"Teachers should be the best minds in the country." these are the words of the remarkable teacher and philosopher, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who played a significant role in the field of education. He served as the second President of India from 1962 to 1967.
Life and Education
Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, in a small town called Tiruttani in Tamil Nadu. Radhakrishnan's parents, Sarvepalli Veeraswami and Sithamma provided him a good education, which helped him succeed in life.
Radhakrishnan was an outstanding student and earned scholarships that helped him pursue higher education. He attended Voorhees College in Vellore for his high school education and then joined Madras Christian College for his college studies. At just 16 years old, he began his journey in higher education and graduated in 1907 with a Bachelor's degree, followed by a Master's degree.
Contributions
One of Radhakrishnan's early achievements was his thesis on "The Ethics of the Vedanta and its Metaphysical Presuppositions." In his writings, he emphasised the importance of seeing all creations as one, which he called "The Spirit of Abheda," meaning non-difference. According to Radhakrishnan, every individual should be treated as equal.
In 1909, Radhakrishnan began his career as a teacher by joining the Department of Philosophy at Madras Presidency College. Later, in 1918, he became a professor of philosophy at the University of Mysore. During this time, he wrote many articles for prestigious journals and published his first book, "The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore." He admired Tagore's philosophy as a true expression of the Indian spirit.
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When India gained independence in 1947, Radhakrishnan represented the country at UNESCO and served as the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union.
Radhakrishnan is admired for his contribution to education. When he became the President of India, his students and friends wanted to celebrate his birthday on September 5th. However, Radhakrishnan suggested that instead of celebrating his birthday, it would be a great honour if the day was observed as Teachers' Day. Since then, September 5th has been celebrated as Teachers' Day in India.
Radhakrishnan's writings and teachings were deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy, especially Vedanta. His works, such as "The Hindu View of Life," highlighted the importance of continually improving one's knowledge of God and understanding the supreme self.
Read our books to have a deeper understanding of the philosophy of Vedanta and Upanishads.
Awards and Honours
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was honoured with several important awards for his work in education and philosophy. In 1954, he received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, recognizing his significant contributions to the country. Earlier, in 1931, he received a knighthood from the British government for his achievements. Later, in 1963, he was given an honorary membership in the British Royal Order of Merit. These awards show how highly respected he was, both in India and around the world, for his role as a teacher, philosopher, and leader.
Conclusion
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's life and work have had a lasting impact on India and the world. He helped to raise the status of Indian philosophy and made significant contributions to education. His legacy continues to inspire generations of students and teachers, making him a true icon in the history of India.
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