Year: 2004 Source: Archives of Suicide Research, v.8, no.1, (2004), p.73-80 SIEC No: 20041276

Altruistic suicide has a long history in India. In ancient times, 2 forms were practiced: Jauhar, a kind of mass suicide by women of a community when their menfolk suffered defeat in battle; & Sati, a suicide of a widow on the funeral pyre of her husband or after the cremation. The practice of Jauhar ended with the fall of the Muslim rule. The act of Sati is now seen as suicide, not altruistic, & there are laws against it, its abetment & glorification, but cases still occur. Specific ancient cases & more modern ones are presented to illustrate this type of suicide. (9 refs)