Customer Reviews

Death by Fire: Sati, Dowry Death, and Female Infanticide in Modern India

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The book follows the involvement of Mala Sen with three `case stories' - one of attempted uxoricide, one of sati, and one of female infanticide - events that all took place in rural or small-town India. The title is thus doubly misleading - the book contains neither an in-depth nor more than anecdotal treatment of the hyped subjects, nor does the narrative establish a clear context to `modern' India.

Little is new in the facts related in the book, even for someone who has no more than cursory knowledge of India. Mark Tully or William Dalrymple presents e.g. the same material more concisely and clearly. What analysis there is, tends to be superficial - as with the treatment of `widow burning', where the existence of regional differences between Bengal and Rajasthan is noted, but not pursued further. Mala Sen's methodology seems to be to read files of paper clippings, then meet briefly with just about anyone somehow connected with the topic, and depart.

Most of the book is taken up by the author's états d'âme (e.g. at p. 203, and then p. 208), her difficulties in coming to grips with India's daily reality, her idiosyncrasies with tea, coffee and cigarettes, and general despondency about her ability to find funds to write the book. While this `human touch' is useful as a filler for TV programs, it is frustrating in a book.

An incredible read with horrifying facts. Is this really taking place in today's day and age? Sati has been outlawed since 1829, during the British Rule in India and yet over a hundred years later we have the case of 18 year old Roop Kanwar, a relatively educated woman, 'murdered' by being burnt on her husband's pyre. And this event being glorified and she given almost Goddess status! It scared me to believe that the largest democracy in the world - India, is still a man-dominated country in which dowry burnings, female infanticide and ancient rituals of Sati are still practiced.
Mala Sen's has done some great work in researching and documentation for this book. I appreciated her quoting the various Indian publications and statistics surrounding these horrifying stories.

Excellent read!!! Very informative and a little something that everybody should know about. I couldn't put it down and I wish the book was published worldwide! Humane, sad, and upseting.