Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (5 September 1888 – 17 April 1975) was an Indian philosopher and politician who served as the 2nd President of India from 1962 to 1967 and the 1st Vice President of India from 1952 to 1962. He was also the 2nd Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952 & 4th Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948.
Radhakrishnan’s philosophy was grounded in Advaita Vedanta, reinterpreting this tradition for a contemporary understanding. He defended Hinduism against what he called “uninformed Western criticism”, contributing to the formation of contemporary Hindu identity. He has been influential in shaping the understanding of Hinduism, in both India and the west, and earned a reputation as a bridge-builder between India and the West.
Radhakrishnan was awarded several high awards during his life, including a knighthood in 1931, the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India, in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. He was also one of the founders of Helpage India, a non-profit organisation for the elderly underprivileged in India. Radhakrishnan believed that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. Since 1962, his birthday has been celebrated in India as Teachers’ Day on 5 September every year.
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, paid homage to Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President of India on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (September 5, 2022). The President and officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan paid floral tributes in front of the portrait of Dr Radhakrishnan.