 Bholi Explanation, Line by Line, Meaning of Difficult Words, English CBSE Class 10 NCERT Footprints without Feet Chapter 9
BHOLI
(Explanation and Meaning of difficult words)
The story is about a girl whose name was Sulekha. But since her childhood everybody had been calling her Bholi. The meaning of Bholi is a simple lady or a simple girl.
| Word | Meaning |
| Numberdar | A government officer |
| Backward | Unintelligent, Innocent |
Bholi was fourth daughter of Ramlal who was a numberdar. When Bholi was ten months old, she fell from a cot. She received injuries to her head. Probably some part of his brain got damaged. So she remained an unintelligent child. Everybody started calling her as Bholi.
| Word | Meaning |
| Pretty | Beautiful |
| Small-pox | A disease |
| Disfigured | Damaged |
| Pockmarks | Spots due to disease or injury |
When Bholi was born, she was of fair colour and a beautiful girl. When she was two years old, she suffered from disease of small-pox. The disease did not affect her eyes. But there were permanent deep spots on her entire body due to small-pox.
| Word | Meaning |
| Stammer | Speak with pause in between |
| Make fun of | Tease |
| Mimic | To copy the style, Imitate |
She could not speak anything till she was of five years age. She used to stammer a lot when she started speaking. The other children often teased her. They would copy her way of speaking to tease her. Therefore she used to speak very little.
| Word | Meaning |
| Prosperous | Rich |
| Plenty | Enough, Good quantity |
Ramlal had seven children – three sons and four daughters. Bholi was the youngest child. Ramlal was a rich farmer. Enough food was available for all the family members of the house.
All children other than Bholi were healthy and strong. All the three sons had gone to city to study in schools. After schools they studied in colleges. Radha was the eldest among four daughters. She was already married.
| Word | Meaning |
| Good looking | Beautiful |
Mangla was the second daughter. Her marriage had also been fixed. After marriage of Mangla, Ramlal would think of marrying his third daughter Champa. These three daughters had good health and they were beautiful. It was easy to find bridegrooms for these three daughters.
But Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She was not beautiful. She was not intelligent.
| Word | Meaning |
| Tehsildar | A government officer |
When Mangla was married, Bholi’s age was seven. A primary school for girls was opened in their village in the same year. The Tehsildar of the area inaugurated the school.
| Word | Meaning |
| Revenue official | Tax collecting officer |
Tehsildar told to Ramlal that he was the tax collecting officer of the village. Therefore he was representing the government in the village. So he must set an example to other villagers by sending his daughters to school.
| Word | Meaning |
| Crazy | Mad |
That night Ramlal took advice of his wife. She asked in loud voice if Ramlal had become a mad person. She said if girls go to school nobody will marry them.
But Ramlal did not have courage to disobey orders of Tehsildar. Finally his wife suggested to send Bholi to school.
| Word | Meaning |
| Little chance | No chance |
| Ugly | Not beautiful |
| Lack | Shortage |
There were no chances of Bholi getting married. Because she was not beautiful and she was unintelligent. School teachers should take care of her in the school.
| Word | Meaning |
| Frightened | Became afraid |
| Turned out of house | Taken out of house |
Next day, Ramlal caught hand of Bholi and told her that he would take her to school. Bholi got afraid. She did not know anything about school. She knew that some days ago, their old cow Laxmi was taken out of the house. The cow was sold to somebody.
| Word | Meaning |
| Terror | Fear |
| Grip | Hold |
Bholi shouted no, no, no because she got afraid. She pulled her hand away from the grip of her father.
| Word | Meaning |
| Decent | Nice |
| Or else | Otherwise |
Ramlal shouted at Bholi and asked why she was behaving like a fool. He was trying to take her to school. Ramlal told her wife that Bholi should wear some nice clothes. Otherwise teachers and other school girls will have a bad opinion about us.
| Word | Meaning |
| Mend | Repair |
Bholi never got new clothes. She received old dresses of her elder sisters. Nobody bothered to wash her clothes or to repair her clothes.
| Word | Meaning |
| Shrunk | Became smaller in size |
| Matted hair | Uncombed hair |
But today she received a clean dress. This dress had become smaller after washing it many times. Now this dress did not fit Champa. She was given a bath. Oil was applied in her dry and uncombed hair. Then she started believing that she was being taken to a good place and that place would be better that her own home.
| Word | Meaning |
| Looked about | Looked around |
| Fear laden | Full of fear |
All other children had gone to their classes before they reached the school. Ramlal handed over Bholi to the headmistress and went out of school. Now Bholi was alone. She looked around her with lot of fear.
| Word | Meaning |
| Squatted | Sat |
The school had many rooms. In each room many girls were sitting on mats. They were reading books or writing on slates. The headmistress asked Bholi to sit in the corner on one of the classroom.
Bholi did not understand anything about the school. She did not know what happens in the school. But she was happy to note that there were many girls of her own age. She was hopeful that one of these girls would become her friend.
In the class, the lady teacher was saying something to the girls. But Bholi could not understand anything. She started looking at the pictures on the wall.
| Word | Meaning |
| Fascinated | Impressed |
| Orchard | Garden of fruit tress |
She liked colour of the pictures. The picture of horse was brown same as the horse of Tehsildar. Colour of goat was black same as goat of their neighbour. Colour of parrot was green same as parrots she had seen in the mango garden. Colour of cow was same as that of Lakshmi.
| Word | Meaning |
| Standing by her side | Standing near her |
| No further | No more |
Suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher was standing near her. She was smiling at Bholi. The teacher asked her name. Bholi stammered but could not speak her full name.
| Word | Meaning |
| Not daring to | Not having the courage to |
Then Bholi began to cry. Lot of tears started coming out of her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. She kept her head down. She continued to sit in the corner. She did not have the courage to look at other girls. She was aware that other girls were laughing at her.
| Word | Meaning |
| Scurried | Moved in a hurry |
| Dare not | Did not have courage |
| Kept on | Continued |
| Sobbing | Weeping |
After ringing of school bell, all girls moved quickly out of the classroom. But Bholi did not have the courage to move from the corner of the classroom. She was keeping her head low. She continued to weep.
| Word | Meaning |
| Soothing | Calm, Gentle |
| Touched her heart | She felt very good |
The teacher called out name of Bholi in a very soft, calm and gentle voice. In her life Bholi had never been called so nicely by anyone. She really started feeling good.
| Word | Meaning |
| Command | Order |
Teacher asked Bholi to get up. It was not an order but told in the form of a suggestion from a friend. Bholi got up. Teacher asked Bholi to tell her name.
| Word | Meaning |
| Disgrace | Insult |
Sweat came on her full body. Bholi thought if her stammering voice would insult her once again. But for the kind woman (teacher) she decided to make one more attempt. The teacher had asked Bholi in a very gentle voice. So Bholi was sure that teacher will not laugh at her.
Bholi treid to speak her name but she stammered and could not speak her full name. The teacher appreciated effort of Bholi and encouraged her to speak full name.
| Word | Meaning |
| Relieved | Happy |
Finally Bholi was able to speak her full name. She felt very happy. She thought it was a great achievement for her.
| Word | Meaning |
| Well done | Appreciation for good work |
| Affectionately | With love towards younger one |
| Patted | Repeated touched by hand to appreciate |
The teacher lovingly appreciated good effort of Bholi. Teacher patted Bholi. Teacher told Bholi to remove fear from her heart. Then she will be able to speak similar to every other person. Bholi looked at the teacher as if to ask if that could really happen.
The teacher said speaking is very easy. She asked Bholi to come to school every day. Bholi nodded. Teacher asked Bholi to say it loudly.
| Word | Meaning |
| Astonished | Surprised |
Bholi this time could speak yes. She was herself very surprised that she could speak. Teacher said that she had told that Bholi would be able to speak. Teacher gave a book to Bholi.
The book had many nice pictures in it. All were coloured pictures. It had pictures of various animals. A word in black letters was written for every picture.
| Word | Meaning |
| In time | After sometime |
| Learned | Knowledgeable |
The teacher said that Bholi can complete reading the book in one month. Then she will give another bigger book to her. After that she will give another still a bigger book. In some time Bholi will become more knowledgeable than any other person in the village.
Teacher continues to speak to Bholi.
Then nobody will laugh at you. People will give respect to your thoughts. And you will be able to speak without stammering. Now please go home and come back early tomorrow morning.
| Word | Meaning |
| Blossomed | Growth of flowers on a tree, Developed |
| Throbbing with | Full of |
Bholi felt that suddenly all the bells in the temples of the village had started ringing. And trees in front of the school had lot of big red coloured flowers. Her heart was now full of new hope and a new life.
| Word | Meaning |
| Ginning | Separating cotton from seed |
| Mail train | Express train |
Many years passed. The village was now a big town. The small primary school was now a high school. There was a cinema theatre of tin shed. The village had a cotton ginning mill. Express trains started stopping at the village railway station.
| Word | Meaning |
| Well to do | Rich |
| Moreover | In addition to, Also |
One night after dinner Ramlal asked his wife if he should accept the proposal of Bishamber. His wife said yes. Bholi will be lucky to get such a rich bridegroom. He has a big shop and his own house. His wife had heard that Bishamaber had several thousands of rupees in the bank. In addition to these, he is not asking for dowry.
| Word | Meaning |
| Limps | Walks as if leg is injured |
| Grown up | Have become adults |
Ramlal said that all this is correct. But Bishamaber is of the same age as that of my age and he limps. In addition to these, children from his first wife are now grown up.
His wife told that this was not a cause of worry. For a man, forty five or fifty is not a big age. We are lucky that Bishamber is from another village. So he does not know about pock marks on the face of Bholi. He also does not know that Bholi is not intelligent. If we do not accept this proposal, Bholi may remain unmarried throughout her life.
| Word | Meaning |
| Witless | Not intelligent |
| Dumb cow | Simple and stupid person |
| Muttered | Whispered, Murmured |
Ramlal asked her wife what will Bholi say about this proposal. His wife said that Bholi is unintelligent person. She will not say anything. She is a simple and stupid person. Ramlal whispered that probably his wife was correct.
Bholi was lying on her cot in the other corner of the yard. She had listened to all the low voice talks between her parents.
Bishamber Nath was a rich shopkeeper. He came for wedding with a large number of friends and relatives. A band was in front of the wedding procession. It was playing tune of a popular song from Indian film. The bridegroom was on a decorated horse.
| Word | Meaning |
| Pomp | Display |
| Splendour | Magnificent, Grand |
| Dreamt | Imagined |
Ramlal was extremely happy to see such a grand display. He had never imagined that his fourth daughter will have such a grand marriage.
| Word | Meaning |
| Envious | Jealous |
| Bridal dress | Dress suitable for bride |
| Sacred | Holy |
Elder sisters of Bholi had come to attend the marriage. They were jealous of her luck. At the auspicious moment, the priest asked to bring the bride. Bholi was wearing red silk sari suitable for a bride. She was brought up to the holy fire.
| Word | Meaning |
| Prompted | Requested, Suggested |
| Veil | Cloth used to cover face |
One of the friends advised Bishamber Nath to garland the bride. He lifted the garland made of yellow marigold flowers. A woman slid back the silken veil from Bholi’s face.
| Word | Meaning |
| Glance | Look |
| Poised | Stopped |
Bishamber took a quick look at the face of Bholi. The garland stopped in his hands. The bride had pulled down the veil over her face.
Bishamber told to a friend who was next to him that the bride had pock marks on her face. The friend replied that Bishamber should not bother about it because he was himself not young. Bishamber replied that it was true. But he demanded that her father should give him five thousand rupees to marry Bholi.
Ramlal went to Bishamber. He placed his turban – his honour – in Bishamber’s feet. He requested Bishamber not to insult him. He requested Bishamber to accept two thousand rupees. But Bishamber demanded five thousand rupees. Bishamber said that Ramlal should give him five thousand rupees otherwise he would go back without marrying Bholi.
| Word | Meaning |
| Considerate | To be Kind, Show mercy |
Ramlal requested Bishamber to show some mercy. He said that if Bishamber went back, he would not be able to show his face in the village. Bishamber demanded to give him five thousand rupees.
| Word | Meaning |
| Streaming down | Coming down, Rolling down |
| Safe | Almira, Locker |
Tears started rolling down the face of Ramlal. He went to his house, opened his almira and took out five thousand rupees. He put the bundle of notes at the feet of Bishamber.
| Word | Meaning |
| Triumphant smile | Smile of victory |
| Gambled | Took chance |
On the greedy face of Bishamber there was smile of victory. He had taken a chance and he had won. He asked to give him garland.
| Word | Meaning |
| Downcast | Looking down, Polite |
| Prospective husband | Would be husband |
| Contempt | Disrespect |
Once again the veil was slid back from the face of the bride. But this time her eyes were not looking towards ground. Bholi was looking up straight at her would be husband. She was not angry. She was not looking at Bishamber with hate. She had disrespect towards him.
| Word | Meaning |
| Struck out | Came out, Moved |
| Like a streak of lightening | Very quickly |
| Flung into the fire | Thrown in fire |
Bishamber lifted the garland to put around the neck of Bholi. But before he could do so, Bholi very quickly took out his hand and she threw the garland into the fire. She got up and removed her veil.
| Word | Meaning |
| Startled | Surprised |
Pitaji, said Bholi. Her voice was loud, clear and without stammering. Her father, mother, brothers, relatives and neighbours were surprised to hear her clear voice. Bholi asked her father to take the money back. She declared that she would not merry Bishamber.
| Word | Meaning |
| Thunderstruck | Shocked |
| Disgrace | Insult |
| Regard | Respect |
Ramlal was shocked. Guests began to whisper that Bholi was shameless and ugly. Rmalal shouted and asked if Bholi had become mad. Why do you want to insult your own family.? He asked her to have some respect for their prestige.
| Word | Meaning |
| Lame | Limp |
| Mean | Low thinking |
| Contemptible | Disrespectful |
Bholi said that she had agreed to marry that limp old man for sake of her parent’s prestige. But I will not have such a low thinking, greedy and disrespectful coward as my husband. I will not marry such a person.
An old woman told that Bholi was a shameless girl while they thought she was a simple and stupid girl. Bholi angrily looked at the old woman and told that aunty you are right. You all thought that I was a dumb cow.
For that reason who wanted to hand over me to this animal who does not have a heart. But that dumb cow and the fool who used to stammer is speaking. Do you want to hear anything more from me?
Shopkeeper Bishamber Nath started going back to his town with his wedding party. The people of band got confused and thought that marriage ceremony was completed. So they started playing the last song of the evening.
| Word | Meaning |
| Grief | Sadness |
Ramlal was not able to move from his place. He just stood there. His head was down with sadness and shame.
The sacred fire slowly stopped burning. Everyone had gone from there. Ramlal came to Bholi and asked what will happen to her. Now no one will marry her. What shall we do with you now?
Sulekha spoke in a calm and steady voice. She said not to worry pitaji. In your old age I will take care of you and mother. I will become a teacher in the same school where I have studied and learnt so much. Then Bholi asked her teacher if she was right.
| Word | Meaning |
| Contemplating | Thinking |
| Masterpiece | Outstanding |
Throughout these events, the teacher was watching while standing in a corner. She replied yes, certainly Bholi, you can become a teacher. The teacher had a smile of great satisfaction. It was satisfaction of an artist who thought that her best student had become an outstanding person.
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