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“What’s the matter with you, you fool?” shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today, or else what will the teachers and the other school girls think of us when they see her?”
New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. But today she was lucky to receive a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She was even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only then did she begin to believe that she was being taken to a place better than her home!
When they reached the school, the children were already in their classrooms. Ramlal handed over his daughter to the headmistress. Left alone, the poor girl looked about her with fear-laden eyes. There were several rooms, and in each room girls like her squatted on mats, reading from books or writing on slates. The headmistress asked Bholi to sit down in a corner in one of the classrooms.
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was like and what happened there, but she was glad to find so many girls almost of her own age present there. She hoped that one of these girls might become her friend.
Explanation:
When Ramlal saw Bholi cry, he shouted like hell. He scolded her by calling her a fool. He asked her why she was crying in such a way. He then said he was taking her only to school and not anywhere else. He then told his wife to make her wear a good dress as he had a good reputation in society. Here, one can find discrimination. For fulfilling societal needs and showcasing his dignity in front of society, he asks his wife to send her daughter in a decent dress. He told his wife to dress up his daughter nicely or else the teacher and the other students would think poorly of them.
The narrator then says that Bholi never used to wear new clothes. Her father and mother never bought her any new clothes. Instead, she received her sisters' old clothes from them. In addition, he says that no one would stitch her torn clothes or wash her dress. It was the first time that Bholi got clean clothes to wear, although it was her elder sister Champa's worn-out dress. She was then bathed, and her messy hair was washed and oiled. Such treatment made her believe she was going to a better place than her home.
When Bholi and her father arrived at the school, they saw that the students were already seated in their classes. After handing Bholi to the headmistress, Ramlal departed the premises. Bholi's eyes were filled with fear. There were several students in each of the various classrooms. They were sitting on the carpets, writing on the slates or reading from their books.
The narrator then says that Bholi never used to wear new clothes. Her father and mother never bought her any new clothes. Instead, she received her sisters' old clothes from them. In addition, he says that no one would stitch her torn clothes or wash her dress. It was the first time that Bholi got clean clothes to wear, although it was her elder sister Champa's worn-out dress. She was then bathed, and her messy hair was washed and oiled. Such treatment made her believe she was going to a better place than her home.
When Bholi and her father arrived at the school, they saw that the students were already seated in their classes. After handing Bholi to the headmistress, Ramlal departed the premises. Bholi's eyes were filled with fear. There were several students in each of the various classrooms. They were sitting on the carpets, writing on the slates or reading from their books.
Bholi's eyes filled with tears
The headmistresses led Bholi to a classroom. Bholi was told to take a seat in the classroom's corner. Bholi was happy to see so many girls who were close to her age, even though she had no idea what a school was like or what happened there. She hoped that she would become friends with one of these girls.
Meanings of the difficult words:
| S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Mend | To repair something that is torn or damaged |
2 | Headmistress | A woman who is in charge of a school |
3 | Friend | A person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not a member of your family |
4 | Slate | A small, thin, rectangular piece of slate (= rock), usually in a wooden frame, used for writing on, especially by children |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Bholi - K.A. Abbas (pp. 54-62). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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