Mahamahopadhyaya Swami Bhadreshdas, a distinguished BAPS scholar, was awarded two prestigious honorary degrees in recognition of his profound contributions to Sanskrit literature and Vedic knowledge, in a ceremony, held in Surat, Gujarat, during the 102nd birthday celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The first, a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), was conferred by the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur as part of its
69th convocation ceremony. Director Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari, Dean Shri Kamal Lochan Panigrahi, and Registrar Shri Biswajit Bhattacharya presented the certificate on behalf of IIT Kharagpur.
Prof. Tewari highlighted the meticulous selection process, stating that Swami Bhadreshdas was chosen from a pool of nominees and the decision had been ratified by more than 800 faculty members and 300 senate members, and approved by the Union Education Ministry and the President's office. The honor recognizes Swami Bhadreshdas's exceptional insights into Hindu philosophy, beliefs, and culture, as well as his role as a global scholar contributing to India's progress.
The second honor, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.), was awarded by Sardar Patel University, Gujarat. Vice Chancellor Prof. Niranjanbhai Patel, Dean Shri Dr. Pareshbhai Acharya, and Registrar Dr. Bhailalbhai Patel presented the honorary degree to Swami Bhadreshdas. Vice Chancellor Dr. Niranjanbhai Patel acknowledged Swami Bhadreshdas's role in reviving the centuries-old commentary tradition, describing it as a special contribution to Sanskrit and Indian culture.
Previously, on 16 December 2023, during the 66th Annual Convocation Ceremony of Gujarat University at Vallabh Vidyanagar, this award had been presented by the Governor of Gujarat, Shri Devvrat Acharya, and the Union Home Minister of India, Shri Amitbhai Shah.
Expressing his gratitude, Swami Bhadreshdas attributed the honors to the grace and blessings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, who founded the Sanatan Vedic Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, as elucidated in the sacred text Vachanamrut. He also acknowledged the Swaminarayan guru tradition for disseminating this knowledge and expressed his gratitude to guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj and guru Mahant Swami Maharaj for nurturing and encouraging him.
These honors recognize not only his individual accomplishments, but also celebrate the rich heritage of Sanskrit and the enduring legacy of the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine.