Hindu activists in the UK have raised concerns about an increase in the grooming of Hindu children. In some cases, children under the age of 16 have been coerced or peer pressured into leaving their Hindu faith.
Ravi Chowdhry, a Hindu activist from East London stated, “Growing up as a Bengali Hindu in London, I was unfortunately subjected to prejudice and hatred due to my religion and Bengali heritage. Members of other religions would often attempt to convert me to their faith”.
A study by the Henry Jackson Society in 2023 showed that Ravi’s experience was common amongst British Hindus. The study revealed that 51% of Hindu parents reported that their child had experienced anti-Hindu hatred at school. Only 15% of Hindu parents believed that schools were adequetely equipped to tackle this.
Ravi believes that education is the key, “Through education and guidance, we can empower our youth to make informed decisions about their faith and nurture their connection to Hinduism. By fostering unity among Hindus, we can minimise grooming and conversions, if not eliminate them altogether.”.
Sikh groups have also raised their voices with similar concerns. Bhai Mohan Singh, from the Sikh Awareness Society, spoke on social media about the grooming and the conversion of Sikh schoolgirls to Islam at a Sikh faith school in East London.