{"pages":{"117":{"imagePath":"H:\\web_projects\\corpus-web\\electron-app\\data\\5e07978430078cb56ea89a104e5a0c0e50b3aa1618e48c486c8af005ae015143\\raw\\pages\\00141-3aae4eb0af8af6bbc688.webp","width":1170,"height":1680,"segments":[{"text":"SOURCE MATERIALS","box":{"x":446,"y":147,"width":246,"height":18}},{"text":"117","box":{"x":973,"y":141,"width":52,"height":18}},{"text":"86. THE ANTI-SUTTEE PETITION (c 1830 A.D.)","box":{"x":209,"y":217,"width":725,"height":31}},{"text":"Advocates of sati (widow burning) appealed to the authorities in","box":{"x":200,"y":273,"width":780,"height":29}},{"text":"England against William Bentinck's abolition of the practice. The","box":{"x":162,"y":298,"width":816,"height":27}},{"text":"following petition was submitted in opposition to that appeal. It is","box":{"x":171,"y":321,"width":806,"height":29}},{"text":"generally believed to have been written by Raja Rammohun Roy.","box":{"x":171,"y":349,"width":806,"height":28}},{"text":"Cited in Jogendra Chunder Ghose, ed., The English Works of Raja","box":{"x":164,"y":373,"width":813,"height":28}},{"text":"Rammohun Roy, pp. 479-480.","box":{"x":167,"y":400,"width":339,"height":27}},{"text":"That a practice has prevailed throughout India, particularly in","box":{"x":162,"y":449,"width":864,"height":35}},{"text":"Bengal, of burning those widows on the funeral piles of their deceased","box":{"x":116,"y":478,"width":910,"height":34}},{"text":"husbands, who could be induced to offer themselves as voluntary","box":{"x":116,"y":506,"width":908,"height":31}},{"text":"sacrifices.","box":{"x":122,"y":537,"width":126,"height":24}},{"text":"That this barbarous and inhuman practice has been happily","box":{"x":164,"y":588,"width":864,"height":39}},{"text":"abolished by the Government of the Right Honourable Lord William","box":{"x":122,"y":611,"width":903,"height":39}},{"text":"Cavendish Bentinck, who has thus conferred an inestimable benefit","box":{"x":119,"y":644,"width":907,"height":32}},{"text":"on the native population of India.","box":{"x":120,"y":674,"width":456,"height":31}},{"text":"That the regulation prohibiting the practice has been received","box":{"x":167,"y":727,"width":862,"height":34}},{"text":"with gratitude by many, while the majority of the native population","box":{"x":118,"y":756,"width":910,"height":34}},{"text":"have remained passive and acquiescent, although nearly a twelve","box":{"x":119,"y":785,"width":905,"height":32}},{"text":"month has elapsed since the abolition took place.","box":{"x":120,"y":814,"width":666,"height":32}},{"text":"That as a proof of your honourable House of the feeling enter-","box":{"x":164,"y":869,"width":858,"height":32}},{"text":"tained on the subject by a numerous portion of the native com-","box":{"x":122,"y":898,"width":904,"height":32}},{"text":"munity, the subjoined address was presented to the Governor-General","box":{"x":119,"y":921,"width":905,"height":35}},{"text":"in Council expressive of their thanks for his benevolent interference.","box":{"x":123,"y":953,"width":903,"height":31}},{"text":"(Here is cited the Address presented to Bentinck by the inhabi-","box":{"x":168,"y":1007,"width":858,"height":32}},{"text":"tants of Calcutta in January, 1830.)","box":{"x":123,"y":1040,"width":476,"height":31}},{"text":"That your petitioners have, however, learned that a number of","box":{"x":165,"y":1091,"width":869,"height":34}},{"text":"natives, professing to be attached to the ancient practice, have","box":{"x":125,"y":1119,"width":903,"height":34}},{"text":"prepared a petition to your Honourable House soliciting the re-","box":{"x":122,"y":1148,"width":907,"height":34}},{"text":"establishment of the rite of burning their widows; and therefore","box":{"x":123,"y":1176,"width":907,"height":32}},{"text":"to prevent your Honourable House from supposing that their","box":{"x":126,"y":1204,"width":904,"height":34}},{"text":"sentiments are those of the whole native population, your peti-","box":{"x":126,"y":1232,"width":904,"height":35}},{"text":"tioners respectfully present themselves to the notice of your Hono-","box":{"x":120,"y":1260,"width":912,"height":34}},{"text":"urable House, and pray that the Regulation of the local government","box":{"x":123,"y":1289,"width":905,"height":31}},{"text":"may be confirmed and enforced.","box":{"x":125,"y":1318,"width":437,"height":29}},{"text":"That your petitioners cannot permit themselves to suppose that","box":{"x":168,"y":1370,"width":862,"height":35}},{"text":"such a practice, abhorent to all the feelings of nature, the obliga-","box":{"x":127,"y":1397,"width":903,"height":38}},{"text":"tions of society, and principles of good government, will receive","box":{"x":125,"y":1426,"width":907,"height":34}},{"text":"the sanction of your Honourable House, much less that, having","box":{"x":127,"y":1453,"width":905,"height":34}},{"text":"been abolished, the British name and character will be dishonoured","box":{"x":127,"y":1482,"width":907,"height":32}},{"text":"by its re-establishment.","box":{"x":129,"y":1513,"width":309,"height":29}}]}}}