The Practice of Sati and the Concept of Motherhood in Bengali Society: The Social Status of the Motherless Child

Sati was an ancient and horrific social custom where a widow was immolated alive on her deceased husband’s pyre. Though this practice was justified under a veneer of religion, its primary objectives were to deprive widows of property rights and strip them of social honor. Evolution and Spread of the Practice: The custom was not prevalent in the Vedic age but began to spread after the Gupta period. From the Middle Ages up to the British rule, it grew significantly, especially among the upper-caste Hindus of Bengal.