Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
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
Jawaharlal Nehru admitted in an interview that he was not involved in the fight for Indian independence.
Fact
Video found to be digitally manipulated. In the authentic footage, Nehru is heard saying that Mr Jinnah was not involved in the freedom struggle.
Several social media users, including verified handles, shared a black and white footage of Jawaharlal Nehru’s interview to show him admitting that he wasn’t involved in the Indian freedom struggle. Nehru is also heard talking about the Muslim League and the partition in the old video. Newschecker, however, found that the video is not authentic, and has been digitally manipulated.
Multiple X, Facebook and Instagram users shared the 49-second-long-video claiming, ” “I was not involved in the fight for independence at all. In fact, opposed it” – Nehru admitting to a foreign journalist”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.
Also Read: Social Media Post By Parody Account Of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Shared As Authentic
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the viral footage, we heard Nehru saying “…in fact, he opposed it,” and not “I opposed it,” as widely claimed. Further, the subtitles in this segment of the video incorrectly say “you opposed it.”
We also heard talking about the Muslim League, and partition. Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “Nehru,” “interview,” “partition” and “Muslim League” on YouTube, which led us to a video by Prasar Bharati Archives, dated May 27, 2024. Its description stated, “Prasar Bharati Archives presents the last interview of the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru speaking about the situation of Independence and Partition. “
In the interview clip, Nehru is seen in the same background as in the viral footage, and heard saying, “Mr Jinnah was not involved in the fight for independence at all, in fact, he opposed it.” He then goes on to claim, “The Muslim League was started … in about 1911, I think. It was started really by the British, encouraged by them. So as to create factions…they did succeed to some extent. And ultimately, there came the partition.”
“Had you and Mr Gandhi been in favour of that?,” the interviewer then asked Nehru. “Mr Gandhi was not in favour of it right to the end. Even when it came he was not in favour of it. I was not in favour of it either. But ultimately, I decided like others did, many others, that it is better to have a partition than this constant …trouble,” he responded.
A comparison between the Prasar Bharati Archives video and the viral footage can be seen below.
Also Read: Viral Video Of Sonakshi Sinha In Black Lehenga Is Not From Her Wedding Festivities
We found that the full interview was shared on the same YouTube channel in May 2019. The description of the same read, “Full video recording of what was perhaps Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s last significant interview to American TV Host Arnold Mich Jawaharlal Nehru’s last TV Interview – May 1964…Another book by Chandrika Prasad provides a date of 18th May 1964 when the interview was aired in New York, this is barely a few days before the death of Pandit Nehru on 27th May 1964.”
Around 14:34 minutes into the video, we heard the interviewer asking, “Now… you, and Mr Gandhi and Mr Jinnah, you were all involved at that point… for the fight of Independence and then partition, in the fight for Independence of India from British domination.” Nehru then countered the host saying that Jinnah was not involved in the Independence fight. He then goes on to talk about the Muslim League and partition as mentioned above.
It is clear that the word “Mr Jinnah” has been digitally replaced with “I” to falsely claim that Nehru said, “I was not involved in the fight for independence at all.”
Also Read: Did Neha Kakkar Publicly Kiss An American Singer? Know The Truth Behind The Viral Video
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral footage claiming to show Jawaharlal Nehru saying that he was not involved in the fight for Indian Independence has been digitally edited.
Result: Altered Video
Sources
YouTube Video By Prasar Bharati Archives, Dated May 27, 2024
YouTube Video By Prasar Bharati Archives, Dated May 14, 2019
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates.
Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
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.
