Mention any two reasons that substantiate that Bholi's mother was a negative presence in her life. (Bholi)
Mention any two reasons that substantiate that Bholi's mother was a negative presence in her life. (Bholi)
First, Bholi's mother showed no love or protection, treating her as a burden: after smallpox scarred her face and a fall left her with a stammer, the mother neglected her emotionally, never built her confidence, and openly considered her plain and a liability to marry off, unlike her care for the other children. Second, when marriage was arranged with the older, greedy, dowry-demanding Bishamber Nath, her mother did not defend Bholi's dignity; she was chiefly anxious to get her 'off her hands' at any cost, valuing social convenience over her daughter's happiness. These two attitudes — childhood neglect and prioritising a convenient, exploitative marriage over her dignity — establish the mother as a negative presence in Bholi's life.
Marking Scheme
- 11.5 marks: first valid reason — e.g., the mother's emotional neglect and low regard for Bholi after her smallpox scars and stammer, never building her confidence.
- 21.5 marks: second valid reason — e.g., the mother's eagerness to marry Bholi off to the unsuitable, dowry-demanding Bishamber Nath merely to be rid of her, ignoring her dignity and wellbeing.
- 3Any two other textually correct reasons (e.g., favouritism towards other children, lack of support during the broken marriage proposal) may be credited equivalently.
Hint
Give two separate reasons: (1) childhood emotional neglect after the scars/stammer, and (2) prioritising a convenient, exploitative dowry marriage over Bholi's dignity.
Quick Oral Answer
Bholi's mother neglected her emotionally after her scarring and stammer, treating her as a burden, and later prioritised marrying her off to the unsuitable, dowry-demanding Bishamber Nath over protecting her dignity.
Analysis & Explanation
Tests ability to extract specific, textually grounded evidence of parental neglect rather than making a vague emotional claim.
Concept: Bholi's mother is a negative presence across two distinct phases — childhood neglect and the marriage episode.
Key points
- After smallpox scarred Bholi's face and a fall left her with a stammer, her mother neglected her emotionally, never building her confidence, and openly saw her as plain and a liability, unlike her care for the other children.
- When marriage was arranged with the older, dowry-demanding Bishamber Nath, the mother cared only about getting Bholi 'off her hands', ignoring her dignity and wellbeing.
Common mistakes
- Writing generally that 'the mother was cruel' without citing two distinct, specific incidents.
- Missing the dowry/marriage episode, which is the stronger, more concrete piece of evidence examiners look for.
वास्तविक जीवन: The story critiques dowry practices and appearance-based discrimination against girls — issues still relevant to gender-equity discussions in India today.
Common Mistakes
- 1Giving only one vague reason ('the mother was mean') instead of two specific, textually supported points.
- 2Confusing the father's or society's attitude with the mother's specific negative role.
- 3Omitting the dowry-marriage episode, which is the strongest textual evidence of the mother's self-serving neglect.
Interesting Facts
'Bholi' is written by K.A. Abbas and appears in the Footprints without Feet supplementary reader for CBSE Class 10.
Bholi's real name in the story is Sulekha; 'Bholi' (meaning 'simple/innocent one') is a nickname given because of her stammer and scarred face.
The story ends with Bholi refusing the dowry-driven marriage to Bishamber Nath and instead choosing to become a teacher, symbolising her rejection of the very attitudes her mother represented.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How did Bholi's mother treat her differently from her other children?
After Bholi's face was scarred and she developed a stammer, her mother showed her little affection or confidence-building support, viewing her as a plain, dull burden compared to her other, more presentable children.
What role did the mother play in Bholi's marriage arrangement?
She was primarily concerned with getting Bholi married off to be relieved of the responsibility, and did not oppose the exploitative, dowry-driven, unsuitable match with the much older Bishamber Nath, showing she prioritised convenience over her daughter's wellbeing.