Which Act made the practice of Sati illegal in British India?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Bengal Sati Regulation 1829.
Explanation:
☛ The Bengal Sati Regulation was passed on 4 December 1829 by the then Governor-General Lord William Bentinck.
☛ This regulation declared the practice of Sati (burning or burying alive of Hindu widows) illegal and punishable as culpable homicide.
☛ Prominent social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy played a crucial role in campaigning relentlessly against this inhuman custom.
☛ Initially, the regulation was applicable only to the Bengal Presidency, but in 1830 it was extended to the Madras and Bombay Presidencies as well.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act 1856: Enacted during the tenure of Lord Canning, its passage was heavily championed by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
☛ Caste Disabilities Removal Act 1850: Passed during the tenure of Lord Dalhousie to protect the inheritance rights of individuals who converted to another religion.
☛ Indian Penal Code 1860: Drafted based on the recommendations of the First Law Commission headed by Lord Macaulay.
☛ Brahmo Samaj: Founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828, which spearheaded socio-religious reforms in 19th-century India.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who is known as the 'Father of Modern Indian Renaissance'? → Raja Ram Mohan Roy
☛ Under which Governor-General was the practice of female infanticide completely banned in 1870? → Lord Mayo
☛ Which journal was started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Bengali in 1821? → Sambad Kaumudi
☛ In which year was the Age of Consent Act passed to raise the age of consent for sexual intercourse for girls to 12 years? → 1891
☛ Who established the widow home 'Sharada Sadan' in Bombay in 1889? → Pandita Ramabai