The show ‘Sheikh Chilli and Friendz’ has come under severe fire for broadcasting anti-Hindu and anti-Yoga content across India, thus casting a wrong impression of the ancient practice upon the minds of susceptible children. More shockingly, Prasar Bharati had agreed with Discovery Kids to telecast Sheikh Chilli and Friendz on Doordarshan, further making the state complicit in the outrageous broadcast of such anti-Hindu content in the country. Now, however, Prasar Bharati is said to have put a stop to the future telecast of the kid’s show.
Netizens were furious over the broadcast of a particular episode of the kid’s show, where Hindu sadhus and Yoga, in general, is portrayed in a bad light. In the episode, the character Sheikh Chilli (donning an Islamic attire) and his friends, along with a Gennie can be seen challenging a Hindu Sadhu while he performs Yoga for school students. Towards the end of the episode, the makers of the Hinduphobic show have also gone onto depict Hindu Yogis as ‘witches’.
It was indeed the fury on social media platforms which led to the state broadcaster putting an immediate stop to the future telecast of Sheikh Chilli and Friendz. It is shocking how only after social media outrage, state-run organisations realise their folly and take remedial steps. That the broadcast of such a show was allowed by no less than Prasar Bharati poses a serious question over the commitment of such bodies to further Indian ethos around the world when they, themselves are supporting such elements within the country who seek to mock Hindus and their practices.
https://twitter.com/BiharKaLall/status/1339770416181604354?s=20https://twitter.com/ajay_nest/status/1339842623922524160?s=20
Mockery of respectable saints & gurus is unacceptable. This programme is #SheikhChilli. Sad that it is being telecasted on DD NATIONAL. Pls look into this.@DDNational @PrakashJavdekar @prasarbharati @MIB_India @MinOfCultureGoI @prahladspatel https://t.co/GqYcsLvcnd
— Ajay Agarwal; 🕉️ (@ajay_nest) December 18, 2020
A Muslim kid beating a Sannyasi. This cartoon is being served to our children by DD National on National TV. It's spreading hatred against Hindus. Why are Hindus always an easy target? This message is disrespect for Yoga Gurus and their knowledge. Say NO to Hindu discrimination ! pic.twitter.com/DeDIjz7fMo
— Renee Lynn (@Voice_For_India) December 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/AniketP77006115/status/1339785219952398338?s=20
At the time when Prasar Bharati and Discovery Kids had agreed upon telecasting some episodes of Sheikh Chilli and Friendz, Little Singham and Kisna, and Shashi Shekhar Vempati, the CEO of Prasar Bharati had said, “Over the last three months, we have showcased iconic programming to engage and entertain audiences even as the country braced with a pandemic. Discovery Kids’ programming on Doordarshan is another important chapter in this journey. I am grateful to Discovery for coming forward and sharing this content for the larger good of society.”
The makers of the show ‘Sheikh Chilli and Friendz’ must be held accountable for their content, even as Prasar Bharati has a lot of answering to do for itself, as to how it allowed a kid’s show to be telecast on Doordarshan without proper vetting. If Indian kids themselves are fed with such an anti-Hindu content by Doordarshan, Hinduphobia would be normalised for them as they grow up. Will Prasar Bharati then take accountability for the same?