Last updated on August 23rd, 2023 at 08:35 am
Sebastian Aashish, a software engineer in India, is playing a crucial role in building up the country’s pro-life movement. As a member of Youth United for Christ and a volunteer for various pro-life organizations, Aashish is dedicated to assisting in crisis pregnancy situations and raising awareness about the rights of unborn children. He runs an Instagram page called Pro_Life_India and is actively involved in planning India’s second-ever March for Life.
India has a significant population and is considered one of the largest democracies in the world. However, the country’s population control measures and the belief in the global population explosion myth have led to the legalization of abortion through the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1971. According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 15.6 million abortions were performed in India in 2015 alone.
The pro-life movement in India is still relatively small but growing. In 2021, prominent pro-life organizations such as YU4C Prolife and Human Life International came together to form a pan-Indian coalition to raise their voices against abortion. Under the patronage of Oswald Cardinal Gracias, they aim to advocate for the protection of unborn children.
One of the challenges faced by the pro-life movement in India is the lack of awareness among the general public. Pew research conducted in 2022 revealed that only 55% of the Indian population opposes abortion and believes it should be illegal in most cases. Additionally, the mainstream media tends to have a biased perspective on the issue, and political parties do not view abortion as a mainstream concern.
The first-ever National March for Life in India was organized by CHARIS, the international service organism for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, in August 2022. It received support from Oswald Cardinal Gracias.
Sebastian Aashish and other members of the pro-life movement in India are working tirelessly to unite the people of India and raise their voices in defense of the rights of unborn children. Through their efforts, they hope to change public opinion, increase awareness, and ultimately protect the sanctity of life.