Dhruv Rathee Exposes BJP IT Cell, Propaganda Films, Godi Media & Online Hate

Dhruv Rathee. Dhruv Rathee, you are the reason I love India.

Namaskar, friends.

Dhruv is a German shepherd.

Someone deserves that phrase. So, they are from the RSS.

One comment, you look like Dhruv Rathee's sister. When did you first become involved in Indian politics? What kind of leader does India need today? If not Modi, there is no one else.

No government can do such a bad thing. A donkey is better than Modi. An actual donkey. Because he won't do anything sitting there. And doing nothing is better than destroying the country.

What will they do to me?

Dhruv, Dhruv is a leftist, Dhruv is a liberal, Dhruv is a congress devotee, Dhruv you are a supporter.

What is Dhruv? Dhruv is a leftist, Dhruv is a liberal, Dhruv is a congress devotee, Dhruv you are a supporter.

What is Dhruv, you are the supporter. What is Dhruv? One comment that you all write under my videos is that you look like the sister of Dhruv Rathee. So today, I will talk to Dhruv like a brother. Because like a brother, I have learnt a lot from him. Not just for knowledge, but for resilience and hard work in life as well.

I was born in 1994. My parents were middle class in Rohtak, so I didn't earn much. But my mother's teaching attitude and father's engineering mindset is still seen in Roof's videos. Even today, I see that 8th class kid who didn't just get a webcam, but also got the passion to make videos.

You've seen the entire video.

You've talked about your life in one video. Yes. And Dhruv has 30 million subscribers today. It's not easy. Views still come in entertainment.

But making education a maid is difficult. Today, there are many YouTubers but 11 years ago to start this, difficult. Thank you Dhruv and thank you for being here. Thank you for doing this. My pleasure. With Learn, our aim is to create creators from every district of India.

So if you get any information from this conversation, do write in the comments and thank Dhruv for doing this.

Thank you Dhruv.

Why did you say yes to this? You usually don't do this.

I like your channel a lot. Like the work you do. Are you from a journalist background?

Yes, this is a good question. How do you define a journalist?

I feel like you adhere to those values first and foremost and then you make your content. There are many creators who just run after views. But you believe in some values. I can see that in your content. And you stick to them.

Thank you.

I did my masters in media and culture studies.

That's why. That's why you're so good at it. Thank you so much Dhruv.

Dhruv I'll begin with a question that everyone asks you. A question that people ask you is that Dhruv is a German Shepherd. How can he sit in Germany and talk about India? So, why did you go to Germany and what distance?

The question is a little bit opposite because I went to Germany first, YouTube came later. I was 17 when I moved to Germany. I did my bachelors there. I think I did my bachelors for 2-3 years. And during that process, when I was studying, I started my channel. And after that, whatever I developed, I did it while staying there. I spoke on things I was passionate about and the question is why did I choose to live there after that?

And this is because of my partner I would say because it's not a decision that I alone can take. I need to see what are Yuli's wishes, where is she comfortable, many things matter.

So I remembered from that, should I say something controversial? where they are comfortable, many things matter.

That reminds me, should I say something controversial?

Go ahead.

Like, they don't get anything to say against me, so they call me the German Shepherd. The phrase that most deserves it is, they are the people the RSS. Because the entire RSS organization is so inspired by the Germans and Italians that you won't believe it. The entire organization, Mussolini's paramilitary organization, from their dressing style to their drills,

everything is copied by the RSS. There is nothing Indian about the RSS. Their entire organization, their ideology is inspired by Germany and Italy, which was in the 1930s and 1920s. So, listening to this, I feel very happy when I hear this, when people say this to me. Because, someday I will make a video on RSS, I will tell you all this in detail. That actually, if there is a German shepherd, then they are RSS people who are inspired by Germany in everything.

Their Goldwalker has written in his book that how much they he feels by Hitler. Do you think this physical distance gives you empowerment in picking up certain topics

and issues in your videos?

Definitely. It's both an advantage and a disadvantage. Advantage is in the sense that I don't have daily pressure on me. And if I lived in India, I also see how people meet me, hype me up. It gets in your head. So if I live far away from that, I'm disconnected from that. So I'm more grounded I would say. And I hope to stay more humble because of that.

That is one reason why I feel like I'm... I don't feel as you know popular or as famous. And what was I saying? The disadvantage is that of course, some issues are not understood that well because I am away. It happens.

Is there any example that a creator living in Germany cannot understand about India?

I mean, my team is in India, so I of course discuss with them. They live in India. So sometimes while discussing, there are such point where I get a little surprised. I read this in the news, but this is actually what I am. So they tell me this. For example, air pollution or something.

How much I am imagining and what I am actually feeling. It is a little difficult to get that feeling.

So my partner is from Baroda and now we are staying in Delhi. And since we have moved to Delhi, he will always keep cribbing that this is deadly, the pollution is deadly. Whereas my parents have always stayed in Delhi. So, it is normal for them. So I am sure that is also a kind of attitude that you might be experiencing.

It's also really gives you a different perspective parents' house and installed the same air quality monitor that I am using in my house. And they tell me that the air is clean today. Today is a very clean weather. And I said that this is being shown on PM 2.5 80. 80 is in the red category. Anything above 20 is like red.

It's 4 times worse than it should be actually. And they are like, no, no, today the air is clean.

He just keeps showing it like that. This is a good point that how is your relationship emotionally with the

parents when it comes to content? They like my content. They support it.

Like my father, when I told my parents that I am going to talk to Dhruv,

my mom was very excited.

She said that he is so fit and he talks so confidently.

And dad was very scared that it might be controversial.

Do your parents get scared when you... Now they are used to it. Earlier it was a little scary but now they are used to it. They know that whatever I say, it creates controversy.

One point that you said, Dhruv, was that you live in Germany because Yuli's comfort matters.

How is the involvement of a partner in your work? In some ways, she's involved a lot and in other ways, not so much also.

And Yuli helps a lot in vlogs. But the main the main channel work like she's not that involved

like she's not she doesn't she understands and knows a lot about Indian politics but she's not that involved in it. movie Hyper violent film. The values it promotes are not right. So can I say that Alpha Male or Alpha... Exactly. Yes. Both were promoting those things. Both had different points of criticism. Dhurandhar's criticism is more about politics. That this is a pro-BJP film. BJP's political slogan is that this is a new India, it enters the house and kills. film People disliked the video. Yes, they disliked it. Many people thought that I was asking them to boycott the film.

I had no such intention. I never said that don't go and watch the film. And then some people started comparing that I have earned 1000 crores after watching the video. I never said that. My video was released after 3 weeks of the film. So my intention was that whoever goes to watch the film,

once they watch this video, and it is visible from the views that I think approximately all the people who have watched the film have watched the video. And they should take the film in an entertainment way and should not believe the events shown in the film. That it is true.

And I think my intention was fulfilled with this video. the It's a good example. But there are many more examples. I made one on the Kerala story. So what is the ideology that our movies are promoting?

And through which type of tropes and themes are they promoting?

It is evident that what type of ideology is being promoted. But the problem is not with that, why is an ideology being promoted. I believe in freedom of expression. I say, make movies that are made for the people. But the problem is that only one side of the movie is being allowed. The other side of the movie is being released on the ground.

A completely non-political film. It is also being said that,P in the court of PM Modi. So, this is from the censor board. The censor board is behaving like BJP. And all the films that are being released, they are being forced to include something pro-BJP. To include something that is being are praising Modi or BJP.

And anything that is a little bit against, those films are not allowed to be released. There is a Punjab 95 film, I think, it is not allowed to be released. And there are many, I think, these are the ones that are visible. Many film directors and film industry people talk to me personally, not publicly. They tell me how they wanted to make this film but the whole project got shelved. Because of this.

Many films are rejected before they are made because the producers feel that... ...the censor board won't let this film be released.

This is where the problem arises. producers And this thing, but adding to that, I also feel that this thing has always been that

India versus the other or showing the border as a masculine nation,

going completely against Pakistan and China. India derives its identity from being a war nation. I think the government wants India to derive its identity from these things. But people don't care about these things. Common people don't care about these things.

I agree. This is also a narrative. Yes. That you should care about such things. I agree. This is also a narrative. You should care about this. Exactly.

There are so many issues in our country.

What was there in the animal movie? The animal movie was said to be an alpha male narrative.

The problem was that the hero of the film was shown doing so many things. it to bear the consequences. And in movies, it is shown that he was not a hero. But the statements that the director made later, and the things he said about the movie during the interviews, portraying him as a hero again and again, and his own mindset,

that is problematic here. When you make videos on movies, and critique the movies, does the backlash come more? the I made a video reacting to it. The abuses I got from that video I have never got from any other video. I have never got from any other video. No matter how many political videos I have made. So, I don't know, people are more emotional about their film's heroes in India.

Yes. You also said that you don't live in India because you feel humble by living abroad. A hero worshipping which is common in India. And this is not only in North India, it's even more common in South India.

It wasn't easy to shoot this podcast because a lot of money was spent. We recorded this in Dubai. So flight expenses, booking the flight, studio and hotel. When I started making videos, I had no idea that it would cost so much. Because I used to put a reel in my room every day. But I couldn't earn money.

Then my best friend Lokesh said, let's work together. He became my co-founder and today he not only pays my salary, but also pays the salary of my 40 people's team. He brings many brand deals every month. And now he is calling for his first live workshop, Make Money From Content.

In this, we will tell you how we earn money from making videos and will give you our branded scripts for free. So join now from the link in the description

because first 100 students will get a special discount. And I have asked very politely. I have not used any abuses. I have not done anything to create controversy. I genuinely feel, the question I have asked, Why? Why is Shahrukh Khan doing this? Please explain. And there is a follow up to this.

Because Shahrukh Khan's fans, And there is a follow-up to this as well. Shahrukh Khan's fans reply to him everywhere that he has an old quote that if paan masala is so bad, why doesn't the government ban it? I mean, is it your personal responsibility or not? Will you do everything done by the government. I mean, you have become the number one superstar of the country,

and yet you are looking at the government and saying, the government should do this right. I don't have any responsibility. I think everyone has a responsibility. And if you have so much status in society, you are the number one superstar, then your responsibility is even more.

That dialogue, with great power comes great responsibility. So the more your status is in society, the more your power is, the more your responsibility is. So Shahrukh Khan is running away from his responsibility by giving excuses. And there is another quote that people show many times. In a video, they said that first become rich and then become a philosopher.

Don't become a philosopher before you become rich.

So I would also like to ask Shahrukh Khan, how much richer do you want to become? You have become a billionaire, now become a philosopher. Or this is not enough, you want to become even richer and then, now become a philosopher. Or this is not enough, you want to become richer, then you'll become a philosopher.

I'll complicate this a little. I'll say that, when I think about Paan Masala, or alcohol, or cigarettes, I think of the grey zone, personally, because there are many local alcohols in India Which are part of people's everyday consumption

But at the same time, it impacts health So how do you define one thing as good or bad?

I think the pan masala is clear, there is nothing in it good or bad. But I am criticizing the corporate culture here. The industries have been created on top of them. And people's behavior is being tried to change by these industries. You know, keep showing ads again and again so that people feel that I also want to try it. What is this? I am criticizing that point more here. You are looking at that lens from above, rather than, I mean, you are punching up the top in this issue. Yes, yes, yes. Otherwise, I have made a video

on alcohol too, but it is a type of general awareness. It is important to explain to people that this is bad for your health. You should not drink it. It becomes a completely separate topic.

You said one thing that you have spoken very politely in this video. How do you want to speak and how does the audience take it? We used to read this a lot in the media. That media can be interpreted in any number of ways. Depending upon who, where, who, what is based, what you are bringing, how is their life. So how do you deal with that dilemma?

I have made it, how people have taken it, it is on them. Is this the way of thinking?

No, it is on them, is this the way of thinking?

No, it's not like that. Because we always have to think how people will perceive it. So, it's always in the mind how people will perceive it. I never use abuses in any video. And it's not just about videos, I genuinely believe that abuses should not be used in daily life. So, if you meet me outside, I never use abusive language.

Not even in fun. So, I am following the same attitude here. I think... I always consider this thing that how people will perceive what I am saying.

So, can you tell us through some examples, have you ever thought that I should say this line like this, or I should not use this word, or I should make a video on this topic from this angle?

I have thought many times, how exactly should I say that, so that it does not have a wrong meaning. How do I say it? So that we don't misinterpret it. We talk about it with the team for a long time. I also take suggestions from the other members of the team. Is this the right way to say it? Or should it be toned down or toned up?

We discuss it a lot.

Can you take us through one particular discussion? One particular topic or line, if there has been a discussion recently?

Take the video of Durandar. I had been discussing with the team for a long time whether Aditya Dhar should be called a BJ. Chattukar propagandist or not? So, we thought about this from different angles. But then we finally decided that it is important to take a strong stance here so that these directors also know what legacy they are setting for the future. They should not go to the future and say that when the government changes, we were just doing our job, the government was pressuring us, that's why we did all this.

So, it is important to send this message to the film industry, that whatever you are doing today, the day the government changes, you will change, your behaviour in front of the public, everything is being recorded, everyone is is watching what you were doing.

Will Dhruv Rathee also change?

Why would I change?

When the government changes, assume that Congress' government comes into power, will you speak against Congress?

Of course, most of my videos are about real issues, issues that concern people. Of course, I will talk about them.

When did you first become involved in Indian politics?

It was the 2011 anti-corruption movement. Anna Hazare's movement. I think a lot of people got interested in politics after that. And looking back, whatever it was, we can say whatever about this, how much it was funded, how much it wasn't, how much it was legit, how much it wasn't. But I think it inspired a lot of people.

Including me.

Where were you in 2011?

In India, I was completing my 12th.

And in Delhi?

In Delhi, yes.

So, did you ever protest that Dhruv Rathee has also come out or the country will change?

I didn't come out in a protest. My parents were very much against it. And at that time, they were very much against it. I didn't come out in a protest. But I was following the media very passionately.

So Dhruv, people put a lot of tags on you. Dhruv is a leftist, Dhruv is a liberal, Dhruv is a congress devotee, Dhruv you are a supporter. What is Dhruv?

So there are some values that I believe in and these values are more aligned to, you know, some political parties and others, obviously, because we can see that and I would say that I openly say that I believe in these things, one of which is rationalism, promoting scientific temper. Second is liberty, supporting freedom of expression and inclusivity. And third is tolerance and coexistence. There are some values which I believe in. Now, those who don't like this,

they sometimes say to say to troll me, or to satisfy their ego, they say that he must be funded by some party. George Soros must be funding it, or the Chinese party. But the truth is, no one is funding me. In fact, if you look at the funding of the things that people are saying, a lot of things will come out. Today's news is that the delegation of the Chinese Communist Party is meeting the RSS. So, on what basis is it meeting? RSS calls itself an NGO.

So, why would it want to meet the people meet the Chinese Communist Party? Can we put any allegations there? And I have never met anyone.

So which party aligns with the three Dhruv Rathee's morals?

I think parties say something from the top, but when it comes to elections, they do something else. And this is applicable for all parties. And one big reason is because these values are not so prominent in the Indian population as a whole. For example, scientific temper. is not that prominent in the Indian population as a whole.

For example, scientific temper. I am an atheist. I don't believe in any religion. But if a politician says tomorrow that he doesn't believe in any religion, that he is an atheist, I think he can't win that election. Today, I think, winning an election of an atheist politician is next to impossible, I feel like.

Right? And that's why parties say something and do something else because they know that we don't get votes on these things. But I know that some leaders, from their talks, we get to know what values they align with more personally. So, which party do you do now, which you feel, at least hope, that until you are not elected,

you can do it.

I will not name any such party, I think, because anything can happen. There are so many things in politics. You see that sometimes someone's alliance broke, sometimes someone joins someone, sometimes a person leaves a party, everyone has their own personal motives, some have ideological motives. So, I don't think it's right to support a party like this. I agree to your point that an atheist political leader in India, may not come today.

May be after 20-30 years. In fact, accepting that I am an atheist is

a very recent phenomenon. I am also an atheist. But many times when we make videos that this religion has these food habits. For example, we made a video that Hindus don't just eat vegetarian food. There are many temples in India where they get non-veg, different types of prasad. So then people get very very touched, affected. What are other things that Indian, India as a

country, when a political leader chooses, then what are the things that she is not accepting right now? Like atheism can be one of those things. Are there any other things? I think freedom of expression is also another one of those things. And people should be given the liberty to live as they wish. How they wish to live, how they wish to dress, who they want to meet, who they want to be friends with. Because to a large extent, even the parents of the older generation do not give their children the liberty to decide who they want to marry, who they want to control, who they want to be friends with, what job they want to do. Parents want to have control over all these things. So these values are reflected in political leaders. leaders reflect on this. If a leader says that he gives everyone freedom, that you can

befriend anyone, wear whatever you want, eat whatever you want, it's all up to you. The majority population won't like this.

So then how do you run a country which is based on diversity? I think the biggest beauty of our country is that there are so many different ways of speaking, languages, living, eating, and dressing. But how do you then govern that? Is that then a challenge or a good thing?

It is a challenge, I think. But I think it all depends on the way you communicate to people and you teach people. I think we have a bigger role to play here than politicians. We are the ones who change the society, the civil society and the culture. And I feel like in some sense, people ask me if I will join politics or not.

So I feel that staying outside of politics and bringing change will be more powerful and impactful as compared to being in politics. Because once people change, the politicians will automatically reflect that change.

I agree. And I feel that there are some things that India will be ready to talk about. Like I really want same-sex relationships, inter-caste marriages, inter-religious marriages to be discussed. And our generation, our profession, through that, will be able to have alternate conversations. Otherwise, the mainstream media, whether it is films or news,

has created this mess.

That's why I say that everything has an impact. We are one aspect. Films and media has an impact. We are one aspect. It has an impact on movies, media, what the kids around the school say. Everything has an impact on creating an environment.

Another theme that is criticized by Dhruv is that Dhruv is being criticized for being against religion. And you have used the word Andhbhakt in your videos many times. How do you use this word? First give us some examples.

So, even though I am an atheist, I am not against religious people or religion. I feel like religion has an important part to play in our culture. Because in many countries and states, the culture is linked to religion. So I'm not against any of that. These videos are about fraud people who are using religion to show off their greatness. This Baba has nothing to do with any religion. And most of the Babas have nothing to do with any religion.

They are just frauds who are running their shop in the name of religion. And many companies and politicians do this. People think that the people who are running their shop in the name of religion are the ones who are speaking in favour of our religion. So, some people are not able to separate these things. Even this astrology video,

there is no connection to do with religion. In fact, some people call it anti-Hindu. Astrology is done in western countries more than India. But this is also a fraud. It's a fraud. Nothing is like astrology.

Why planets? It's the right time.

Now we are in marriage. If you ask a child logically, I think ask a 6th or 7th class child, do you think that planets can have such an impact in the solar system, their gravity is so strong that selectively some people on earth may or may not be affected by it. So he will also say that no, this cannot happen. But still, old people, adults believe in this, educated people believe in these things. Because they are looking for support, that I get some guidance from somewhere in life. Someone runs after astrology,

someone runs after frauds.

I am facing this problem myself. This year we are planning our wedding. So the date I want is an inauspicious date. Forget that. We have been together for 4 years. Now that we are talking about marriage, we are adding the planets in the horoscope. Thankfully, I think my parents didn't do all this.

Because there is a very strong belief that somehow, where were the planets when I was born, that will impact that boy's life. Okay, Dhruv, one thing is that Hindus will say that you are anti-religion, anti-Hinduism because you make these videos. But as an atheist, I have a question for you. You call yourself an atheist,

yet you have made a video and many videos in which you show lessons that you can take from Ramayana or religious scriptures. So what kind of an atheist are you?

No, as I said, I strongly believe that religion is a part of our culture and it is something that should be celebrated. It is something that should be, you know, included in our society in some ways. So, I have just tried to tell people not to believe in these things literally, but to learn from them. The things you can learn from them.

And the purpose behind this is that the people, the Baba, the politicians, the companies, are running their business in the name of religion. If you can understand these things a little, you won't be fooled by them. The purpose is the same behind these three videos.

But if you celebrate a religion, then you are also promoting it.

In the cultural sense, I would say not. Because we celebrate Holi and Diwali. So you are that atheist who will follow religion from the cultural aspect but will not follow some norms. But it's more than that even. Even architecture for example. The historical architecture of India, sometimes it's inspired by Mughals, sometimes it's inspired by the past Hindu kingdom. I believe in preserving all those also. I believe that religion is very interlinked with culture. And I believe that if we eliminate everything, then the world will become a bad dystopia.

If we remove all religious symbols from everything, stop believing in festivals, dressing style, everything, the world will be over from the world.

This is also a personal dilemma of mine that I say that religion is anti-women, a lot. But then I also see that my mother or a lot of women derive their sense of comfort and answers to this world through religion.

That's true.

And I personally believe that when we meet our family members during Diwali, it feels good. So, I agree with you that culture and religion are very mixed. There are certain aspects of religion that we can carry forward. Exactly. Another fascination, when we talk about themes,

one fascination of Dhruv is the biggest mysteries of this world.

Where did this fascination come from?

Genuinely, I have been interested in these things since my childhood. I used to watch a lot of Nat Geo Discovery Channel. Now you feel like Man vs Wild. Yes, now I feel a little bit. But a lot of videos are very inspiring like this one, Mystery of Flight 571. It's titled as a mystery video but I feel this is a real story which will give you so much inspiration and motivation after watching the video.

I think this is a very positive video. Many of the stories I choose which are these, are actually very inspiring and motivational.

Interesting. I will double tap on this a little bit.

When Dhruv chooses a story, okay, there is a mystery word in it, but the second layer that you added you added was inspiration. Because that's the tagline of my channel. Explainers that inspire. They inspire you for something or other.

So if there's a mystery, that has no answer or no inspiration, Dhruv won't do that video?

No, it's not like that. I feel like I see it from many aspects. First, how inspirational or motivational the story is. If someone has a very depressing ending, then I generally avoid choosing that story. Because my purpose is not to entertain people and make them feel depressed. But there is another aspect, scientific temper, I feel like.

Like the Bermuda Triangle or the Apollo 11 moon landing. Apollo 11 is a big conspiracy in which people believe that America never landed on the moon. So this is debunking that. This is debunking a myth. In the Bermuda Triangle, it's also debunking a popular notion that what people think is here and scientific temper should be promoted.

Our company uses AI a lot but at the same time it also checks the results of human AI. This is important. So what do you think are exact limitations of AI? And what are really good assets of AI? Let's talk a little bit about it.

I think fact checking is actually a very good asset of AI. In AI Fiesta, after the script comes, I upload the script in all AI models. Everyone finds different mistakes and makes a table out of it. And this is a very useful thing.

And what else do you use AI Fiesta for in your content creation?

AI is not used much in ideation. Because as I said, Excel tables are more interesting for ideation. I think AI is used the most in making visuals. Because that is a very difficult task. Before AI, editors say that we don't even know how we used to create visuals. So, that is the best use case. That in fact, checking out.

Dhruv made a video on whose thumbnail he used Janhvi Kapoor as the thumbnail.

Another controversy.

Another controversy in which people said that because Janhvi has said that Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh, that's why Dhruv made a video against her. I would like to talk about two things on this. First, what happened in that issue? But more importantly, what are the elements that Dhruv thinks about when making a thumbnail of the video?

So, the people who said that Jhanvi Kapoor proposed Bangladeshi Hindus was done on the same day when the video was released. And it took at least 7 days to produce this video.

So, it is not possible to do this on that day. So, it's not possible to do that. Plus, why would I target Jhanvi Kapoor for something that I have made a reel on myself? So, this doesn't make any sense. The reason Jhanvi Kapoor is on the thumbnail is because I feel like she is one of the most... ...famous actresses today who has admitted that she has had plastic surgeries done.

And her plastic surgeries are very clearly visible on her face. Apart from this, I haven't found any other name that is as famous. And this video is not targeting Jhanvi Kapoor. It's more of an educational video that tells us what plastic surgeries are, how they are And how they impact the society

And what do you think When a Like in this thumbnail, even if Jahanvi Kapoor's words are Almost nil But still, it's in the thumbnail So the psychology of the thumbnail of Dhruv Rathee

It should represent the idea that is in the video It's representing that idea One face

I find this very interesting that many times the person who Dhruv shows on the thumbnail that person's video talks about only 2-3 minutes

I'll give you an example. For example, there's a KBC kid.

It's happened a lot.

There's a KBC kid, he's in the thumbnail, but his conversation is very short in the video. In the Kolkata video, and in Atul Subhash's video, it's similar.

How do you structure a script, Dhruv?

These are all trending topics on which people want me to make videos. But people won't get any valuable knowledge about them. So, I feel like talking about deeper issues makes more sense. That's why videos are made with this mindset. So, talking about the deeper issues associated with the same makes more sense. That's why videos are made with this mindset that I should learn something new.

So, will we talk about that thing in the beginning and then we will broaden that topic? Or is there a number of minutes for this?

No, there is no such hard and fast rule. We will talk about it in the starting. And we will explain the deeper issue behind it. Okay. One criticism that people have for Dhruv is that Dhruv gives more personal opinion

and less facts. How do you navigate that? No, I don't think so. Whenever I give my personal opinion, I speak. I don't have any personal opinion. gives more opinion and less facts. How do you navigate that?

No, I don't think so. Whenever I give a personal opinion, I say that it is my opinion or it is written there. So, I think it's not that much.

No?

No, it's not that much. I think 90% video is always factual. The opinion is I think are just a few lines.

And another criticism is that Dhruv says that he talks about data. But many times, he doesn't pick topics in which data supports some other party or ideology.

So he omits, he doesn't choose topics on which someone else… to And these are the issues that are not being talked about or discussed in the media. Now I have the capacity to make 5-6 videos. Now I have the option to choose from these. Either I choose the issues that are being talked about less or I choose the issues that are less talked about or I should choose videos that are talked about more or to show myself as neutral

I should take an exact balance of these things which is very easy for me to do to be honest, if I was only concerned about my image and I wasn't concerned about how is the progress in the country, who is helping people,

what are the genuine issues of the people I would have done the same that there are 6 videos in a month I would have chosen 3 topics that are anti-BJP and 3 topics that are pro-BJP and it would have been good for me to do this

but I feel this is not right because doing this means that there are actual issues that will be neglected. And the issues of the public, which no one will talk about. So I feel like because mainstream media is already talking about these things in such detail, the government is spending thousands of crores to promote itself. And then they are expecting me to be neutral and put some part of it in that promotion. I think I want advice in this regard. We often get comments in our long form videos that you

only show negativity. Is nothing good happening in the country? Then I feel that if we have talked about two videos about problems, then I will go somewhere to make beautiful videos or show goodness.

If a creator is thinking like this, is it the right thing to do?

I also think a little broadly about this thing. Because just talking about negative issues can be a little depressing for people. So I do feel that inspirational stories and things that motivate people and make people feel empowered are important. So I have a lot of such videos in between. Which bring these emotions and inspire people. And I think both are important. And then how do I,

one more thing that I, now in my case, this may not be in your case, because you are making videos from outside, like we are making videos in India, it just so happens

that the videos that we have shown about some challenges, about some challenges and problems are made on BJP governed states. And the videos we have shown about beauty are made on non-BJP governed states.

So should I think that I should find beauty in BJP states and problems in non-BJP states.

No, this is a short term problem. Because in the long term, when people see your content, eventually, one non-BJP state will become a BJP state, another BJP state will become a non-BJP state. Parties keep changing there. But the content you have shown is of a state first and foremost. It is not of any party. Because the state will always be the same after 10-15 years.

Now Rahul Gandhi has talked about voting theft. We made a video. which had a factual mistake. So we had to remove that video. But as soon as that video went out, for the first time in our comment section, we saw what IT cell is. For the first time. You must have seen it many times.

So what are the instances where IT cell or mainstream media attacked Dhruv?

I have seen it many times. You can find it on YouTube especially if you see that the comments are using the same phrases. Like I have made a video criticizing foreign policy. You can go and see the comments.

Now normal people have become Romans. I made my video criticizing foreign policy. You can go and see his comments.

Now normal people are getting romance. So, at one time, he had written one thing in all his comments. There are no permanent friends or enemies in geopolitics.

All the comments were saying the same thing.

Yes, he was saying the same things. To show somewhere that whatever foreign policy is, it is not a disaster, which I want to say in this video. In fact, foreign policy is like that only. Today it is a friend, tomorrow it becomes an enemy.

So, in the videos that I get to see of IT cell, the number of comments will increase a lot. And the accounts that they are commenting, you get to see a pattern in those accounts. A name will come, after that a dash and then random jumbled six-letter words. Like they don't type the password, we make it. So it is very easy to find out that this is a manufactured attack that is being done. In our case, we go into those accounts

and in their description there is an orange flag. And there is no post in their feed.

You must have seen it on Instagram. One good thing is that no matter how much they try to influence you, if you are not getting influenced, they will not be able to do anything. Because your audience knows the truth. Your audience is not going anywhere.

How do you make yourself feel this?

This has happened to me many times. Whenever I made a video, trolls came and started commenting the same way. And I felt like they haven't even seen the video.

So this is the first time with Dhruv that you made a video in which there is a lot of criticism. Or a particular type of criticism. What was the mindset at that time

and how is it different now? It was the same. I was observing things and I was trying to understand what was happening. Even you must have seen that BJP IT cell has many Twitter accounts, they have many Instagram pages. Whenever something happens against me, they get something they share it together writing the same things always. If you want to take a clip

out of context it comes on all the pages in one day. There are many such accounts on Twitter. I think when it happened with you I also saw that on these same accounts,

by cutting one clip, like someone gave it from behind, that go, now you have to share this clip, and you have to write these things, and they write and share it.

And then the mainstream media also picks up the same thing and runs it.

Yes, the mainstream media. Don't even ask them. They make any news.

Have Dhruv ever been threatened?

I don't read so much about DMs. I get threats but they are small. No serious threats.

Has any government party approached Dhruv to join them?

I don't think they have approached him to join.

And made videos for us?

No, because I think he has realised in the 2024 elections that he is doing better than we can guide him.

And he is doing it himself. Because I felt that the amount of work that other political parties should have done to talk about issues, more than that, many YouTubers were picking that thing. Not just YouTubers, but many Instagram creators were also picking that thing and talking about it.

These are lazy opposition parties. Many opposition parties are lazy. Like I speak openly about Congress, so I think this feeling comes that they are just waiting for the day that people are angry with BJP and vote for them by default. They don't see any proactive approach from their side. They see a lazy approach in everything. Reactionary approach. If BJP does something, they give their own statement. They don't see anything leading ahead of themselves.

To tell the problems yourself. Exactly. If this minister has given any sexist statement or any religious sentiment, religion, he has exaggerated the religious thing, he is not guts now.

And he tweets a few times on Twitter, but he doesn't carry on that momentum.

Many people say that because of Dhruv Rathee, BJP got less seats.

Dhruv Rathee believes that this is true? As I said, there are many factors. I think many factors were aligned together at that time. One of which was this. So to some extent yes but how big a factor it was, it is impossible to say.

And in India, elections, is India still a democracy?

In some ways yes, in some ways not. mean, this is not a yes or no question. This is a spectrum. Democracy, dictatorship, and we fly somewhere in between.

Yes, this word, Dhruv took a bite out of it. He used it everywhere. Dictatorship. He said that India is going towards a direction which is one party against democracy.

Why did he say that? Why did he have to use such a hard word?

Because the things that were happening at that time, like putting opposition leaders in jail, these things are still happening, Sonam Wangchuk is in jail. And electoral bonds, which are an unconstitutional thing in themselves. Later, the Supreme Court removed these bonds. Stopping the funding of Congress.

There is no level playing field here between the government and the ruling party and the opposition parties. So, it is very important to have a level playing field in a democracy, so that the people who are fighting for the elections get equal opportunities to win the elections. And here, it was not like that in any situation. If there was a level playing field, then these 240 seats wouldn't have been available. These seats are around 100.

And I'm saying this from every aspect because the role of the media is also here. The media should give more or less equal coverage. The politicians of the ruling party and the politicians of the opposition party should be given a chance to keep their words. Which the media did not give. There should have been a level playing field for funding here which was not done because of electoral bonds.

One party has 10 times, 20 times more money as compared to all other parties combined. There was no level playing field in money. And then the election commission, Nikki, ruling party go favor, Karna, or yes,

sorry, factors, Kahina, KC, Truffle, Shara,

Karte, key, it's not it's not democratic. suck that up.

no,

he died.

So it's a strong word. What kind of leader does India need?

I want to know this from you. And you can answer this through examples as well. That we can take this quality from this leader. We can take this quality from that leader. What kind of leader does India need today?

This leader worship is like celebrity worship. We don't need a leader, we need a government that works for the people. We need a food minister who can avoid food contamination and provide a good food safety standard. We need an environment minister who can give clean air. This is the job of a team. After Modi's arrival,

this perception has been built that there should be one strong leader. No one person can manage all this. A strong team is needed to implement things, who should be given the authority to work on their own.

But here, all that authority has been snatched away. Even the Chief Ministers do not have the authority to work on their own. They too are puppets under Narendra Modi, all the Chief Ministers of BJP. Any leader who is a little big, who takes decisions a little independently, he is immediately cut down to size. So, this mindset is wrong

that we should look for a leader who will do all this. We should see who can be the best sports minister, who can be the best environment minister. And for everyone, we should take different people who are best in their field and who have good intentions.

So when people used to say that there is no other option except Modi, how do you call that?

I used to say that no other government is doing such a bad condition. A donkey is better than Modi. An actual donkey because he will not do anything sitting there. And doing nothing is better than destroying. An actual donkey. Because he won't do anything by sitting there. And doing nothing is better than destroying the country. Which are the four ministries that you would put at the top of India at this moment?

That we should work on these ministries as a country.

Environment is one of the most important ones because clean air and clean water comes from there. And education is the second most important, I would say, because the potential of the new generation is determined from there. And then I think healthcare is the third most important one because if people are healthy,

if the health care is good in a country, poverty goes down automatically and people get a chance to live a good life.

What would Dhruv like to improve in three things? In education, in news, and in content creation.

It is easiest to fix the news. Put a ban on all government funding. Government funding should not be allowed to news channels. All news channels will improve on their own. Because their business model is to take money from the government and then run the news. That's why they all tilt towards the government.

And if you stop this once, then the business model of many news channels will end. News channels will also stop. But those who will rise again, I think, will actually do journalism. And the second thing is that we need a state-funded media house, like DD News, which is funded on taxpayer money, but does not divert that money through the government. Like what happens with BBC, Deutsche Welle in Germany. All these taxpayers are funded, but not in the sense that the government is giving them money, but people are directly funding them.

In Germany, every month, a payment of 20-30 Euros is given to everyone, to every household, that this money is going to this media house so that they can do their journalism. The same is the case with BBC. And this money goes directly to them, not through the government. So I think we can make DD News a strong media house that raises issues of the public, talks on the issues of the public.

And just by doing these two things, the entire media landscape will be correct.

Will Dhruv Rathee ever become a media organization?

No, I am not that interested in it.

One thing that I face as a personal dilemma is that am I a creator or a journalist? Have you ever thought about this and how do you tell yourself when you think about it?

I tell myself that I am an educator and a creator. Because I feel like whatever I am saying in the video, there is a lot of hard work of many journalists behind it. Many journalists who go to the ground and do reporting, they work very hard and their name is never so much in the front. So I would say that I am the secondary source here. But in your case, I feel like you are the primary source also sometimes.

Because you go on the ground and report. So, both are applicable for you.

But until you don't have a media card or your institution is not registered like media, you are technically not a journalist in India.

Okay. So this is also a complication. So technically you are not a journalist in India.

So this is also a complication.

So you can say that you are a creator.

That's why we call ourselves creators but people write journalists in the comments.

People compare us to mainstream journalists. So of course they think our work is more journalism oriented as compared to the journalists who are doing it today. The news anchors who are doing it. This distinction is also important. I think in news anchors and journalists. How will you distinct them? News anchors are people who are also working like a secondary source.

They have to come at 9 every day to debate on something. They are doing more of an entertainment thing, I would say, rather than journalism.

What change do you want in education?

Education is a little more difficult because of AI, there are a lot of changes coming. But fundamentally, I would say that the questions should be forced on people to think, not on them to focus. It sounds like a simple change, but it is very difficult to implement. How to train teachers to awaken curiosity in children kids, increased critical thinking.

Thankfully, I studied in a school where all these things... In India... I don't want to mention the name of the school, otherwise they might crack down on me.

Where, in this way, a little alternative education was promoted. to Even things like personal responsibility, civic sense, that the school children should be taught to take them to clean the garbage, and how to maintain cleanliness around them. And there are many small things that will have a big impact. And in content creation? I think When I started making educational videos, no one else was making them. And today, you are here, so many people are here. Akash Banerjee, Ravish Kumar have also come on YouTube. This is something that I feel is already better in India than many other countries. Because, even in America, such strong journalism is not being seen on YouTube.

As much as it is being seen in India. So here, I feel like we are going in the right direction.

Do you pay for news, Dhruv?

I pay for some news organizations, yeah.

Are you comfortable in naming them?

People will say it's funded. But I am funding it. News Laundry, The Wire, Scroll.

Even I believe that people should pay to keep news free. And these organizations are doing work which is not sponsored by any party.

That's why I said that there should be a model where people pay directly. I think this choice should not be there to some extent. I feel like if you're earning so much, then I think everyone should fund media organizations by law. Just so that the issues of the public can be raised and our voice can be reflected there in the media landscape. You travel to many countries.

What are things that India can learn from other countries?

There are many things. I will tell you 2-3 examples. One is Rwanda. People imagine Africa to be very backward or something like that. But I have seen a country as clean as Rwanda. And there is a very simple reason behind it.

One day, their government decided that every month, on the second Saturday, everyone will come out and clean up their surroundings. They will come out of their homes and into their societies, their localities, and the government will promote that. And every month, regularly, they did this.

It's called Umugandu. And regularly, they did this. All the ministers of their government didn't come to sweep just for show. Actually, they cleaned up and the government called garbage trucks to promote this. And this is the reason why their country was able to be so clean. Because people only think of keeping their homes clean, but there is garbage lying around the house, no one cleans it.

So, just this simple thing has built such a quality in people. And I think if this is done in India, then change will come very soon.

In fact, in India, people think that I will do the garbage and someone else will come and pick it up.

Yes, this is the problem.

That someone else who has less status than me, will come and pick it up. Yes, this is the problem. Someone who has less status than me,

will come and pick up the garbage.

And this mindset will change very quickly. If a big politician or influencer starts it, I myself think that I should start this campaign myself. And show every month that I am doing this thing. And I think that I should start this campaign myself. And I think that I should start this campaign myself. And show it every month that I am doing this.

And people should join together. So I think it will have a huge impact.

Is there garbage in Germany?

Let me tell you an example of Japan. You hardly find dustbins there.

Okay.

Yes.

Even then, it is a very clean country. Because people have a habit that if they have eaten anything, any plastic packet, they have to put it in their own bag, in their own pocket. When you reach home, you have to put it in the dustbin. People think that if you want to keep it clean,

the government should put the dustbin. No, that's not the way. People's mindset, in some things, actually people's behaviour needs to be changed. In some things, it is not the government's fault.

Any other example of a country?

One more example could be urbanization or urban design. In this case, Paris and I think in New York, Zoran Mamdani are working on this a lot. Trying to remove as many cars from the cities as possible. I think this is very important not only to reduce pollution but also to make people healthy. It just makes sense that when any place becomes walkable, people can travel small distances on footpaths and cycle,

so so many cars automatically move away from the roads, the city air becomes clean and it's fun to live in such a city. Where you can go out and roam around without cars, without noise, alcohol and pollution.

I feel like in India, there will be one house with five cars. And those five cars will be parked on the road.

So there is no place for walking, no place for leisure. Exactly, exactly. Wherever you go, you have to take your car. Whereas, 90% of things, like in European cities, 90% of things that you have to do outside the house, you can do it on foot. If you have to go to the shop to buy something, or go to the cinema hall, either on foot or by cycle. Where I live, I don't own a car. So, I can go to the cinema hall, mall, shopping, or to a restaurant. And in India, it is encouraged to own a car. Yes, because it has become a status symbol. Who is Dhruv's audience?

I think there are all kinds of people. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. status symbol. Who is Dhruv's audience? I think there's all kinds of people. There are kids too. When I go to India, the people who recognize me, there are kids, parents,

youngsters and elders too. So I think it's very very mixed at this point

But when you look at the insights What is the percentage of audience 18-24% 25-35%

Majority is between 25-35% Majority is between 25-35% My age basically

One thing that you say to Dhruv that you have the funding of Congress George Soros and every other comment is written here. I want to understand the breakup of a Dhruv Rathee business. I don't want to know the exact numbers.

I would say that one third comes from AdSense, one third from sponsorships and the other one third from my online courses.

Okay, so equally split.

Approximately equally. It keeps changing a little bit month by month but approximately.

And AI Fiesta is considered a separate business.

AI Fiesta is a separate business.

Out of YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, which one do you spend the most time on?

I think it's equal on all three. I think it's the most on YouTube. Elon Musk has completely destroyed Twitter.

Let's talk about this. He has completely ruined it.

I don't understand what all nonsense he keeps on talking. First of all, the thing about blue tick, that all the trolls have blue tick now, and the genuine people have lost their blue tick. This has ruined the whole algorithm. And second, what he is doing with Grock,

that anyone can take off someone's clothes. He has made Twitter a semi-porn website. And third, the he has done monetization. Now everyone just tweets in a way that is contrary to the majority opinion. To raise the rage. And to get more money.

Whereas Elon Musk says that he wants to make the platform more open, but the effect is the opposite.

Sometimes when Twitter is open, it feels like a porn website has opened. A lot of people hype up Elon, but I don't like him.

What are the things? I have problems with him, what are your problems with Elon Musk?

He hasn't done anything by himself. He has, he had money from before. He used it to invest in some companies. But I think he is not the talent behind Tesla or SpaceX or any of the things he has done. If you listen to his podcast, the kind of things he talks about, he gets to know how much knowledge he has about things.

Which is not much. Dhruv, we found out that the investigator inside you is because of a person whose books you used to read a lot.

Yes.

Satyajit Ray's Failuda Stories.

We have brought them for you. You should have done a little more research. Thanks a lot for this gift. But all the Feluda stories. You have read them. I have read all of them.

So this is for baby. And along with it, there is a tinkle.

Thanks a lot. It still works.

We have released a little bit of Amar Chitra Katha. So this is a rendition of that. It is not original. But this is one. And because you have read Gandhi Nehru, Yes.

So there is a book about Baba Sahib Ambedkar.

This will be very interesting.

So you should read this too.

This is for you from our team. Great. book I just read a book called Factfulness. Do you know about it? I have heard about it. I liked it a lot.

Thank you Dhruv. We had so much time. I hope you have learnt something from this conversation. If you have, please do write in the comments. See you in the next video. See you in the next video.

Thank you.