Suttee

Suttee, also known as sati, is a historical practice in some parts of the Indian subcontinent in which a widow is believed to self-immolate on her husband’s funeral pyre or otherwise die as part of an expected continuation of conjugal fidelity. The term sati comes from Sanskrit satī, meaning “virtuous woman.” The English form suttee appeared in colonial-era writings.

The practice occurred in various regions and among some Hindu communities, but it was not universal or uniform. Accounts describe both voluntary self-immolation and situations in which widows were pressured or coerced by social norms, family creditors, or local authority figures. The ritual often carried religious and social meanings related to widowhood, honor, and the supposed protection of the husband’s soul, but regional and historical variations were substantial.

From the 18th century onward, sati attracted attention from reformers, reform movements inside Hindu communities, and colonial authorities. In 1829, the British introduced regulations to abolish sati in territories under their control, a policy that was later extended more broadly. In modern India, sati is illegal and widely condemned as an act of violence against women; the Sati Prevention Act of 1987 criminalized aiding or abetting sati, and subsequent laws reinforced the prohibition. Similar anti-sati measures occurred in neighboring regions, and the practice largely declined by the mid-20th century.

Suttee remains a sensitive topic in historical and religious discussions, with scholarship emphasizing regional variation, contested sources, and the influence of social, political, and colonial forces on its practice and eventual decline.