Netizens troll Sudha Murty over Raksha Bandhan story

The tale of Rani Karnavati sending a Rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun has resurfaced, this time through the comments of author and philanthropist Sudha Murty. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Murty explained that in the 16th century, Rani Karnavati sent a Rakhi to Humayun, seeking his help when she was in danger. According to Murty, this act established the tradition of tying a sacred thread on a brother’s wrist.

“Humayun came from a different country; he didn't know about the thread. He asked the local people and learnt it was a call from a sister to a brother. He said okay; if that is the case, I will go and help Rani Karnavati. He left Delhi and went to her kingdom, but he was a little late as she was no more,” she says in the video. 

However, Murty’s account has faced criticism online, with many pointing out the lack of historical evidence for this story. "...Contemporary historians from the period make no mention of such an event. The story first appeared in the 19th century, introduced by British historian James Tod in his book 'Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan'. Tod provided no primary sources to support this claim, which emerged nearly 300 years after Rani Karnavati's death. Despite this, the story was later picked up by some Marxist historians and made its way into school textbooks, becoming a widely believed narrative," wrote a user named the skin doctor.