No, Mamata’s speech was taken out of context and she didn’t say Nazrul Islam wrote Mahabaratha
Claim
After sending Rakesh Roushan and Indira Gandhi to the Moon, Now Mahabharat was written by Nazrul Islam
Rating
Explanation
In the viral tweet and a 6-second video shared by the right-wing supporter, “Megh Updates” it is claimed that the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee is saying as Kazi Nazrul Islam wrote the Mahabaratha. The user also quoted that she had earlier sent Rakesh Roushan and Indira Gandhi to the moon and now this. Many BJP persons shared this same message on social media with similar claims which can be seen here and here. Moreover, this same news was also published by some news outlets like Free Press Journal, ETV Bharat and Live Hindustan.com with humorous and mockery titles regarding Mamata Banerjee’s speech and general knowledge.
After Rakesh Roshan & Indira Gandhi being sent to space now there is a new gem from Mamata
Kazi Nazrul Islam as per Mamata Didi has authored & written Mahabharat
From opposing Shiv Shakti point to abusing Hindu Astha to now denying Ved Vyas his due on Mahabharat to questioning… https://t.co/pi5USN5Gf3 pic.twitter.com/8Lhe5fNIQh
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) August 30, 2023
The Free Press Journal news publishes an article with the title, “West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Goofs Up Again, Says Mahabharata Written By Kazi Nazrul Islam”. ETV Bharat news outlet comes with a title “Another goof-up: Mamata Banerjee says Kazi Nazrul Islam wrote ‘Mahabharata.”
Come, let’s check the authenticity of this viral claim and go through the facts.
What’s the truth?
When we started our research, first, we noticed the logo present on all the viral videos shared by the social media users and the news agencies. Taking that as a cue, looked for videos from that particular event and finally we got the full version of the video from the YouTube namely, “AITC Official.” This video is from the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad’s (TMCP) Foundation Day held on 28 August 2023. The full version of the video has a lenghty timeline of around 3 hours 5 minutes and 49 seconds with the whole event from the start to the end. According to Milleniumpost, this is the TMCP’s 26th foundation day where Mamata and Abhisekh will address the rally.
The viral clip was a speech given by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee in Bengali the language of the state on the occasion of the Foundation Day of TMCP on 28 August. This event was held in Kolkata in front of the Gandhi Statue located at Mayo Road. We also got Mamata Banerjee’s entire speech on her official Facebook page.
According to the speech, the claimed viral portion starts around the timestamp of 38:50. In the AITC Official YouTube page the same viral claim portion is heard at the timeline of 2:52:00.
According to the Times Now, article, which translated Mamata Banerjee’s Bengali speech into English version which is as follows; “Studies alone do not make a person learn in the real sense. One has to have a big heart. Read and understand what our great men have written.”
“Read and learn about Rabindranath’s works, read and learn about Vivekananda’s works, read and learn about Nazrul’s works, read and learn about Birsa Munda’s works, read and learn about Raghunath Murmu’s work, read and learn about Matua Thakur’s work, read and learn about Panchanan Barma of Rajbanshi, (read and learn about) Mahabharata… Nazrul Islam wrote, ‘Embrace the Quran, Puranas, Vedas, Vedanta, Bible, Tripitaka, Zend-Avesta, and the sacred scriptures, read as much as you can….” she said.
In the above passage there is more proof that, she did not say that Nazrul Islam wrote the Mahabharata.
However, she told the people to read and learn from all the great men she quoted. In the video, she speaks with a flow like giving the examples of the contributions by the great men and asks people to read and learn from them.
Thus, this proves that, this viral portion is circulated with out of context and misleading claims which created this great confusion.
Conclusion:
Therefore, we conclude that, the video made viral is spread on social media by the right-wing supporters with false and misleading claims.
The video shows how Mamata praises the accomplishments of the great works by Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda, Nazrul, Ragunath Murmu and many others. She further urges the people to read and learn from their works.
