Sati Pratha: A Glorious Tradition or a Dark Indian History? The Debate That Exposed India’s Uncomfortable Past

The online debate between comedian Kunal Kamra and author Amish Tripathi recently ignited widespread debate on history, mythology, and the ghastly practice of Sati. It began when Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal complimented a podcast episode by Tripathi entitled "Sati - Fact or Fiction". The podcast had challenged the historicity of Sati and linked it to ancient Hindu mythology. Kamra, who is famous for his bold political opinions, was upset at this, accusing Tripathi of combining mythology with history in order to clean up the savagery of Sati. Their acrimonious exchange soon became front-page material, with the public weighing in on social media.


Sati was a ritual in which a widow was required—or, in numerous cases, compelled—to immolate herself on the funeral pyre of her deceased husband.
It was a practice that stemmed from the idea that a "virtuous" wife should accompany her husband to the afterlife. Certain ancient works such as the Mahabharata do refer to acts of self-immolation, but whether Sati was prevalent in early Indian society is still controversial. Nevertheless, by medieval times, it had become a ghastly reality for many women, particularly in some communities. The Unimaginable Brutality Faced by Women. For centuries, numerous women were coerced, tricked, or even physically coerced into performing Sati.


Most were not even adults, having been wed off when they were young, and did not have the option to step into the fire.
Those who refused would often be brutally socially ostracized, beaten, or even killed. The saddest part was that society portrayed this brutality as an honor. Rather than protecting widows and giving them respect, they were forced to choose death as the only route to respect. Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the Battle to Abolish Sati One of India's finest social reformers, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, would not tolerate this injustice. Having seen the atrocities of Sati with his own eyes, he devoted his life to its abolition. With dogged activism, influential writings, and strategic collaborations with the British government, he was able to campaign successfully for the prohibition of Sati. His campaigns resulted in the Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, which criminalized the practice—a turning point in India's struggle for women's rights.

Today, India has come a long way in women's rights. Widows' protection laws, greater education for women, and gender equality have revolutionized the landscape. Although patriarchal attitudes run deep, women today have much greater opportunities and freedom than they had centuries ago. Discussions such as the one between Kamra and Tripathi remind us that history isn't merely about arguments—it's about learning from the past to create a better future.


Although the Kamra vs. Tripathi argument began life as a contest of brains for mythology and history, it proved to be one of remembrance of the dreadful things women faced in the past. But, more significantly, it pointed toward the distance achieved and the determination to continue marching toward full equality. Commemorating suffering generations is not about being political—it's about making sure it never comes again.