Origin Of Sati Practice In India

Sati, in India, was a practice where the wife sets herself on fire on the pyre of her husband in case he dies before her. The practice was not only derogatory to the wife but also inhumane. To expect someone to set themselves on fire for the loss of their husband as if they are not alive and have no right to live was degrading the women to nothing without their husband’s existence.

This practice has its roots since the indo- European bothered with sacrificing of women. Anand A. Yang notes that something similar to Sati and the sacrifice of a wife is also mentioned in Rig Veda. But the practice mentioned in Ved said for the wife to sit on the unlit pyre of her husband and to be lifted before the body was to be burnt by some relative of her dead husband. This is the 16th century is said to be misinterpreted as ‘going forth into the fire’. In conclusion as per Anand A. Yang Sati originated from a mistake that led to massive sacrifice by women upon the death of their husbands.

In India, Sati began the post-Mughal period. According to Dehejia, Sati was limited to Kshatriyas i.e. the warrior caste of India. It is still considered the peak of patriarchy and the feeling of power over women in all terms including their right to live. In this century when everyone wanted to contribute to the Sanskritization of India, Islam followers also decided to accept Sati as means to purity and dedication of women towards their partners.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the first and strongest advocate against Sati practice. Even after the ban of Sati from British ruled areas in India, the princely states that were not under British rule continued to practice it. The fight for the rights of women is nothing new and has been going on since the beginning of civilizations.

By: Kanak
Gaurs International School