Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975)

From time immemorial in India , the teacher has been accorded the highest importance. India has been blessed with eminent teachers in various fields of knowledge and their teachings have extended to the whole world.
Swami Vivekananda in vVedanta, Rabindra Nath Tagore in Literature, Srinivasa  Ramanujan in Mathematics, Dr. C.V. Raman in Physics, Acharya P.C. Ray in Chemistry, Dr. Jagdish Chandra Bose in Botany and so on. In that tradition, Dr. R. Radhakrishnan stands out as a teacher par excellence in philosophy. He became the first Indian scholar to teach at Oxford University. Prominent Universities in Europe and America ( including Harvard) vied with one another to invite him to deliver lectures.
When India became independent in 1947, philosopher Radhakrishnan revealed extraordinary talent as a statesman. He enchanced the country's international prestige, first as Ambassador to the Soviet Union ( 1949-1952), then as India's first Vice-President (1952-1962) and being elected President in 1962. Having risen from utter poverty to become the president of India he said. 'I have not had any advantage of birth or wealth'. True.
Radhakrishnan was born in Tirutani on September 5, 1888, the second son of a poor Brahamin couple - Sarvepalli Veera Swamiand Sitamma. Sarvepalli is a  village in Andhra Pradesh from where Radhakrishnan's ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu. Veeraswami was employed on a meager salary in a Zamindari. It was extremely difficult to bring up his large family of five sons and one daughter.
With the help of scholarship Radhakrishnan pursued his education. He had his early, schooling  at Tirutani, and higher studies at the Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati. He joined Voorhee's college in Vellore and at 17, he switched over to the Madras Christian College. For his thesis for his M.A. degree, he choose, `The Ethics of the Vedanta'.

His religious pride as Hindu was aroused by Vivekananda's appeal to India's youth to cultivate self respect. This was further intensified by a sense of nationalism after reading V.D. Savarkar's book ` The First War of Independence'.
Much as he desired, Radhakrishnan could not afford further studies at Oxford University. He had to start earning to supplement the meagre resources of his family.
After passing M.A., he started his teaching career as an Assistant lecturer at the Madras Presidency College in 1909. It was the lowest grade and fought for elevating it at par provincial and All India Education Services Staff. It spurred him to master the classics of Indian thought- the Upanishads, Bhagavada Gita. Brahansutras, Commentaries of Sankara, the texts of Buddhism and Jain Philosophies, to better his promotion prospects. he also specialised in Western Philosophy. He liked English Literature too. he studied Marxism and Existentialism.
Steadily, a slim, bespectacled figure with a big head, broad forehead, aquline nose, wearing a long, pale-yellow coat, a white turban and spotless white flowing dhoti, became familiar in the academic world. he distinguished himself for his arresting oratory.
Radhakrishnan was always in  need of money to manage the large joint family. he sold all his gold medals. He started giving tutions to supplement his salary. he contributed thought provoking articles to several journals of international repute. His lectures on psychology were published in a book form " The Essentials of Psychology". He also wrote " The Philosophy of Rabindra Nath Tagore". In 1920, another book `The Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy', appeared.
Dr. Radhakrishnan became one of the most eloquent interpreters of the Indian demand fore freedom from British imperialistic colonial rule. In 1948, he was appointed Chairman of the University Education Commission. he said " Education is initiation into the life of spirit, a training of human soul on the pursuit of truth and practice of virtue. In short, it is a second birth". In 1949, he was chosen India's first envoy to the Soviet Union. On April 5, 1952, when Dr. Radhakrishnan was to leave Soviet Union to be elected the first Vice-President of India, the Iron Man Joseph Stalin sent a message for a meeting. Dr. Radhakrishnan recorded later, "Stalin's face looked somewhat bloated. I patted him on the check and on the back. I passed my hand over his head". Stalin commented, "You are the first person to treat me as a human being, and not as a monster". Stalin died six month later.
It was 1915, when Dr. Radhakrishnan met Gandhiji in Madras for the first time and thereafter two met several times, and discussed politics and personalities. he was equally cordial in relations with top Congress leaders like Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabh Bhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Boseetc, all, long before Indian Independence.
After two terms as Vice- President, he was elected President in 1962. In 1954 he was conferred free India's highest honour `Bharat Ratna'. After laying down the office of President in 1967, Dr. Radhakrishnan went to Madras in May 1967. he passed away on April 13, 1975, Mourned by millions in India and many more who adored his wisdom, in Europe, and America, Asia and Africa. His Birthday celebrated as ` Teachers day' on September 5.