Raksha Bandhan: How Mayawati Took Her Sick Baby Brother To Hospital
Mayawati once walked six kilometres carrying her sick baby brother.
On Raksha Bandhan, the story of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s childhood offers a different perspective on the festival’s traditional message of sibling protection. While the occasion is commonly associated with sisters tying rakhis and brothers promising to protect them, Mayawati’s own experience highlights how sisters can also step forward to protect and care for their brothers during moments of crisis.
The incident dates back to Mayawati’s childhood, when she was studying in Class 5. She grew up in a family with two sisters and six brothers, and according to accounts of her early life, she was known for her determination and willingness to take responsibility. Around that time, her younger brother Subhash, who was only a few days old, developed pneumonia and became seriously ill, requiring medical treatment and injections.
Mayawati’s father, Prabhu Das, was away from home when the infant fell ill, while her mother was also unwell. The government hospital where the family could receive treatment through her father’s employment was around six kilometres away. With no adult available to accompany the baby and no money to arrange transport, Mayawati decided to take her infant brother to the hospital herself. After returning from school, she picked him up and began the journey on foot.
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According to Mayawati’s account, she carried Subhash throughout the journey, shifting him from one arm to another as she walked. She also carried a bottle of water and stopped whenever the baby cried, giving him a few sips before continuing towards the hospital. The journey reportedly took around two and a half hours. Hospital staff were surprised to see a young girl arrive alone while carrying a critically ill infant, but Subhash received the treatment he needed.
After securing medical care for her brother, Mayawati began the journey back home. She later recalled reaching home at around 9:30 pm, where her mother embraced her and became emotional. The experience, according to accounts of her childhood, demonstrated the sense of responsibility Mayawati displayed from a young age and the determination she showed when faced with a difficult situation involving her family.
The episode has been recounted in journalist Ajoy Bose’s book Behenji: A Political Biography of Mayawati. On Raksha Bandhan, the story stands out because it reverses the festival’s familiar idea of protection being offered only by brothers. Mayawati’s childhood experience illustrates how the bond between siblings can involve mutual care, courage and responsibility, giving the festival’s message of protection a broader meaning.
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