Social Movements & Civil Rights

Lord William Bentinck Battles Sati in Bengal

In response to local opposition, British Governor-General Lord William Bentinck enacted a regulation criminalizing the practice of sati, marking a significant turning point in colonial India. The regulation targeted those who aided in the practice, which involved a widow self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre. Sati, viewed by many as a barbaric custom, faced growing criticism, leading to Bentinck's decisive action to protect women's rights and restrict this tradition against fierce local sentiment.

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