BIOGRAPHY OF S.RADHAKRISHNAN

INTRODUCTION

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was an Indian philosopher, academic, and polotical leader.
He served as the first Vice President of India (1952–1962) and the second President of India (1962–1967).
He was one of the most influential scholars of the 20th century and played an important role in shaping the Indian Education System.
His Birthday on 5th September is celebrated as the “TEACHER’S DAY” in respect to his contribution to Indian Education System.

A WALK THROUGH HIS LIFE

He was born in Tiruttani, a small town in the Madras Presidency of British India, into a Telugu Brahmin family.
His father’s name was Sarvepalli Veeraswami and his mother’s name was Sitamma.
His father was a revenue official in the service of a local zamindar
His early years were spent in Tiruttani and Tirupati.
After the death of his father, Radhakrishnan moved to the city of Madras in 1904 to live with his uncle, S. Krishnaswami Aiyar, a well-known lawyer.
He studied philosophy, at first under Dr. S. Srinivasa Iyengar and later under Prof. T.R. Srinivasa Iyengar.
Radhakrishnan was awarded scholarships throughout his academic life.
He completed his schooling at the Madras Christian College.
He was married to Sivakamu, a distant cousin, at the age of 16.
In 1909, he completed an M.A. in philosophy from the Madras Universityand stood first and won the gold medal.
In 1918, Radhakrishnan was appointed Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Madras Presidency College.
In 1921, he was appointed Professor of Philosophy at the Mysore University.He held this position till the end of his life.
As a professor of philosophy at the University of Mysore, he taught philosophy both in the postgraduate and undergraduate levels.
During this time, he wrote many books, articles, and essays about Indian philosophy.
He was a creative Writer, Philosopher and Teacher.
He wrote several books on philosophy, religion, and Indian culture.
His most famous book, The Hindu View of Life, was published in 1927 and became a famous classic.
In 1931,He was awarded knighthood by the British Government.
In 1936, Radhakrishnan was appointed as a professor of philosophy at the University of Oxford.
In 1936, He received a Doctor of Laws degree from Oxford University
During his time at Oxford, Radhakrishnan wrote a number of books and essays that were widely read and discussed.
In this book, Radhakrishnan argued that Hindu philosophy should be seen as an integral part of Indian culture and should be studied as such.
He has been influential in shaping the understanding of Hinduism in both India and the west.
He was also a strong believer in India’s spiritual traditions and culture.
He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and was an important advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity.
He was also a great admirer of the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore
Radhakrishnan was a great believer in the power of education and contributed a lot of ideas for the development of Education.
He was instrumental in introducing the three-language formula, which was adopted by the Indian government in 1967.
He also set up several educational institutions, including the Central Institute of Education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training and the National Institute of Advanced Studies.
He was a major influence on Gandhi, Nehru and other Indian leaders.
Radhakrishnan was also an important figure in India’s struggle for independence.
In 1947, Radhakrishnan was appointed as the first Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union and served in the post till 1952.
In 1952,He was appointed as the first Vice President of India.
In 1954,He received the highest civilian award in India,”The Bharat Ratna”.
In 1962,He became the President of India.
In 1963,He received honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit.
He died on 17 April 1975 in Madras, India.
He is remembered as one of India’s most influential philosophers and thinkers of all time.
His writings continue to inspire scholars and students from all over the world.

rathakrishnan, radakrishan