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In a striking case of digital misinformation, a video circulating widely across social media platforms falsely claims to show Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members dancing during British colonial rule in India. The footage, erroneously attributed to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s archives, has sparked controversy amid claims it depicts RSS members performing choreographed dances while independence fighters were rallying against colonial powers.
The viral video has been shared with provocative captions suggesting it dates back to approximately 1942, a pivotal period in India’s freedom struggle. One widely-shared caption reads: “Archival footage from British Broadcasting Corporation. Date? Maybe 1942? Or, maybe later. Some people sing some weird song & dance on it when other Indians were singing Vande Mataram and Inquilab Zindabaad.”
These posts insinuate that while many Indians were fighting for independence with revolutionary slogans, RSS members were allegedly entertaining British officials. “History has receipts, and they jiggle,” concludes one inflammatory caption.
However, an investigation by India Today’s Fact Check team has thoroughly debunked these claims. The footage, far from being a colonial-era recording, actually dates to December 2015. The video shows RSS members celebrating the anniversary of the organization’s Sangh Shiksha Varg (training camp) in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The fact-checking team found no evidence of this video or any similar footage in the BBC’s online archives. Instead, research led them to the original source: the same video was published by Zee 24 Taas, a Marathi-language news channel, on their YouTube platform on December 17, 2015.
The news report, originally in Marathi and subsequently translated to English, confirms that the event took place at Reshimbagh in Nagpur. The footage captures RSS members singing and dancing as part of the anniversary celebrations for their training program.
Further corroborating evidence comes from an Aaj Tak report about the same event, which noted that then-Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the gathering along with his cabinet members and several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs. The celebration was held at Hedgewar Smruti Bhawan, the RSS headquarters located in Nagpur’s Reshimbagh area.
This case highlights the ongoing challenge of historical misinformation in India’s politically charged social media landscape. False historical narratives can spread rapidly, particularly when they align with existing political biases or attempt to reframe historical relationships between organizations and the independence movement.
The RSS, founded in 1925, has been a significant influence in Indian politics, particularly through its ideological connections to the currently ruling BJP. Its historical role during the independence movement has long been a subject of political debate, making it a frequent target for both criticism and defense in contemporary discourse.
Digital misinformation experts point to this incident as a classic example of how historical footage can be decontextualized and repurposed to create false narratives. The convincing nature of video evidence, combined with authoritative attribution to respected news sources like the BBC, creates a particularly persuasive form of misinformation that can be difficult for average social media users to verify independently.
The incident underscores the importance of media literacy and fact-checking in an era where digital manipulation and misattribution of historical media can significantly distort public understanding of historical events and political movements.
As social media platforms continue to grapple with the spread of misinformation, this case demonstrates how historical narratives remain battlegrounds in contemporary political discourse, with organizations like India Today’s Fact Check team playing an increasingly vital role in correcting the record.
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8 Comments
Good to see this fact check unpacking the real story behind this viral video. It’s a timely reminder that we should be wary of sensationalized social media posts that lack credible sources or context.
Fascinating to learn that this video is actually from 2015, not the British Raj era as claimed. It’s a good lesson in the importance of verifying sources and not jumping to conclusions based on provocative captions or framing.
This is a good reminder to be cautious about viral videos and social media posts claiming to show historical events. Fact-checking is crucial to avoid perpetuating false narratives, even if they align with certain biases or agendas.
Absolutely, these kinds of misattributed videos can be very misleading. Kudos to the fact-checking team for taking the time to research the true origins and context.
Interesting fact check on the origins of this video. It’s important to verify claims like these before spreading misinformation, even unintentionally. Good to see this was thoroughly investigated and the true context uncovered.
This is a valuable fact check that underscores the importance of verifying information, especially when it involves sensitive historical and political topics. Kudos to the team for their diligent investigation.
Absolutely, the spread of misinformation can have real consequences, so it’s critical that we take the time to fact-check claims before sharing them further.
This highlights the need for critical thinking and fact-checking when it comes to historical claims made online. It’s easy for misinformation to spread rapidly, so kudos to the team for setting the record straight on the origins of this video.