Teachers' Day

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Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

 Today happens to be  the Teachers' Day to commemorate the birth day of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a Teacher par excellence and Statesman. He has left us a legacy of dedicated Teachers, who are still there some where, hidden and unnoticed. 

EARLY DAYS 

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888 at the temple town,  Tirutani, Madras in a poor Brahmin family. As his father was poor Radhakrishnan supported most of his education through scholarships. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had his early education at Gowdie School, Tiruvallur and then went to the Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati for his high school. He joined the Voorhee's College in Vellore and later switched to the Madras Christian College. He chose Philosophy as his major subject and did his B.A. and M.A. in it.

 IDEAL TEACHER 

After completing his M.A., Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, accepted an Assistant Lectureship at the Madras Presidency College in 1909. In college, he mastered the classics of Hindu philosophy, namely the Upanishads, Bhagvad Gita, Brahmasutra, and commentaries of Sankara, Ramunuja and Madhava. He also acquainted himself with Buddhist and Jain philosophy and philosophies of Western thinkers such as Plato, Plotinus, Kant, Bradley, and Bergson.

In 1918, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was selected as Professor of Philosophy by the University of Mysore. In 1921, Radhakrishnan was nominated as Professor of Philosophy at the Calcutta University, 1921. In 1923, Dr. Radhakrishnan's book "Indian Philosophy" was published. The book was hailed as a "philosophical classic and a literary masterpiece."

A MESSIAH OF INDIAN THOUGHT

In 1931, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected Vice Chancellor of the Andhra Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was  invited to Oxford University, to deliver a series of  lectures on Hindu philosophy. He used his lectures as a platform to further India's cause for freedom. He also argued that Western philosophers, despite all claims to objectivity, were biased by theological influences from their wider culture. He showed that Indian philosophy, once translated into standard academic jargon, is worthy of being called philosophy by Western standards. He thus placed Indian Philosophy on  the world map.  Radhakrishnan became the Vice Chancellor of the Benaras Hindu University. In 1946, he was appointed as Ambassador to UNESCO. After Independence Dr. Radhakrishnan was requested to Chair the University Education Commission in 1948. The Radhakrishnan Committee's suggestions helped mould the education system for India's needs.

In 1949, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was appointed ambassador to the Soviet Union. He helped laid the foundation for a strong relationship with Soviet Union.  STATESMAN IN SERVICE OF THE NATION  Dr S. Radhakrishnan was elected the First   Vice-President of India in 1952. He was honored with the Bharat Ratna in 1954. After serving two terms as Vice-President, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected President of India in 1962. During his tenure as President,  India had to face war with   China and Pakistan. As President he helped see India through those trying years safely. He retired as President in 1967 and settled in Madras. He spent his time in writing Books on Indian Philosophy and lecturing.

I had a rare opportunity to visit Dr Radhakrishnan  in 1973 in his home,  at Chennai, a couple of years before his demise. He was unable to speak to us. Tears of joy rolled down from his eyes as we told him that we are fro Mysore University, which he loved very much. He was also happy to learn that we were from the PG departments of Sanskrit  and  Philosophy. Unfortunately,  due to his failing health, he was advised not to try speaking, by his daughter-in-law, Dr Janaki, who looked after him in his last days. 

His face was lit up with happiness to pass a message to us who were students of his second generation students. Our Professors always used to recall or quote Dr Radhakrishnan' message in his mannerisms, ease in teaching a dry Subject like Philosophy, three hours at a stretch.  He was a fountain of energy, known for his sense of humour, good countenance, Punctuality and love for exhaustive reading.
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan passed away in Chennai after a prolonged illness,  on April 17, 1975. 

His Birth Day is remembered for ever as Teachers Day, the best way to remember a man who had a passion for Teaching. Today's Teachers who are well paid,  much more than Professors of that generation. Most of them are not much bothered to inculcate good habits, mannerisms, love for Reading, Passion for Knowledge in their Students. They put the blame on the media for their distraction, and  keep aside most of the values  and Commitment he stood for. It is a tragedy indeed.