The ninth chapter in 'Footprints without Feet' textbook is 'Bholi' written by Khwaja Ahmed Abbas.
This story is about a young girl named Sulekha who was popularly referred to as ‘Bholi’ for her simple nature.
At ten months, she fell from her cot which caused some severe damage on her brain and she used to stammer when she learnt to talk.
Bholi was born a pretty child, but she suffered from small-pox that left dark pock-marks on her face permanently.
The ugly marks spoilt her appearance and people would often make fun of her due to her dullness.
They would also consider her to be retarded as she stammered while speaking.
Bholi conveys that proper moral and emotional protection should be given to children during the formative years of childhood to help them grow up into responsible citizens.
Students can view and download the chapter from the link given below.
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NCERT Solutions for Chapter 9: Bholi
Also Check
Chapter 1: A Triumph of Surgery
Chapter 2: The Thief's Story
Chapter 3: The Midnight Visitor
Chapter 4: A Question of Trust
Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet
Chapter 6: The Making of a Scientist
Chapter 7: The Necklace
Chapter 8: The Hack Driver
Chapter 10: The Book that saved the Earth
Check out Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Chapter 9: Bholi
Why was Sulekha nicknamed Bholi?
Sulekha was nicknamed Bholi because she was a simpleton. She was mentally slow and anybody could befool her.
Why did Sulekha start stammering?
Sulekha was a baby when she fell down from a cot. Her brain was damaged. She could not speak till the age of five years. She was mentally slow and lacked confidence. That is why she started stammering.
Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi and not about his other children?
All other children of Ramlal were healthy and good looking. Bholi was the only girl who was neither intelligent nor good looking. She was a simpleton, she stammered also. Ramlal was extremely worried about her future.
Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father?
Bholi did not know what a school was like. She had never heard about it. When her father held her hand and told her that they were going to school, she got frightened fearing to be dragged out of the house. So she was reluctant to go to school with her father.
Which incident touched her heart?
All the girls were laughing at her. The teacher called her by name in her soft and soothing voice. This touched her heart because she had never been called in that loving way.
