- sati

On September 4, 1987, a young widow called Roop Kanwar was burnt on her husband’s funeral pyre in village Deorala, Rajasthan. The incident triggered nationwide protests against the regressive practice and its subsequent glorification. We questioned the ideology of Sati, as well the problematic role of the police, politicians, ministers and community leaders. We witnessed the linkages between state and religious forces becoming increasingly consolidated and legitimising anti-woman practices in the name of tradition. Along with other women’s groups and democratic forces we raised issues of religion and religious/community identity in the public arena for the first time. Rallies, demonstrations, and a signature campaign for stringent action against the culprits, and effective legislation against the glorification of Sati followed. Till finally the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act was passed in 1988. In subsequent years, our struggles have focussed on challenging the continued glorification of the practice, protesting the acquittal of those guilty of Roop Kanwar’s death, exposing the double standards of the political establishment and responding to other cases of Sati that continued to occur, with fact finding missions and protest actions. Charan Shah, Mahoba, U.P. 1999. Ram Kumari, Village Bahundari, U.P. 2005. Janaki Rani, Tulsipur, M.P. 2006. Each new case of Sati is a grim reminder that its ideology is alive and still requires our vigilance.

ARTICLES

COURT DEFENDS GLORIFICATION OF SATI 

Newsletter Jan – Apr 2004 

CONDEMNATION OF THE RECENT INCIDENT OF SATI IN SATPURA

Newsletter Jan 2000 

SATI AND THE COURTS: SOME BURNING QUESTIONS 

Newsletter Mar 1997 

SATI

Souvenir 1988

DELEGATION OF SATI VIRODHI SANGHARSH MANCH MEETS MINISTER 

Newsletter May 1988

ANTI-SATI CAMPAIGN 

Newsletter Oct 1987