YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on May 19 removed his video titled “The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals” following strong objections from the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other religious gropus.
The video was widely condemned for depicting Sikh gurus in human form, which the SGPC said is inappropriate, stating that “Sikh gurus should not be represented in human form or films.”
In an Instagram post, Dhruv Rathee explained that despite positive feedback on his video, he chose to take it down as “some viewers feel strongly that any animated depiction of the Sikh Gurus conflicts with their beliefs.”
The belief that Sikh Gurus should not be depicted in human form primarily stems from the principles of Sikh traditions and historical guidance from the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct).
In the video, Dhruv included AI-animated depictions of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and other Gurus, which is highly inappropriate. Even in films approved by the SGPC, only uses still images and a jyot (divine light) to represent Guru Sahib and animated movements are strictly avoided.
Rathee also portrayed Guru Gobind Singh Ji as a child (Baal Gobind Rai) crying after witnessing the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The depiction lacked historical accuracy.
The truth is that Guru Gobind Singh Ji never wept. He himself sent his sons to the battlefield. He made 40 brave Sikhs fight against 1,25,000 Mughals.
The video by Rathee also had several factual errors, claiming that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was martyred on the battlefield, which is incorrect. Meanwhile, Delhi cabinet minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticised Dhruv Rathee’s video calling it “disrespectful” and “an attempt at distorting the legacy of Sikh gurus and martyrs.”
Rathee tried to misrepresent the history of Sikhs. He said, ‘The land of Amritsar was gifted by Akbar to Guru Ramdas Ji.’ But the truth is that, according to a Government document from 1883, Guru Ramdas Ji purchased the land from Akbar for 700 Akbari (the currency of that time).
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami said, “Such portrayals violate Sikh principles and traditions. In Sikhi, the gurus, Sahibzadas, and their families cannot be represented in human form or in films. Therefore, this YouTuber has acted against the tenets of Sikhism.”
Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, said Rathee had “insulted” Sikh traditions and sentiments by posting the video. “Sikh principles prohibit visual representation or animation of the gurus, the Sahibzadas, members of the guru’s family, and Sikh martyrs,” he said, demanding the video be removed without delay.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Such portrayals violate Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ which prohibits visual representations of Guru Sahiban. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of the community.” He also criticised the “misleading narrative” and the “want of respectful language” in Rathee’s video. In a post on X, he urged content creators to respect Sikh history and traditions, saying, “Respect for religious traditions and accurate historical representation are non-negotiable. I request the immediate removal of the offending content and call for responsible storytelling that honours the sacred legacy of Sikhism.”
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has also filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell, calling for action against Dhruv Rathee and a review of his YouTube channel.
DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka said the video distorts facts related to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and the legacy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji, while also using AI-generated images of Sikh gurus, which is strictly forbidden in Sikhism.
The committee raised concerns over Rathee’s youtube platform’s reach, saying that with more than 10 million subscribers, his channel can rapidly spread misinformation. It asked authorities to address the issue as soon as possible.
