Rani Karnavati and the Emperor Humayun

The historical references on Rakhi include that of Rajput queens who used to send Rakhi threads to neighbouring rulers as a token of brotherhood and for sustaining peace. When the widowed queen of Chittor Rani Karnavati had to defend the invasion of Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun. Rani’s forces were insufficient to defend the invasion and she wanted Humayun to help her. Touched by the Rani’s move, Humayun set off with his troops to defend Chittor.

Also, during British colonial rule, Great Poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore invoked the idea of Raksha Bandhan as a tool to inspire love and unity. In 1905, when British decided to divide Bengal based on religion, Tagore conducted Rakhi Mahotsavs to strengthen the love and unity between Hindus and Muslims of Bengal and urged them to protest against the British. His ceremonies spread the feeling of brotherhood and it was a symbol of Bengal unity.