Sep 25 2007
Michael Wood’s The story of India, another misleading programme
One of the most annoying things to watch on TV is the way that some documentaries, especially historical programmes attempt to skim the surface of history.
I can understand tight recording schedules but to miss out fundamental aspects of history is an absolute sin and should be exposed immediately.
What really got me the other day was the way that Michael Wood, (The Story of India, Friday, 9pm, BBC TWO) painted an incorrect image of the Mughal empire. He misrepresented them, suggesting them as attempting to create harmony between the various religions. He missed out communicating their barbaric acts of ethnic cleansing that are truly unforgivable.
In addition, although he mentioned Sikhs for approx 2 minutes of footage, he made no attempt to explain who the Sikhs are and continuing to be defenders of the defenseless.
I also find it amazing that the same people are selected again and again to cruise around the word, for example, Michael Palin.
Back to my issue with Michael Wood. Although I find his presentation style, engaging and enthusiastic, what are we being presented with? Is it his opinion or is there simply not enough time to research fully such sensitive areas? Michael is described at the BBC shop site as…
’an historian and acclaimed writer’. I’m sure he is but what went wrong? There is no doubt that the filming is outstanding but documentaries are about more than landscapes, they are about documenting the truth!
At a recent couple of presentations I suggested that Sikhs need to create more media, for example documentaries, both audio and video, else we may have a situation on our hands where the media could potentially distort the truth.
The problem is that creating media takes time and dedication. We have to applaud www.siknet.com for their outstanding work, together with the Spinning Wheel festival – These initiatives help us all communicate positive messages.
This years participant categories range from juniors to the age of 126!
If you get a chance, watch the videos online and be impressed with the dedication that participants have put into create unique and engaging content.
It is such as shame that if you type in Michael Wood, The Story of India into Google, all you are returned with is a list of products, DVDs and books. Some damage has been done!
We need more curators to validate what is being researched, recorded and then eventually communicated. We need these people to have no political agendas or miss-out essential facts.
We need to speak-up against a potential tide of distortion.
We can only do this if we become so prolific in our investment in national education and a hope that truth will prevails.
Popularity: 100% [?]
I was actually surprised that the Sikhs were mentioned at all in Mr Wood’s documentary. For some reason Sikhs are almost forgotten in History.
Unfortunatley all programme makers are afraid to criticise any one of the Muslim faith. So Mr Wood barely mentioned if at all Babur and Auranzeb’s atrocities and decided to concentrate on Akbar’s reign. Mentioning that he gifted the land in Amritsar where Harmandir Sahib stands today.
I’ve not seen the next programme in the series yet which is supposed to explore the British Raj, but again would be surprised if the Sikhs are mentioned in particular Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
I happened to See the programme the other day!!
Michael wood doesn’t portray the Mughals to be a bridge for harmony among different cultures but only elaborates on how Akbar, being an illiterate, still had the rationality to foresee religious tolerance!! his policies related to that! He mentions Akbar, not the Mughals at a whole. In his show, he shows the mughals to be believers in Sufism, yet Akbar broke the ground rules, and worked for religious tolerance. His work was so astounding towards humanity as a whole, he got letters from the king of spain and the queen of england itself!!
All in All Woods in his series… is picking up pieces of our glorious past! And not undermining it!!
I’m certainly not suggesting that Mr Woods is not a celebrated historian.
I’m simply fed up with the way that the Mogul empire is not viewed in the way that is true.
The BBC have written to me about this particular episode and suggested that budgets et al can influence end product.
I’m personally not able to reconcile this as the empires obessiveness with ethnic cleansing should not be hidden.
It is a bit like selective praise for the Nazi’s!
Akbar may have been more liberal than others but points made about the mogul empire need to be clear from both a regime perspective. Millions were killed and all in the most brutal of manners.
In summary, yes Mr Woods may have been remarking about Akbar but in the same sentence he needs to balance the moguls destructive nature from a generational perspective.