Controversy erupts over AI video on Sikh Gurus, sparks huge backlash against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee

New Delhi. Famous YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has once again been embroiled in controversy. Recently, he made an AI-generated video called "The Rise of Sikhs", in which the way Sikh Gurus are shown has proved to be controversial. There is deep anger in the Sikh community from Punjab to Delhi regarding this video. People are considering it an insult to Sikhism and their Gurus and are demanding strict action against Dhruv Rathee. The Sikh community of Punjab has strongly opposed this video, calling it a very sensitive issue. Delhi government minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has also called it an "insult to Sikh history" on social media. He wrote that showing Guru Gobind Singh Ji crying as a child is an insult to the spirit of the symbol of fearlessness and courage of Sikhism.

DSGMC's strict stance

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Harmeet Singh Kalka also strongly condemned Dhruv Rathi's video. He stated that this action is not just culturally insensitive but also shows a lack of respect towards Sikh traditions.

SGPC also expressed displeasure

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Gurcharan Singh Grewal said that Dhruv Rathi has no right to distort Sikh history. He stressed that it is very important to maintain respect for Sikh history and Gurus and it should not be commercialized.

What was shown in the video?

In the video, Guru Gobind Singh Ji is depicted as a young child crying after witnessing the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur. This portrayal deeply offends the Sikh community, who feel that using AI to depict such sensitive historical events is inappropriate.

Dhruv Rathi gave clarification

As the controversy escalated, Dhruv Rathi issued a video to clarify. He said that he has received positive feedback from some people, but some people from the Sikh community also have objections. He has asked the audience to give their opinion in the comments so that he can take a further decision. Dhruv Rathi hails from Rohtak, Haryana, and is currently based in Germany.

Theme and content of the video

Dhruv Rathi’s video portrays the martyrdom of Sikh Gurus, the brutalities committed by the Mughals, and the Sikh battles. In the video, Banda Singh Bahadur is depicted as a ‘Robin Hood’ figure. The protests in Punjab are intense because traditionally, only still images of Sikh Gurus are considered appropriate for use in videos, not animated AI-generated visuals. This contentious video has ignited a significant political and social debate by deeply hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. Stricter actions against Dhruv Rathi are expected in the coming days.