Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty has found herself at the center of a social media controversy following the release of a video in which she narrated a story about the origins of Raksha Bandhan. In the video, Murty shared a tale involving Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun, claiming it as one of the origins of the Rakhi tradition. This story, however, sparked outrage among many who challenged its historical accuracy.
In her initial video, Murty described how Rani Karnavati, facing danger, sent a thread to Humayun as a symbol of siblinghood, seeking his help. She suggested that this gesture was one of the beginnings of the Rakhi tradition. The video, posted on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, quickly went viral, garnering over 4.5 lakh views and attracting thousands of comments—many of them critical.
Following the backlash, Murty took to social media platform ‘X’ to defend her stance. “The story I shared on Raksha Bandhan is just one of many tales associated with the festival and certainly not its origin,” she clarified. Murty emphasized that her intention was to highlight one of the many stories she learned during her upbringing, not to assert it as the definitive origin of the festival. “Raksha Bandhan is a much older tradition that has transcended time and culture in our beloved country, one that I am proud of and look forward to with affection for my own siblings,” she added.
Despite her clarification, the controversy has continued, with some users demanding that she delete the original video and tweet. One commenter wrote, “Ma’am, in that case, you should delete that video and the tweet along with it, as both the video and the tweet clearly say that the tradition of Rakhi ‘started’ with this fake story of Durgavati and Humayun.”
Sudha Murty, who is the former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and a Rajya Sabha member, has a long history of contributions to literature and philanthropy. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023, recognizing her significant impact on Indian society.
As the discussion around her video continues, Murty’s supporters and critics alike are engaging in a broader conversation about the interpretation of cultural traditions and the importance of historical accuracy.
