English — Language and Literature (184) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Speech by Bholi (Sulekha) on Girl Child Education

Respected teachers and dear friends,

I am Sulekha — once called Bholi, the simpleton. I was considered worthless, with no future. But one day I stepped into a classroom, and my life changed forever.

Education gave me a voice. It taught me to speak without shame, to think with confidence, and to refuse injustice. When I was about to be married to a greedy, contemptible man who demanded dowry, it was education that gave me the courage to say, "I will not."

Every girl deserves this courage. A girl who is educated cannot be silenced. She can serve her family, her community, and herself with dignity.

Educate the girl child — because an educated girl is never a burden; she is a strength.

Source: Bholi, Chapter 8

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• The question asks you to write as Bholi — so use first person and draw directly from her experiences: her stammer, neglect, the teacher's encouragement, and her rejection of Bishamber.
• Examiners look for: relevant content from the story, a clear message about girl education, and proper speech format (brief greeting + body + conclusion).
• Do not write a generic essay — personalise it with Bholi's story details.
• 80–100 words is the target; going much beyond loses marks for relevance.