'You Sound Like A Girl': Author Deepak Ramola Opens Up About Bullying & Self Acceptance; Video Goes Viral
Deepak Ramola’s viral video highlights his experience of being bullied for his voice and how an important conversation with his Class 11 English teacher, Pragati Kapoor, changed his perspective. She encouraged him to accept and “own” his voice rather than feel ashamed. Ramola says he has since embraced it, turning years of hurtful comments into a message of confidence and self-acceptance
Writer and educator Deepak Ramola has opened up about years of being mocked for his voice, sharing how one powerful conversation with his Class 11 English teacher helped him turn a painful insecurity into a source of confidence.
In an Instagram video, Ramola reflected on the comments he faced while growing up. People frequently described his voice as too young or feminine, making him feel different from others.
“All my life, I have been bullied for my voice. It sounds like a kid. It sounds like a girl. It’s not baritone enough," he said.
A Teacher’s Question That Changed Everything
Ramola recalled breaking down one day in Class 11 when his English teacher, Pragati Kapoor, noticed that he was crying. Rather than asking him to simply dismiss the teasing, she posed a question that forced him to look at his voice differently.
“Do you like your voice?" she asked.
Ramola said he had never thought about his voice in those terms. Kapoor then asked him to imagine waking up the following morning and losing the ability to speak. His response made him realise how much his voice meant to him.
“Okay, then it’s settled. You like your voice, and if you like your voice, you have to own your voice, and you have to own your story," he recalled her saying.
That advice stayed with him. Ramola said he has not felt ashamed of his voice since that conversation.
Turning Criticism Into Confidence
The educator explained that the same voice that once attracted cruel comments eventually became an important part of his professional journey. He has travelled internationally and taught and spoken at universities and institutions across numerous countries.
“And for every hurtful comment, there are these love notes that remind you to keep speaking. Keep speaking," Ramola said.
His message resonated with many social media users who shared their own experiences of being judged for their voices, appearances or other personal traits. Several commenters praised him for refusing to let criticism define his self-worth.
Ramola’s story offers a simple but powerful reminder: confidence does not always come from changing what others dislike about us. Sometimes, it begins when we stop apologising for the things that make us who we are.
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