Bholi | Class 10 English Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Bholi – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Bholi from Class 10 English, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
READ AND FIND OUT (Introduction to Bholi's background)
This section introduces the protagonist of the story, Bholi, whose real name is Sulekha. From the very beginning, the narrative explains why she is called 'Bholi', meaning simpleton. She is the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal, a prosperous farmer. The story reveals that when Bholi was just ten months old, she fell off the cot and hit her head, which possibly caused brain damage, leading to her being a backward child. This early incident sets the foundation for her challenges. Additionally, she had small-pox at the age of two, which left her face disfigured with deep black pockmarks, sparing only her eyes. Her speech was delayed until she was five years old, and even then, she stammered, which made other children mock her, causing her to speak very little. The family dynamics are also introduced: Ramlal has seven children, three sons and four daughters, with Bholi being the youngest daughter. While the sons are sent to schools and colleges in the city, the daughters are married off one by one, except for Bholi, who is neither good-looking nor intelligent in her father's eyes. This section sets the social context of the story, highlighting the stigma and challenges faced by a girl child with disabilities and disfigurements in a traditional Indian village setting.
📊 Diagram: The accompanying image (img-0.jpeg) shows Bholi as a young girl, highlighting her simple and timid nature, setting the tone for her character's introduction.
🧪 Activity: Students are prompted to think about why Bholi's father is worried about her and why she is sent to school for unusual reasons.
🔗 Connection: Leads to the next section where Bholi is sent to school and her initial experiences there.
Frequently asked questions
1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home? 2. How did Bholi's teacher play an important role in changing the course of her 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? 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? 5. Bholi's story must have moved you. Do you think girl children are not treated at par with boys? You are aware that the government has introduced a scheme to save the girl child as the sex ratio is declining. The scheme is called Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Save the Girl Child. Read about the scheme and design a poster in groups of four and display on the school notice board.
1. Bholi felt she was going to a better place than her home because school represented a place of learning, respect, and kindness, unlike her home where she was neglected and considered a burden due to her stammer and appearance.
2. Bholi's teacher played a crucial role by encouraging her, boosting her confidence, and helping her overcome her speech impediment. The teacher's support empowered Bholi to stand up for herself and change her destiny.
3. Bholi initially agreed to an unequal match be
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? 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? 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.)
1. One can contribute by promoting education for girls, challenging stereotypes, encouraging respect and equality, and standing against discrimination in daily life.
2. Yes, girls should be aware of their rights and assert them. Girls and boys should have equal rights, duties, and privileges. Society often treats them differently by imposing gender roles and limiting opportunities for girls. Human rights are universal and should not differentiate between genders.
3. The characters were likely
Why was Bholi's father worried about her future?
Because she was neither good-looking nor intelligent and might remain unmarried
What was the unusual reason for sending Bholi to school?
Because the Tehsildar insisted and she was unlikely to marry due to her appearance
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