Q. Which of the following governor general was responsible for passing the famous Regulation XVII of 1829 which declared sati illegal and punishable by courts?
(a) John Adam
(b) Amherst
(c) William Bentinck
(d) Auckland
Ans: (c) William Bentinck
Explanation: The correct answer is (c) William Bentinck.
William Bentinck, the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835, was responsible for passing the famous Regulation XVII of 1829, which declared sati illegal and punishable by courts. Sati, also known as widow burning, was a practice in which a widow would immolate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. Bentinck, recognizing the inhumanity and social implications of this practice, enacted the regulation to ban sati and provide legal consequences for those involved in its practice. This regulation marked a significant step towards social reform in India during British colonial rule.
