New Delhi: Critics of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mocked his self-identification as a janeudhari Brahmin (thread-wearing Brahmin), claiming that a photograph of Jesus Christ was displayed in his room, while no Hindu deities were present.Controversial claims on picture shared by Rahul Gandhi The controversy began when Rahul Gandhi shared a selfie of himself and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, as they cast their votes during the sixth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This image quickly spread on social media, sparking claims and counterclaims about the painting visible in the background.देशवासियों!पहले पांच चरणों के मतदान में आपने झूठ, नफ़रत और दुष्प्रचार को नकार कर अपने जीवन से जुड़े ज़मीनी मुद्दों को प्राथमिकता दी है।आज छठे चरण का मतदान है और आपका हर वोट सुनिश्चित करेगा कि:- युवाओं के लिए 30 लाख खाली सरकारी पदों पर भर्ती और 1 लाख रुपए साल की पहली नौकरी… pic.twitter.com/TvcmqSwXj3— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 25, 2024What is the claimCritics claimed that the painting behind the Gandhis was of Jesus Christ, questioning Rahuls authenticity as a real Brahmin and highlighting an apparent absence of Hindu deities in his living room.What is the truth behind the paintingThe painting in question is not of Jesus Christ but is titled Madonna Oriflamma by Russian painter Nicholas Roerich. The artwork depicts a lady holding a banner of peace, not a religious figure.How was the truth discoveredThe discovery was made by closely observing the photo. The background showed a person holding a banner featuring three red dots encircled by red. A search using the description person holding red circle with three dots painting led to a 2017 blog post with the same image. This blog identified the painting as Madonna Oriflamma by Nicholas Roerich, created in 1932.Painting from New York museumAdditional research confirmed that the painting is well-documented and displayed at the Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York. The museums Facebook page also shared the painting in 2021, providing insights into its symbolism. The WikiArt page, updated in 2013, and Roerichs official website corroborated the paintings details, including its medium, dimensions, and loan status to the museum since 1960.ConclusionThe painting seen in Rahul and Sonia Gandhis selfie is not of Jesus Christ. Instead, it is a well-known artwork by Nicholas Roerich. This fact-check clarifies the misconceptions and confirms that the criticism based on the paintings identity is unfounded.
