Sikh bodies slam Dhruv Rathi over AI depiction of Sikh Gurus, SGPC demands legal action

Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathi has found himself at the center of a controversy after his recent video titled “The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals” triggered strong backlash from Sikh religious organizations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The video, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to animate historical figures like Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Gurus, has been called “objectionable” and “distorting history” by community leaders.

The SGPC, the apex Sikh religious body, has condemned the video, stating that depicting Sikh Gurus through AI-generated animation violates Sikh principles. SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said that key events related to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Banda Singh Bahadur were misrepresented, and that Banda Singh being described as a “Robin Hood” trivializes Sikh history by comparing it with Western analogies. Grewal demanded immediate legal action against Rathi and urged the Indian government to step in.

Rathi, in response to the backlash, released a clarification video saying the intention was to bring history alive through modern technology and that many viewers had appreciated the effort. However, he acknowledged the concerns raised and expressed willingness to edit or delete the video if the Sikh community found it offensive. He also invited suggestions from the public for an appropriate way forward.

The SGPC has maintained that the issue is not just about animation, but also the narrative structure of the video. They believe that by portraying Sikh warriors through AI and selectively interpreting their legacies, Rathi has not only ignored core Sikh sentiments but also introduced factual inaccuracies that could mislead viewers unfamiliar with Sikh history.

As the controversy gains momentum online and among Sikh groups, pressure is mounting on Dhruv Rathi to revise his content. The episode has once again raised questions about the limits of creative freedom when dealing with sensitive religious and historical subjects, especially when powerful technologies like AI are involved.