Key Tags:
- GS Paper – 1
- Important Personalities
- Social Empowerment
- Issues Related to Women
Preliminary Focus:
- Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
- The practice of Sati, historical references including Bhanugupta, Eran Pillar Inscription, and notable figures such as Akbar, Guru Amar Das, and William Bentinck
- Issues related to infanticide and significant legislative measures like the Age of Consent Act, 1891, and the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929
- Historical land revenue systems such as the Mahalwari system
- Contributions of social reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy and Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Why in the News?
Recently, a legal ruling acquitted eight individuals accused of glorifying Sati through the construction of temples in honour of its victims.
This case was brought to public attention due to the infamous Sati incident involving Roop Kanwar in Rajasthan on September 4, 1987, which subsequently led the Indian government to enact the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987.
Key Provisions of the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
- Attempt to Commit Sati: According to Section 3 of the Act, any individual attempting Sati can be punished with up to one year of imprisonment, a monetary fine, or both.
- Abetment of Sati: Section 4 specifies that those who abet the act of Sati System, whether directly or indirectly, face severe penalties, including life imprisonment and fines. This includes persuading a widow that committing Sati would confer spiritual advantages or enhance her family’s fortune.
- Glorification of Sati: Section 5 penalizes any form of glorification of Sati, imposing a prison term of one to seven years along with fines ranging from five thousand to thirty thousand rupees.
Understanding the Sati System
Definition of Sati:
Sati System is the historical practice wherein a widow would self-immolate on her husband’s funeral pyre. Following such an act, a memorial stone was often erected in her honour, and she would be venerated as a deity. The earliest documented evidence of Sati appears in the Eran Pillar Inscription attributed to Bhanugupta in Madhya Pradesh, dating back to 510 AD.
Abolition Efforts: Various historical figures and empires have taken steps to abolish Sati:
- Mughal Empire: In 1582, Emperor Akbar mandated the cessation of forced immolation of women and provided support to widows to discourage the practice.
- Sikh Empire: Sikh Guru Amar Das condemned the Sati System during the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Maratha Empire: The Marathas implemented a ban on the Sati System within their jurisdiction.
- Colonial Powers: The Dutch, Portuguese, and French also prohibited Sati in their colonial regions. British Governor-General William Bentinck declared Sati illegal in 1829 under the Bengal Sati Regulation.
Other Legislative Initiatives to Support Women’s Rights
- Female Infanticide: Regulations in Bengal during 1795 and 1804 criminalized infanticide, equating it with murder. An 1870 act mandated the registration of all births, ensuring verification of female infants where infanticide was practiced.
- Widow Remarriage: Efforts led by Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar culminated in the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856, which legalized widow remarriage and recognized children from such unions as legitimate.
- Child Marriage: The Age of Consent Act, 1891, prohibited marriages for girls below 12 years of age, while the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 (Sarda Act) raised the minimum marriage age to 18 for girls and 14 for boys. An amendment in 1978 further increased these ages to 18 for girls and 21 for boys.
- Women’s Education: The establishment of the Calcutta Female Juvenile Society in 1819 marked the beginning of a broader movement advocating for female education. The founding of Bethune School in 1849 played a pivotal role in advancing women’s education in India.
Raja Rammohan Roy’s Contribution to Abolishing Sati
Pioneering Reformer: Raja Rammohan Roy was a prominent figure in the 19th-century social reform movement in India, passionately campaigning against the practice of Sati and Sati System.
Activism Initiatives: Rammohan initiated his anti-Sati movement in 1818, advocating for the moral and ethical considerations against the practice. He used religious texts to demonstrate that no religion sanctioned the immolation of widows, and he appealed to universal values of humanity and compassion to engage diverse communities in his cause.
Grassroots Mobilization: Rammohan’s activism involved visiting cremation grounds, forming vigilance groups, and filing petitions with the government to oppose Sati System. His relentless efforts were instrumental in the enactment of the Bengal Sati Regulation in 1829, which criminalized the practice.
Additional Reforms Introduced by William Bentinck (1828-1835)
Administrative Changes:
- Indianization of Administration: Bentinck reformed the exclusionary policies of his predecessor Cornwallis by appointing educated Indians to administrative roles, such as Deputy Magistrates and Deputy Collectors, thus advancing the Indianization of the bureaucracy.
- Land Revenue Reform: In 1833, he revised the Mahalwari system of land revenue, implementing comprehensive surveys and negotiations with landholders, ultimately increasing state revenue.
- Division of Administrative Regions: Bentinck reorganized Bengal into twenty divisions, each managed by a commissioner, enhancing the overall efficiency of administration.
Judicial Improvements:
- Abolition of Provincial Courts: He established a new hierarchy of courts and abolished provincial courts to streamline judicial processes, including the creation of a Supreme Court in Agra for civil and criminal appeals.
- Judicial Empowerment: The establishment of separate Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadr Nizamat Adalat in Allahabad improved judicial access for the populace.
- Reduction in Punishments: Bentinck minimized harsh punishments and abolished cruel practices like flogging, and allowed the use of vernacular languages in local courts, transitioning Persian to English in higher courts.
Financial Reforms:
- Cost-Cutting Measures: Bentinck initiated two committees to address rising expenditures, leading to significant reductions in salaries, allowances, and travel expenses for officials.
- Revenue Recovery Initiatives: He scrutinized land grants in Bengal, uncovering numerous forged title deeds among rent-free landholders, which subsequently increased the company’s revenue.
Educational Reforms:
- Influenced by Macaulay, Bentinck advocated for English as the medium of instruction. The English Education Act of 1835 established English as the official language of the Indian government, replacing Persian.
Social Reforms:
- Suppression of Thuggee: Bentinck effectively dismantled the Thuggee system—a criminal organization known for robbery and murder—by the end of 1834, thus alleviating public fear.
- Support from Social Reformers: His reform initiatives received backing from social reformers like Raja Rammohan Roy, who vigorously campaigned against Sati and for broader social reforms in India.
Conclusion
To further advance social reform in India, it is essential to continually raise awareness about women’s rights and education, rigorously enforce existing laws against practices like Sati, and Sati System and foster community involvement. Collaborating with grassroots organizations can amplify advocacy efforts, ensuring lasting change and empowerment for marginalized groups within society.
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