Bholi Class 10 Summary: Chapter 8, Bholi by K.A. Abbas, is part of the Class 10 English syllabus under the Footprints Without Feet book. It tells the story of a shy, underconfident girl named Bholi, who is mocked due to her looks and speech disorder.
With the help of her teacher’s encouragement, she gains confidence and self-respect. During a marriage proposal, she boldly rejects a greedy groom, proving her strength. As per the CBSE exam pattern, students should focus on character development, key themes like education and empowerment, and value-based questions to perform well in the literature sections of the board exam.
About the Author- Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, commonly known as K.A. Abbas, was a prominent Indian writer, journalist, screenwriter, and filmmaker born on June 7, 1914, in Panipat, Haryana. He wrote in Hindi, Urdu, and English, earning fame for short stories, novels, and films that often addressed social issues like poverty, education, and women's empowerment. Abbas passed away on June 1, 1987, in Mumbai at age 7.
Class 10 Bholi summary
Bholi is a story written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (K.A. Abbas), a well-known Indian writer and filmmaker. The story is about a girl named Sulekha, who was called “Bholi” because of her innocent and simple nature.
When she was a baby, she fell and hurt her brain, which made her slow and caused her to stammer. Later, she also got smallpox, which left her face with scars. Because of this, people made fun of her and treated her as if she wasn’t smart.
Bholi’s father, Ramlal, had seven children. All of them were healthy except for Bholi, who was the youngest daughter. Her parents were worried about her future and whether anyone would marry her.
One day, a government officer came to open a new girls’ school in the village and told Ramlal to send his daughters there. Though his wife refused at first, they finally decided to send only Bholi, as they believed she had the least chances of marriage.
At first, Bholi was scared to go to school, but she was nicely dressed and was welcomed there. She liked the school and other girls, but was shy to speak. When her teacher asked her name, she stammered, and the others laughed.
However, her teacher was kind and encouraged her. This gave Bholi confidence, and she slowly began to speak more and learn well. She started dreaming of a better life.
Years later, Bholi grew up into a strong and smart young woman. A marriage proposal came from Bishamber Nath, an old man with children who walked with a limp.
Her family accepted him because he had money. On the wedding day, when Bishamber saw Bholi’s scarred face, he demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees. Her father agreed and paid him. But before the marriage could happen, Bholi bravely refused to marry him.
Everyone was shocked when Bholi spoke clearly and confidently. She said she would never marry a greedy man and would instead take care of her parents and become a teacher. Her teacher, watching everything from a distance, felt proud of how far Bholi had come.
Character Sketches in Bholi
Bholi (Sulekha)
Bholi starts as a timid, stammering girl disfigured by smallpox, considered simple-minded by her family and village. She transforms through school and her teacher's encouragement into a confident, courageous woman who rejects a dowry-demanding groom. Her growth highlights education's power, as she chooses to serve her parents and teach others.
Ramlal
Ramlal, the village numberdar and Bholi's father, is a respected yet traditional man who prioritizes sons' education over daughters'. He reluctantly sends Bholi to school due to external pressure and later agrees to pay dowry to secure her marriage. His actions reflect societal norms of gender bias and concern for family honor.
Bholi's Mother
Bholi's mother embodies practical rural conservatism, suggesting Bholi attend school since she seems unmarriageable due to her looks and simplicity. She supports family decisions without much assertion, typical of her era's gender roles.
Bishamber Nath
Bishamber, the lame, wealthy grocer, reveals greed by demanding 5,000 rupees dowry upon seeing Bholi's pockmarks, despite initially agreeing to the match. His hypocrisy exposes dowry evils, prompting Bholi's bold refusal.
The Teacher
The kind-hearted teacher nurtures Bholi's potential with patience, teaching her to read and speak confidently, sparking her transformation. She symbolizes education's role in empowerment.
Conclusion of Bholi Chapter 8 English
Bholi is an inspiring story that highlights the importance of education, self-respect, and inner strength.
It shows how a girl once considered weak and simple can grow into a confident and courageous woman through the power of learning and support. Bholi’s journey from fear to fearlessness teaches us that true beauty lies in character, not appearance.
Her bold decision to reject a greedy groom and choose a life of dignity reflects the story’s core message. This chapter encourages students to believe in themselves and stand up for what is right, making it an important part of the CBSE syllabus.
English Footprints Without Bholi Class 10 Summary PDF
Below is the CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 8 – Bholi Summary PDF designed to help students understand the chapter quickly and easily. This summary covers all the key events, characters, and moral lessons in simple language.
It follows the latest CBSE syllabus and exam pattern, making it useful for revision before exams. Students can read or download the PDF below to strengthen their understanding and prepare confidently for the literature section of the English board exam
CBSE English Bholi Class 10 Summary PDF