2015 Video Showing RSS Members Dancing Viral as 'Archival Footage' From 1942

Team WebQoof was able to trace this video back to 2015 and not 1942.

Fact-Check: As per news reports, this video is from 2015 and not 1942.

(Source: The Quint)

A black and white coloured clip allegedly of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members dancing is being shared on social media.

• Those sharing noted that it was from 1942 or the period of Independence and was sourced from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) archives, indicating they were dancing to an unrelated song rather than ‘Vande Mataram.’

• Some users also claimed that in 1942, while India was chanting “Inquilab Zindabad,” the RSS was dancing and effectively performing choreography for the British Raj.

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: Instagram) 

(Archives of similar claims can be found here and here.)

Is the claim true?: No, the claim is false as this video is from 2015, taken during the Sangh Shiksha Varg third anniversary in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

What we found: At first, we divided the video into multiple screenshots and ran Google reverse image search, which directed us to a similar video reported by Aaj Tak on 17 December 2015.

• The caption mentioned that RSS members were observed dancing before a meeting in Nagpur.

• The report stated that the dance took place at the third anniversary gathering of the Sangh Shiksha Varg, attended by several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his entire cabinet.

• We compared the frames of the viral clip with the Aaj Tak report and found similarities.

Here is a side by side comparison between the two frames. 

(Source: Altered by The Quint) 

• We also found the same video on Zee 24 Taas in Marathi from December 2015, which mentioned that RSS members were dancing at a gathering to celebrate the third anniversary of the Sangh Shiksha Varg.

Conclusion: The viral video is not from 1942 but taken in 2015 in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818 , or e-mail it to us at [e-mail] and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)