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A tragic tale has emerged out of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where a three-year-old girl fighting a brain tumour died following Santhara, an ancient Jain religious practice of self-starvation until death.
The child, Viyana Jain, was the only daughter of Piyush and Varsha Jain, both IT professionals. She passed away on March 21, minutes after taking her vows from a Jain monk. The couple says they turned to faith during their daughter’s final moments, believing it would ease her suffering.
Even though mostly performed by the elderly or terminally ill, the practice turned into a national debate in 2015 when the Rajasthan High Court ruled it a criminal offence under anti-suicide legislation. But the Supreme Court intervened later, staying the ruling, permitting the ritual under religious freedom protection.
Parents speak out: A hard and painful choice
Viyana's father, Piyush Jain, informed PTI that the family had consulted religious leaders after the health of his daughter declined in March, although she was showing improvement following an earlier operation.
My daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour in January this year. She underwent surgery, following which her health improved. But in March, her condition deteriorated, and she started facing difficulty in consuming food and drinking.
Piyush Jain, Viyana's father
They visited Jain monk Rajesh Muni Maharaj on the night of her death for blessings.
"Maharaj ji saw my daughter's condition and told us that the girl's end is near and she should be given the Santhara vow. This fast holds a lot of significance in Jainism. After thinking about it, we finally agreed to go for it," Piyush explained.
As per them, Viyana died quietly a few hours after performing the monk's ritual.
A world record in the middle of tragedy
In a surprise turn of events, the Golden Book of World Records acknowledged Vienna as the "youngest person in the world to take the Santhara vows." A certificate was issued to her parents in her name, providing a historical twist to their individual loss.
Her mother, Varsha Jain, called the experience emotionally shattering. It was the hardest decision she ever made, she claimed.
I cannot describe how difficult the decision was to make my daughter take the Santhara vow. My daughter was suffering a lot due to the brain tumour. It was very painful for me to see her in this condition.
Varsha Jain,Viyana’s mother
Her mother turned emotional while remembering Viyana and said, "I want my daughter to always be happy in her next birth."
Legal experts have expressed significant concerns regarding this matter. Supreme Court advocate Ritesh Agarwal stated in an interview with NDTV, “The decision regarding the life and death of a minor does not rest even with the parents. This raises a serious legal and constitutional question: Can ‘Santhara’ be administered to a minor who is unable to legally or emotionally comprehend death?”
He further remarked, “Article 25 guarantees freedom of religion, but this freedom is not absolute and must operate within the framework of the law. Even religious practices cannot supersede a minor's legal right to life.”
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)
