Fact Check: The person dancing with the British women is actually an Australian artist dressed as Mahatma Gandhi

On October 2 each year, people across the country honor Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of non-violence, truth, and social justice on his birth anniversary. This year, 2025, marks the 155th anniversary of Bapu's birth. People from all walks of life have taken to social media platforms, particularly X, to pay tribute to the "Father of the Nation."

Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, Gandhi played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He inspired millions of Indians to fight for their rights through his philosophy of non-violence.

Many are also reminded of his favorite bhajan, "Vaishnav Jan To." Social media users have posted audio clips of this devotional song, written by the 15th-century poet-saint Narsinh Mehta, long before Gandhi's time. The bhajan emphasizes values of humanity, empathy, and truthfulness—principles Gandhi championed throughout his life.

Ahead of this, a photograph went viral on various social media platforms. In the viral image, a man resembling Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is seen cheerfully dancing with a British woman.

Social media users shared the photograph with the caption, "Bapu or Nehru fighting against the British during the freedom struggle."

Meanwhile, a YouTuber turned the image into a video and uploaded it to their YouTube channel.

Fact Check:

The claim is false. In the viral photograph, the person dancing with the British woman is not Gandhi.

Many articles have been written about Mahatma Gandhi's life, highlighting his calm demeanor and commitment to non-violence. Gandhi consistently encouraged people to boycott British goods, and he is often seen in photographs wearing simple khadi clothing. During his visit to Odisha, he taught local residents how to spin cotton, emphasizing the charkha (spinning wheel) as a tool to empower the poor and connect them with meaningful work. For Gandhi, consuming food based on mere desire was equivalent to theft, a reflection of his deep sense of discipline and self-restraint.

On January 13, 1948, Gandhi undertook a fast to protest the issue of compensation to Pakistan. This fast lasted for five days, or approximately 121 hours and 30 minutes, after which he broke his fast.

Physically, Gandhi was known to be very lean. When comparing the viral image to authentic photos of Gandhi, clear differences emerge. In the viral photo, the individual has a well-toned physique, whereas Gandhi was noticeably thin.  Additionally, the man in the viral image is wearing a stylish pair of sandals, while Gandhi was always seen wearing simple handmade slippers known as kathau. These discrepancies confirm that the person in the viral photograph is not Gandhi.

Upon conducting a reverse image search, we discovered that a digital publication, 'Bollywoodlife', had published an article addressing the viral photo. In their report, 'Bollywoodlife' titled the piece, "A Fake Picture of the Father of the Nation, MK Gandhi, is Circulating on the Internet." The article notes that several intellectuals have weighed in, confirming that the individual in the photograph is not Gandhi. The news also highlights that the image is being deliberately circulated by individuals opposing Gandhi's ideals. 

Additionally, 'News18' shared the image, clarifying that the person resembling Gandhi is not him. Instead, the man in the photo is an Australian artist who, inspired by Gandhi, dressed in similar attire. Gandhi’s global influence has led many, including this artist, to honor him in such ways.

Previously, Factly conducted a fact check on this photograph and concluded that "The person dancing with a woman in the image is an Australia-based artist dressed as Mahatma Gandhi."

We found the claim is false. The man seen dancing with the British woman is not Mahatma Gandhi but an artist from Australia.