Bholi is a neglected girl who is sent to school where her teacher encourages her. The teacher helps Bholi gain confidence by praising her efforts to speak clearly. When Bholi is arranged to marry an older man, he calls off the wedding when he sees her face. Inspired by her teacher, Bholi decides not to marry him and instead become a teacher herself to help others.

1. Bholi
by K. A. Abbas

3. •From her very
childhood Bholi was
neglected at home.
The Protagonist

4. Early Childhood
• The main character of this story is a simple girl,
named Bholi.
• Bholi means the simpleton
• Her real name is Sulekha and she is the 4th 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 face and body
were disfigured at the age of two, by an attack of
smallpox.
• Only her eyes were saved. A late speaker, she could
not speak clearly and so children made fun of her.

5. Neglected by all Made fun off by all

6. No One cared about Bholi
•She was never given new clothes to wear.
•Her hair were never oiled or combed.
•She always had a shabby appearance and she
hardly spoke.
•Bholi was the weakest child, while her brothers
and sisters were healthy.
•Her sisters, who were good looking, were
married off and her brothers were sent to the city
to study.

7. The Unexpected
 When a primary school
was opened in their
village, Bholi’s father
who was a revenue
officer, sent her to
school on theTehsildar’s
insistence.
 Ramlal could not refuse
the tehsildar so his wife
agreed to send Bholi to
school. She thought it a
good idea as there was
little chance for her
getting married..

8. Change for better
• 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.

9. No ordinaryTeacher ,a real
mentor
As the village progressed, the primary
school became a high school.

10. Bholi’s Plight
•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.

11. The Wedding
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 accidently slipped from her face he was shocked
to see her pock-marked face.

12. Demand for Dowry
•He refused to garland her, and said that the
marriage would go through only if five thousand
rupees were given to him.
•Ramlal went and placed his turban — his honour —
at Bishamber’s feet begging him to not humiliate
him and take two thousand rupees.
•Bishamber refused to go ahead with the wedding
until he was given five thousand rupees.
•.He even threatened that he would call off the
marriage.
•Ramlal brought the money.

13. DecisionTime
• 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.

14. Theme
• The major theme of the story Bholi is the impact of family on
children.
• Bholi is a little girl who fails to develop self-confidence because
of her parents' attitude towards her.The story hints at why family
support and emotional security are essential for proper child
development.
• Also, disfigured and disabled children must be given
encouragement, love and, education like their normal
counterparts.

15. OtherThemes
•Education is very important as it instils
confidence in a person and makes him/her
independent and aware of his/her rights.
•It helps people to take their own decisions and
realize their worth or uniqueness.

16. Role of the teacher and education
in Bholi’s life
• It is quite true education played a pivotal role in Bholi’s
transformation. Her going to the school and meeting with her teacher
was indeed a turning point in her life.
• The teacher proved to be a messiah or saviour for her.The teacher
treated her kindly, caringly, and affectionately. She made her believe in
herself by encouraging her to utter her own name perfectly. After
pronouncing her name without stammering filled her with a sense of
achievement. She felt she could do it. Her teacher’s pat motivated and
inspired her further. She instilled in Bholi self-conviction when she told
her in the near future she would do wonders.
• Bholi had never heard such encouraging words from anyone – not even
her own mother and father.This brought about a change in her. Having
self-belief in her, she mastered most of her deficiencies

17. Think About it
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 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?