Actor Rahul Solapurkar now faces flak over remarks on Ambedkar; apologises
Pune, Feb 9 (PTI): A fresh row erupted on Sunday after actor Rahul Solapurkar described Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as a "Brahmin" in the Vedic context of gaining knowledge, days after his podcast on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj triggered protests.
Amid the backlash, Solapurkar apologised, expressing regret over his choice of words concerning Ambedkar, the social reformer and chief architect of India’s Constitution.
In a video that surfaced on social media, the actor claimed Ambedkar was born to Ramji Sakpal in a Bahujan family. Later, he was adopted by his teacher who gave him his surname, he said.
"In the Vedas, it is said that a man who gains knowledge becomes a Brahmin. In that sense, Ambedkar was Brahmin because he gained knowledge," said the actor.
NCP (SP) legislator Jitendra Awhad rebuked Solapurkar over his remarks.
Sharing the video on X, Awhad said, “Rahul Solapurkar has now crossed all limits. He should be beaten with shoes wherever he is seen. It is people like him, driven by casteist ideologies, who have ruined Maharashtra and the country,” said Awhad.
Facing criticism, Solapurkar, who has appeared in several Marathi films, tendered an apology over his remarks about Ambedkar.
“I have given multiple lectures on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar. I am completely unaware of why such videos are being circulated on social media. Once again, I apologise to everybody for the remarks I made. In future, I will not make any incorrect statements about national icons,” he said.
Days ago, the actor had sparked a row with his comments in a podcast about Shivaji Maharaj's great escape in 1666.
Solapurkar had said that the iconic 17th-century warrior king escaped from Agra Fort by bribing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's officials, and not by concealing himself in a basket of sweets as per the popular account.
After protests by Maratha outfits, Solapurkar resigned as a trustee of the Pune-based Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) and said he regretted using the word “bribe” and hurting the sentiments of those who revere Chhatrapati Shivaji.
राहुल सोलापूरकरने आता सर्वच मर्यादा ओलांडल्या आहेत. हा जिथे दिसेल तिथेच त्याला जोड्याने मारायला हवा. याच्यासारख्या मनुवाद्यांनीच महाराष्ट्राचे , देशाचे वाटोळे केले आहे. राहुल सोलापूरकरने छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज यांच्याबाबत केलेल्या वक्तव्याबद्दल माफी मागितलेली नाही. आता तर डाॅ… pic.twitter.com/DHfhVgohqe
— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) February 9, 2025
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
