Suttee for Dummies

Suttee is a term that refers to an old practice that used to occur in certain parts of India. It was a cultural tradition that involved a wife sacrificing herself by willingly sitting on the funeral pyre of her deceased husband and being burned alive alongside him. This practice was seen as a way for a wife to demonstrate her loyalty and devotion to her husband, even in death. However, it is important to note that suttee is now illegal and has been widely condemned due to its extreme and harmful nature.

Now, let me break down what I just said so that it's easier to understand. Imagine you have two best friends - a boy and a girl. They love each other so much that they decide to get married. Unfortunately, one day the boy passes away and the girl feels incredibly sad and heartbroken. In some parts of India a long time ago, they believed in an old tradition called suttee. This tradition said that if a husband died, the wife should join him in death by sitting on a fire and being burned with him.

People thought that this was a way for the wife to show how devoted and loyal she was to her husband, even after he had died. It was a very sad and dangerous way for the wife to prove her love. Fortunately, this practice is not allowed anymore because it was very harmful and caused a lot of suffering.

So, "suttee" basically means the ancient and now forbidden practice of a wife sacrificing herself and being burned alive beside her deceased husband as a way to show her unwavering love and loyalty.