YouTuber Dhruv Rathee removed his AI-made video titled “The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals” on Monday after strong objections from the Akal Takht, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
The video was widely condemned for depicting Sikh gurus in human form, which the SGPC and SAD said is inappropriate, stating that “Sikh gurus should not be represented in human form or films.”
Dhruv Rathee Deletes Video After Sikh Community Backlash
Dhruv Rathee said in an Instagram post that even though many people liked his video, he decided to remove it because “some viewers feel strongly that any animated depiction of the Sikh Gurus conflicts with their beliefs.”
He also said, “I do not want this to become a political or religious controversy, because the video was simply an effort to showcase the stories of our Indian heroes in a new educational format.”
At the same time, Delhi cabinet minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticized Rathee’s video about Sikh history. He said it was “disrespectful” and “an attempt at distorting the legacy of Sikh gurus and martyrs.”
Akal Takht’s temporary leader, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, said Rathee had “insulted” Sikh traditions and feelings by sharing the video. He said, “Sikh principles prohibit visual representation or animation of the gurus, the Sahibzadas, members of the guru’s family, and Sikh martyrs,” and asked for the video to be taken down immediately.
DSGMC Complains to Cyber Crime Cell Over Dhruv Rathee’s Video
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has made a complaint to the Cyber Crime Cell. They want action against Dhruv Rathee and a check on his YouTube channel.
DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka said the video changes the true facts about the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and the legacy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji. He also said the video uses AI-made pictures of Sikh gurus, which is not allowed in Sikhism.
In its complaint, the DSGMC said, “Such unauthorized portrayals are a serious violation of Sikh religious principles and show no respect for our spiritual values. Sharing half-truths as history confuses people and hurts the feelings of millions.”
The committee also worried about Rathee’s channel because it has more than 10 million subscribers and can quickly spread wrong information. They asked the authorities to take action quickly.
