Founder of Pro Life India believes silence about abortion isn't an option

In India, where abortion remains both prevalent and a taboo topic, Chennai-based Sebastian Aashish is laboring hard to contribute to the country’s pro-life movement, founding Pro Life India and helping to exhort students, churches, and grassroots networks to defend unborn life.

Key Takeaways:

• Sebastian Aashish was raised Catholic in India, and when he learned what abortion was, it "shook" him.

• Aashish eventually founded Pro Life India, a group that provides outreach and helps to set up pro-life groups in schools and colleges across the country.

• The group's goal is to "awaken the conscience of our nation and inspire every citizen to uphold the sacred value of life" by utilizing "education, advocacy, prayer, and action."

The Details:

A desire to speak the truth

Aashish’s pro-life convictions began relatively early. “My awareness about abortion began when I was in 7th grade while preparing for Confirmation,” he recounted. A nun’s brief explanation of abortion left an indelible impression. “Even though she didn’t go into many details, even at that age I understood that it was a grave evil."

His pro-life awareness deepened during a retreat a few years later at the Divine Mercy Retreat Centre in Chalakudy. Hearing a priest narrate a real-life abortion story, Aashish admitted, “really shook me.” 

However, what Aashish discovered closer to home eventually prompted him to take action. He told Live Action News:

“When I started speaking about abortion with my own family members, I was shocked to realize how the sin of abortion—and even contraception—had quietly entered into many of our own Catholic families.

That realization disturbed me deeply. It made me feel that this is an unspoken evil among us, and if we remain silent, it will simply continue from generation to generation. That’s when I felt it was high time we started speaking openly and boldly about it."

Founding Pro-Life India

Starting with social media activism, Aashish volunteered with local pro-life groups before founding Pro Life India, an initiative to mobilize young people. The group’s mission is simple but ambitious: to set up student pro-life groups in schools and colleges across the country.

“I focus on going to schools and colleges and trying to campaign for the cause of life and empower students,” Aashish told Live Action. “Young people are key to changing the culture.”

Pro-Life India’s mission statement reads:

We are a patriotic and pro-life movement committed to the unwavering defense of human life from the moment of conception to natural death. Grounded in the belief that every human being is endowed by their Creator with the inalienable right to life, we stand as guardians of the unborn, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the elderly.

We believe that protecting life at every stage is the highest expression of true patriotism — for a nation is only as strong as its defense of the innocent. To build a just and moral society, we must honor the dignity of every citizen, born and unborn, young and old. We oppose all forms of violence against life, including abortion and euthanasia, and we work to foster a culture where life is cherished, families are supported, and every person is seen as a gift.

Through education, advocacy, prayer, and action, we aim to awaken the conscience of our nation and inspire every citizen to uphold the sacred value of life. Together, we defend life — because a nation that values its future must first protect its most vulnerable.

Aashish’s pro-life work is rooted firmly in his Catholic faith. “I am a Traditional Catholic,” he divulged. “My work for the unborn is rooted in the belief that every human life is created by God and has inherent dignity from the moment of conception.”

For Aashish, speaking up to save unborn lives is not a solely political affair. 

“Defending the unborn is not just a political issue but a moral and spiritual duty,” he declared. “It means promoting a culture of life through prayer, education, charity, and support for mothers.”

A growing movement

In the spring of 2025, Pro Life India conducted a successful workshop in Bangalore, attended by over 40 participants representing at least seven universities across four different cities.

During the two-day gathering, organizers introduced students to the fundamental tenets of the pro-life movement, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to conduct meaningful conversations on life issues, as well as encouraging students to reflect on the deeper meaning of authentic love. The workshop also offered practical guidance to students on how to establish LIFE teams within their colleges and local communities, empowering attendees to carry the pro-life mission forward.

In November 2025, Pro Life India organized two “Student March for Life” rallies in Darjeeling, attracting hundreds of students and educators.

Pro Life India also collaborated with the Jesus Youth Pro-Life Ministry and members of YU4C to organize a pro-life exhibition in January during the Jesus Youth festival “Kallori Kondatam.” The exhibition garnered a large number of visitors, including young people, college students, and couples, many of whom were deeply impacted by what they encountered. Attendees voiced astonishment as they learned more about the importance of protecting the sanctity of human life. The exhibition featured abortion as a pressing moral issue of the times, a “modern-day holocaust,” according to Pro Life India.

For many, the visual materials and explanations acted as a powerful eye-opener to the horrors of abortion.

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These events, Aashish stated, are more than simply enabling visibility. “They inspire young people to speak courageously for the unborn,” he said. 

What's Happening:

Aashish’s activism includes awareness campaigns, such as organizing pro-life exhibitions showcasing foetal development models, visuals, as well as providing expert insights to illustrate the humanity of the unborn and explore the ethical and legal aspects of abortion.

Meant to cultivate empathy and informed dialogue, these interactive events “aim to raise public awareness and promote life-affirming values across educational and community spaces,” according to statements by Pro Life India obtained by Live Action News. 

Aashish has been involved in several national initiatives, including the yearly March for Life India organized by Charis India and the National Pro-Life Summit led by Life For All.

While Pro Life India does not directly run pregnancy centers, it links women in crisis with a network of Catholic and Protestant homes providing practical support. Pro Life India also works alongside Life For All’s national pregnancy helpline, which provides counseling and assistance.

The Context:

Despite a 2021 Pew Research study indicating that most Indians think abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, the practice remains widespread. A 2015 estimate from the Guttmacher Institute put the number of abortions in India at 15.6 million yearly—a figure Aashish contended could be even higher in 2026. 

Concurrently, abortion remains a taboo subject in India, Aashish said.  “People themselves don’t know what pro-life means—that’s the truth.”

Over the years, India’s abortion laws have also become more permissive, permitting the procedure for up to 24 weeks in many cases.

In view of these developments, Aashish pointed out that women typically seek abortions because of unplanned pregnancies or social constraints, showcasing the importance of greater cultural and structural change.

“The focus should be on addressing the reasons why many women feel forced to consider abortion in the first place,” he proclaimed, alluding to poverty, lack of healthcare access, and social stigma. “If these problems were addressed, fewer women would feel that abortion is their only option.”

Aashish encourages stronger support systems: better maternal healthcare, financial assistance, and accessible adoption services. “The goal should be to create a society where women receive the help they need and no one feels forced into a dangerous or desperate decision,” he told Live Action News. 

The Bottom Line:

Despite the challenges facing the pro-life movement in India, Aashish remains hopeful, focusing on youth engagement to foster a cultural shift in a pro-life direction. 

In a society where abortion is often hidden from view, Aashish’s message through Pro Life India is direct and unwavering: silence about abortion enables injustice, but courage — especially among the young — can begin to change hearts in favor of the sanctity of life.