Class 11 Springdales Student’s Political Speech Goes Viral: ‘Uncle Padhao, Beti Bachao’

 

A political speech delivered by Kiara Aggarwal, a Class 11 student of Springdales School in Delhi, at an inter-school competition in Jaipur has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention for its sharp criticism of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Aggarwal delivered the speech at an inter-school competition hosted by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya in Jaipur. Beginning with a reference to the promise of “ache din”, she told the audience in Hindi that she had been looking for the promised “good days”, drawing loud applause.

The student went on to compare political slogans from India's freedom struggle with those used in contemporary politics. Referring to slogans such as “Simon, Go Back” and “Inquilab Zindabad”, she argued that historical slogans had inspired movements and revolutions rather than merely serving electoral purposes.

“These slogans didn’t just create vote banks, they created revolutions,” she said, while contrasting them with what she described as the current generation’s preoccupation with social media reels.

‘Uncle Padhao, Beti Bachao’

One of the most notable portions of Aggarwal’s speech was her reworking of government slogans and initiatives.

Taking a swipe at the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, she suggested renaming it “Uncle Padhao, Beti Bachao.” She also used the phrase “Leak in India” while referring to allegations surrounding recurring examination paper leaks and questioned government spending on public relations and marketing.

“If you spent as much on work, as you do on PR and marketing, at least I would have had evidence to hold up for my speech,” she said.

Aggarwal also discussed what she described as the “illusory truth effect”, arguing that repeated political messaging can make claims appear true through familiarity while important public issues remain unresolved.

References to Films and Social Media

The Class 11 student also touched upon the intersection of politics, cinema and social media. Referring to the film Dhurandhar, she made remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor Ranveer Singh, while arguing that films and popular culture can sometimes become vehicles for political messaging.

She also referred to Modi’s engagement with Gen Z through Instagram reels and said, “Today we are not just citizens, we are the audience in a play.”

Aggarwal further raised questions about the police action involving a 15-year-old girl who was reportedly made to issue a public apology following allegations that she raised derogatory slogans against the Prime Minister during a protest.

Speech Draws Social Media Attention

Clips from Aggarwal’s speech have since circulated widely across social media platforms. The video also received attention from a former Rajya Sabha MP and former Congress general secretary, who shared the clip on Facebook and praised the student for questioning the political narrative.

The viral video has triggered discussions online about political expression by young students, freedom of speech and the role of school-level public speaking competitions in encouraging students to engage with contemporary political and social issues.