Question

In the story "Bholi," why did Ramlal decide to send only Bholi and not his daughter when asked to send his daughter to the newly opened primary school?

A) Bholi was more intelligent than his daughter.
B) His daughter was already attending a different school.
C) His daughter was uninterested in education.
D) Bholi had a greater need for education due to her appearance.

Answer 1

Ramlal chose to send Bholi to school because, given the cultural context, her marriage prospects were limited due to her appearance. Education was seen as an alternative means for her to gain dignity and some form of independence.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the story "Bholi," Ramlal decided to send Bholi and not his other daughter to the newly opened primary school primarily because of the constraints placed on the educational and societal opportunities for women during that period.

During those times, daughters were seen more as a responsibility to be married off rather than individuals with a need for education. Bholi seemed to have a greater need for education due to her appearance; it was implicitly understood that her prospects in terms of marriage would be limited, and thus an education might provide her with a semblance of independence or dignity. Given the context, other daughters might have been seen as more 'marriageable' and hence not sent to school with the thought that education wouldn't significantly alter the traditional path set out for them.