DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9550#0012
VI
INTROLUCTION.
and it is not strange that religious discussion was the
pleasure of Ram Mohun Roy's life during his youth as
well as afterwards. But however great might be the
bigotry of the two sects, their general immorality and
corruptions were simply revolting, and it was high time
that matters should mend.
The social condition of the people in Bengal was
also deplorable. The rigid Caste-system of India with
its blighting influence reigned in its full vigour. The
horrible rites of Suttee and Infanticide were the order
of the day. There were indeed many instances of
true Suttees to whom the death of their lord was
the end of all desire of life and its pleasures, and'
j who went joyfully into the fire with vermillion on
' their forehead and other bridal decorations, without
casting ' one longing lingering look behind.' But
it should not therefore be forgotten that in a great
many instances, the Suttee was the victim of her
greedy relatives, and in more, of rash words spoken
in the first fit of grief, and of the vanity of her kindred
who considered her shrinking from the first resolve an
indelible disgrace. Many a horrible murder was thus
committed, the cries and shrieks of the poor Suttee
being drowned by the sound of tomtoms, and her
struggles made powerless by her being pressed down
with bamboos. ■ The heart of Ram Monun Roy was
sick with sights like the above which were then of
every day occurrence, as will appear from the following
official return of the number of Suttees from 1815 to
1828 :—
INTROLUCTION.
and it is not strange that religious discussion was the
pleasure of Ram Mohun Roy's life during his youth as
well as afterwards. But however great might be the
bigotry of the two sects, their general immorality and
corruptions were simply revolting, and it was high time
that matters should mend.
The social condition of the people in Bengal was
also deplorable. The rigid Caste-system of India with
its blighting influence reigned in its full vigour. The
horrible rites of Suttee and Infanticide were the order
of the day. There were indeed many instances of
true Suttees to whom the death of their lord was
the end of all desire of life and its pleasures, and'
j who went joyfully into the fire with vermillion on
' their forehead and other bridal decorations, without
casting ' one longing lingering look behind.' But
it should not therefore be forgotten that in a great
many instances, the Suttee was the victim of her
greedy relatives, and in more, of rash words spoken
in the first fit of grief, and of the vanity of her kindred
who considered her shrinking from the first resolve an
indelible disgrace. Many a horrible murder was thus
committed, the cries and shrieks of the poor Suttee
being drowned by the sound of tomtoms, and her
struggles made powerless by her being pressed down
with bamboos. ■ The heart of Ram Monun Roy was
sick with sights like the above which were then of
every day occurrence, as will appear from the following
official return of the number of Suttees from 1815 to
1828 :—