Interesting you mention sati. Before I give you a background, let me state it is not practiced in India anymore than say, burning witches at the stake is in the West is.
Sati came into practice mainly for women (widows) mainly to avoid falling into the hands of Muslim invaders ...the same men who killed their husbands and who would regard these women as trophies.

It was an appalling practice indeed. But looking at recent videos of screaming Israeli women being dragged by Hamas men as trophies, reminds one what the Hindu women must have endured at the time and the choices they faced before choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than live a life as a sex slave. That was pure and raw courage. But really very unfortunate.