India on the moon! 23rd August was a festive day for India as it achieved a historic milestone – the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander on the Moon’s South Polar region. This achievement marked India as the first country ever to land a probe on the lunar south pole. Amid the celebration, a video started making the rounds on social media, featuring ISRO Chief S. Somanath dancing with a group of individuals.
Contrary to claims, this video is old and was not a recent celebration in honour of Chandrayaan-3’s accomplishment. Through comprehensive investigation, it was discovered that the video was captured during the Space Economy Leaders Meeting. This event, held under India’s G20 Presidency, happened in Bengaluru on July 6-7, 2023. Esteemed representatives from space agencies of G20 countries, as well as invited nations and international organizations, were assembled there to discuss matters related to the space economy.
The video was circulated by prominent Twitter accounts that have a good presence on the platform such as @MeghUpdates, @AwanishSharan, @Troll_Cinema, @sdhrthmp, @PoddarVaishali, @MoneyMystery, @MadhurGovindam, @rohitmehta0, @shaandelhit, @RealAtulsay and several others.
On closer examination, a clear distinction emerges between the video’s context and ISRO Chief S. Somanath’s appearances. The viral video features him in a black full-sleeved coat, a far cry from his attire during the live address following Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing. On that historic day, he wore a sky-blue shirt and a black waistcoat, and this can be seen when he speaks about the mission’s momentous achievement.
Speaking to the Bengali news portal Anandabazar Patrika [archive], ISRO scientist Subhradeep Ghosh clarified that no celebrations took place at ISRO following the Chandrayaan-3’s success, he emphasized that the circulating video was old and had no relevance to the recent mission. He said that the work of the scientists is not yet over at ISRO as they are now focusing on the critical nature of the next two weeks post-landing. He also added that celebrations will happen later, for now, their priorities should remain on their project.
In conclusion, the viral video featuring ISRO Chief S. Somanath dancing is not linked to the Chandrayaan-3 success as it might seem at first glance. In order to get the spotlight on social media, users are circulating old videos with misleading claims. As ISRO focuses on its upcoming Aditya L1 mission, let’s offer our scientists the space they need to work without unnecessary distractions or controversies. Following comprehensive analysis and meticulous fact-checking, our team has investigated the claim. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread embedded below.
Claim: The circulating video of ISRO Chief S. Somanath dancing is not related to the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s success celebration.
Fact: Misleading claims; the actual video was captured during the Space Economy Leaders Meeting, and it has no connection to Chandrayaan-3’s achievement.
In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. All the best to our ISRO for their upcoming missions. Jai Hind.
