Which Governor General of India issued the historic regulation in 1829 that prohibited the practice of Sati, the burning of widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands?

Introduction / Context:
The practice of Sati, in which a widow was burnt or buried alive on her husband funeral pyre, became a major issue of social reform in nineteenth century India. Social reformers and British officials debated how to address it. Finally, a Governor General took the step of legally prohibiting the practice. This question asks you to identify that Governor General and the regulation issued in 1829, which is an important milestone in Indian social and legal history.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The year is 1829. • The issue is the prohibition of Sati. • The options list Sir George Barlow, Lord William Bentinck, Warren Hastings and Lord Minto. • We assume awareness of the roles of these Governors General.

Concept / Approach:
Lord William Bentinck served as Governor General of India from 1828 to 1835. He is known for introducing several social and administrative reforms, including the abolition of Sati. Influenced by Indian reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, he enacted Regulation XVII of 1829 in the Bengal Presidency, declaring Sati illegal and punishable by law. This measure later applied to other regions as well. The other officials listed were associated with different periods and policies and did not abolish Sati.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Lord William Bentinck tenure as Governor General covered the late 1820s and early 1830s. 2. Remember that he is often described in textbooks as a Governor General with a strong interest in social reform and utilitarian policies. 3. Connect his name with Regulation XVII of 1829, which abolished Sati in the Bengal Presidency and treated it as a criminal offence. 4. Note that Warren Hastings served earlier, in the late eighteenth century, when Sati was not legally prohibited. 5. Sir George Barlow and Lord Minto also served in earlier or different periods and are not linked to the abolition of Sati. 6. Therefore, Lord William Bentinck is the Governor General who prohibited Sati in 1829.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most standard histories of modern India include a section on social reforms, where they mention Raja Ram Mohan Roy campaign against Sati and Lord William Bentinck decision to outlaw the practice. Regulation XVII of 1829 is specifically cited as a key piece of legislation. No equivalent references are associated with the names of the other Governors General in this context, confirming that Bentinck is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sir George Barlow: Served briefly as Governor General and is not connected with major social reforms such as the abolition of Sati. Warren Hastings: First de facto Governor General of India in the late eighteenth century, more associated with administrative and revenue reforms than with the legal prohibition of Sati. Lord Minto: Governor General in the early nineteenth century, but the abolition of Sati came later under Lord William Bentinck.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse the roles of different British officials because many reforms occurred over a long period. A useful method is to link specific reformers with specific social measures: Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Bentinck with Sati abolition, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and later officials with widow remarriage and so on. Remembering that 1829 Sati abolition is associated with Lord William Bentinck helps to answer such questions quickly.

Final Answer:
The Governor General who prohibited Sati in 1829 was Lord William Bentinck.