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criticism
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].
For more on Hinduism, see [[World History Lecture Three]].
==Criticisms==
===Sati===
''Sati'' was a practice during the medieval period whereby Hindu widows were forcefully burned to death by family members of the husband. This practice was abolished in the 19th century by the efforts of Ram Mohan Roy and Lord William Bentinck.
===Caste system===
Another criticism of Hinduism is its caste or ''varna'' system. Traditionally Hindu society is divided into four varnas:
*''Brahmin''
*''Kshatriya''
*''Vaishya''
*''Shudra''
''Shudras'' were the lowest caste and were denied of many rights in past. Apart from these four main varnas, there is another group called the ''Dalit'' (Untouchables). Historically these ''dalits'' are the victims of discrimination by higher varnas.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml The caste system] ''BBC''</ref>
== External links ==
== External links ==