Notes For All Chapters English Footprints without Feet Class 10 CBSE
1. About Bholi
- Real name: Sulekha.
- Nickname: Bholi, meaning simpleton (foolish child).
- Childhood problems:
- Fell from cot → possible brain damage → backward child.
- Suffered from smallpox at age 2 → face & body full of black marks.
- Could not speak till 5 years old → stammered badly.
- Because of these, she was mocked, neglected, and ignored at home.
2. Bholi’s Family
- Father: Ramlal, the Numberdar (village revenue officer).
- Family: 3 sons + 4 daughters.
- Other children: healthy, good-looking, well-settled.
- Elder sisters (Radha, Mangla, Champa) married easily.
- Only Bholi was considered a burden because of her looks and stammer.
3. Bholi Sent to School
- A primary school for girls opened in the village.
- Tehsildar asked Ramlal to set an example by sending daughters to school.
- Mother objected: “If girls go to school, no one will marry them.”
- Decided to send Bholi only, since she had little chance of marriage anyway.
4. First Day at School
- Bholi was afraid; thought she was being taken like their old cow Lakshmi (who was sold).
- She wore clean clothes and was bathed for the first time.
- At school:
- Saw many girls and colourful wall pictures (horse, parrot, goat, cow, etc.).
- Felt happy and hopeful.
- Teacher:
- Spoke kindly, encouraged her.
- Helped her say her name without fear.
- Gave her a picture book and promised she could learn to read and speak confidently.
- Result: For the first time, Bholi felt hope, courage, and self-respect.
5. Proposal of Marriage
- Years passed; village became a small town, school became a high school.
- Bholi grew into an educated girl.
- A marriage proposal came from Bishamber Nath, a rich grocer:
- Wealthy, house + shop + savings.
- But he was middle-aged, limped, and had grown-up children.
- Parents agreed, thinking it was a “good match” since he asked for no dowry.
- They felt Bholi should accept as she had no better chances.
6. The Marriage Scene
- Wedding was grand with band, horse, and procession.
- When Bishamber saw Bholi’s face with pockmarks, he demanded ₹5000 dowry.
- Ramlal begged but had to pay to save family’s honour.
- Just before the garland exchange, Bholi refused:
- Declared she would not marry a greedy, cowardly man.
- Rejected Bishamber in front of all guests.
- Spoke clearly, without stammer, for the first time.
7. Bholi’s Transformation
- Everyone shocked at her boldness.
- Father worried about her future, but Bholi said:
- She would serve her parents in old age.
- She would become a teacher in her school.
- Teacher felt proud, like an artist admiring her masterpiece.
- Bholi had transformed from a neglected, shy, stammering girl into a confident, self-respecting woman.
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