YouTuber Dhruv Rathee takes down video on Sikh history after objections
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has taken down his artificial intelligence-generated video after objections from Sikh religious bodies over its depiction of Sikh Gurus and historical figures. The video, titled Banda Singh Bahadur Ki Katha, included animated representations of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzadas, and other Sikh warriors—drawing strong reactions from Sikh institutions and leaders.
Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, 'I condemn the AI-based video made by Dhruv Rathee. This video should be removed immediately. The SGPC should also contact the ministry concerned and have it taken down.'
Earlier, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami also objected to the video, stating, 'The history of Sikh Gurus and their families is sacred. No one has the right to misrepresent it. The SGPC has already passed resolutions banning films or animations of Sikh Gurus. Such representations go against Sikh principles.'
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has filed a complaint with Delhi Police. Former DSGMC president and Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, 'Dhruv Rathee has insulted Sikh history and sentiments. Depicting Guru Gobind Singh Ji as a crying child is a violation of Sikh values. A case should be filed under Section 295A.'
In response to the criticism, Dhruv Rathee initially said, 'Members of the Sikh community say that it is wrong to show the Gurus in animation. People can share their views on social media. After that, I will delete the video or take another step.'
Following the public outcry and formal objections, Rathee later removed the video from his YouTube channel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Dhumma has his way: Jathedar skips annual message
In a break from a 40-year-old tradition, Akal Takht's acting Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj did not deliver the annual customary message to the community on Operation Blue Star anniversary, to avoid any controversy with Panthic bodies. Gargajj, however he preformed the 'ardas' (prayer according to Sikh rituals) to mark the event. Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma had earlier opposed Gargajj's appointment as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht saying it was in violation of 'maryada' and 'panthic traditions'. During the ardas, the Jathedar said this pious spiritual place (Golden Temple and Akal Takht) should never be a place of turmoil as everybody wants peace here. He also raised several issues, including the 'targeting of Sikhs in India and abroad,' the concept of a 'Sikh homeland,' and 'discrimination against Sikhs.' Gargajj prayed for strength, unity, harmony, and togetherness within the Khalsa Panth and sought blessings for the community to follow in the footsteps of the community's warriors and martyrs. Speaking to the media later, Gargajj expressed strong objection to 'the planned events being held in Batala city under the name 'crusade', in the context of religious conversions'. He said, 'Punjab is the land sanctified by the Sikh Gurus, and seeds of hatred must not be sown here. There is the need for the Sikh community to respond to this issue with compassion and to embrace those who have drifted toward other faiths.' Earlier, Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), honoured the family members of the Sikhs who were killed along with Jarnail singh Bhindranwale in the Golden Temple complex during the Army action in June 1984. According to tradition, it was the Akal Takht Jathedar who every year honours the families of those who were killed in the Army action. According to sources, it was decided in a series of meetings Jathedar Gargajj would neither deliver the annual message nor offer the siropa (robe of honour) to the families of those who died in 1984. When asked if he has scored a victory by not allowing Gargajj to issue message to the community, Dhuma said that he was not in favor of making such claims because that would be a form of arrogance, which is not acceptable in the Guru's house. He added that in the near future, all Panthic organisations will sit together and deliberate on the process of appointing Jathedars. He said that if the SGPC appoints the Jathedars of the Takhts with the consensus of all Sikh organisations, then there will be no dispute. Disputes arise only when the Panth is not taken into confidence, he said. It is not first time that Jathedar has faced the opposition. It was, however, the first time when SGPC was not seen standing with the Jathedar. Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh too had faced huge opposition from the community after he issued pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2015. SGPC made sure that he was allowed to issue his annual message on the occasions of Diwali and Operation Blue Star anniversaries. Gurbachan Singh resigned in 2018 and was replaced by the Giani Harpreet Singh, who gained the confidence of community. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann heaped praise on Gargajj said, saying that despite the restrictions, the Jathedar 'conveyed his message emphasising the need for a Sikh homeland and raising concerns over the ongoing massacre of Sikhs abroad'. Mann also condemned the 'forces' that barred Jathedar from delivering his annual message.
Scroll.in
3 hours ago
- Scroll.in
PM Modi says he will attend G7 summit in Canada
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that he will attend the upcoming meeting of the Group of Seven, or G7, countries, following an invitation from his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, who is hosting the summit. The G7 summit, which brings together the heads of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, is being held this year in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta from June 15 to 17. 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests,' Modi said in a post on X. 'Look forward to our meeting at the summit.' Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2025 This came days after reports claimed that the prime minister was unlikely to attend the summit this year amid diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa. On Tuesday, the Congress criticised the Narendra Modi-led government, claiming that India not being invited to the G7 summit was yet another ' major diplomatic bungle '. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said that Indian prime ministers had regularly attended the summit. 'Before 2014, G7 was actually G8 for many years and had included Russia,' Ramesh said in a social media post. 'Dr Manmohan Singh would be invited for G8 Summits where his voice would be heard.' He added: 'For the first time in six years, 'Vishwaguru' will not be in attendance at the Canada summi. Whatever spin may be given, the fact remains that this is yet another big diplomatic bungle.' Ties between India and Canada have been strained since September 2023, when Canada's former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told his country's parliament that Canadian intelligence agencies were actively pursuing 'credible allegations' tying agents of the Indian government to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. Nijjar was a supporter of Khalistan, an independent Sikh nation sought by some groups. He was the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force, which is designated a terrorist outfit in India. India rejected Trudeau's allegations as 'absurd and motivated'. After extending an invitation to Modi, Carney was facing criticism in his country, The Guardian reported. Carney has, however, defended the move, saying it was important to invite the Indian prime minister, considering the country was the 'fifth largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains'. Carney was elected as the country's prime minister in March, when he replaced Trudeau, who said in January that he would resign as the leader of the party and therefore as the prime minister. During his poll campaign, earlier this year, Carney had said that his government would look to diversify Canada's trading relationships with 'like-minded countries' and that 'there are opportunities to rebuild the relationship with India'.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Op Bluestar anniversary: To avert clash, jathedar delivers ‘sandesh during ardas
The 41st anniversary of Operation Bluestar was observed peacefully at Golden Temple in Amritsar amid tight security on Friday, with the Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj delivering 'sandesh' (message) to the community during 'ardas' (prayer) to avert any clash. Instead of jathedar, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami felicitated the kin of Sikh leaders with 'siropa' (robe of honour) killed during the army action in June 1984. This is the first time in 25 years (1999) since the event became an annual affair, that a jathedar has not delivered a direct address to the community from the Akal Takht, thus avoiding any confrontation with Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma and some Nihang organisations, who had opposed Giani Gargaj's appointment as jathedar and had announced that they would not let him deliver 'sandesh.' In a surprise move, Giani Gargaj performed the 'ardas' at the end of which he raised issues concerning the Sikh community, what was called his 'sandesh.' He sought the release of Sikh prisoners; the unity of the panth; restrictions on wearing kakars (articles of faith) by Sikhs, and a prayer for Punjab not becoming a battleground in the India-Pakistan conflict. He also raised concern over ongoing efforts to blur Sikh identity and the issue of 'targeted killings' of Sikhs in the country. Interacting with the media at the Takht secretariat later, Giani Gargaj said, 'I gave my sandesh through ardas.' 'Sometimes we have to make such kind of decisions for the larger interests of the panth', he added. The jathedar stated that Punjab is the land sanctified by the Sikh Gurus, and seeds of hatred must not be sown here. Dhami presented 'siropas' to the kin of Sikh leaders after Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh, the sons of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed in Operation Bluestar, had backed Taksal's chief and had announced that they would not accept the 'siropa from the jathedar. Dhumma hailed SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami's role in this mutual understanding. On Friday, Dhumma reached the Takht with supporters, including armed nihangs. SGPC staff insisted only he enter the Takht building but allowed a few armed supporters along with him after an argument. The SGPC staff and Punjab Police personnel in plainclothes were on their toes to ensure order in the Golden Temple complex. SGPC employees escorted Giani Gargaj, who wore a black turban in protest of the army action, to the Takht, where Dhumma was made to sit in front of him. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, who had backed Giani Gargaj, alleged that 'conservative forces' did not let Singh Sahib (acting jathedar) deliver his 'sandesh' properly and give siropa to kin of slain leaders. 'Causing disruption in the proceedings of Akal Takht is against the maryada and we condemn it', he added. Sarbat Khalsa-appointed acting parallel jathedar of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand also issued a separate 'sandesh' advocating unity in panth and burying the hatchets. The entire periphery of the Golden Temple near Akal Takht echoed with pro-Khalistan slogans raised by activists of different bodies including Dal Khalsa, SAD (A) and Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale). Scuffles broke out between SGPC staff and young nihangs after the latter were not allowed to enter the Akal Takht. An angry young nihang attempted to hit an SGPC staffer with his dagger after the event in the shrine complex but was overpowered by the staff and locked in a room with the help of cops in plain cloth. A big function was also organised at Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash, headquarters of Damdami Taksal at village Chowk Mehta in Amritsar district. Complete bandh observed in Amritsar On the call of radical organisations, a complete bandh was observed on Friday with almost all the commercial outlets, shops, showrooms, and shopping malls remaining closed. Hall Bazaar, Katra Jaimal Singh Bazaar, IDH market, Lawrance Road, Ranjit Avenue markets and all other main commercial hubs wore deserted look and the cops kept a tight vigil to prevent any untoward incident. Services, including transport, were hit, while health services remained normal. Most of the residents preferred to stay at home. Banks and educational institutes also remained closed. However, health services remained normal.
