Bengal Sati Regulation

The Bengal Sati Regulation, enacted in 1829 by the British colonial government, was a law aimed at prohibiting the practice of sati, where widows would voluntarily or forcibly burn themselves on their husband's funeral pyre. This regulation was introduced in Bengal due to concerns over the safety and rights of women, as well as to curb a ritual viewed by outsiders as harmful and inhumane. While it was an early step toward social reform, its enforcement faced resistance from local traditions. Overall, the regulation marked a significant intervention by the colonial authorities to address a social practice deemed unacceptable from a human rights perspective.