LIBRARY - KV STEELPLANT

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Early Life and Education

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on 5th September 1888 in Tiruttani, Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency). He was born into a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family. His father, Sarvepalli Veeraswami, was a subordinate revenue official working for a local zamindar (landlord), and his mother was Sarvepalli Sithamma. His family originally came from Sarvepalli village in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

Radhakrishnan received his early education at K.V. High School in Thiruttani. In 1896, he moved to study at the Hermannsburg Evangelical Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati and later at Government High Secondary School, Walajapet. He then joined Voorhees College in Vellore for his high school education.

At the age of 16, he joined Madras Christian College (affiliated to the University of Madras). He graduated in 1907 and completed his Master's degree in Philosophy from the same college. Interestingly, he studied philosophy by chance rather than choice - he had wanted to study mathematics but chose philosophy because his cousin gave him philosophy textbooks.

Teaching Career and Philosophy

Dr. Radhakrishnan started his academic career in April 1909 when he was appointed to the Department of Philosophy at Madras Presidency College. In 1918, he became Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore, where he taught at Maharaja's College.

In 1921, he was appointed as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Calcutta, occupying the prestigious King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science. He later served as Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University (1931-1936) and Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (1939-1948).

His international recognition came when he was invited to deliver the famous Hibbert Lectures at Oxford in 1929, which were later published as "An Idealist View of Life." In 1936, he was appointed as Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University, a position he held until 1952.

Why Students Loved Him

• He had a unique ability to explain complex philosophical ideas in simple, understandable language.
• He used stories, examples from daily life, and gentle humor to make his lectures interesting and memorable.
• He was kind, approachable, and patient with his students, always encouraging questions and discussions.
• He believed that education should develop character and wisdom, not just accumulate knowledge.
• His classes were known to be inspiring and thought-provoking, encouraging students to think independently.

Political Career and Leadership

After India's independence, Dr. Radhakrishnan served his country in various important positions. He was India's Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952. He then became India's first Vice President, serving from 13th May 1952 to 12th May 1962 (serving two consecutive terms).

Following his tenure as Vice President, he was elected as the second President of India, serving from 13th May 1962 to 13th May 1967. Even while holding these high constitutional offices, he maintained his identity as a teacher and philosopher first.

Major Works and Contributions

Dr. Radhakrishnan wrote several important books that introduced Indian philosophy to the Western world:

• "The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore" (1918) - his first book
• "The Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy" (1920)
• "An Idealist View of Life" (1929) - based on his Oxford lectures
• "Indian Philosophy" (Volume I and II) - his most famous work
• "The Philosophy of the Upanishads"

Awards and Recognition

• Knighthood (1931) - He was knighted by King George V for his services to education, though he stopped using the title after India's independence.
• Bharat Ratna (1954) - India's highest civilian award, received as one of the first recipients.
• Nobel Prize Nominations - He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times from 1937 through the 1960s.
• Honorary memberships and degrees from universities worldwide.

Death and Legacy

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan passed away on April 17, 1975, in Chennai (then Madras) at the age of 86. He died of heart failure in a nursing home.

His legacy continues through Teachers' Day celebrations in India, where his birthday is observed to honor all teachers. His contributions to philosophy, education, and the promotion of Indian thought worldwide remain invaluable.

Conclusion

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's life exemplifies how a true teacher can impact not just individual students but entire nations and the world. He successfully bridged Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, served his country with distinction in the highest offices, and always remained humble about his role as an educator.

He will always be remembered as a great teacher, philosopher, statesman, and the second President of India whose wisdom and dedication continue to inspire teachers and students across the world.