Fact Check: Bird did not help unfurl national flag in Kerala
India celebrated its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. The Government of India has announced the theme for this year is Viksit Bharat or Developed India. It symbolizes the vision of a developed nation by 2047 and reflects the government's commitment to transform India. The year 2047 will be the 100th year of India's freedom from colonial rule.
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India celebrated its 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. The Government of India has announced the theme for this year is Viksit Bharat or Developed India. It symbolizes the vision of a developed nation by 2047 and reflects the government's commitment to transform India. The year 2047 will be the 100th year of India's freedom from colonial rule. All the citizens in the country celebrate Independence Day annually with flag hoisting, parades, cultural events, etc. Schools and colleges in every corner of the country hoist the national flag and conduct cultural programmes. Bill Gates flagged off 1st Indian Independence Day celebration in the Seattle area and described India as a global leader. Social media is awash with the flag hoisting ceremonies conducted in various places in the country.
One such video of a flag hoisting in school is going viral on social media with the claim that the national flag got stuck at the top without unfurling while hoisting. A bird came and unfurled the flag and flew away suggesting a divine intervention. The claim goes as “Kerala - National flag got stuck at the top while hoisting. A bird came from nowhere and unfurled it!!”
Fact Check:
The claim is False. The bird did not unfurl the Indian national flag in Kerala.
As we observed the comments on the viral video posted by a user named Shilpa, we found the video posted by another user with another view, this video clearly shows that the bird did not help hoist the national flag. It just flew onto a nearly coconut tree.
When we searched the extracted keyframes from the viral video using Google reverse image search, we found several websites published articles revealing the truth behind the viral video.
According to the article by NDTV, a video featuring a bird seemingly unfurling the Indian national flag in Kerala has taken the internet by storm. The footage, posted on August 17, has amassed over one million views on social media. The clip shows a group of people hoisting the flag during Independence Day celebrations. As the flag reaches the top of the pole and remains unfurled, a bird appears to fly towards it, prompting the flag to unfurl and drop flower petals.
But a follow-up video that was posted in the comments shows the actual order of events. Shot from a different position, it is evident that the bird never approached the flagpole. Rather, it flew away after perching on a coconut leaf behind the flagpole. It's made clear in this second video that the bird wasn't directly involved in the flag unfolding.
Several other news website reports also debunked the viral video stating that it is the camera angle that made it look like the bird had unfurled the stuck national flag.
Therefore, the claim that the viral video shows a bird helping unfurl the national flag is false. The camera angle using which the video was shot creates an illusion.