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Fact Check: Was Nehru Slapped In Public Due To His Controversial Speech On 'Aryans'?
Writer: Aditi Chattopadhyay
Aditi, part of the fact checking team of The Logical Indian likes to read, write, cook and laugh, in short live life as it is supposed to be. What makes her fascinated is to discover the truth behind a story and more often than not, it is either fact or myth at the end.
India, 3 Aug 2020 11:44 AM GMT | Updated 3 Aug 2020 1:41 PM GMT
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The Logical Indian Fact Check team investigates the claim that Nehru was publicly slapped in 1962 after he had said in a speech that "Aryans were refugees in India".
A photograph of Jawaharlal Nehru is being circulated on social media platforms with the claim that Nehru was publicly slapped in an event in 1962 after he in his speech said that "Aryans were refugees in India".
According to the message, India's first Prime Minister was apparently slapped by the Chief guest of the event and Vedic scholar Swami Vidyanand Videh, who had objected to Nehru's remark and retorted that Aryans are the original inhabitants of Bharat and that it is Nehru who has Arab blood in his veins.
The message sourced this information to a book authored by the swami.
Chacha Nehru got a #slap from Swami Vidyanand Videh in 1962 & yes this is authentic @sambitswaraj @rssurjewala @BJP4India @sardanarohit @aajtak @ZeeNews @myogiadityanath @AmitShah @AvdheshanandG @Swamy39 @INCIndia @sudhirchaudhary @republic @RahulGandhi @BDUTT @rajnathsingh pic.twitter.com/Lwb1ldFfZ7
— K k Sharma (@KkSharm95254768) July 30, 2020When Nehru got a slap on the face by Swami Vidyanand Videh post 62 debacle .
— gouranga (@gouranga1964) February 19, 2020
Reason : Nehru in his speech had said that Aryas were refugees in India , hearing this Swami who was also the Chief guest got up went up to the stage and slapped Nehru , +
The Logical Indian received a request to fact check the claim.
The same photo was viral earlier as well with different claims and has been recurring over several years.
1.
— G V Nair🇮🇳NaMo🚩🙏 (@gvnair91) September 18, 2019
When Nehru got a slap on the face (virtual gan*pe laat) by Swami Vidyanand Videh post 62 debacle.
Reason:Nehru in his speech had said "Aryas were refugees in India", hearing this Swami who was also the Chief guest got up went up 2 the stage and slapped Nehru,pulled d mike
1/3 pic.twitter.com/y6pDsH54jq
Claim:
Nehru was publicly slapped in 1962 after he had said in a speech that "Aryans were refugees in India".
Fact Check:
The claim is false. A reverse image search of the viral photo shared with the post was done using Yandex, which led to an article by Outlook.
The report is a collection of pictures and carried the viral photo.
"Braced for the worst Nehru is prevented from plunging into a riotous crowd in 1962, before the war," reads the caption of the photo. It is also mentioned that the photo is by the Associated Press (AP).
A relevant Google search led to the Associated Press archives which showed the original picture.
In the archive, it is mentioned that the picture was taken when a security man had grabbed Nehru to keep him from plunging into a riotous crowd at a meeting of the Congress Party in Patna, India, January 1962.
Below is a screenshot of AP archive of it:
Therefore, it is clear that the photograph is unrelated to the incident which is being narrated in the social media posts.
Further, the books mentioned in the posts as the source of information, विदेह गाथा: एक आर्य संन्यासी की डायरी and नेहरू : उत्थान और पतन, could not be found.
Who Is Swami Vidyanand Videh?
A google search for Swami Vidyanand Videh led to a website named Veda sansthan.
According to the website, Videh was a preacher of Vedic studies and yoga, and a founder of the organisation.
Below is a screenshot:
The same image was viral earlier with claim that Pandit Nehru was beaten up for 'his failure on China War'.
If you have any news that you believe needs to be fact-checked, please email us at factcheck@thelogicalindian.com or WhatsApp at 6364000343.
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