US-based media house CNN has started a six-part series called ‘Believer’ anchored by “religious scholar” Reza Aslan. The website describes it as a “spiritual adventure series” where Aslan “immerses himself in the world’s most fascinating faith-based groups to experience life as a true believer.”
But the channel came under fire after it put out a preview of the latest episode on Varanasi on Saturday. While a lot of Hindus consider the city holy and believe that dying in Kashi or Varanasi will help them attain enlightenment or ‘moksha’, CNN referred to it as “city of the dead“.
It’s known as the city of the dead. @rezaaslan takes you inside on the new CNN series #Believer. Starts Sunday at 10p ET. @CNNOriginals pic.twitter.com/x8RMufn8lq
— CNN (@CNN) March 4, 2017
This was met with much criticism from social media users from the community, who pointed out that ‘city of the dead’ title is offensive and downright incorrect.
Varanasi is anything but the city of dead.It is the oldest ‘living’ city, literally & spiritually. u deserve more of Trump@CNN @rezaaslan
— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) March 4, 2017
@CNN I’ve never heard any of my friends from Varanasi describe the city like this. I also lived there for some time and it was pretty lively
— रॉफ़ल इयान बाबू (@iawoolford) March 4, 2017
Some users schooled CNN on the significance of the city, pointing out how ‘City of lights’ is more appropriate.
What’s Up with “city of dead”?😳It is beyond time. Go visit my eternally beautiful city. It will liberate you..#Varanasi #banaras @CNN https://t.co/zTNn56H8KP
— Divya Singh🇮🇳 (@Divyasingh04) March 5, 2017
Varanasi is the City of Lights. There would’ve been outrage if @CNN had presented such an ignorant show about Islam @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals
— Sankrant Sanu सानु (@sankrant) March 4, 2017
@CNN @rezaaslan varanasi is abode of lord shiva and you called it city of dead.. would u dare use the same insults for Mecca ever?
— Sona (@sona2905) March 5, 2017
.@CNN It is city of Nirvana, not dead. Hire some educated journalists and fire idiots. @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals https://t.co/6WSFVoLafq
— Sudhanshu S. Singh (@sssingh21) March 4, 2017
Indiana Jones journalism @CNN There’s no secret to ghats & Varanasi city of moksha & rebirth not death. May be Trump is right abt fake news https://t.co/3l6g9doelh
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) March 5, 2017
It’s the city of eternal life, not the city of dead. No matter what, the West will never really get the East. You just proceed it @cnn. https://t.co/FfiRmXXpP3
— Yashwant Deshmukh (@YRDeshmukh) March 4, 2017
Indian authors who have written books on Hinduism too weren’t pleased in the least
.@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals Your new serial is heavily Hinduphobic. Ashes are immersed, not “dumped”.
— Rajiv Malhotra (@RajivMessage) March 4, 2017
Sorry @CNN your show on Kashi is culturally tone-deaf, even bigoted. ‘City of the Dead’? Do you even know that its known as City of Light?
— HindolSengupta (@HindolSengupta) March 5, 2017
We Indians do not call Kashi the City of the Dead. It’s the City of Light. Perhaps you guys should do some actual research @cnn & @rezaaslan https://t.co/yel6dtgrfv
— Amish Tripathi (@authoramish) March 5, 2017
Shows like @CNN‘s City of the Dead exmpl of bigoted oriental gaze on ancient cultures shown as anti-modern – breeds religious fundamentalism
— HindolSengupta (@HindolSengupta) March 5, 2017
Neither CNN nor the anchor has reacted to the criticism. Reza Aslan, in fact, put out this post claiming that CNN is the first TV crew to film from inside the city’s ghats.
We’re 1st TV crew allowed to film from inside burning ghats of Varanasi. #Believer premiers tomorrow at 10PM on @CNNOriginals pic.twitter.com/z42ixu5Hla
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) March 4, 2017
This was a claim readily trashed by users too, who pointed out that it’s been done many times before
Our award winning film”masaan” was shot in one of these ghats, have a look,&stop the lieshttps://t.co/tQjEvVvia4— The Delhi Lawyer (@delhi_lawyer) March 4, 2017
@rezaaslan @CNNOriginals that’s a fictitious claim !!
— prashant (@prashantbanerj) March 4, 2017
@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals First to film Varanasi Ghats?? Are you kidding? I think hundreds of documentaries/films made. Ignorance????
— uknim (@uknim) March 5, 2017
Well, the series starts today (Sunday, March 5) and it’s waiting to be seen how viewers react to the show itself.