Bholi |Chapter 9| SEBA Class 10 English Supplementary Reader

Here is a comprehensive study guide for the SEBA Class 10 English Supplementary Reader chapter, “Bholi,” by K.A. Abbas. This guide includes a summary, complete textual question answers, previous years’ HSLC questions, and a list of most important questions in both English and Assamese.

Chapter: “Bholi” by K.A. Abbas

Summary Note (পাঠটোৰ সাৰাংশ)

In English: “Bholi” is a touching story about a simple village girl named Sulekha, who is called Bholi (the simpleton) because of her slow-wittedness. She suffered brain damage after falling from a cot at ten months old. At two, an attack of smallpox left her with permanent pock-marks, and she started to stammer when she learned to speak. Due to this, she was always neglected and made fun of.

A turning point comes in her life when a primary school for girls opens in her village. The Tehsildar asks her father, Ramlal, to set an example by sending his daughters to school. Since Bholi has little chance of getting married due to her looks and lack of sense, her parents decide to send her to school. On her first day, Bholi is frightened, but her teacher’s kind and encouraging voice touches her heart. The teacher gives her a book full of pictures and promises that if she comes to school every day, she will become more learned than anyone else in the village and will be able to speak without a stammer.

Years pass, and Bholi, transformed by education, becomes confident and aware. A marriage proposal comes for her from a rich, old, and lame grocer named Bishamber Nath. Her parents agree because he is not asking for a dowry. However, during the wedding ceremony, Bishamber sees Bholi’s pock-marked face and demands a dowry of five thousand rupees. To save his family’s honour, Ramlal places the money at Bishamber’s feet. But at that moment, Bholi refuses to marry the mean and greedy man. She speaks clearly and confidently, without stammering, and declares that she will not marry him. Everyone is stunned. She decides to dedicate her life to serving her parents and teaching in the same school where she learned so much. Her teacher, watching the scene, feels a deep satisfaction, as if an artist is contemplating the completion of her masterpiece.

In Assamese: “ভোলী” হৈছে ছুলেখা নামৰ এগৰাকী সৰল গাঁৱলীয়া ছোৱালীৰ এক মৰ্মস্পৰ্শী কাহিনী, যাক তাইৰ সৰলতাৰ বাবে ভোলী (হোজা) বুলি মতা হৈছিল। দহ মাহ বয়সত খাটৰ পৰা পৰি তাইৰ মগজুত আঘাত লাগিছিল। দুবছৰ বয়সত, বসন্ত ৰোগৰ আক্ৰমণে তাইৰ গাত স্থায়ী দাগ বহুৱাইছিল, আৰু কথা ক’বলৈ শিকাৰ পিছত তাই খোকোজা হৈছিল। এই কাৰণেই, তাইক সদায় অৱহেলা কৰা হৈছিল আৰু উপহাস কৰা হৈছিল।

তাইৰ জীৱনত এক পৰিৱৰ্তনৰ মুহূৰ্ত আহে যেতিয়া তাইৰ গাঁৱত ছোৱালীৰ বাবে এখন প্ৰাথমিক বিদ্যালয় খোলা হয়। তহচিলদাৰে তাইৰ দেউতাক, ৰামলালক, তেওঁৰ ছোৱালীক স্কুললৈ পঠিয়াই এক উদাহৰণ স্থাপন কৰিবলৈ কয়। যিহেতু ভোলীৰ চেহেৰা আৰু বুদ্ধিৰ অভাৱৰ বাবে বিয়া হোৱাৰ সম্ভাৱনা কম আছিল, তাইৰ মাক-দেউতাকে তাইক স্কুললৈ পঠিয়াবলৈ সিদ্ধান্ত লয়। স্কুলৰ প্ৰথম দিনা, ভোলী ভয় খায়, কিন্তু তাইৰ শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীৰ দয়ালু আৰু উৎসাহজনক মাতে তাইৰ হৃদয় স্পৰ্শ কৰে। শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীয়ে তাইক ছবিৰে ভৰা এখন কিতাপ দিয়ে আৰু প্ৰতিশ্ৰুতি দিয়ে যে যদি তাই প্ৰতিদিনে স্কুললৈ আহে, তেন্তে তাই গাঁৱৰ আন সকলোতকৈ বেছি শিক্ষিত হ’ব আৰু খোকোজোৱাকৈ কথা ক’ব পাৰিব।

বছৰ পাৰ হয়, আৰু শিক্ষাৰ দ্বাৰা পৰিৱৰ্তিত হৈ, ভোলী আত্মবিশ্বাসী আৰু সচেতন হৈ পৰে। তাইৰ বাবে বিশম্বৰ নাথ নামৰ এজন ধনী, বুঢ়া আৰু খোৰা গেলামালৰ দোকানীৰ পৰা বিয়াৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ আহে। তাইৰ মাক-দেউতাকে মান্তি হয় কাৰণ তেওঁ যৌতুক বিচৰা নাছিল। কিন্তু, বিয়াৰ সময়ত, বিশম্বৰে ভোলীৰ দাগযুক্ত মুখখন দেখে আৰু পাঁচ হাজাৰ টকাৰ যৌতুক দাবী কৰে। নিজৰ পৰিয়ালৰ সন্মান ৰক্ষা কৰিবলৈ, ৰামলালে টকাখিনি বিশম্বৰৰ ভৰিত থয়। কিন্তু সেই মুহূৰ্ততে, ভোলীয়ে সেই নীচ আৰু লোভী মানুহজনক বিয়া কৰাবলৈ অস্বীকাৰ কৰে। তাই স্পষ্ট আৰু আত্মবিশ্বাসেৰে, খোকোজোৱাকৈ কথা কয় আৰু ঘোষণা কৰে যে তাই তেওঁক বিয়া নকৰায়। সকলো স্তম্ভিত হয়। তাই নিজৰ জীৱন মাক-দেউতাকৰ সেৱাত আৰু যিখন স্কুলত তাই ইমানখিনি শিকিছিল, তাতে শিক্ষকতা কৰি কটোৱাৰ সিদ্ধান্ত লয়। তাইৰ শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীয়ে, এই দৃশ্য চাই, এক গভীৰ সন্তুষ্টি অনুভৱ কৰে, যেন এজন শিল্পীয়ে তেওঁৰ শ্ৰেষ্ঠ कृति সম্পূৰ্ণ হোৱা দেখিছে।

Textual Question Answers (পাঠ্যপুথিৰ প্ৰশ্নোত্তৰ)

Read and Find Out (পঢ়া আৰু বিচাৰি উলিওৱা)

1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
(ভোলীৰ দেউতাক তাইৰ বিষয়ে কিয় চিন্তিত?)
Answer: Bholi’s father is worried about her because she has neither good looks nor intelligence. She has pock-marks all over her body and she stammers. He is worried that he will not be able to find a suitable bridegroom for her.

2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
(কি অস্বাভাৱিক কাৰণত ভোলীক স্কুললৈ পঠিওৱা হৈছিল?)
Answer: Bholi is sent to school for unusual reasons. Firstly, her father, being a government representative, had to set an example for the villagers as ordered by the Tehsildar. Secondly, her mother believed that since there was little chance of Bholi getting married due to her ugliness and lack of sense, it was better to let the teachers at school worry about her.

3. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
(ভোলীয়ে তাইৰ স্কুলৰ প্ৰথম দিনটো উপভোগ কৰিছিলনে?)
Answer: Yes, Bholi enjoys her first day at school. Although she is initially frightened, she is fascinated by the pictures on the classroom wall. Her teacher’s kind and soothing voice gives her a new hope, and she feels that she is being taken to a place better than her home.

4. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
(তাই তাইৰ শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীক ঘৰৰ মানুহতকৈ বেলেগ বুলি পাইছিলনে?)
Answer: Yes, she finds her teacher very different from the people at home. At home, she was always neglected and never spoken to with love. In contrast, her teacher’s voice was soft and soothing, and she encouraged Bholi with affection, which touched her heart.

5. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
(ভোলীৰ মাক-দেউতাকে বিশম্বৰৰ বিয়াৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ কিয় গ্ৰহণ কৰিছিল?)
Answer: Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal because he is a well-to-do grocer with a big shop and a house of his own. Most importantly, he is not asking for any dowry and does not know about Bholi’s pock-marks and lack of sense.

6. Why does the marriage not take place?
(বিয়াখন কিয় নহ’ল?)
Answer: The marriage does not take place because the bridegroom, Bishamber, sees Bholi’s pock-marked face and demands a dowry of five thousand rupees. Seeing his greed and meanness, Bholi refuses to marry him.

Think about it (ভাবি চোৱা)

1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
(স্কুললৈ যোৱাৰ বিষয়ে ভোলীৰ বহুতো আশংকা আছিল। কিহে তাইক অনুভৱ কৰাইছিল যে তাই তাইৰ ঘৰতকৈ এখন ভাল ঠাইলৈ গৈ আছে?)
Answer: When Bholi was given a clean dress (which had never happened before), was bathed, and had her hair oiled, she began to believe she was being taken to a better place than her home. At home, she was always neglected and wore old clothes.

2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
(ভোলীৰ শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীয়ে তাইৰ জীৱনৰ গতিপথ সলনি কৰাত কেনেকৈ এক গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ ভূমিকা পালন কৰিছিল?)
Answer: Bholi’s teacher played a very important role. She was the first person to speak to Bholi with love and encouragement. She gave her confidence, put the fear out of her heart, and inspired her to learn. It was her education and her teacher’s guidance that transformed the timid Bholi into a bold, confident, and self-respecting young woman.

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?
(ভোলীয়ে প্ৰথমে কিয় এক অসমান বিবাহত মান্তি হৈছিল? তাই পিছত কিয় বিয়াখন নাকচ কৰিলে? ই তাইৰ বিষয়ে আমাক কি কয়?)
Answer: At first, Bholi agreed to the unequal match for the sake of her father’s honour (izzat). She was an obedient daughter and did not want to bring shame to her family. She later rejected the marriage when the bridegroom, Bishamber, revealed his greed by demanding a dowry of five thousand rupees. This tells us that Bholi had become a self-respecting and confident person who would not tolerate injustice. She valued dignity over a marriage based on greed.

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?
(ভোলীৰ প্ৰকৃত নাম ছুলেখা। এইটো আমাক আৰম্ভণিতেই কোৱা হৈছে। কিন্তু কাহিনীৰ শেষৰটোৰ আগৰ পেৰাগ্ৰাফতহে ভোলীক পুনৰ ছুলেখা বুলি কোৱা হৈছে। তুমি কিয় ভাবা যে কাহিনীৰ সেই মুহূৰ্তত তাইক ছুলেখা বুলি কোৱা হৈছে?)
Answer: She is called Sulekha at that point because she is no longer “Bholi” (the simpleton). Through education, she has transformed into a wise, confident, and assertive young woman. By refusing to marry a greedy man and speaking up for her dignity, she proves that she is now “Sulekha,” a person with her own identity and understanding. The name change signifies her complete transformation.

Previous Year HSLC Question Answers (বিগত বৰ্ষৰ HSLC প্ৰশ্নোত্তৰ)

1. Who was Bishamber? (HSLC 2023)
(বিশম্বৰ কোন আছিল?)
Answer: Bishamber was a well-to-do grocer from another village who came to marry Bholi. He was an old, lame man who already had grown-up children from his first wife.

2. What was Ramlal’s profession? (HSLC 2023)
(ৰামলালৰ পেচা কি আছিল?)
Answer: Ramlal was the Numberdar (revenue official) of the village. He was also a prosperous farmer.

3. Why did Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal? (HSLC 2022)
(ভোলীৰ মাক-দেউতাকে বিশম্বৰৰ বিয়াৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ কিয় গ্ৰহণ কৰিছিল?)
Answer: They accepted the proposal because Bishamber was a rich man with a big shop and a house, and he was not asking for any dowry. They felt lucky to get such a well-to-do bridegroom for Bholi, who had pock-marks and lacked sense.

4. Why was Sulekha called Bholi? (HSLC 2020)
(ছুলেখাক কিয় ভোলী বুলি মতা হৈছিল?)
Answer: Sulekha was called Bholi because she was a simpleton. She had suffered some brain damage after falling off a cot in her infancy, which made her a backward child.

5. How did Bholi’s teacher react when Bholi rejected to marry Bishamber Nath? (HSLC 2020)
(যেতিয়া ভোলীয়ে বিশম্বৰ নাথক বিয়া কৰাবলৈ অস্বীকাৰ কৰিলে, তেতিয়া তাইৰ শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীৰ প্ৰতিক্ৰিয়া কি আছিল?)
Answer: When Bholi rejected the marriage, her teacher, who had been watching the drama from a corner, felt a deep satisfaction. Her smiling eyes showed the satisfaction an artist feels when contemplating the completion of her masterpiece.

6. Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi? (HSLC 2019)
(ৰামলাল ভোলীৰ বিষয়ে কিয় চিন্তিত আছিল?)
Answer: Ramlal was worried about Bholi because she was not like his other children. She had pock-marks on her face, she stammered, and she lacked intelligence. He worried that it would be difficult to find a husband for her.

7. For what unusual reason was Bholi sent to school? (HSLC 2018)
(কি অস্বাভাৱিক কাৰণত ভোলীক স্কুললৈ পঠিওৱা হৈছিল?)
Answer: Bholi was sent to school because her father, being the village Numberdar, had to obey the Tehsildar’s order to set an example. Moreover, her mother thought that since Bholi had no chance of getting married anyway, it was fine to send her to school.

8. What two things did Bholi’s teacher tell her to do? (HSLC 2017)
(ভোলীৰ শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীয়ে তাইক কি দুটা কাম কৰিবলৈ কৈছিল?)
Answer: Bholi’s teacher told her to put the fear out of her heart and to come to school every day.

Most Important 10 Questions and Answers (১০টা আটাইতকৈ গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ প্ৰশ্নোত্তৰ)

1. Why was Bholi a neglected child?
(ভোলী কিয় এগৰাকী অৱহেলিত শিশু আছিল?)
Answer: Bholi was a neglected child because she was considered ugly due to her pock-marks and unintelligent due to her stammering and slow-wittedness. Her parents and siblings did not care for her properly.

2. How was Bholi’s first day at school?
(ভোলীৰ স্কুলৰ প্ৰথম দিনটো কেনেকুৱা আছিল?)
Answer: On her first day, Bholi was scared but also hopeful. She was fascinated by the colourful pictures on the wall. Her teacher’s kind and affectionate manner gave her the confidence she had never received at home.

3. What role did the book given by the teacher play in Bholi’s life?
(শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীয়ে দিয়া কিতাপখনে ভোলীৰ জীৱনত কি ভূমিকা পালন কৰিছিল?)
Answer: The book, full of colourful pictures and big black letters, filled Bholi with a new hope. It symbolized the beginning of her education, which would eventually empower her and change her life completely.

4. Why did Bishamber demand a dowry?
(বিশম্বৰে কিয় যৌতুক দাবী কৰিছিল?)
Answer: Bishamber demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees after he saw the pock-marks on Bholi’s face during the wedding ceremony. He was a mean and greedy person who tried to take advantage of the situation.

5. How did Bholi react to Bishamber’s demand?
(বিশম্বৰৰ দাবীত ভোলীৰ প্ৰতিক্ৰিয়া কি আছিল?)
Answer: Bholi reacted with courage and self-respect. She threw the wedding garland into the fire, told her father to take back his money, and firmly refused to marry such a mean and greedy man.

6. How does the story show the transformative power of education?
(কাহিনীটোৱে শিক্ষাৰ পৰিৱৰ্তনকাৰী শক্তিক কেনেকৈ দেখুৱায়?)
Answer: The story shows that education transformed Bholi from a timid, stammering, and neglected girl into a bold, confident, and articulate young woman who could stand up for her dignity and make her own decisions.

7. What does the teacher’s smile at the end signify?
(শেষত শিক্ষয়িত্ৰীৰ হাঁহিটোৱে কি সূচায়?)
Answer: The teacher’s smile signifies her deep satisfaction and pride in Bholi’s transformation. She feels like an artist who has successfully completed her masterpiece, having moulded Bholi into a confident and self-respecting individual.

8. What social evils are highlighted in the story “Bholi”?
(“ভোলী” কাহিনীটোত কি কি সামাজিক কু-প্ৰথাৰ ওপৰত আলোকপাত কৰা হৈছে?)
Answer: The story highlights social evils like the dowry system, discrimination against girls, and the neglect of children with physical or mental challenges.

9. What decision did Bholi make about her future?
(ভোলীয়ে তাইৰ ভৱিষ্যতৰ বিষয়ে কি সিদ্ধান্ত ল’লে?)
Answer: Bholi decided that she would not marry but would serve her parents in their old age. She also decided to become a teacher in the same school where she had learned so much.

10. What is the central message of the story “Bholi”?
(“ভোলী” কাহিনীটোৰ কেন্দ্ৰীয় বাৰ্তা কি?)
Answer: The central message of the story is that education and encouragement can empower an individual, especially a girl, to overcome social barriers, fight for her dignity, and change her own destiny.