Question

Why was Bholi’s father worried about her?

Hint:

When analyzing characters in literature, consider how societal norms and family expectations shape their behaviors and attitudes. In Bholi’s case, her father’s worries reflect the traditional values of the society in which they live.

Answer 1

In Premchand’s story "Bholi", Bholi’s father is deeply concerned about her future because of both her physical appearance and her speech impairment. Bholi, as a young girl, suffers from pockmarked skin caused by a childhood illness, which causes her to be seen as unattractive by her family and society. This physical appearance, in a society that highly values beauty, is a major source of anxiety for her father, who worries that she will not find a suitable match for marriage. He believes that an unappealing girl like Bholi will be an "undesirable" bride, which causes him great concern about her future.
Bholi’s father’s worry is not limited to her appearance. She also has a speech defect, which makes it difficult for her to speak clearly and express herself. In the traditional society depicted in the story, marriage is not only a physical and emotional bond but also an important social contract. A girl who is not physically attractive or who has a speech impairment is viewed as an "incomplete" person in terms of the societal expectation of marriage. Bholi’s father, who is concerned about his family’s social standing, worries that his daughter’s physical and verbal challenges will render her unmarriageable. This fear of social rejection and her perceived "lack" in terms of marriageability makes him anxious for her future.
However, Bholi’s father’s worry is also rooted in the larger social context of the time, where traditional customs and marriage practices heavily influenced how young girls were viewed. In this patriarchal system, girls were often judged by their appearance and social utility, and their value was largely measured by their ability to marry well. Bholi’s father, like many in that era, saw marriage as the ultimate goal for a girl’s life, and he feared that Bholi’s shortcomings would prevent her from achieving this societal ideal.
Despite his worries, Bholi’s father fails to see the deeper qualities in his daughter—her intelligence, courage, and inner strength. While he is preoccupied with her outward appearance and speech, he does not notice that Bholi is a sensitive and capable young girl with a unique ability to transform her life. His inability to recognize her potential reflects a common societal mindset where a person's value is determined by their external traits rather than their inner qualities.
Later in the story, however, Bholi surprises her father and others by making a bold decision to reject an unwanted marriage proposal, demonstrating her independence and strength. This shows that while her father initially sees her as a burden due to her appearance and speech, Bholi is more than capable of shaping her own destiny, and her journey is a reflection of her growing self-confidence.
In conclusion, Bholi’s father’s worry about her was a product of the societal pressures and traditional values of his time. His concern stemmed from his desire to protect her from social rejection, but it also highlighted the limitations of a narrow, superficial view of a person’s worth. In the end, Bholi proves that true worth lies not in appearance or speech but in the strength of one’s character and the courage to stand up for oneself.