SARVEPALLI RADHAKRISHNAN
SARVEPALLI
RADHAKRISHNAN
1888-1976
Philosopher & President.
World famous academic philosopher.
2
nd
President of independent
India.
Philosopher.
• MA Degree from Madras, including dissertation on "The Ethics of the Vedanta and Its
Metaphysical Presuppositions“.
• Personally influenced by Vivekananda.
• Then Professor of Philosophy, first at Mysore, then Calcutta.
• While at Calcutta attended numerous international conferences, especially Harvard 1926, where he criticised Western Society for lack of Spiritual centre.
Later academic life.
• From 1936-39, Radhakrishnan was the Spalding
Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at
Oxford University.
• In 1939, he was elected Fellow of the British
Academy.
• From 1939-48, he was the Vice-Chancellor of the
Banaras Hindu University.
• He held the office of the Chancellor, University of
Delhi, from 1953-62.
Political \ Diplomatic life.
• Leader of the Indian delegation to UNESCO during 1946-52.
• Ambassador of India to U.S.S.R. during 1949-52.
• Vice-President of India from 1952-1962
• President, General Conference of UNESCO from
1952-54.
• From May 1962 to May 1967, he was the
President of India.
Key Ideas
• Best known for his explanation of Indian philosophy to the west.
• Predominantly advaitin in outlook, which, like Gandhi he interpreted as a universal religion, with particular emphasis upon social reform.
“It is an illusion that makes you think that your neighbour is someone other than yourself.”
Key ideas 2.
• Fundamentally believed that all life participates in a divine purpose, or idea, which gives meaning to life.
• Science will never be able to understand reality, as it is really only accessible to the ineffable experience of mystics.
Main influence
• He showed how western philosophers, despite all claims to objectivity, were influenced by theological influences from their wider culture. In one of his major works he also showed that Indian philosophy, once translated into standard academic jargon, is worthy of being called philosophy by western standards. His main contribution to Indian thought, is that he placed it "on the map", thereby earning Indian philosophy a respect that it had not had before.
Teacher’s day.
• India celebrates all her academics & teachers on
September 5 th
(Radhakrishnan’s birthday).
Celebrated across
India as “Teacher’s day”.
