Indian-American Writer Celebrates Raksha Bandhan Midair
Indian-American writer and youth advocate Sudhanshu Kaushik found an unexpected way to celebrate Raksha Bandhan this year when an Air India flight attendant tied a rakhi around his wrist during a flight. The lighthearted moment, filmed at 30,000 feet, quickly attracted attention online and offered a cheerful glimpse of Indian tradition in an unusual setting.
Kaushik shared a video of the encounter on social media on August 28. In the clip, a member of the Air India cabin crew can be seen tying the traditional thread around his wrist while another flight attendant records the interaction. Kaushik jokingly described the experience as being “bro-zoned” by the flight attendants and accompanied his post with a playful Raksha Bandhan message.
The video received more than 200,000 views in less than 20 hours, with social media users responding enthusiastically to the spontaneous celebration. While many found the interaction heartwarming, others focused on a humorous detail in the background: a passenger wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans appeared to be sleeping through the entire scene.
The sleeping passenger became an unexpected part of the online conversation, with commenters joking that he had found the perfect way to avoid being pulled into the playful “bro-zone.” Others suggested that the flight attendant deserved a Raksha Bandhan gift as well. Apurba Dewan, the crew member who tied the rakhi, joined the conversation by joking that Kaushik had willingly volunteered for the experience.
Beyond the viral moment, Kaushik has a background centered on youth engagement and India-U.S. connections. He is the founder of the Young India Foundation, a nonprofit focused on encouraging young people to participate in politics and civic life.
The Indian-American advocate also founded the North American Association of Indian Students in 2020, an organization aimed at supporting stronger links between India and the United States.
Kaushik is also an author. In 2023, HarperCollins India published his book “The Future Is Ours: The Political Promise of India’s Youth,” which examines the role and potential of India’s younger generation.
His Raksha Bandhan experience highlights how Indian traditions can continue to create connections even far from home. For an Indian-American figure like Kaushik, the midair celebration also offered a fun and distinctly Indian moment that resonated with viewers well beyond the flight itself.
