Understanding the Abolition of Sati in British India

The question asks about the Governor General responsible for adopting policies that led to the abolition of the practice known as 'Sati'. Sati was a historical practice among some Hindu communities where a recently widowed woman would sacrifice herself, either voluntarily or involuntarily, on her husband's funeral pyre.

Governor General William Bentinck and Sati Abolition

The practice of Sati was officially abolished in British India by a specific Governor General through legislative measures. This significant social reform was enacted during the tenure of Lord William Bentinck.

• Lord William Bentinck served as the Governor General of Bengal from 1828 to 1833 and then as the first Governor General of India from 1833 to 1835.
• He is widely recognized for implementing various social reforms in British India.
• The abolition of Sati was one of his most notable achievements.
• He issued Regulation XVII in December 1829, which declared the practice of Sati illegal and punishable by courts. This regulation was initially applied in the Bengal Presidency and later extended to the Madras and Bombay Presidencies by 1830.
• Bentinck was supported in this reform by prominent Indian reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who actively campaigned against the practice.

Analyzing the Other Options

Let's briefly look at the other options to understand why they are not associated with the abolition of Sati:

• Henry Hardinge: Lord Hardinge was Governor General from 1844 to 1848. His tenure is known for the First Anglo-Sikh War and social reforms like suppressing the practice of human sacrifice (Meraih) among the Khonds. However, he did not abolish Sati; that occurred much earlier.
• Canning: Lord Canning was the Governor General during the Indian Revolt of 1857 and later became the first Viceroy of India. He implemented the policy of 'Doctrine of Lapse' in certain instances before the Revolt and introduced the Indian Councils Act, 1861. Sati had already been abolished decades before his time.
• Dalhousie: Lord Dalhousie was Governor General from 1848 to 1856. He is famous for the Doctrine of Lapse, which annexed several Indian states, and for introducing the railway, telegraph, and postal systems in India. He also did not play a role in the abolition of Sati.

Therefore, the Governor General who adopted policies that abolished 'Sati' was William Bentinck.

Revision Table: Key Governor Generals and Their Policies

Additional Information: The Practice of Sati

Sati was a controversial and often tragic practice that existed in parts of India for centuries. While initially potentially voluntary in some ancient texts, it evolved in later periods to become more compulsory or under social pressure. The British administration under William Bentinck, influenced by internal debates and the strong advocacy of Indian social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, took decisive action to end the practice. The 1829 regulation marked a crucial step towards social reform in India and outlawed Sati, declaring it akin to culpable homicide.