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Related Experiment Videos

Altruistic suicide in India.

Lakshmi Vijayakumar1

  • 1Voluntary Health Services, Chennai, India. mdsaab01@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in

Archives of Suicide Research : Official Journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
|July 12, 2005
PubMed
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Altruistic suicide, including Jauhar and Sati, has historical roots in India. While Jauhar ceased, Sati persists despite legal prohibition, now viewed as suicide rather than altruism.

Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • History
  • Cultural Studies

Background:

  • Altruistic suicide, historically documented in Indian Dharmashastras, manifested as Jauhar (mass female suicide upon male defeat) and Sati (widow immolation).
  • Jauhar practice ceased with the decline of Muslim rule in India.
  • Sati, though outlawed, continues to occur, with legal frameworks now addressing its abetment and glorification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the historical prevalence and evolution of altruistic suicide in India.
  • To differentiate between historical perceptions and modern legal interpretations of Sati.
  • To present case studies illustrating the phenomenon of Sati across different eras.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of religious texts (Dharmashastras) and socio-political contexts.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of legal statutes and case law pertaining to Sati.
  • Qualitative analysis of historical and contemporary accounts of Sati and Jauhar.

    • Main Results:

    • Jauhar, a communal suicide, is no longer practiced.
    • Sati, a widow's suicide, persists in isolated instances, defying legal prohibitions.
    • Modern interpretations classify Sati as suicide, with legal repercussions for its encouragement.

    Conclusions:

    • The concept of altruistic suicide in India has transformed significantly over time.
    • Despite legal interventions, the practice of Sati reflects enduring socio-cultural complexities.
    • Contemporary understanding and legal responses to Sati underscore a shift from ritualistic acceptance to criminalization.