Bihar Board Class 11 English Poem 9 – Voice of the Unwanted Girl

Bihar Board Class 11 English Poem 9 Voice of the Unwanted Girl is a sensitive poem by Sujata Bhatt. The poem gives voice to a girl who is unwanted because of her gender and presents the emotional pain, discrimination and social injustice faced by unwanted girl children.

The poem raises important questions about gender discrimination, female foeticide, the value of a girl child and the attitude of society towards daughters. Through the voice of an unwanted girl, the poet makes the reader understand the emotional suffering of children who are rejected simply because they are girls.

Bihar Board Class 11 English Poem 9 – Overview

Voice of the Unwanted Girl – About the Poet

Sujata Bhatt is an Indian poet whose work often explores identity, memory, language, culture and human experience. Her poetry can combine personal experiences with wider social concerns.

In Voice of the Unwanted Girl, she focuses on the painful issue of discrimination against girls. Instead of discussing the problem from a distant point of view, the poem gives the unwanted girl a voice and allows the reader to understand her feelings.

Voice of the Unwanted Girl – Summary

The poem presents the voice of a girl who feels unwanted because she is a girl. Her existence is viewed negatively by the people around her, and she becomes aware of the prejudice that exists against female children.

The speaker’s voice expresses pain, loneliness and a desire to be accepted. She has done nothing wrong, yet she is made to feel that her birth is a burden.

The poem highlights the unfairness of judging a child according to gender. A girl should not be considered less valuable than a boy simply because she is female.

The speaker’s situation also reflects a wider social problem. In societies where sons are preferred, daughters may face discrimination even before birth or immediately after birth. The poem therefore becomes a criticism of the social attitudes that create such injustice.

The girl wants recognition as a human being. Her feelings show that every child has the natural desire to be loved, protected and valued by family and society.

The poem ultimately asks the reader to reject gender-based discrimination. The voice of the unwanted girl becomes a voice for many girls who have suffered because of prejudice and unequal treatment.

Central Idea of Voice of the Unwanted Girl

The central idea of the poem is the pain and injustice caused by discrimination against girl children.

The poet presents the emotional experience of a girl who is unwanted because of her gender. Through her voice, the poem challenges the belief that boys are more valuable than girls.

The poem conveys a strong social message: a child’s worth should never be decided by gender. Girls deserve the same love, respect, opportunities and dignity as boys.

Major Themes of Voice of the Unwanted Girl

1. Gender Discrimination

The most important theme of the poem is gender discrimination. The girl is unwanted not because of anything she has done but simply because she is female.

The poem exposes the unfair social attitude that gives preference to boys and treats girls as less important.

2. Rejection of Girl Children

The title itself draws attention to the rejection experienced by a girl. The speaker represents children who are denied affection and acceptance because their families or societies prefer sons.

3. Emotional Pain

The poem focuses strongly on the emotional consequences of rejection. Being unwanted can create loneliness, insecurity and a deep sense of worthlessness.

4. Equality

The poem indirectly demands equality between boys and girls. It reminds readers that both are equally human and deserve equal dignity.

5. Social Injustice

The speaker’s personal pain represents a larger social problem. The poem therefore moves beyond an individual experience and becomes a criticism of an unjust social system.

Why is the Girl Called “Unwanted”?

The girl is called unwanted because society or her family does not value her birth in the same way as the birth of a boy. Her gender becomes the reason for her rejection.

The expression is therefore not a criticism of the girl herself. Instead, it exposes the cruel attitude of the people who fail to recognise her value.

Significance of the Title

The title Voice of the Unwanted Girl is highly significant because it immediately tells the reader whose perspective is being presented.

The girl has been socially ignored or rejected, but the poem gives her an opportunity to speak. Her voice represents the feelings of girls who have experienced discrimination and lack of acceptance.

The title therefore changes a silent victim into a speaking individual. It also makes the reader confront the social problem directly.

Message of the Poem

The poem gives a powerful message against gender discrimination. It reminds us that girls should not be treated as burdens or inferior human beings.

Every child deserves love, care, education and equal opportunities. A society cannot progress fully when half of its population is denied equal respect because of gender.

The poem therefore encourages readers to develop a more humane and equal attitude towards girl children.

Social Relevance of the Poem

Voice of the Unwanted Girl remains socially relevant because gender discrimination can affect girls in many forms, including unequal opportunities, lack of education, social restrictions and preference for sons.

The poem encourages readers to recognise these attitudes and question them. It presents equality not simply as a legal principle but as a basic human value.

Important Ideas in Voice of the Unwanted Girl

Important Questions from Voice of the Unwanted Girl

• Who wrote Voice of the Unwanted Girl?
• What is the poem Voice of the Unwanted Girl about?
• Why is the girl called unwanted?
• What is the central idea of the poem?
• What social problem does the poem highlight?
• How does the poem present gender discrimination?
• Why is the title Voice of the Unwanted Girl appropriate?
• What message does the poet give through the poem?
• How does the girl feel about her rejection?
• Why should girls and boys be treated equally?
• Discuss the theme of gender discrimination in the poem.
• Explain the social relevance of Voice of the Unwanted Girl.
• Write the summary of Voice of the Unwanted Girl.
• Describe the emotional condition of the unwanted girl.
• How does the poem become a voice against social injustice?

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. Who is the poet of Voice of the Unwanted Girl?

Answer: The poem Voice of the Unwanted Girl was written by Sujata Bhatt.

Question 2. What is the poem mainly concerned with?

Answer: The poem is mainly concerned with the discrimination and emotional suffering faced by a girl who is unwanted because of her gender.

Question 3. Why does the girl feel unwanted?

Answer: She feels unwanted because the people around her do not value her simply because she is a girl.

Question 4. What social problem does the poem highlight?

Answer: The poem highlights gender discrimination and the social preference for boys over girls.

Question 5. What is the main message of the poem?

Answer: The main message is that every child deserves love, respect and equal opportunities regardless of gender.

Question 6. Why is the title appropriate?

Answer: The title is appropriate because the poem gives a voice to a girl who has been rejected or ignored because of her gender.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. Explain the central idea of Voice of the Unwanted Girl.

Answer: The poem focuses on the painful experience of a girl who is unwanted because she is female. Her rejection is not based on any fault or weakness but on a social prejudice against girls.

Through the girl’s voice, the poet exposes the emotional suffering caused by such discrimination. The girl wants the same affection, dignity and acceptance that every child deserves.

The poem ultimately argues for equality and respect. It reminds society that the value of a human being cannot be determined by gender.

Question 2. Discuss the theme of gender discrimination in the poem.

Answer: Gender discrimination is the central social issue of the poem. The girl is treated as unwanted because she is a girl, which reflects a wider social preference for sons.

The poet uses the girl’s voice to make the reader understand the emotional consequences of this attitude. Rejection can make a child feel lonely and unwanted even though the child has done nothing wrong.

The poem challenges this prejudice and promotes the idea that boys and girls deserve equal dignity, opportunities and affection.

Question 3. Why is the title Voice of the Unwanted Girl significant?

Answer: The title is significant because it gives importance to someone who has been denied importance by society. The unwanted girl is no longer silent; through the poem, she expresses her feelings.

The title also draws attention to the larger group of girls who may experience similar discrimination. Thus, the girl’s individual voice becomes a symbolic voice against gender injustice.

Question 4. What message does the poem give to society?

Answer: The poem asks society to stop judging children on the basis of gender. A girl is not less valuable than a boy and should never be treated as a burden.

The poem encourages people to provide girls with love, respect, education and equal opportunities. It presents equality and human dignity as essential values for a healthy society.

Voice of the Unwanted Girl – Important Word Meanings

Exam-Oriented Points

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 9 of Bihar Board Class 11 English Poetry?

Chapter 9 of the Poetry Section is Voice of the Unwanted Girl.

Who wrote Voice of the Unwanted Girl?

Sujata Bhatt wrote the poem.

What is Voice of the Unwanted Girl about?

The poem deals with the pain of a girl who is unwanted because of her gender and highlights the problem of gender discrimination.

What is the central message of the poem?

The poem conveys that every child deserves equal love, dignity, respect and opportunities regardless of whether the child is a boy or a girl.

What is the main theme of Voice of the Unwanted Girl?

The main theme is gender discrimination and the rejection of girl children.

How to Prepare Chapter 9 for the Exam

1. Understand the central idea of the poem.
2. Learn why the girl is described as unwanted.
3. Prepare the theme of gender discrimination.
4. Understand the significance of the title.
5. Learn the important word meanings.
6. Prepare short and long answer questions.
7. Remember the poet’s name, Sujata Bhatt.
8. Focus on the social message of equality.
9. Revise the summary before the examination.

Important Links

Conclusion

Bihar Board Class 11 English Poem 9 Voice of the Unwanted Girl by Sujata Bhatt is a socially meaningful poem that highlights the pain of gender discrimination and the rejection of girl children.

The poem gives a voice to a girl who wants to be accepted and valued. Its message is clear: a child’s worth should never be decided by gender. Students preparing for the Bihar Board examination should focus on the summary, central idea, themes, significance of the title, word meanings, important questions and social message of the poem.