Volume-XII, Issue-II, March 2026 |
Widow Immolation in the Early Nineteenth Century Nadia: A Case Study Jahid Hasan, Research Scholar, Department of history, Aliah University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
Received: 05.03.2026 | Accepted: 13.03.2026 | Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.02W. | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
The practice of widow immolation, also known as Sati, Suttee or Satidaha, has been prevalent in Indian society since ancient times. The social practice of widow immolation still exists in Indian society, despite the country's progress and advancement. During the nineteenth century, various religious superstitions and practices were prevalent in the society of Bengal and Nadia. The practice of widow immolation or Satidaha, polygamy, child abandonment in Gangasagar, child marriage, self-torture in charak puja, homicide, etc., polluted the society of the nineteenth-century Nadia. Although this century saw the emergence of oriental education, educated social reformers, and several religious reform movements, it also helped dispel these religious and social myths in society. In this paper, an attempt has been made to present a thorough historical discussion of the prevalence of the Satidaha practice in Nadia district during the early nineteenth century, as well as its various social aspects. | ||
Keywords: Bengal, Nadia, Society, Widow Immolation / Satidaha / Sati, Reforms. |