Sati & Sutee Tradition in India - History of Sati Tradition Research Paper

Sati & Sutee Tradition in India - History of Sati Tradition - Research Paper ExampleHinduism contains a collection of scriptures written for over quatern thousand years. Among these writing, discrepancies on widow burning led many a(prenominal) to exalt the act while others condemned it in the name of religion. During Vishnusmriti, widows were provided with two options celibacy or immolation. The Ninayasindu later declared sati as a widows essential duty so did the Puritans of the 6th century. These texts went further to elaborate on how the act was to be performed. In the years that followed, religious leaders and followers deified women who sacrificed themselves and became sites.Regardless of the religious interpretation of the act, the practice became deeply insert in Indian culture. This presented new challenges to people trying to eradicate it. In addition, the social value accorded to widows who sacrificed themselves presented much barriers. Widows were perceived as worthle ss, with very low social status making a life for them unbearable. Widows who did not want to go ahead with the practice were coerced, physically forced or threatened onto the pyre. In many cases, the male relatives played a significant role in a widows close to pursue sati.The demise of sati is attributed to British ruling during the 19th century. The British colonialist had refrained from interfering with Indian tradition, culture, and practices. The British seldom tried to enforce change in Muslim or Hindu practices. The governor general to India, however, in the 19th century wondered whether the British government should take measures to eliminate static.