Sudha Murty, a prominent figure in Indian society and a Rajya Sabha MP, sparked a heated online debate after her Raksha Bandhan post on the origin of the festival. In her post on X (formerly Twitter), Murty shared a story about Rani Karnavati, the Queen of Chittor, sending a thread to Mughal Emperor Humayun as a plea for help, claiming this marked the beginning of the Raksha Bandhan tradition. This sparked widespread criticism, with many users accusing her of misrepresenting the history of the festival.
Murty’s post, accompanied by a video, stated, “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.” This statement was met with swift backlash, with numerous users pointing out that the festival’s origins are much older and more complex than her simplified narrative.
Faced with the criticism, Murty took to social media again to clarify her stance. She explained that the story she shared was just one of many tales associated with Raksha Bandhan, emphasizing that it was not the definitive origin of the tradition. She highlighted her intention to showcase the beautiful symbolism behind the festival through this story.
However, this explanation did little to quell the growing discontent among netizens. Many users pointed out the inconsistency in her statements, questioning why she initially presented the story as the origin of the tradition. They argued that a tradition has a single origin and that she could not have presented a specific story while claiming it was just one of many.
While some users appreciated the clarification and acknowledged the multiple narratives surrounding the festival, others remained unconvinced. They accused Murty of disingenuously attempting to cover up her initial claim and highlighted the historical inaccuracies in her narrative. They expressed concerns about the distortion of historical facts and questioned the validity of presenting a story as the origin of a tradition with such rich historical roots.
The incident highlights the complex nature of historical narratives and the importance of accuracy and sensitivity when discussing cultural traditions. While Murty’s intention might have been to celebrate the symbolism of Raksha Bandhan, her approach sparked a debate on the importance of historical accuracy and the responsibility of public figures to ensure their information is grounded in verifiable facts.
