English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

Education gave Bholi the confidence and courage to stand up against Bishamber's greed at her own wedding.

Bholi's parents accepted Bishamber's proposal because he was well-to-do and was not asking for dowry, despite being old and lame. They considered Bholi lucky, as her pock-marks and supposed lack of sense made her difficult to marry.

However, at the wedding, when Bishamber saw her pock-marks, he shamelessly demanded ₹5,000 from Ramlal, or he would leave. A humiliated Ramlal paid the money. Bholi had earlier agreed to the match for her parents' izzat, but when she saw Bishamber's greed and contempt, she refused to be sold. She flung the garland into the sacred fire and boldly declared, "I will not have such a mean, greedy and contemptible coward as my husband."

Remarkably, she spoke without any stammer — proof of her education's transformation. She calmly resolved to serve her parents and teach in the village school, showing true independence and self-respect.

Source: Bholi, Chapter 8 (First Flight — Supplementary Reader)

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• The examiner wants: (1) context of the proposal, (2) Bishamber's greedy demand, (3) Bholi's bold refusal with a quoted line, (4) how education enabled this courage.
• Quoting the exact line ("mean, greedy and contemptible coward") scores well and shows textual knowledge.
• End with her positive resolution — it rounds off the "education as asset" theme the question asks about.
• Avoid retelling the whole story; stick to the challenge and her response.