Abstract
This paper deals with the role of Indian media and film in its battle against social evils, with special reference to Sati, the widow- self-immolation practiced in Indian society. The study aims to understand the role of the media in the prohibition of Sati and its effects on the rural people of India. The research ponders the role of the media in making a view against the custom and supporting the government in prohibition of the custom. The analysis helps in considering the role of the media in communicating data on this social issue. The media played an important role from the time of the British until 1987, when the Indian government passed legislation prohibiting the sati’s worship. The paper discusses the efforts of the print media during the early 19th and 20th centuries in India. For this reason, newspaper and magazine articles on the incident are used here as the objects of analysis. The number of articles on this topic comes to many hundred, ranging from those that just report the facts of the sati incidents and the voices against the custom from Serampore missionaries to Rajaram Mohan Rai during the colonial period and after independence as well. Sati in the print media has been a very popular subject since the colonial period. Many plays were staged in Europe and movies were made to show the custom of sati, some praised the custom and some criticized it.
Presenters
Ameeta SinghProfessor, Govt MLB Girls PG College Bhopal, Barkatullah University, Madhya Pradesh, India
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
INDIAN CINEMA, SATI CUSTOM, SATI PROHIBITION, PRINT MEDIA
