Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has taken down his latest video, The Sikh Warrior – The Story of Banda Singh Bahadur, after facing strong objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The video, uploaded on Sunday night, sparked controversy over its depiction of Sikh Gurus and historical events.
The 24-minute-long video covered key moments from Sikh history, including the martyrdom of Sikh Gurus and the rise of Banda Singh Bahadur. However, the SGPC criticized the video for containing historical inaccuracies and misrepresentations. One of the main points of contention was Rathee’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create animated portrayals of Sikh Gurus, warriors, and their families. These depictions did not sit well with Sikh religious leaders.
SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal stated that the Sikh community does not need AI-generated interpretations to understand its history. He accused Rathee of misrepresenting critical historical facts, particularly regarding the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.
The SGPC has urged the government to take appropriate action against Rathee.
Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal also condemned the video, stating that such portrayals violate Sikh religious principles and deeply hurt the sentiments of the community. He emphasized that the lack of respectful language and misleading narratives further worsened the issue.
Following the backlash, Rathee conducted a poll asking viewers whether he should remove the video.
In the video, Rathee narrated the martyrdom of Sikh Gurus, the Mughal atrocities, and the battles fought against them. He described how Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed, how Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth, and how his children were martyred. He also shared details about Banda Singh Bahadur’s role in Sikh history.
The SGPC strongly objected to the content of the video, stating that it contradicts Sikh principles. Additionally, they took issue with Rathee referring to Banda Singh Bahadur as ‘Robin Hood’, arguing that this misrepresents Sikh history and hurts religious sentiments.
Rathee had claimed that Banda Singh Bahadur took wealth from kings and landlords to support poor farmers, but the SGPC rejected this portrayal, calling it historically inaccurate.
