Which Governor General adopted policies that abolished 'Sati'?

William Bentinck

The correct answer is Option (2) → William Bentinck

In 1829, Lord William Bentinck's government passed the Bengal Sati Regulation, which made the act of sati illegal and punishable by law. This marked a significant legal step in ending the practice.

The rumours in 1857 begin to make sense when seen in the context of the policies the British pursued from the late 1820s. As you know, from that time, under the leadership of Governor General Lord William Bentinck, the British adopted policies aimed at “reforming” Indian society by introducing Western education, Western ideas and Western institutions. With the cooperation of sections of Indian society they set up English-medium schools, colleges and universities which taught Western sciences and the liberal arts. The British established laws to abolish customs like sati (1829) and to permit the remarriage of Hindu widows.