Question

Sati was a social evil that prevailed in _________ society.
A.British
B.Indian
C.American
D.Chinese

Answer 1

Hint: Sati was considered as social evil because, in northern and pre-modern regions of South Asia, widow sacrifices herself by setting herself in the funeral pyre of the deceased husband. It was believed that those who refused were considered a bad wife or women.

Complete Step by Step answer: Britishers displayed the practice of Sati in the East, as Barbaric. It was a historical practice among Hindus in Indian society where widows had to choose death by burning themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands. Women who willingly died were considered as ‘Sati’ meaning virtuous women. In the early 19th century the cases of sati were more than 500 in Bengal only. Many reformers started opposing it and declared it a punishable practice.
Raja Rammohun Roy, Shahajanand Swami, William Carey and Lord William Bentinck began a campaign against the practice of Sati. Rammohun Roy tried to show through his writings that the burning of the widow had no sanction in ancient texts. Finally, in 1829 British Governor-General of India Lord William Bentinck enacted Bengal Sati Regulation and banned it completely and in 1987, Sati Prevention Act was passed criminalising the glorifying of Sati.

Looking at the options given:

Option A. British came to India and declared this as an evil practice and William Carey and Lord William Bentinck enacted Bengal Sati Regulation 1829 declaring it as a punishable crime. This is an incorrect option.

Option B. In Indian society, Sati practice can be seen in the 19th century and predominantly it was found in the areas of northwestern and Bengal region. This is the correct answer.

Option C. This practice is mainly found in the South Asian region. This is an incorrect option.

Option D. A Chinese pilgrim relates this practice with the practice on islands called Ma-i-tung and Ma-i. This is an incorrect option.

Note: Both Christian and Hindu Missionaries campaigned against the practice of Sati. Initially, with the help of British, it was declared as punishable and later in the 20th Century Indian government criminalised it.