With those areas where caste system and sati are still prevalent and revered, the death of a husband pronounces the death of his wife. With the belief that the life of a wife depends on her husband, if her husband dies, she has to die with him as well. She is expected to or forced to jump into her husband’s funeral pyre and burn alive to show her loyalty and devotion to her husband and cleanse the sins of the family. According to BBC, on August 6th, 2002, Kuttu Bai has burnt herself alive on her husband’s funeral pyre while thousands of villagers—including her two sons—shout out slogans and did nothing to stop it. Even pregnant wives cannot be exempted, for they will accomplish their “duty” after giving birth. In other regions, widows live the rest of their lives with humiliation and disgrace. Some are kicked out of their house, and others live as a servant for their mothers-in-law. Most of widows, especially those in higher castes, do not dare or even think about remarriage, for it is completely prohibited in marry
With those areas where caste system and sati are still prevalent and revered, the death of a husband pronounces the death of his wife. With the belief that the life of a wife depends on her husband, if her husband dies, she has to die with him as well. She is expected to or forced to jump into her husband’s funeral pyre and burn alive to show her loyalty and devotion to her husband and cleanse the sins of the family. According to BBC, on August 6th, 2002, Kuttu Bai has burnt herself alive on her husband’s funeral pyre while thousands of villagers—including her two sons—shout out slogans and did nothing to stop it. Even pregnant wives cannot be exempted, for they will accomplish their “duty” after giving birth. In other regions, widows live the rest of their lives with humiliation and disgrace. Some are kicked out of their house, and others live as a servant for their mothers-in-law. Most of widows, especially those in higher castes, do not dare or even think about remarriage, for it is completely prohibited in marry