Bholi Class 10 English Summary

Bholi Class 10 English Summary is given below. By reading through the prose detailed summary, CBSE Class 10 students will be able to understand the chapter easily. Once the students finished reading the summary they can easily answer any questions related to the chapter. Students can also refer to CBSE Class 10 English Prose Summary notes – Bholi for their revision during the exam.

CBSE Class 10 English Bholi Summary

Bholi Summary in both english and hindi is available here. This article starts with a discussion about the author and then explains the chapter in short and detailed fashion. Ultimately, the article ends with some difficult words and their meanings.

Bholi – About the Author

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas was a famous Indian film director, novelist, screenwriter and a journalist in Urdu, Hindi and English languages. He was the maker of films like ‘SW Hindustani’ (1969), and ‘Do Boond Pani’ which won the National Film Award for the best feature film on National Integration. He wrote screen scripts of the best of Raj Kapoor’s films like `Awaara’, `Shri 420′, ‘Mera Naam Joker’, and ‘Bobby’. He was born in the family of the famous Urdu poet, Hall, who was a student of Mirza Ghalib. His grandfather was one of the chief rebels of 1857, First War of Independence. He was born in Panipat, Haryana on 7 June 1914 and died on 1 June 1987 at the age of 72, in Bombay. 

Short Summary of Bholi

Bholi is the story of a village girl who was discriminated as she had pock-marks on her face, stammered and was considered to be a simpleton. Bholi suffered an attack of smallpox when she was just two years old. She damaged a part of her brain when she fell off from the cot. Education transformed ‘a dumb cow’ into a fearless and courageous girl. First, she agreed to many an unequal match, Bishamber, just to maintain the honour of the family. Her father, Ramlal, put even his turban at the feet of the greedy bridegroom. He accepted to many a girl with pock-marks only after getting 5000 rupees as dowry. Bholi showed the courage of throwing away the ceremonial garland into the fire. She refused to have a mean, greedy and contemptible coward like Bishamber Nath as her husband. 

Summary of Bholi in English

The main character of this story is a simple girl, named Bholi. Her real name is Sulekha and she is the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. She fell out of her cot when she was ten months old and probably, a part of her brain was damaged. Pretty at the time of her birth, her body was disfigured and at the age of two, by an attack of smallpox. Only her eyes were saved. As late speaker, she could not speak clearly and so children made fun of her.

Bholi was the weakest child, while her brother and sisters were healthy. Her sisters, who were good looking, were married off and her brothers were sent to the city to study. When a primary school was opened in their village, Bholi’s father who was a revenue officer, wanted her to study there. He sent Bholi to school even though her mother protested against it.

Dressed in new clothes, she was sent to school. Happy to see other girls there, she hoped that one of them would become her friend. The teacher asked her, her name but Bholi was too scared to answer. The teacher smilingly encouraged her to speak. She also asked Bholi to come to the school daily. She gave her a book with many colourful pictures in it. She also told Bholi that she would soon be able to read it and everyone would treat her with respect. Bholi was filled with hope.

As the village progressed, the primary school became a high school. When Bholi was of marriageable age, her father fixed her match with a person named Bishamber, as he had a big shop, house and a large bank balance. Nearly fifty years old, he also walked with a limp. Not only that, he was a widower and had grown up children.

Bholi was not consulted when this marriage was fixed. The day of her marriage came, and Bishamber arrived with a big baraat. He was pleased with the arrangements but when Bholi’s silken veil was removed, he was shocked to see her pock-marked face.

He refused to garland her, and said that the marriage would go through only if an additional five thousand rupees were given to him. Ramlal brought the money. When Bishamber was about to garland her, Bholi flung the garland into the fire. She very clearly told her father that she would not marry that man, who was not just only old and lame but also a mean and greedy person. She took a vow never to get married. She decided that she would become a teacher and serve her parents in their old age.

Moral of Bholi

We learnt from the story that proper support and emotional security can lead to a child’s development.

Summary of Bholi in Hindi

यह कहानी एक लड़की भोली के बारे में है, जिसका असली नाम सुलेखा था। वह कुछ दिमागी क्षति से पीड़ित था और इस तरह हकलाने का काम करता था। इसके अलावा, उसे चेचक के रोग का सामना करना पड़ा, जिसने उसके चेहरे पर चोट के निशान छोड़ दिए। इससे वह बदसूरत लग रही थी। इस प्रकार, उसके सुस्त और बदसूरत चेहरे के कारण, लोगों ने उसका मजाक उड़ाया। साथ ही, लोगों ने उसे भोली कहा क्योंकि वह एक पिछड़ी हुई बच्ची थी। रामलाल के सात बच्चे थे- तीन बेटे और चार बेटियाँ। भोली सभी बेटियों में सबसे छोटी थी। भोली को छोड़कर बाकी सभी स्वस्थ और मजबूत थे। उन्हें उसकी शादी की भी चिंता होती। एक दिन, तहसीलदार साहब गाँव में खोले गए एक प्राथमिक विद्यालय के उद्घाटन समारोह में भाग लेने आए। उन्होंने रामलाल से अपनी बेटी को स्कूल भेजने के लिए कहा। हालाँकि, भोली की माँ उसके स्कूल भेजने के समर्थन में नहीं थी। फिर भी, वह मान गई।

सबसे पहले स्कूल के बारे में सुनकर भोली घबरा गई। हालांकि, जब उसे अच्छी तरह से देखभाल की गई, अच्छे कपड़े और अन्य चीजें दी गईं, तो वह मानने लगी कि उसे अपने घर से बेहतर जगह ले जाया जा रहा है। वह अपनी उम्र की लड़कियों को देखकर खुश थी। वह उनमें से एक को अपना दोस्त बनाना चाहती थी। हालाँकि, जब शिक्षक ने उसका नाम पूछा, तो वह हकला गई और सभी लड़कियाँ हँस पड़ीं। इससे वह बुरी तरह हतोत्साहित हुई। वह रो पड़ी। लेकिन शिक्षक एक दयालु महिला थी। उसने उसे बोलने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया। इसके अलावा, उसने उससे कहा कि अगर वह रोज स्कूल आती है तो वह पूरी तरह से अपने हकलाने को दूर कर सकती है। इससे भोली में आशा और नए जीवन का संकेत जगा।

वर्षों बीत गए, गाँव एक छोटा शहर बन गया। इसके अलावा, थोड़ा प्राथमिक स्कूल एक हाई स्कूल में बदल गया। अन्य सुधार भी हुए हैं। भोली के लिए शादी का प्रस्ताव आया। यह एक लंगड़े बूढ़े व्यक्ति से था जिसके बच्चे भी बड़े हो गए थे। हालाँकि, रामलाल और उसकी पत्नी सहमत थे क्योंकि वह अच्छी तरह से सेटल था। भोली की बहनों को अपनी बहन की शादी में धूमधाम और भव्यता देखने को मिली। हालांकि, जब दूल्हा दुल्हन को माला पहनाने वाला था, तब एक महिला ने दुल्हन के चेहरे से घूंघट हटा दिया। बिसंबर ने बिना दहेज के ऐसी बदसूरत लड़की से शादी करने से इनकार कर दिया। रामलाल ने राशि का प्रबंधन किया।

हालांकि, भोली ने ऐसे लालची व्यक्ति से शादी करने से इनकार कर दिया। उसे हकलाने के बिना बोलने के लिए लोग चौंक गए। दूल्हा वापस लौट आया। भोली ने अपने पिता से कहा कि वह उनकी और माँ की उनके बुढ़ापे में सेवा करेगा। इसके अलावा, वह उसी स्कूल में पढ़ाएगी जहां से उसने बहुत सारी अच्छी चीजें सीखी हैं।

Difficult Words and their Meanings

Expectations = hopes (आशाएं); simpleton = very simple (भोली/सादी); numberdar = an official who collects revenue (नंबरदार); fallen off = dropped (गिर जाना); cot = bed (चारपाई); damaged = injured (क्षतिग्रस्त); brain = mind (मस्तिष्क/दिमाग); remained = to continue (रहना); backward = retarted (पिछड़ा हुआ); pretty = beautiful (सुंदर); attack = to assault (आक्रमण); small-pox = a disease (चेचक का रोग); entire = complete (समूचा/सम्पूर्ण); permanently = for ever (स्थाई रूप से); disfigured = made ugly (कुरूप बना दिया); pock-marks = marks left by smallpox (चेचक के निशान); stammered = spoke with halts (हकलाकर बोलना); mimicked = imitated (नकल करना); 

youngest = smallest in age (सबसे छोटी); prosperous =  rich (संपन्न); plenty = very much (बहुत अधिक)); except = leaving aside (सिवाय); strong= powerful (शक्तिशाली); settled = fixed (तय हो जाना); bridegrooms = male matches (दूल्हा); worried = anxious (चिंतित); intelligence = brilliance (प्रतिभा) I Simpleton— quite simple, not very clever, Cot— bed, lied, Damaged—injured, Backward— mental not wise, Disfigured— made ugly, Pretty—beautiful fair— fair complexioned, Pockmarks— marks of smallpox, Entire— completely, Stammered— stuttered, Mimicked— aped, imitated, copied Prosperous— well off, Household— family, Settled— fixed, Plenty— a lot of, Bridegrooms— male matches, 

Perform = to carry out (संपन्न करना); ceremony = religious rites (उत्सव); revenue = state’s income (राजस्व); representative = a member of the group (प्रतिनिधि); consulted = to ask advice of (परामर्श किया); crazy = mad (पागल); frightened = scared (भयभीत) 
Shouted = cried (चिल्लाया); terror = dread (भय); grip = hold (पकड़); decent = nice (बढ़िया); passed on = sent forward (आगे भेज देना); cared have folds (सिकुड़ जाना); matted = entangled (उलझे हुए); squatted = sat on the heels (पालथी मारकर बैठना)  

Exactly = accurately (सही रूप); glad = happy (प्रसन्न); almost = nearly (लगभग); present = existing now (उपस्थित); hoped = desired (आशा की); understand = to know (समझना); fascinated = attracted (आकर्षित होना); orchard = garden (बगीचा); noticed = observed (देखा); smiling = laughing slightly (मुस्कुराना); flowed = to run as a stream (बहना); scurried = hurried out (तेजी से बाहर आना); sobbing = weeping in suppressed manner (सुबकते हुए); soothing = be calming (सुहावनी); command = order (आदेश); sweat = perspiration (पसीना); 

disgrace = humiliate (अपमान); decided = took decision (निर्णय लिया); effort = attempt (प्रयास); encouraged = urged (हौंसला दिया); relieved = got free (मुक्त होना); achievement = attainment (उपलब्धि); patted = stroked (थपथपाना); affectionately = lovingly (प्यार से) I Fascinated— attracted, Orchard— a small garden, Scurried— hurried out, Sobbing— weeping with sobs, Soothing— comforting, Sweat—perspiration, Encouraged— urged, motivated, Command— order, Suggestion— advice, Disgraced — (here) insulted, Relieved— felt free, Achievement— attainment Patted— gave mild strokes, Affectionately—with love, 

Nodded = shook the head (सिर हिलाना); astonished = surprised (हैरान); slightest = least (हल्का-सा/थोड़ा-सा); blossomed = put forth flowers (फूल खिल जाना); throbbing = pulsating (धड़कते हुए); ginning = separating raw cotton from its seeds (रुई धुनना); limps = walks lamely (लंगड़ाता है) Nodded— shook her head, Astonished— greatly surprised, Slightest—very little Blossomed— became flowers, Throbbing— pounding, pulsating, Ginning— separating cotton from the seeds, Well-to-do—prosperous, Limps— walks limpingly, 
Proposal = scheme (प्रस्ताव); witless = foolish (मूर्ख,तर्कहीन); 

muttered = spoke slowly (बुड़बुड़ाया); courtyard = an enclosure before a house (आंगन); conversation = personal talk (बातचीत); procession = a group of persons moving forward (जुलूस); decorated = adorned (सजाया हुआ); overjoyed = too much happy (अत्यधिक प्रसन्न); pomp = splendour (शान-शौकत); splendour = grandeur (शान); grand = great (विशाल); occasion =chance (अवसर); envious = jealous (ईर्ष्यालु); auspicious= pious (पवित्र); clad in =dressed in (पहने हुए); prompted = urged (आग्रह किया); veil = mask (घूंघट); 

glance = look (देखना); poised = held in balance (साधा); humiliate = downcast (अपमानित करना); considerate = regard for others (विचारशील); streaming = flowing (बहना) IWhat does it matter — how does it affect?, Witless— foolish, Dumb cow— like a cow that can’t speak, Muttered— murmured, Grocer— one who sells household things, Whispered— spoken in low tone, Pomp— great show, Splendour— grand, Prompted— (here) encouraged,  Auspicious—fortunate, Marigolds – yellow flowers,Veil— (here) covering of the face, Poised— (here) stopped for a moment, Humiliate— insult, Considerate–keep regard, Streaming— flowing down, 

Triumphant = victorious (विजयी); gambled = played a game of chance for money (जुआ खेला); announced =  declared (घोषणा की); straight = direct (सीधे); prospective = would be (होने वाला); contempt = hatred (घृणा); struck out = hit out (टकराना); streak = a long irregular line of colour (धारा/रेखा); startled = amazed (चकित) 

Thunderstruck = amazed (चकित); contemptible = hateful (घृणित) ; coward = fearful person (कायर); dumb = unable to speak (गूंगी); confused = bewildered (घबराए हुए); ceremony = a religious observance (रस्म); rooted = fixed to the ground (जड़ हो जाना); grief = sorrow (दु:ख); sacred = pious (पवित्र); steady = firm (दृढ़); satisfaction = gratification (पूर्ण होना); contemplates = meditates (विचार करना); completion = accomplishment (पूर्ण होना); masterpiece = a piece of highest workmanship (सर्वोत्तम कलाकृति)