Estimate of William Bentinck:
Bentinck was a “Straight forward, honest, upright, benevolent, sensible man’. His social reforms such as abolition of sati and prevention of child sacrifice eradicated age old evils from Hindu society. It is gratifying to note that Bentinck acted where others had talked”. To enforce the regulations regarding the prohibition of sati, he was prepared to risk his own position, such courage and strigh forwardness - were seldom found among the administrators of those days. His educational reforms heralded a new age in India.