Watch: Sudha Murty's Raksha Bandhan origin story faces backlash & 'fake history' claims¡ªWhat's the real history?

On Raksha Bandhan, author Sudha Murty took to social media platform X to share a story about the festival's history but she ended up facing unexpected backlash. Critics accused her of lacking knowledge about Indian festivals and culture. What was it in her post that sparked such a strong reaction?

Check out her video below:

Raksha Bandhan has a rich history. When Rani Karnavati was in danger, she sent a thread to King Humayun as a symbol of sibling-hood, asking for his help. This is where the tradition of the thread began and it continues to this day. pic.twitter.com/p98lwCZ6Pp

¡ª Smt. Sudha Murty (@SmtSudhaMurty) August 19, 2024

What did Sudha Murty say in her video on Raksha Bandhan?

In the video, Murty, co-founder of Infosys, explains that Raksha Bandhan's origins trace back to the Mughal era. She recounts the story of Rani Karnavati, who, when her kingdom was under threat, sent a thread to Emperor Humayun, asking him to protect her as her brother.

"It goes back to Rani Karnavati when she was in danger; her kingdom was small and attacked by somebody; she did not know what to do, so she sent a thread to King Humayun, a Mughal Emperor, saying that she was in danger, please consider me your sister, and please do come and protect me," she narrated.

Credit: Wikipedia | Mughal Emperor Humayun

"Humayun did not know what it is, because he came from a different country. So he asked, 'What is this,' and the local people said that it is the call of a sister to a brother.. That's the custom of the land. He said okay, if that is the case, I want to go and help Rani Karnavati. He left Delhi and came to her kingdom, but he was a little late¡­she was no more," she adds.

The 74-year-old Murty concluded, "This is where the tradition of the thread began and it continues to this day."

How did social media react?

The video quickly went viral, racking up nearly 300k views within hours.

However, it sparked criticism from viewers who disputed Murty's account, claiming it was inaccurate.

One commenter said, "At this moment I know u know nothing about Indian festivals and culture if u believe in this nonsense story. I'm sorry to have recommended ur books for kids. They don't need to learn this manufactured story. Please read about Draupadi's Raksha Sutra for Srikrishna and the significance of Shravan poornima."

Others labeled the story as "fiction invented by leftist Marxist historians" with no historical evidence, calling it "JNU-inspired fake history."

Another user took a jab at Murty, linking it to her husband Narayan Murthy's well-known advice on working long hours, saying, "It never happened, read 100 hours a week to improve your historical knowledge.."

Credit: X/ @SmtSudhaMurty

What is the history of Raksha Bandhan?

While the exact origins of Raksha Bandhan are unclear, several myths and legends highlight its significance:

Indra and Indrani: In one tale, the sky god Indra was losing a battle until his wife, Indrani, tied a protective Rakhi around his wrist, helping him win.

Krishna and Draupadi: According to the Mahabharata, Draupadi tied a piece of her saree around Krishna¡¯s cut finger, and in return, Krishna vowed to protect her, showing the sibling bond.

Yama and Yamuna: The river goddess Yamuna tied a Rakhi to her brother Yama, the god of death. Yama, moved by her gesture, granted a blessing of immortality to any brother who promises to protect his sister.

King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi: Goddess Lakshmi, disguised as a Brahmin woman, tied a Rakhi to King Bali, who then promised to protect her.

Sudha Murty's story and these legends suggests that there may not be a single definitive origin story for Raksha Bandhan.

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