Aurangzeb is Samrat Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is just Shivaji for KBC. No Sony TV, sorry isn’t enough

There are some names in Indian history which one must take with extreme honour and respect, for the contributions that such personalities have made for this land and its people are beyond comprehension. Sony TV took exception to this in their well-known TV show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. In the episode aired on 6^th November, a question raised to a contestant has landed the media network in soup.

In a question about Aurangzeb, the following was stated: ‘Which of these rulers was the contemporary of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb?’ and the options were Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Shivaji. While at first nothing may seem wrong with the question, a closer look would reveal that the great Chattrapati Shivaji has been demeaned. While all other Kings mentioned have respectable prefixes attached to their names, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj is referred to simply as ‘Shivaji’. This has irked many people, especially from Maharashtra, who have been calling for a boycott and ban of the show. Moreover, the Hindi translation also refers to Aurangzeb as a ‘Samraat’. How the show makers deemed it fit to call the brutal and xenophobic man a ‘samraat’ is something which we can’t wrap our heads around.

To begin with, basing a question upon Aurangzeb which has nothing to do with the brutalities he inflicted upon the people of this land in itself is a grave injustice to the various warrior kings who fought till the very end against the Mughal regime. If at all Aurangzeb must be remembered, it must be for nothing else but for the inhuman acts which he indulged in. Moreover, why was Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaja’ name alone not accorded any prefix? It is a well known fact that for many in India, especially the people of Maharashtra, the great King is accorded god-like status. Being a show based out of Mumbai, how is it possible for the show makers to let such a move simply pass? Is their no scrutiny mechanism in place for the final questions which are placed before the contestants? Being one of the most watched TV shows for 11 years now, it is indeed disappointing to see such insensitivity on their part.

Aurangzeb, many would agree, is the man due to which the present Hindu-Muslim discomfort exists. Had it not been for the man and the brutalities he inflicted upon Hindus, the relations between the two communities would have been much less strained. Had he not killed his own brother, Dara Shikhoh, a known liberal and learned scholar, and instead, rightfully given the throne to him, Indian history would have been completely different. But again, Aurangzeb was a deliberate religious maniac.

Sony TV has issued an apology and carried a scroll to express their regret on the Thursday episode of KBC 11. “There was an inaccurate reference to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during Wednesday’s KBC episode, due to inadvertence. We deeply regret the same and being mindful of the sentiments of our viewers have carried a scroll expressing regret during our episode yesterday.”, tweeted Sony TV.

Had it not been for the massive outrage on Twitter regarding the issue, Sony TV would not have bothered to rectify their insensitive mistake.