DR. S. Radhakrishnan

Born: September 5, 1888
Died: April 17, 1975
Achievements: First Vice President and second President of India.
Placed Indian philosophy on world map.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was first Vice President of India and second
President of India. He was also a philosopher and introduced the
thinking of western idealist philosophers into Indian thought. He was
a famous teacher and his birthday is celebrated as Teacher's Day in
India.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888 at Tirutani,
Madras in a poor Brahmin family. As his father was poor Radhakrishnan
supported most of his education through scholarships. Dr. Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan had his early education at Gowdie School, Tiruvallur and
then went to the Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati for his high
school. He joined the Voorhee's College in Vellore and later switched
to the Madras Christian College. He chose Philosophy as his major
subject and did his B.A. and M.A. in it.

After completing his M.A., Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, accepted an
Assistant Lectureship at the Madras Presidency College in 1909. In
college, he mastered the classics of Hindu philosophy, namely the
Upanishads, Bhagvad Gita, Brahmasutra, and commentaries of Sankara,
Ramunuja and Madhava. He also acquainted himself with Buddhist and
Jain philosophy and philosophies of Western thinkers such as Plato,
Plotinus, Kant, Bradley, and Bergson.

In 1918, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was selected as Professor of
Philosophy by the University of Mysore. In 1921, Radhakrishnan was
nominated as Professor of Philosophy at the Calcutta University, 1921.
In 1923, Dr. Radhakrishnan's book "Indian Philosophy" was published.
The book was hailed as a "philosophical classic and a literary
masterpiece."

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was called to Oxford University, to deliver
lectures on Hindu philosophy. He used his lectures as a platform to
further India's cause for freedom. He also argued that Western
philosophers, despite all claims to objectivity, were biased by
theological influences from their wider culture. He showed that Indian
philosophy, once translated into standard academic jargon, is worthy
of being called philosophy by Western standards. He thus placed Indian
Philosophy on world map.

In 1931, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected Vice Chancellor of
the Andhra University. In 1939, Radhakrishnan became the Vice
Chancellor of the Benaras Hindu University. In 1946, he was appointed
as Ambassador to UNESCO. After Independence Dr. Radhakrishnan was
requested to Chair the University Education Commission in 1948. The
Radhakrishnan Committee's suggestions helped mould the education
system for India's needs.

In 1949, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was appointed ambassador to the
Soviet Union. He helped laid the foundation for a strong relationship
with Soviet Union. Radhakrishnan was elected first Vice-President of
India in 1952. He was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1954. After
serving two terms as Vice-President, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was
elected President of India in 1962. During his tenure as President
India fought wars with China and Pakistan. As President he helped see
India through those trying years safely. He retired as President in
1967 and settled in Madras.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan died on April 17, 1975.

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(Via-Email)--
From:-
V.K.MEVADA