Woman still unconscious after desire to commit sati in MP

Tikamgarh, MP, Sep 13 (UNI) A 27-year-old woman who tried to commit sati at this district's Pathari village on September 11 is yet to regain consciousness at the district hospital here, police said today.

Mithlesh Lodhi's four-year-old son is also at the hospital.

Police protection has been provided to the woman as she is mentally unstable.

Mithlesh's husband Ramprasad (30) died on September 11 due to illness. Even before the funeral procession, she hugged the corpse and expressed the desire to commit sati.

After attempts to dissuade her failed, police intervened and arranged for Ramprasad's cremation. The semiconscious woman was hospitalised. Earlier, Mithlesh even reached the cremation ground.

Family members and other villagers made several attempts to discourage her, but in vain. The situation is normal at Pathari but an additional police force has been stationed to prevent glorification of sati, said SP Ashutosh Ray.

Historians say the evil of sati is believed to be affecting about 20 districts of Bundelkhand region -- bordering Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh -- for roughly five centuries.

''Evidence of sati is found at several locations in Bundelkhand.

The chief causative factor was to prevent Mughal invaders from abducting the vanquished kingdom's queens, maids and other beautiful women for exploitation. Satikunds are seen in forts and around palaces. A satisthal is present near Garhkundar and a Jauhar Talaiya near Chanderi fortress,'' Mr Kailash Bihari told UNI.

Archaeologist Harivishnu Awasthi says special stones were placed at sati sites in Bundelkhand. Each stone, known as 'Sati Ka Chira' has representations of the sun and moon, a couple's outline, a brief description of the sati and a special sign.

''More than a dozen places in this district have a 'Sati Ka Chira' each. After independence, about a half-a-dozen incidents of sati came to light in Bundelkhand,'' explains Mr Awasthi.

In July 2002, Kuttubai (62) committed Sati at Panna district's Patna Tamoli village. A case was registered against 15 persons, including the victim's two sons, and most were sentenced.

Recently, Janakrani (45) plunged into her husband's Premnarayan Adivasi's pyre in Sagar district's Tulsipur village.

UNI XC-AC LS BST1536