Pune Sinhgad Fort: Shame on you! Shocking incident with foreign tourist

A shocking incident has come to light from Pune’s iconic Sinhagad Fort, where a group of local youths were seen coercing a foreign tourist into uttering offensive language—an act that has sparked widespread outrage across Maharashtra.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows a Canadian tourist interacting with a group of young men while visiting the historic fort. Instead of sharing the cultural significance of the site—deeply associated with the legendary warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj—the youths encouraged the tourist to hurl abuses in the local language, unaware of their meaning.

As seen in the footage, the tourist initially follows their lead, but later appears to realize the nature of the language he was coaxed into using. The video has triggered a wave of anger, with citizens and cultural groups condemning the incident for bringing shame to Maharashtra’s rich heritage.

A Blow to Cultural Integrity

Forts like Sinhagad are not just tourist attractions—they are symbols of Maharashtra's valor and pride, bearing testimony to the heroic deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Every year, visitors from around the globe flock to these sites to pay tribute and learn about the Maratha empire.

In light of this, the behavior of the youths has been widely criticized as disgraceful and irresponsible. Rather than educating the tourist about the fort’s historical significance, they chose to make a mockery of the moment, thereby tarnishing the state’s cultural image.

Public Reaction

Reactions have poured in across social media, with many expressing regret, anger, and concern over the incident. Citizens are calling for stricter action and awareness to preserve the dignity of Maharashtra’s cultural landmarks and to ensure that such disrespect is not repeated.

This unfortunate episode serves as a reminder of the need to uphold the values and pride associated with our heritage—especially in the eyes of the world.