All Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus
APPG Five-Year-Old Author Sohum Brings the Himalayas to the House of Commons.
Hosted by Bob Blackman MP, Chair of the APPG for British Hindus, the Parliamentary launch of The Mystic Family of the Himalayas celebrated Sohum — aged five and as the youngest spiritual published author in the world — as ancient Sanatana wisdom found a proud home on the lands of Britain.
LONDON, 6 July 2026 — On Monday evening, 6 July, at the House of Commons, five-year-old author Sohum launched his debut series, The Mystic Family of the Himalayas, before an audience of more than 60 guests — three original picture books carrying the deities and devotion of Sanatana Dharma into the heart of the British Parliament.
At a time when children are surrounded by screens and AI, Sohum’s story is a reminder of a child choosing to create rather than consume — and to carry an ancient heritage forward in his own voice.
The evening, themed “Eternal Stories — Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Young Voices,” was hosted by Bob Blackman CBE MP, Chair of the APPG for British Hindus.
The event was opened by Mr Blackman, who, together with Sohum and his family, unveiled the books to the room. A steadfast friend of the Hindu community — who has famously taken his parliamentary oath on the Bhagavad Gita — he warmly congratulated Sohum, encouraged him to keep writing, and, in a memorable touch, shared a few entrepreneurial tips to guide the young author on the journey ahead.
Sohum spoke, in his own words, about his journey, then read aloud from Book One, The Magical Mango — introducing guests to naughty Ganesha, brave Murugan, Mother Parvati and mighty Shiva — before taking questions with a warmth and confidence that charmed the room.
“I am inspired by Ganpati writing the Vedas, and my mom saying that everyone can write. So I thought — if Ganpati could write the Vedas, I can write spiritual stories too.”
— Sohum, aged five
Asked why reading matters so much, he answered: “Words are more powerful than the sword. They help us express our feelings and emotions” — encouraging everyone to read, to write, and to always stay curious. And asked whether he might write of other mystic families, he said simply: “I don’t know much about other mystic families yet — but I would love to read about them when I am six.”
“Very rarely do we encounter someone who writes with such sincerity and purpose at such a young age. It has been an honour for all of us at Om Books International to be a part of Sohum’s journey.”
— Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International
Celebrated as the youngest spiritual published author in the world and affectionately called a “Child Tolkien,” Sohum has not simply retold the old tales, but told them anew in his own voice. That such a voice should be honoured within Parliament made the evening a proud celebration of the roots, culture and enduring faith of Sanatana Dharma — carried across generations, and now welcomed onto the lands of Britain.
APPG British Hindus stands in solidarity with Jewish community.
30th April 2026
On behalf of British Hindu community, APPG for British Hindu stands in solidarity with the Jewish community in this dificult time. Terrorism in all its form needs to be rejected from our society. the attack at Golfers Green where two Jewish men, 34 year old Shloime Rand and 76 year old Moshe Shine, were attacked on Wednesday is being treated by police as a terrorist incident. sustained violence against the Jewish community requires urgent government action.
APPG British Hindus statement on first anniversary of tragic and brutal terrorist attack at Pahalgam.
22nd April 2026
As we mark the first anniversary of tragic and brutal terrorist attacks sponsored by terrorists coming from Pakistan into Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir India.
Its is hard to forget that the bullets did not merely attack innocent tourists in Pahalgam; such incidents strike at the core of humanity and peace.
Victims were identified on the basis of their religion and murdered in cold blood. the world needs to stand up to terrorism in all its forms and ensure those perpetrating acts of terror are punished.
APPG British Hindus - Urgent update on the key issues affecting the community
19 March 2026 :
APPG British Hindus meeting held in the parliament and an urgent update on the key issues affecting the community was presented to the members.
The trustees of the Peterborough temple updated the members on the unfair situation with respect to the temple sale. Peterborough City Council has decided to sell the Bharat Hindu Samaj’s temple building to an Islamic mosque group, a move Hindu worshippers are objecting to.
High Court judge Mr Justice Fordham has ordered a temporary injunction against the sale and the court will now decide what happens next, once the temple group and council have set out their cases in writing.
The APPG members have taken a serious note of the situation and support the right of the temple authorities to fight for the survival of the 40 plus year old temple.
The issue related to the recent violence against the Hindu community in Harrow and Wembley were also discussed and the members noticed the lack of support and gaps in the investigation related to these incidents.
The APPG members were also briefed on the pitfalls of the recently published social cohesion report and the impact of this on the minority communities including hindus, Sikhs , Jain’s and others. The report provides a non statutory definition of Anti Muslim hatred and fails to provide any framework for the hatred against other minority communities like Sikhs and Hindus among others…
APPG for British Hindus – Wishes Happy HOLI
APPG British Hindus wishes the community a very Happy Holi.
Holi, the festival of colours, is one of the most important Hindu festivals, after Diwali, celebrated across the world with joy and fervour.
Holi also celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, and the blossoming of love. It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season..
Sikhs have also traditionally celebrated the festival, at least through the 19th century,with its historic texts referring to it as Hola Guru Gobind Singh – the last human guru of the Sikhs – modified Holi with a three-day Hola Mohalla extension festival of martial arts.
The BH All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is a cross-party group of Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the House of Lords who come together to discuss and promote the interests and concerns of Hindus in the UK and to facilitate greater understanding and engagement between Hindus and the wider British society.
The BH APPG for Hindus can play an important role in representing the views and interests of Hindus in the UK and in promoting greater understanding and dialogue between Hindus and other communities.
We will work with Hindu organisations and community leaders to gather information and insights about issues that are important to Hindus in the UK. We will host events and meetings in different parts of the country to engage with and listen to the concerns of Hindu communities. In addition, the APPG will commission research on topics of relevance to Hindus in the UK and use this research to inform its work and advocacy efforts.
The goal of the BH APPG is to be the voice between Hindu communities and the broader political process, and to ensure that the views and concerns of Hindus are heard and considered by policymakers.