The
Dominion,
November 14, 1988
'Greed'
motivates Indian widow-burning
By Nona
Pelletier
THE
Indian practice of sati or widow-burning was motivated by greed
rather than glory, human rights activist Swami Agnivesh said in
Wellington yesterday.The
Hindu scholar, lawyer, teacher and former politician is visiting
on a week-long fact-finding mission on Maori rights issues before
going to Melbourne where he will speak at a human rights conference.
He
is a swami, or monk, of the 115-year-old Arya Samaj movement,
a society of rationalists opposed to orthodox practices such as
widow-burning. He said the practice was more or
less extinct till last year when an 18-year-old widow, married
less than a year, was forced to commit sati. "The fact that a
woman was burnt alive is not something uncommon in the Indian
situation where so many brides are being burnt alive for bringing
insufficient dowries."
He
said while widow-burning was still rare bride-burning was a common
occurrence."In Delhi alone there are three bride-burning cases
everyday".
Nobody
glorifies bride-burning.
"But in the case of widow-burning the religious and social leaders
of certain orthodox communities glorify it and say it is part
of the tradition they uphold".
He said the practice of sati was also a crime but was often considered
to be suicide.
He
said last year's case was one which was economically motivated.
"In this case she had brought a dowry with her containing 250
grams of gold and 25,000 rupees ($2200) in cash and fixed deposits"
.
If she had decided to leave and go back to her parents she would
be entitled to take back all her money plus a share in her husband's
property. "So the in-laws thought that if she were made to
commit sati they wouldn't have to return her money or share the
property."
He
said 101 swamis, joined by human rights activists, went on a 18-day,
1400 kilometer march to the village in protest. Before
they reached the village of Deorala they were attacked by a mob
of 700 wielding swords and hockey sticks.
Swami Agnivesh said the people of India supported the protest,
except the orthodox people of that state, Rajasthan, which was
renowned for other types of atrocities. "There are child widows
who have not lived a single day with their husbands.
"The
girl has to remain celibate throughout her life".
She cannot rejoice at any time in her life and she cannot attend
social functions. There
was no escape from the widowhood as in many cases the child widow
was never allowed to leave the family home.
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