Oldham Mayor presented with new book by interfaith advocate Bharatkumar J Sisodia MBE

Lifelong interfaith advocate Bharatkumar J Sisodia MBE has personally presented a copy of his new book to the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Pam Byrne.

The presentation which took place yesterday (Wed) marks the publication of The Cosmic Avatar – My Journey with Sai Beyond the Miracles. The compelling new book shares more than five decades of Bharatkumar's personal journals and spiritual experiences. 

Bharatkumar shares a deeply personal account of his spiritual journey with Sathya Sai Baba. His narrative explores extraordinary experiences, meaningful coincidences and spiritual encounters, inviting readers to look beyond the apparent limits of ordinary perception and reflect on the deeper significance of faith, divine grace and human consciousness. 

Yet this is not simply a book about miracles. It is an exploration of the questions that arise from them: the relationship between faith and science, the nature of suffering, the significance of karma, the practice of detachment, and the transformative power of love, compassion and selfless service. 

These are among the profound questions explored in The Cosmic Avatar, which was published by Prema Jyoti Press in September 2026, and now available on Amazon. 

The book has attracted praise from readers whose own spiritual journeys come from very different backgrounds. 

Joan Harthan, author of several books and head of the Saddleworth Writers Group, offers a particularly powerful endorsement, emphasising the book’s relevance beyond any single religious tradition. 

She writes: “This is a book that should be read by everyone, of whatever faith – or even no faith at all.” 

Reflecting on her own experiences and spiritual exploration, Joan describes how the memoir resonates with the universal themes she has encountered throughout her life: “What has profoundly affected me about this memoir is the resonance with all religious teachings and all the things I have experienced myself – synchronicities, unexplained occurrences, energy transfer between people and places and, most importantly, the realisation that love is the divine energy that creates and permeates everything in the universe.” 

She concludes with a simple yet powerful observation: “This book is a lesson on how to find that love within yourself and how to hold onto it, even through doubt and trauma.” 

Adding a distinctive interfaith dimension to the book is the Foreword by Rev. Philip T. Sumner, Catholic Priest and Rural Dean for Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, UK. 

Having known Bharatkumar for 25 years, Father Philip reflects on their shared commitment to fostering understanding and building good relations between different religious communities. 

He writes: “There are so many recurring themes in this account that resonate with a Christian’s faith journey.” 

Reflecting on the possibility of recognising divine grace in everyday life, he adds: “Divine grace, as the author suggests, often appears in the most unexpected ways.

“The author also explores the tension between science and faith. The latter takes us into a dimension that the author suggests is always present but seldom recognised. Science can fail to uncover that dimension. This is a dimension that requires the eyes of faith, whether Muslim, Christian or Hindu, or any other faith. It’s also the dimension where love, which may be demonstrated but not proved, flourishes.” 

Father Philip concludes: “It is a very personal story of the author’s faith journey, which, for me, elicits great respect.” 

Bharatkumar J Sisodia MBE is an author and lifelong advocate of community service, justice and interfaith understanding. 

Born in India and later settling in the United Kingdom, he inherited a strong commitment to justice and public service from his father, who was a judge in India. Bharatkumar served in the British judiciary as a magistrate for more than 35 years, including sitting as one of the justices on Crown Court appeal panels. 

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours List. 

His commitment to community life continues through his leadership roles as Chair Trustee of the Indian Association Oldham and Chair Trustee of the Institute of Indian Art and Culture – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Manchester.