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| India-Pakistan |
| Indian woman jumps on to husband's funeral pyre |
| 2006-04-25 |
| PATNA: A 78-year-old Indian woman killed herself by jumping on to her husband's funeral pyre, on Monday, following the ancient Hindu custom of Sati outlawed in the 19th century. Sita Devi's body was found on Saturday at the cremation site in the eastern state of Bihar. Sati, an act of devotion, which means "faithful wife", was common until it was banned by India's British colonial rulers in 1829. The practice largely disappeared from public view until 1987 when a young woman dressed in her bridal costume jumped on to her husband's cremation pyre watched by thousands of people, many egging her on. Her death sparked national outrage and forced the government to ban the glorification of sati, making it an offence punishable with a maximum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to 30,000 rupees ($670). |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 (a) The idiots who built a shrine to this woman at the site. This will encourge others unless an example is made. (b) Possible criminal charges against family. There is always suspicion that such deaths are not suicides (motivated by grief/loneliness) but coerced. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-25 21:04 |
| #6 who are they going too fine for doing this? |
| Posted by: Greamp Elmavinter1163 2006-04-25 20:50 |
| #5 When I was in India a woman burned to death in her kitchen, happened right after her husband's funeral. I think there is a bit of closet Suttee going on. This Sati (suicide basically) makes a nice contrast to Islam. In both cases some freaks egg them on but the Government of India is trying to stop the practice rather than encourage it. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-04-25 12:15 |
| #4 They found her body on Saturday - after the cremation. Assumed she jumped, did they? Such a pain to take care of the eldery women. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-04-25 08:46 |
| #3 many egging her on Poor silly, hopeless bastards. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-25 07:33 |
| #2 she wanted to haul his ashes one more time. /ima sorry |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-25 07:32 |
| #1 ...forced the government to ban the glorification of sati... So does that mean publication of "The Last Suttee" is banned? That's my favorite! |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2006-04-25 01:25 |