The Washington times., 1923-03-25

out for them, even when that course means
death journey to the funeral pyre.
It is not known exactly when the prac-
4tice of suttee originated. It is mentioned
by Diodorus Siculus as being common
when Macedonians first entered India. To-
day all the holy spots along the routes Of
Hindu pilgrimages are dotted with little
white pillars, each commemorating q
t.sati. =
The Emperor Akbar is said to have pro-
hibited suttee, but vainly. Not until the
year 1929 did the English dare to inter-
fere with a religious rite so deeply rooted.
Then Sir William Bentinck, British Cow
ernor Of India, declared those who assisted
IN the ceremony guilty Of "culpable homi-
eide. He enforced the law so vigorously
that only in isolated communities and in
secret was the practice continued.
IT is known that in the year 1877, in
the Bengal presidency alone, 700 widows
were thus burned alive.
This religious custom does not force a
widow to die in the flames of her hus-
bands funeral pyre. It never has been
necessary TO use compulsion. The alter
native miserable and degraded exist
cnce, IN which she was despised by all
sent the widow willingly to the flames.
Besides, the Hindus regard this act as
that Of virtuous and faithful wife. Until
English rule forbade it, it was strongly
recommended by public opinion, among
the Rajputs especially, as the only means
of the widows and her husbands happi-
ness in the future state. The primitive
view of the future life held by Hindus re-
garded the dead as having the same needs
as the living.
This explains the difficulty the English
Government has in stamping out the prac-
tice of suffice. Now that this fresh in
stance of suttee has come to light, the
British Government has given orders that
suspected Hindu communities are to be
closely watched to guard against the COM
mission of these demoralizing crimes.
The most shocking feature of the re-
vival of the ancient rite is that it particu-
larry menaces wives who are hardly more
than children-for marriages of Hindu
girls at thirteen, twelve and even fewer
years are not uncommon.
1t frequently happens that q tender
child only eight or nine years of age is
betrothed to man many years her senior.
The engagement is duly recognized and
the child is denied even the wholesome
companionShip of male associates near her
own age. This state of affairs continues
for number of years, during which time
the child-fancee lives under the parental
roof until the bridegroom appears to make
formal application for her as his wife.
But even these early engagements, ac-
cOrding to the national custom, are better
Than none at all. A young Hindu girl
=. L L. u
and is so unfortunate as to have no pros
pective sutton appear by the time she is
fifteen or sixteen years of age, no matter
how virtuous or clean her life, is re-
garded as infamous and, like widow; is
seldom sought in marriage. A widower
of sixty, or a patriarchal old gentleman
of seventy years or more will invariably
pass her by and commences new married
life with girl of ten or twelve.
When the husband dies the attitude of
friends and relatives toward the unfor-
tunate little widow is completely changed.
There is always before her minds eye the
questioning glances of all who know her.
Will she become "good woman? Will
she become a sati? Will she throw her.
self in the flames?
And with the alternative of disgrace
and degradation if she does not, it is no
wonder that many of them prefer death to
the lives they would be forced to live
otherwise. Furthermore, the condition of
child widows in India is not to be envied.
There Is practically no hope of their ever
marrying again. This social prejudice
against remarriages is so strong that they
seldom take place. If widow has inher-
tied any property from her husband, she
loses it by contracting second marriage
Accordingly the life Of the child wife in
India who becomes a widow through the
death Of her husband is so greatly changed
that it is no wonder she looks out upon her
future with despair unless she shows some
willingness to conform with the old re
hgious rites Of her ancestors