of her, Sulekha answers calmly: she will serve her parents in their old age 'and I will teach in the same school where I learnt so much' - and the teacher smiles, 'as an artist feels when contemplating the completion of her masterpiece.'
2. Characters
Bholi (Sulekha): Numberdar Ramlal's fourth daughter - a fall on her head at ten months, small-pox pock-marks at two, a stammer from late speech - neglected and mimicked until school changes her life. Ramlal: her father, a prosperous revenue official (Numberdar) with seven children; worried about Bholi's marriage and terrified of his village honour (izzat). Bholi's mother: dismissive - 'If girls go to school, who will marry them?' - she sends Bholi to school only because 'there is little chance of her getting married.' The teacher: the unnamed lady teacher whose soft voice, encouragement and picture books give Bholi hope - and who watches the wedding scene 'with the light of a deep satisfaction.' Bishamber Nath: the well-to-do, middle-aged, limping grocer who demands five thousand rupees when he sees the bride's pock-marks - 'a mean, greedy and contemptible coward.'
3. Theme and word meanings
Education transforms: one encouraging teacher turns a 'dumb cow' into a young woman who can judge, refuse and speak - in the last lines she is Sulekha again, not Bholi. Dignity over izzat: Bholi will accept an unequal match for her father's honour, but not sell herself to greed; self-respect outranks social shame. Neglect versus nurture: the home that names her 'simpleton' and the school that calls her 'little one' produce two different girls. Word meanings from the textbook glossary: simpleton - a foolish person easily tricked by others; numberdar - an official who collects revenue; matted - entangled; squatted - sat on their heels; scurried - ran or moved hurriedly; ginning - separating raw cotton from its seeds; downcast - looking downwards.
Choose, solve, check, then try a fresh question.
Before calculating, read the method prompt and name the condition that makes it useful. Write your own attempt. Open the steps only when you need them, and use the check to catch a wrong sign, unit or interpretation. Finish with the fresh question before reading its answer.
Trace the nickname
Choose the method: Three marks, one label.
EZT practice question
Why did everyone call Sulekha 'Bholi'?
Show the worked solution
- At ten months she fell on her head and perhaps damaged her brain - she remained a 'backward child'.
- At two, an attack of small-pox left deep black pock-marks over her face.
- She spoke late and stammered, and other children mimicked her - so Sulekha became Bholi, 'the simpleton'.
Answer: A fall on her head at ten months left her a 'backward child'; small-pox scarred her face; she spoke late and stammered, and children mimicked her - so she became 'the simpleton.'
Check: Three causes in order: the fall, the pock-marks, the stammer.
Watch for this: Do not say she was born unable to learn - the school chapters prove the nickname wrong.
Now try it yourself
What is Bholi's real name?
Check your answer
Sulekha - the story returns to it only at the very end, when she speaks with self-respect.
The two names mark the two selves.
Explain the accident of school
Choose the method: Example plus expendability.
EZT practice question
Why is Bholi, and not her sisters, sent to school?
Show the worked solution
- When a girls' primary school opens, the Tehsildar tells Ramlal, as the government's representative in the village, to set an example by sending his daughters.
- Her mother refuses to risk the marriage prospects of the good-looking daughters - 'If girls go to school, who will marry them?'
- Bholi has 'little chance of getting married' anyway - so 'let the teachers at school worry about her.'
Answer: The Tehsildar orders Ramlal to set an example; her mother will not risk the other daughters' marriage prospects, and Bholi has 'little chance of getting married' - so she is the one sent.
Check: Two pressures: the Tehsildar's order from above, the mother's marriage calculation at home.
Watch for this: Do not credit the parents with belief in education - the sending is reluctant and almost accidental.
Now try it yourself
What memory frightens Bholi on her first school morning?
Check your answer
The old cow Lakshmi being turned out of the house and sold.
She fears she too is being discarded.
Show how trust is won
Choose the method: A soft voice, patiently.
EZT practice question
How does the teacher win Bholi's confidence on the first day?
Show the worked solution
- Bholi cannot even stammer her name and weeps while the other girls laugh.
- The teacher calls her 'little one' in a voice 'so soft and soothing' - a voice she has never heard - and patiently coaxes out 'Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi' without laughing.
- She praises the effort, promises 'Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like everyone else', and gives her a picture book with a promise of bigger books, until 'no one will ever be able to laugh at you.'
Answer: She calls Bholi 'little one' in a soft, soothing voice, patiently coaxes her to say her name without laughing, praises her, promises she will speak like everyone else, and gives her a picture book with a promise of bigger books.
Check: Tone first (soft, soothing), then patience, then the promise and the book.
Watch for this: Do not compress this into 'the teacher taught her' - the confidence comes before the curriculum.
Now try it yourself
What does the teacher promise about the picture book?
Check your answer
That in a month Bholi will read it, then bigger books, until no one will ever be able to laugh at her.
A concrete promise makes hope believable.
Weigh the proposal
Choose the method: No dowry outweighs everything.
EZT practice question
Why do Bholi's parents accept Bishamber Nath's proposal?
Show the worked solution
- Bishamber is well-to-do: a big shop, his own house, money in the bank.
- He asks no dowry - decisive for a daughter they believe has 'neither good looks nor intelligence'.
- Being from another village he does not know about her pock-marks, and they fear she may otherwise never marry - so they accept, though he is nearly Ramlal's age, limping, with grown-up children.
Answer: He is well-to-do - a big shop, his own house, money in the bank - and asks no dowry; being from another village he does not know about her pock-marks, and they fear she may otherwise never marry.
Check: Money, no dowry, ignorance of the scars, fear of no other match - four parts.
Watch for this: Do not say they accept happily - the acceptance is anxious calculation, not celebration.
Now try it yourself
What are Bishamber's drawbacks as a groom?
Check your answer
He is nearly Ramlal's age, limps, and has grown-up children from his first wife.
The parents trade these away for 'no dowry' - which is exactly what Bholi refuses to do.
Stage the demand
Choose the method: The veil slips.
EZT practice question
What does Bishamber do at the wedding, and how does Ramlal respond?
Show the worked solution
- As Bishamber lifts the garland to the bride, the veil slips and he sees the pock-marks.
- He stops the ceremony: 'her father must give me five thousand rupees' - else he will not garland her.
- Ramlal lays his turban at the bridegroom's feet, begs him not to humiliate him before everyone, and pays - tears streaming - the full five thousand from his safe.
Answer: Seeing the bride's pock-marks, Bishamber refuses to garland her unless paid five thousand rupees; Ramlal lays his turban at his feet, begs him not to humiliate him, and pays the full amount.
Check: Sequence matters: veil slips, demand made, turban lowered, money paid.
Watch for this: Do not call the demand a dowry negotiation - it is extortion mid-ceremony, exploiting a father's izzat.
Now try it yourself
What does Ramlal lay at Bishamber's feet?
Check your answer
His turban - the sign of his honour - while begging him not to humiliate him.
The surrendered turban measures what izzat costs.
Explain the refusal
Choose the method: Izzat has a limit.
EZT practice question
Why does Bholi refuse the marriage, and what does she decide to do instead?
Show the worked solution
- For her father's izzat she was willing to marry even a lame old man - she had accepted the unequal match.
- But a man who sells his consent for five thousand rupees is 'a mean, greedy and contemptible coward' - and him she will not marry.
- She flings the garland into the sacred fire, speaks without the slightest stammer, and decides her life: she will serve her parents in old age 'and I will teach in the same school where I learnt so much.'
Answer: For her father's izzat she would have married a lame old man, but not a 'mean, greedy and contemptible coward'; she will serve her parents in their old age and teach in the school where she learnt so much.
Check: The boundary line (izzat yes, greed no) plus the chosen future (parents and teaching).
Watch for this: Do not read the refusal as sudden rebellion - it is the teacher's years of nurture coming to speech.
Now try it yourself
How is Bholi's refusal spoken?
Check your answer
Clearly and steadily - 'without the slightest stammer' - before all the guests.
The healed speech is the education made audible.
Try a mixed set
Choose a method or explanation before opening each answer.
1. Why 'Bholi'?
Show answer and reason
A childhood fall, small-pox pock-marks, and a mimicked stammer made her 'the simpleton.'
Three marks, one label.
2. Why is she sent to school?
Show answer and reason
The Tehsildar's order plus her mother's marriage calculation - she is the expendable daughter.
Accident, not intent.
3. Bishamber's wedding demand?
Show answer and reason
Five thousand rupees on seeing the pock-marks - or no garland.
Greed shows itself mid-ceremony.
4. Her answer and future?
Show answer and reason
The garland into the fire; she will serve her parents and teach in her school.
Sulekha, not Bholi, speaks.
Try it yourself
Work these on paper before checking any notes. Answers are deliberately not shown here.
- Explain in two sentences how the teacher changes Bholi's life.
- List the reasons Bholi's parents accept Bishamber's proposal, and the one reason Bholi rejects him.
- Contrast the home that calls her 'simpleton' with the school that calls her 'little one'.
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Questions about this practice page
- Why does Bholi fling the garland into the fire?
- Her bridegroom Bishamber Nath demands five thousand rupees on seeing her pock-marks; she refuses to marry 'a mean, greedy and contemptible coward' - speaking, for the first time before everyone, without a stammer.
- Who wrote Bholi?
- K.A. Abbas. The textbook names him as the author and carries no author note, so this page makes no further biographical claims.
- What is Bholi's real name, and why is it used only at the end?
- Her real name is Sulekha; the story calls her Sulekha again only when she speaks with calm self-respect at the end - she has finally grown out of 'Bholi.'
- How did Bholi's teacher change her life?
- She was the first person to treat Bholi gently, taught her to speak and read without fear, and promised that one day no one would laugh at her - giving her the confidence to refuse the greedy bridegroom.
- Where is Bholi in the Class 10 book?
- Chapter 8 of the supplementary reader Footprints without Feet (Reprint 2026-27, pp. 47-55), by K.A. Abbas.