CBSE Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Book Chapter 8 Bholi Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
Bholi Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 10 English Chapter 8, “Bholi”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Why did Bholi’s teacher feel like an artist admiring her masterpiece? [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. When Bholi refused marrying a man her father’s age who sought dowry, the teacher was elated. The cowed Bholi stood up for herself and became the confident Sulekha. This transformation was due to the teacher who looked at her with admiration.
Q2. Do you think Bholi could have confidently refused to marry Bishamber if she wasn’t educated? Give reasons. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. No. Bholi got the courage and confidence to speak for herself only through education. Now she would work as a teacher which would give her financial freedom as well. This empowerment is essential and it gave Bholi the capability to refuse marrying Bishamber. Now she knew that she did not need him to support her as she could stand on her feet.
Q3. A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of his/her experiences, challenges and interactions with other characters.
In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of Bholi in K.A. Abbas’s ‘Bholi’. [2024, 100-120 words]
Ans. Bholi’s character develops from a simpleton who stammers, is unkept and not taken care of into a confident, independent woman.
Initially, we see that Bholi is an unwanted girl child who is disliked by her mother. They family considers the fourth daughter as a burden. She is not bathed, her hair is messy and she wears old clothes of the elder siblings.
Bholi’s life changes when her father attends the inauguration of a school in the village and he is directed to send his daughter to school. The first day of school marks the turning point in Bholi’s life. Bholi is bathed, her hair is oiled and combed which makes her feel special. Then when her father takes her out of the house she is reluctant because she feels that just like the family sold their cow and it was sent away, perhaps Bholi too was being sent away.
At school, Bholi’s initial reluctance and stammering were laughed at but her teacher made her feel comfortable. The affection of the teacher gave confidence and gradually, Bholi turns out to be a well-educated, confident woman. Her name, Sulekha suits her personality. Bholi can take her decisions and refuses to marry a greedy old man. She vouches to live with her parents and serve them.
Her story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of finding one’s voice.
Q4. Imagine that Bholi writes a diary entry, exploring the themes of ‘Girl Child’ and ‘Impact of Education’, in the context of her own experiences.
Write this dairy entry, as Bholi. [2024, 100-120 words]
Ans. Dear Diary,
Today has been a day of great change for me. I never thought I could speak up like I did. It feels like a miracle. All these years, I was a simpleton who stammered but finally, I was able to find my voice.
Education has changed everything, thanks to my teacher. It taught me to see myself differently, not just as the girl with pockmarks and a stammer, but as someone with potential. My teacher believed in me when no one else did. She showed me kindness and patience. She made me realize that being educated means more than just reading and writing—it means finding my strength and speaking up for myself.
Being a girl child in our village isn’t easy. It was the opportunity of going to school that changed my life. It gave me courage to refuse a marriage that was based on greed and not on love or respect. It empowered me to make my own choices.
Today, I am proud of who I am, and I owe it all to the power of education.
Bye diary
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl, face the challenge posed by Bishamber’s greed? [2023, 100-120 words]
OR
‘Education is considered the most important tool for empowering women in society. It plays an important role in social and cultural development.’ Prove the above statements in the light of the story ‘Bholi’. [2023, 100-120 words]
Ans. Bholi is an educated independent woman. She does not need the financial support from another person. It is due to her financial freedom and education that she could refuse marrying a dowry-seeker. Bishamber is her father’s age and when he insults Bholi’s father, Bholi saves her father from humiliation by refusing to marry such a man. Bholi vows to live with her parents for the rest of her life and serve them. She is not a dumb cow who will be tied to any post. She has her own mind and can take her own decisions. Education can empower every woman and enable her to make the right decisions in life.
Q2. Bholi was believed to be a ‘dumb cow’. What turned her into a fearless, bold and confident girl? [2023, 100-120 words]
Ans. As a child, Bholi was neglected and weak. She did not get any love and affection. She was treated to be a burden, a simpleton who lacked courage to such an extent that she stammered. Her teacher changed her life. The teacher’s affection and understanding converted Bholi to Sulekha, a wise, intelligent and educated woman who was enabled to speak up for herself. Bholi started believing in herself. She became brave and confident. She stood up against a bad marriage proposal. Bholi showed she was not dumb but strong and smart. Her teacher’s support changed her life.
Q3. Destiny had been cruel to Bholi yet she made a place for herself in a conservative society. Discuss. [2023, 100-120 words]
Ans. A child receives love and unending care from the family. However, this was not the case with Bholi. Being the fourth daughter of her parents, she was considered an unwanted burden. She lacked confidence, was fearful and mentally frail. Bord as Sulekha, soon she was nicknamed Bholi meaning a Simpleton because the family considered her to be dumb and useless. Destiny had other plans for Bholi when her teacher entered her life. She gave Bholi the affection and attention which changed Bholi. She grew up into an educated, confident woman. Bholi was able to take a stand for herself and refuse marrying an old dowry-seeker. Her character is an example for all woman who struggle to make their identity.
Questions which came in 2022 Board Exam
Q1. Imagine you are Bholi and you have been invited to give a speech on the importance of girl education. Write the speech on ‘Girl Education and Empowerment’. [2022, 120 words]
Ans. Respected Principal, Judges, teachers and friends
The topic on which I will speak today is Girl Education and Empowerment. Since the time of human evolution, females have been given restricted to home. The woman is life-giver and nurturer and this leads her to be the child-bearer, provider of care and nourishment. However, the changing times require a female to be a self sufficient human being which necessitates her being educated and self dependant.
There has been an evolution in the realm of education of girl child. We see that several opportunities have been created to enable education of girls. The society is also accepting the idea of sending girls for higher education however, the matter of the safety of these girls has always haunted us. As a society, we have failed in providing a safe environment where the girl child can grow freely and fearlessly. Even today, the parents remain in fear when their girls venture out of the house for education. This has also marred the efficacy of empowerment of women because this constant fear creates a lack of confidence in their abilities.
As a close knit society, each member has to take the first step to create a safe environment and promote an equitable society. Thus, we can and we will lead our girls to education and empowerment.
Q2. After reading the story ‘Bholi’ you find her to be ‘a role-model’ for village girls. Discuss. [2022, 120 words]
Ans. The character of Bholi is a role model not only for the village girls but for all girls. There are many girls who are unwanted and neglected by the family. However, they are sent to school because the government has made primary education free of cost. The parents often send such girls to school in lure of getting free food. Once these girls reach the school, it is the role of the teachers who can shape their lives just like Bholi’s teacher did. Thus, every girl has a ray of hope and Bholi is a role model for them to become self dependant and confident.
Q3. The credit of Bholi’s transformation to Sulekha goes to her teacher. Elaborate with reference to the text. [2022, 120 words]
Ans. Bholi, a young woman with mediocre features and pock marks, was referred to as a simpleton and a stupid cow. She was forced to attend school, which ended up being a blessing in disguise. Her teacher helped her gain self-assurance. The knowledge she received in school equipped her with the tools she needed to think independently, speak out for herself, and view the world differently. For the sake of her father’s prestige, she consented to marry a mature man; but, when Bishambhar demanded money and began demeaning her father, she put up a fight and refused to wed such a despicable and greedy guy. She struggled for her pride and dignity by standing up for herself in the face of social dogmas and the patriarchal system. Sulekha, which means to write anything extremely well, was her name.
In the end, she proudly and dignifiedly wrote the chapter of her life that serves as an example for countless females of future generations. She lives up to her name Sulekha by developing into an intelligent, capable, and powerful lady.
Questions that appeared in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. Why did Bholi dislike Bishamber? [2020, 30-40 words]
Ans. Bholi disliked Bishamber because he humiliated her for her pock-marked face and demanded five thousand rupees from her father to marry her in spite of already being old, married and having children. He was greedy, mean and a contemptible coward for a husband.
Q2. Why did Bholi not marry Bishamber? [2020, 30-40 words]
Ans. Bholi refused to marry Bishamber because after seeing her pock-marked face, he demanded five thousand rupees from her father to marry her. Bholi did not want to marry a greedy, mean and contemptible coward and therefore calls off the wedding.
Q3. How did education change Bholi’s personality? [2020, 100-150 words]
Ans. Education changed Bholi’s personality drastically and for good. Before joining school, she was a simpleton, neglected girl, considered a burden by the family. She was not cared for, she stammered and lacked confidence. The teacher at the school gave her love and affection which transformed Bholi. Bholi became fit for her formal name Sulekha. She attained education and became self dependent. When at the wedding, she saw the groom demanded money for marrying her and insulted her father, Bholi stood for herself, spoke up and refused to marry such a man. Thus, education had brought about a tremendous change in her.
Q4. What do you know about Bishamber Nath? Why did Bholi refuse to marry him? [2020, 100-150 words]
Ans. Bishamber Nath was a rich man who had a big shop, his own house and several thousand rupees in the bank. Bholi’s parents agreed to marry her to him because of these reasons. He did not even ask for dowry. Her mother thought that Bholi was lucky to get such a well-to-do bridegroom.
Bholi refused to marry Bishamber because after seeing her pock-marked face, he demanded five thousand from her father to marry her. Bholi did not want to marry a greedy, mean and contemptible coward for a husband and therefore calls off the wedding
Q5. How did Bholi’s teacher help her to overcome her fear of school and become a confident girl? [2020, 100-150 words]
Ans. Bholi’s teacher was very different from all the other people she had met. Even her parents did not expect much to come of her. But her teacher encouraged her and gave her hope. She was kind to her and advised her that if she came to school regularly, in a month’s time she would be able to read books. In this way she would be more learned than anyone else in the village and no one would be able to laugh at her. She told her that people would listen to her with respect and Bholi would be able to speak without the slightest stammer. She then just followed her teacher religiously and hence, overcame her fear and became a confident girl.
2019 Exam Question and Answers from the chapter
Q1. Bholi is a child different from others. This difference makes her an object of neglect and laughter. Elaborate. [2019, 100-120 words]
Ans. Bholi was the family’s fourth child. She was distinct from her siblings. Her face was disfigured. She was covered in black pockmarks. She was a slow student and thus, her nickname Bholi, meaning simpleton. She used to stammer as well. She did not get proper care at home. There were no new clothes made for her, and she was always given the dresses of her elder sisters. Nobody bothered to bathe her, oil her hair, or even clean her clothes. She was probably neglected because she was the youngest child in a family of seven. It’s possible that she didn’t capture her parents’ attention and affection because of her unattractive appearance or physical limitations.
Q2. It was education which made Bholi bold enough to say ‘No’ to Bishamber when he demanded five thousand rupees as dowry. Comment. [2019, 100-120 words]
Ans. All social ills can be solved through education. Illiteracy and ignorance only lead to poverty, suffering, and misery. Bholi initially lacks confidence due to her disabilities. She is quiet, timid, and mentally weak. Her ugliness and stammer prevent her from progressing. She is afraid to speak because others mock her.
School completely transforms her life. It opens up a new world of possibilities for her. Her teacher is kind and loving to her. Her love and support encourage Bholi to believe in herself. She studies and develops into a strong young woman. She is aware of her rights and asserts them. She will not marry a man who demands a dowry. Bholi’s life is thus altered as a result of her education.
Also see:
Bholi Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions