Who was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In September

Also Known As: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnayya

Died At Age: 86

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Sivakamu

father: Sarvepalli Veeraswami

mother: Sitamma

children: Sarvepalli Gopal

Born Country: India

Philosophers Indian Men

Died on: April 17, 1975

place of death: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Notable Alumni: Madras Christian College, Voorhees College, Vellore

More Facts

education: Madras Christian College, Voorhees College, Vellore

awards: 1954 - Bharat Ratna
1975 - Templeton Prize
1961 - Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
1963 - Order of Merit

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1

What are the major contributions of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to Indian philosophy?

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan made significant contributions to Indian philosophy by interpreting and popularizing the complex concepts of Vedanta and other Indian philosophies for a global audience. He emphasized the importance of spiritual values and the unity of all religions.
2

How did Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan contribute to the field of education in India?

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan played a crucial role in shaping the education system in India. He believed in the holistic development of individuals through education, emphasizing the integration of traditional Indian values with modern educational practices. He also served as the first Vice President and second President of India.
3

What is the significance of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's approach to bridging Eastern and Western philosophies?

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's approach to bridging Eastern and Western philosophies was significant in promoting mutual understanding and respect between different cultures. He highlighted the similarities and shared values between Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, fostering a more inclusive and harmonious global dialogue.
4

How did Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan influence the concept of secularism in India?

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan advocated for a secular and pluralistic society in India, where individuals of all faiths could coexist peacefully. He believed that the essence of Indian culture lay in its spiritual and ethical values, rather than in any specific religious doctrine, and he promoted the idea of unity in diversity.
5

What was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's role in promoting the study of comparative religion?

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a strong proponent of studying and understanding different religious traditions to foster tolerance and mutual respect. He emphasized the importance of comparative religion in promoting interfaith dialogue and building bridges between diverse communities.

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Childhood & Early Life

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on 5 September 1888, in Thiruttani, Madras Presidency, British India, into a Telugu Brahmin family. His father's name was Sarvepalli Veeraswami and his mother's name was Sitamma.

His father worked as a subordinate revenue official in the service of a local zamindar (landlord) and the family was a modest one. He did not want his son to receive an English education and wanted him to become a priest. But life had other plans for the young boy.

Radhakrishnan received his education from K.V High School at Thiruttani before moving to the Hermansburg Evangelical Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati in 1896. A good student, he earned many scholarships.

He attended Voorhees College in Vellore for some time before moving on to the Madras Christian College at the age of 17. He studied philosophy and earned his master’s degree in 1906. His thesis for the M.A. degree was on "The Ethics of the Vedanta and its Metaphysical Presuppositions".

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Career

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan embarked on an academic career and joined the Department of Philosophy at the Madras Presidency College in 1909. He moved to the University of Mysore in 1918 where he taught at its Maharaja's College.

He was offered the professorship at the University of Calcutta in 1921 where he assumed the King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science. He represented the university at the Congress of the Universities of the British Empire in June 1926 and the International Congress of Philosophyat Harvard University in September 1926.

A prominent academician by now, he was invited to deliver the Hibbert Lecture on the ideals of life which he delivered at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, in 1929.

He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936 before being named Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford and elected a Fellow of All Souls College.

He succeeded Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya as the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1939, a position he held till 1948.

Radhakrishnan’s entry into politics happened quite late in life. He represented India at UNESCO from 1946 to 1952. He was also the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952.

Radhakrishnan was elected as the first Vice-President of India in 1952, during the tenure of President Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He succeeded Rajendra Prasad to become the second President of India in 1962 and retired from politics five years later.

He was also a renowned author and penned books such as ‘Indian Philosophy’ (two volumes, 1923–27), ‘The Philosophy of the Upanishads’ (1924), ‘An Idealist View of Life’ (1932), ‘Eastern Religions and Western Thought’ (1939), and ‘East and West: Some Reflections’ (1955).

Major Works

Radhakrishnan is counted amongst India's best and most influential scholars of comparative religion and philosophy. His defense of Hinduism against "uninformed Western criticism" has been highly influential, both in India and the Western world. He is credited to have made Hinduism more readily accessible for the Western audience.

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Awards & Achievements

In 1954, he was honored with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India.

In 1968 he became the first person to get Sahitya Akademi fellowship, the highest honor conferred by the Sahitya Akademi on a writer.

Shortly before his death in 1975, he was bestowed with the Templeton Prize for advocating non-aggression and conveying "a universal reality of God that embraced love and wisdom for all people."

Personal Life & Legacy

When he was 16, he entered into an arranged marriage with Sivakamu, a distant cousin. The couple had five daughters and a son. His wife died in 1956, after over 51 years of marriage.

His birthday, 5 September, has been celebrated as Teachers' Day in India since 1962, the year he became the president, in honor of his belief that "teachers should be the best minds in the country."

He died on 17 April 1975, at the age of 86.

Facts About Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was an avid lover of animals, particularly peacocks. He enjoyed spending time observing and feeding them in his garden.

Despite being a renowned philosopher and academic, Radhakrishnan had a great sense of humor and was known for his witty anecdotes and jokes among his close friends and colleagues.

Radhakrishnan was a talented artist who enjoyed painting in his free time. He found solace and inspiration in expressing his creativity through art.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Radhakrishnan was also a skilled musician and had a deep passion for classical Indian music. He often played the veena, a traditional Indian string instrument, as a way to relax and unwind.

Radhakrishnan had a deep appreciation for nature and would often take long walks in the countryside to connect with the environment and find inspiration for his philosophical writings.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Biography

You wanted to know

What are the major contributions of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to Indian philosophy?

How did Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan contribute to the field of education in India?

What is the significance of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's approach to bridging Eastern and Western philosophies?

How did Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan influence the concept of secularism in India?

What was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's role in promoting the study of comparative religion?