Social media influencer and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on Sunday sparked a fresh controversy when he made and posted a video on Sikh History. Rathee used AI and Animation to showcase Sikh Gurus through his latest YouTube video. As a result, SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said that Sikhs do not need Dhruv Rathee's AI-based video to know their history. Dhruv Rathee has distorted many important historical facts related to the martyrdom of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. He said that the names of Guru Sahiban were not mentioned with due respect, which is extremely objectionable. He has appealed to the government to take appropriate action against Dhruv Rathee.
In response, Dhruv Rathee posted a poll on his Instagram story and appealed Sikh community to participate in it and vote whether the said video hurts religious sentiments or not. Rathee in his story said that people from the Sikh community say that it is wrong to show Sikh Gurus in animation in the video. People can give me their opinion on social media. After this, I will delete the video or take some other action.
"A lot of hard work has gone into making the animation video. Because of AI, it was possible to show the story through animation. Many people also liked this video, but some people from the Sikh community believe that it is wrong to show the Sikh Gurus through animation. It is not right to show Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji like this."
Now, Akal Takht Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has issued a stern warning to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj issued a video statement in which he issued a strongly worded warning to Dhruv Rathee and said, "I have been informed that a YouTuber named Dhruv Rathee has made a film on Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji with the help of AI. First of all the scripting of the film is totally wrong and it should not be done. The second thing is he showcased Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in action through AI. It is already clear that Guru Ji or his family cannot be shown in family or through animation. Take it wherever you want. 'Bande Ka Put Banke Enu Cheti Se Cheti Delete Kar' (Delete it as soon as possible)...."
"You are asking people in a poll whether you should delete it or not. When it is already decided that no one can portray or make films on Sikh Gurus whom are you asking? Delete it as soon as possible,' added Akal Takht Acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj.
Dhruv Rathee takes down the video and poll
After the controversy intensified, Dhruv Rathee posted another story on Instagram and informed, "Thank you for your feedback on the latest video. Even though many of you appreciated the video and would like it to stay on the channel, I have decided to remove it because some viewers feel strongly that any animated depiction of the Sikh Gurus conflicts with their beliefs. 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. This educational format has huge potential, I will explore other stories from our history for future videos and will evaluate whether to re-tell this story in a different way or not."