Claim
Photo of Jawaharlal Nehru taking a holy dip in 1954 Kumbh.
Fact
The photo shows Nehru immersing his mother’s ashes in Allahabad (now Prayagraj).
Amid the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge recently stirred up a controversy by questioning if taking dips in the Ganga would end poverty or would provide food.
Following the same, several social media users shared a photograph showing former Indian PM and Congress leader late Jawaharlal Nehru standing knee-deep in a river, claiming to show him taking a holy dip in Ganga during the 1954 Kumbh Mela. Notably, the Kumbh gathering of 1954 witnessed a tragic stampede that killed nearly 800 people.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
A Google Lens search on the viral image led us to an article published by Reckon Talk website titled ‘15 Rare And Old Photos of “Place Of Sacrifice” Allahabad.’ The website featured the viral photo to show “Nehru after immersing his mother’s ashes at Allahabad.”
“This poignant image shows Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, performing a deeply personal ritual that ties him to his cultural roots,” it stated.
We also found an India Today article on the book ‘The Nehrus: Personal Histories by Mushirul Hasan & Priya Kapoor.’ The article termed it as a “a well-researched book of rare pictures brings out the intimate histories of India’s first family…”
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It also featured the viral photo of Nehru with the caption, “ENDURING TRAGEDY: Jawaharlal Nehru immersing his mother’s ashes in Allahabad”
Jawaharlal Nehru’s mother Swaruprani Nehru died in January 1938.
Subsequent investigation led us to a report by The Quint on the 1954 Kumbh stampede. “According to the Amrita Bazar Patrika report published on 4 February 1954, when Nehru was asked about taking a dip at Sangam, he said, “I had not a holy dip but other dips (sic).” Though the then PM did not take a holy dip at Sangam, he was present at Kumbh when the tragedy occurred,” the report stated.
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We could not independently verify whether Nehru actually took a holy dip in Ganga during the 1954 Kumbh Mela or not. However, the viral photograph has been shared in a false context.
Conclusion
Hence, viral posts claiming to show Jawaharlal Nehru taking a holy dip in Ganga during 1954 Kumbh Mela were found to be false.
Result: False
Sources
Article By Reckon Talk Website
Report By India Today, Dated March 6, 2006
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