[sic][14] The verse is Naṣṭe mṛte praprajite klibeca patite patau Pañcasvāpatsu nārīṅāṃ patiranyo vidhīyate (Parāśara smṛti 4-30)[15][16]"1.
"Based on the above evidence, Vidyasagar made a convincing argument that sage Parashara suggested three choices for a widow, the first one to remarry, second one to remain celibate and the last one to perform Sahagamana.
On the other hand, particularly Sudra caste and dalits —who represented approximately 80 percent of the Hindu population—neither practised child marriage nor prohibited the remarriage of widows.
[19][20] Thus, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar changed the fate of Hindu widows across India, which was essential in reforming Hinduism that was submerged in social evils during 19th century.
[21] The preamble and sections 1, 2, and 5 of the Law:[10] Whereas it is known that, by the law as administered in the Civil Courts established in the territories in the possession and under the Government of the East India Company, Hindu widows with certain exceptions are held to be, by reason of their having been once married, incapable of contracting a second valid marriage, and the offsprings of such widows by any second marriage are held to be illegitimate and incapable of inheriting property; and Whereas many Hindus believe that this imputed legal incapacity, although it is in accordance with established custom, is not in accordance with a true interpretation of the precepts of their religion, and desire that the civil law administered by the Courts of Justice shall no longer prevent those Hindus who may he so minded from adopting a different custom, in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience, and Where it is just to relieve all such Hindus from this legal incapacity of which they complain, and the removal of all legal obstacles to the marriage of Hindu widows will tend to the promotion of good morals and to the public welfare; It is enacted as follows: The widow remarriage act was repealed in 1983 and six years later the Hindu Widows Remarriage and Property Act, 1989 was enacted.