Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan , 1888-1975, Indian philosopher, president of India (1962-67). The main part of his life was spent as an academic; he was a philosophy professor at Mysore (1918-21) and Calcutta (1921-31, 1937-41) universities and also held a professorship in eastern religion and ethics at Oxford (1936-52). His positions in academic administration included the vice chancellorship of Andhra Univ. (1931-36) and of Benares Hindu Univ. (1939-48) and the chancellorship of Delhi Univ. (1953-62). He was ambassador to the USSR (1949-52) and vice president of India (1952-62) before his election as president. He stressed the need for India to establish a classless and casteless society. As a philosopher, Radhakrishnan espoused a modern form of Hinduism that attempted to reconcile the world's religions. Among his works are Indian Philosophy (2 vol., 1923-27), The Philosophy of the Upanishads (1924), Eastern Religions and Western Thought (1939, 2d ed. 1969), East and West: Some Reflections (1955), and Religion in a Changing World (1967). He was knighted in 1931.

Bibliography: See studies by S. J. Samartha (1964) and K. I. Dutt, ed. (1966).

Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli (1888–1975). Hindu philosopher and President of the Indian Republic. After various professorial posts in India, he became the first Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford, 1936–52. He was Vice-President of India, 1952–62, and President, 1962–7. Radhakrishnan held strongly that all religions are different paths leading to the same goal, and that beyond the differences of credal formulations and practices there is an essential unity, since ‘the signpost is not to be confused with that to which it points’.

He wrote many books, including Indian Philosophy, The Hindu View of Life, Eastern Religions and Western Thought, and translations with commentary of the Upaniṣads and of the Bhagavadgītā.

Radhakrishnan, Sir Sarvepalli (1888–1975) Indian philosopher and statesman, president (1962–67). As professor of Eastern religions and ethics at Oxford (1936–52), Radhakrishnan did much to reconcile classical Hindu philosophy with contemporary social forces. Radhakrishnan served as vice president (1952–62) to Jawaharlal Nehru.