Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
The child sati
This is perhaps one of the most poignant descriptions by Bernier :
At Lahore, I saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, I think, have been more than twelve years of age. The poor little creature appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit: the agony of her mind cannot be described; she trembled and wept bitterly; but three or four of the Brahmanas, assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive. I found it difficult to repress my feelings and to prevent their bursting forth into clamorous and unavailing rage ...
(16.1) Why did Bernier consider this treatment as a crucial marker of the difference between western and eastern societies ?
(16.2) What role did the Indian patriarchal society play towards this social evil ?
(16.3) Compare the condition of the women of the era mentioned above to that of today.
(16.1) Bernier considered this treatment as a crucial marker of difference between western and eastern society because-
(i)Women received education in the west but in the eastern society there was no education and many social evils like sati , purdah system and child marriages existed.
(ii)Eastern societies were male dominated unlike the western
(16.2) While some women seemed to embrace death cheerfully, others were forced to die.
(16.3) In medieval era women had no rights but today sati , slavery has been prohibited. There is women empowerment with economic and political rights.
