A review by mahiyaa
Contentious Traditions: The Debate on Sati in Colonial India by Lata Mani

5.0

this is a great perspective on the colonial history of sati and the varying perspectives on the practice. british lawmakers were not the strictly moral, enlightened men they colored themselves to be—as their indirect reaffirmation of sati illustrates—and the indian perspective itself was split; brahmin religious consultants (whom the british relied on heavily in their "sati as a religious matter" stance) funded pro-sati lobbies, while other indian figures advocated for anti-sati laws.

mani does a wonderful job constructing a narrative between the british and indian, advocate and critic, all while acknowledging the voicelessness of the most relevant demographic—indian women.