Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi, popularly known as Yatra Guru Ji, a Rajasthan-based travel YouTuber, is under heavy fire for material that many believe is disrespecting women of Nagaland and other tribal groups. His recent YouTube uploads, accompanied by titillating thumbnails and insensitive headings, have provoked severe outrage across social media sites.
The row deepened after a video posted on June 18 featured Vishnoi commenting on the looks of citizens of Nagaland. In that video, he said, “There’s something I want to say, the faces here all look kind of similar. As I walk ahead into a more crowded area, I feel like I’ve seen these people before. Then I see someone else and once more, I think I’ve met them already. All the faces look extremely alike. I’m not mocking anyone, but I’m simply stating what I feel genuinely. It’s like everyone looks the same.”
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Even as he attempted to soften the blow by issuing a warning, his remarks were criticized as ignorant and racially insensitive. The residents and social media users were swift to denounce the remarks, with claims that he was perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Several are now calling for legal action against the vlogger for insulting tribal communities through his videos.
Apart from his verbal comments, people have also faulted the way his videos portray Nagaland and the Northeast. Although Vishnoi primarily talks about these places, the thumbnails usually have local women underrepresented and misrepresented, with captions that have enraged people. Arunachal Pradesh research scholar Heenu Riba expressed to The Print, “He has exotified our bodies. He is not portraying our culture in the videos, but selling our bodies for his views.”
After the uproar, Yatra Guru Ji posted a second video apologizing to Northeastern people for misrepresenting women and hurting their feelings. He told the audience that his team is presently working on changing the thumbnails. In the course of his apology, Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi also defended his previous decisions, saying he employed such images and titles because they attract more viewers. Meanwhile, he insisted that his videos are “clean” and intended to deliver informative content.
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Adding a new twist in the controversy, Bhanwar Lal Vishnoi has earlier worked with YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is now facing grave criticism for suspectedly leaking sensitive details about the Indian Army following Operation Sindoor. The two were also spotted together on various trips, such as when they visited Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival in 2024.