Who among the following Governor-Generals declared 'Sati' practice as illegal?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Lord William Bentinck.
The practice of Sati, where widows were forced or expected to immolate themselves on their husband’s funeral pyre, was declared illegal and punishable by law in 1829 by Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India. He took this progressive step influenced by social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who strongly opposed the inhuman custom. The abolition of Sati marked a major milestone in social reforms during British rule, promoting women’s rights and human dignity in India.