Advocate Amita Sachdeva has lodged a formal complaint against noted author and social activist Sudha Murty, accusing her of spreading misinformation and offending religious sentiments through a controversial post on X. The post in question, which discusses the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, allegedly contains misleading information that has sparked outrage among certain sections of the Hindu community.
I am compelled to file a formal complaint against @SmtSudhaMurty for her refusal to delete the misleading and defamatory post about the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. Despite numerous requests from various X users urging her to remove the post, she has chosen to ignore them.… pic.twitter.com/m2YssDSFhf
— Amita Sachdeva, Advocate (@SachdevaAmita) August 20, 2024
The controversy began when Sudha Murty shared a post on her social media account that referenced the widely circulated but historically contested narrative that Rani Karnavati of Mewar sent a rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun during the 16th century, asking for protection against Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. According to historical scholars, the story, while popular in folklore, lacks credible evidence and has been debated for its accuracy.
The origin and stories associated with Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan’s origins trace back to a story in which Devi Indrani, also known as Sachi, tied a sacred raksha thread, or Rakhi, on the wrist of her husband, Indra Deva, as a protective shield or “raksha kavach.” According to the Bhavishya Purana (Uttar Parva, Chapter 137) and Skanda Purana (Shravana Mahatmya, Chapter 21), this event occurred during a battle where the Devas were on the verge of defeat by the Asuras. Following the advice of Guru Brihaspati, Indrani empowered the Rakhi with sacred mantras on the full moon day of Shravana Purnima (Rakhi Purnima) and tied it to Indra’s wrist. This empowered thread granted the Devas the strength to win the battle, thus initiating the tradition of tying a protective thread on a man’s wrist.
Historically, Raksha Bandhan was a ritual where wives tied a protective thread around their husbands’ wrists, symbolizing the wife offering protection to the man, not the other way around. This concept later evolved to sisters tying Rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, continuing the tradition of offering protection, with the brother in return pledging his love and often expressing it with a gift.
Many other stories are associated with Raksha Bandhan:
- Yamuna tied a Raksha Kavach on her brother Yama’s wrist to protect him from a curse given by their stepmother.
- Draupadi tied a piece of her cloth around Sri Krishna’s cut finger to stop the bleeding and protect him.
- Devi Lakshmi tied a Rakhi around the wrist of King Bali, who had requested Shri Vishnu to stay in his kingdom after being sent to Patal. In return, Lakshmi asked her ‘brother’ for the gift of her husband’s return to Vaikunth.
Each story reinforces the essence of protection, love, and the enduring bond between siblings.
Advocate Sachdeva, along with several other concerned citizens, expressed their dismay over the post, arguing that it distorts the true significance of Raksha Bandhan and misrepresents historical facts. Despite multiple requests from various users on the platform urging Sudha Murty to remove the post and issue a clarification, she has not taken any action, leading to the filing of this formal complaint.
In her complaint, Adv. Sachdeva has cited several sections of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharat Nyaya Sanhita Samhita (BNSS), and the Information Technology (IT) Act, urging the authorities to take immediate legal action against Sudha Murty.
The complaint also includes supporting evidence such as:
- A twitter link of the controversial post
https://twitter.com/SmtSudhaMurty/status/1825374632331141397
- A reference to the true origins of Raksha Bandhan as per traditional Hindu beliefs: Sanatan Raksha Bandhan
In her statement, Advocate Sachdeva emphasised her commitment to protecting the sanctity of Hindu dharma. “As a proud Hindu, I feel it is my duty to safeguard our religious traditions and ensure that they are represented accurately,” she stated. “The story shared by Subha Murty, while popular in folklore, lacks historical verification and risks distorting the significance of Raksha Bandhan, a festival that holds immense cultural and religious importance.”
She further elaborated on her reasons for filing the complaint, expressing her disappointment with Subha Murty’s refusal to acknowledge the requests for correction. “This post is misleading and has the potential to distort the true significance of Raksha Bandhan, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, including myself. Despite the opportunity to correct the misinformation, Sudha Murty has neither removed the post nor issued a public apology,” Sachdeva added.
Earlier in her plea, Sachdeva urged Sudha Murty to take immediate action to correct the situation. “I kindly request you to remove this misleading post and issue a public apology for disseminating false information about such a significant festival,” she added, providing a link to the contested post.
To further support her stance, Advocate Sachdeva recommended that Sudha Murty consult reliable sources on the origins of Raksha Bandhan, directing her to the Sanatan website for an accurate understanding of the festival’s history.
While the complaint has been formally lodged with the IFSO (Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations) and Cyber Crime Unit (CCU) of the Delhi Police, Advocate Sachdeva expressed uncertainty regarding the outcome. She acknowledged the possibility that no action might be taken but remains resolute in her commitment to raising awareness and seeking justice.
Further in response to the criticism, Sudha Murty clarified her stance on the story she shared about Raksha Bandhan. She emphasised that the tale she mentioned is just one of many associated with the festival and is not its definitive origin.
The story I shared on Raksha Bandhan is just one of many tales associated with the festival and certainly not its origin. As I have said in the video clip, this was already a custom of the land. My intention was to highlight one of the many stories I learnt about when growing up,…
— Smt. Sudha Murty (@SmtSudhaMurty) August 19, 2024
“As I mentioned in the video clip, the practice of Raksha Bandhan was already a well-established custom. My intention was simply to share one of the many stories I grew up hearing, celebrating the beautiful symbolism behind this festival,” Murty stated. She further expressed her deep respect for the tradition, noting, “Raksha Bandhan is an ancient tradition that has transcended time and culture in our beloved country. It is a festival I cherish and look forward to every year, especially as I celebrate it with affection for my own siblings.”
