Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat

Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat
Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat
Born	5 September 1904 Pandharpur, Maharashtra
Died	14 October 1998(1998-10-14) (aged 94) Pandharpur, Maharashtra
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Dr. Hari Bhakta Parayan Baburao Bahirat
Education	Bachelor of Arts with Philosophy from Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra; Master of Arts with Philosophy from University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra; Honorary Doctor of Letters, Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra;
Known for	Philosopher, Educationist, Literature of Jñāneśvar

Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat (Marathi: भालचंद़ पंढरीनाथ बहिरट, 5 September 1904 – 14 October 1998) was a philosopher and educationist who studied the Marathi literature of Jñāneśvar and other sants of Maharashtra. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Pune University in 1991.

Number of books written by Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat such as and The Philosophy of Jnanadeva are referenced by students, scholars and common people studying saint literature. Apart from Hindu philosophy, he also studied western philosophy and its social and economic impact on communities. His work on The Philosophy of Jnanadeva was presented in 20th World Congress of Philosophy,1998.

He was affiliated to educational as well as musical institutions and gave lectures in number of colleges, at common gatherings on philosophy and saint culture of Maharashtra. Number of universities appointed him as an examiner for PhD students. He expressed philosophical views as an editor of Marathi magazine Prembodh (Devagarnai:प्रेमबॊध) for eighteen years from 1936 to 1954 which are referenced by international books, such as Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, By David N. Lorenzen. Along with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, he promoted liberalism of Vithoba Temple, Pandharpur to allow access for common people through conferences and his writings in local news paper Pandhari Sandesh published in 1939. He was the president of Maharashtra State Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pandharpur Research Society and Saint Wangmay Mandal.