Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim: Indira Gandhi issued this stamp in 1982 at the time of Asian Games depicting an Ottoman Muslim wrestler beating Hindu top striker.
Fact: According to the description of the stamp on India Post, the stamp does not specify the religion of the wrestlers. It was designed by A. Ramachandran based on the painting done by Janaki which is now preserved in National Museum, New Delhi. The stamp is a Mughal style painting with a predominant Persian influence.
The Asian games that is underway in China’s Hangzhou has dominated social media conversations in India, with users cheering for the country and celebrating the victories by Indian athletes in the sporting championship. In this context, a picture of a stamp is going viral, with users claiming that it was released on the occasion of the 9th Asian Games that was held in New Delhi. The post further alleges that the stamp showed a Muslim wrestler beating Hindu wrestler and that it reflected the attitude of the Congress towards Sanatana Dharma.
Newschecker received the claim on our WhatsApp tipline (+91 9999499044) to be fact checked.
Fact check/ Verification
To begin with, Newschecker closely analysed the viral stamp in question.
The image showed a wrestler with a beard throwing another wrestler to the ground. The wrestler who is help up on the air is shown to have a tuft of hair on his head as was the practice among Hindu men traditionally. But on close examination, we see that the wrestler who is seen holding up the second wrestler also has a tuft of hair tied in an identical manner.
We then conducted a reverse image search of the stamp, and found the stamp listed on various websites such as Indphilia and Stampex India and Olympics Council of Asia, all of which indicated that the stamp was indeed published to commemorate the 9th Asian Games that were held in New Delhi.
On further research, we also found a page on Colnect.com, that carried the details of this stamp. The page listed the artist as A Ramachandran.
We used the information and looked up more details online to find the stamp details listed on the India Post website.
“The stamp depicts a painting on a wrestling bout. The scene is laid against a golden ground with flowering trees and plants. The Persian influence is predominant on the style of the painting. The work is executed in the Mughal style of the early 17th century and is probably a copy of the Persian original. This painting, done by Janaki, is available in the National Museum, New Delhi,” the description available on the website of India post read.
It is pertinent to note that the description of the stamp has no religious aspects mentioned.
Also read: Fake Notice In The Name Of Golden Temple Condemning ‘Anti-India’ Movement Goes Viral
Conclusion
The stamp released during the 9th Asian Games has no communal colour and is based on an older painting by Janaki done in Mughal style. It is being falsely shared to claim that it showed a Muslim wrestler beating Hindu wrestler.
Result: False
Sources
Item listing on Indphilia
Item listing Stampex India
Item listing on Olympics Council of Asia
Item listing on Colnect.com
Item listing on India Post
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
