Lord William Bentinck, the British Governor-General, was first to impose a blanket ban on the practice of Sati in India in 1829 through the Bengal Sati Resolution. Before him, two others – Moghul emperors, Humayun and Akbar – had attempted to curb and control, if not completely ban, the cruel and inhuman practise that was prevailing in Hindu society. Both had failed in their sixteenth century efforts.

                        Even Bentinck’s move had not been able to completely stop the torturous practice and in several parts of India widows, both young and old, were seen committing Sati either by force or voluntarily despite the official ban order. It was only in 1840s and 1850s, the practice came to a grinding halt, well almost, thanks to a group of young, progressive and energetic British officials who used force on the people to end the heinous tradition.

                       These British officials rightly realized that the Indians only listen to language of stick. Hence, promulgation of an official order will not be enough. Several arrangers, inciters and supporters of the age old dirty practice were taken into custody and punished. Finally, the efforts yielded positive results.

                      Now perhaps time has come to salute those British officers. For, had it not been their actions and efforts, the practice would have been continuing in the Indian society in the name of tradition and culture, even at this age of internet and computers.

                     Imagine what would be happening if Sati was being practiced in India today. Some reformist individuals and groups would move the Supreme Court against the inhuman practice. The apex court would order a ban and ask the government of the day at the centre to enact an effective law to end the practice.

                    Respecting the highest court’s order, the Government would come out with an act but would fail to effectively implement it on the ground fearing people’s wrath and lose of votes. In fact, major political parties would be throwing their hats behind the groups, organisation and individuals supporting the age old practice to launch an agitation and rush to the streets to protest like the Congress did after the Supreme Court’s anti-reservation ruling and BJP’s move after the recent Sabarimala verdict.

                    And what’s more. A few women’s groups and organisations would be coming forward in support of the practice like they did during the Sabarimala controversy.

                    Some may argue that after independence, the central government had put in place a strong anti-Sati law which ensured the end of the disgraceful practice in free India barring a few isolated cases. Wrong. Large scale practice of Sati had already ended by the time India got independence and that was possible only because of determination of a few British officials.

                     In fact, sometime I feel it would have been better for India had the British rule continued for another 50 years or so. At least, the country would have seen the end of a few more dirty and stone age Indian customs and traditions that are still prevailing in India.

                  A case in point is the tradition and custom of dowry. The tradition is no less inhuman, torturous, disgraceful and painful than Sati. As is known to everybody, the country had recorded lakhs of dowry related deaths in all parts of the country since independence. Women have been burnt alive by their in-laws for dowry. Homes have been completely destroyed as parents of the girls have been forced to spend all their savings to ensure dowry for their daughters.

                  There are several laws, regulations and acts against the dowry system but the practice is still going on. People are presenting and accepting dowry openly without any fear and without any respect for the prevailing laws. Governments, both at the centre and in states, have remained mute spectators to this inhuman practice, perhaps out of fear to lose votes.

                   Wish there had been British officers around to use the language of stick to teach a lesson or two to the people indulging in dowry practice like they did in the case of Sati.

                    Ironically, both Sati and dowry system have a striking resemblance in their character. Both were started by the upper and affluent class in the society which subsequently infected to other classes like plague.

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