‘India first PM’ Google search doesn’t show Modi’s photo with Nehru’s name any more

People have been sharing screenshots of the 'Indias first PM' Google search result page that shows Jawaharlal Nehru's in big and bold lettering, but current PM Narendra Modi's photo, asking Google why. Well, here's the reason.

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The ‘India first PM’ search result page showing Narendra Modi’s photo with Jawaharlal Nehru’s name is because of a technological quirk. Here’s how.

There was a sudden flurry of activity on social media, after someone googled “Indias first PM” and found that the top result showed current PM Narendra Modi’s picture along with Jawaharlal Nehru’s name, and most wondered why. It was a technical quirk. When one types “Indias first PM” on the Google search engine, the first link that appears on the search page is that of the Wikipedia page of the ‘List of Prime Ministers of India’, with Jawaharlal Nehru’s name in bold and big letters, and a brief description of Nehru. That was all fine, but the twist came in the form of the image, which was not of Nehru with his signature cap and button rose, but of Modi.

Since the uproar, it seems the results page has been tweaked to not show the photo any longer.

Though it’s uncertain when this quirk happened, but the social media suddenly fraternity discovered it early April 25, when someone took a screenshot of the search result page and tweeted it out. Many others followed suit, taking screenshots of their own and sharing them on social media, with variants of the question: Why?

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Some tagged Google, others threw the question out to the World Wide Web, and some others even suggested conspiracy. “Very strange type in google search “india first pm” the result will be this . Google showing pic of Narendra modi instead of Jawahar lal Nehru @GoogleIndia very unfortunate that such blunder is done by google,” tweeted someone, while another asked, “Oops Is this Google error?”

Here is a sample of the tweets that suddenly flooded Twitterverse:

When we search “India first PM” on Google, Narendra Modi image appears. Why?

— I_am (@thenagawalrus) April 25, 2018

Surprised seeing the result of Ist PM pic in google search as “India first PM” @narendramodi @akashbanerjee @atanubhuyan @tulika_devi @pranaybordoloi #IndiafirstPM #google pic.twitter.com/5uhnLlTlJc

— Afrida Hussain (@afrida786) April 25, 2018

Type ‘India first pm’ in google and result is Mr.Narendra Modi’s photo instead of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. @Google Pls correct it.. How come you also fell in the trap of Mr.Modi? pic.twitter.com/H8zlP9zzW0

— Ashok Tanwar (@AshokTanwar_INC) April 25, 2018

.@Google @GoogleIndia what algorithm of yours allows this?! You’re so full of junk- pic.twitter.com/GHyxh3fEWm

— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) April 25, 2018

Oops
Is this Google error?
Has Nehru been generous to Modi let him use name and title of First PM?
Has BJP playing a prank? @AskAnshul @India_Policy @ShefVaidya @malviyamit @sambitswaraj @swamy39 @dr_satyapal @rsprasad @tavleen_singh @bhupendrachaube @Shehzad_Ind @dpradhanbjp pic.twitter.com/zzEPod9zFi

— Anthony Saldanha (@AnthonySald) April 25, 2018

While Google has not yet responded to any of these questions, one reason might be a technological quirk that showcases the first image on the Wikipedia page of the ‘List of Prime Ministers of India’, which – upon opening – clearly states that Narendra Modi “is the current (14th) Prime Minister of India, since 26 May 2014”.

Here’s a tweet that actually explains this:

Sigh..
1. Google is serving up a Wikipedia page on the topic, “List of Prime Ministers of India – Wikipedia”
2. The first image on the Wikipedia page is of Narendra Modi, PM.
3. When displayed on a narrow screen, the image comes up first.
Can the lady NOT understand this? https://t.co/wuQqMCbWx4

— Abhinav Agarwal (@AbhinavAgarwal) April 25, 2018

Oh well, turns out, there is an explanation for this after all.

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