Saturday, 5 September 2020

Because of my Parents and Teachers I could visit across my country and the World: Pronam to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan ji on Teacher’s Day

 

After my parents, I greatly respect from core of my heart to the teachers as they are the true architect of the society. From primary class onwards, a toddler gets education from a teacher which continues still he/she completes university education, in normal situation. I personally feel I could visit across my country and also many countries in the world for academic activities because of my education which in turn is attributed to my teachers.  I extend my Pronam to all the teachers including my teachers on occasion of Teacher’s Day i.e. 5 September 2020. From 1962, 5 September is celebrated in India as Teacher’s Day as on this day in 1888 a great scholar, philosopher, erudite person and statesman, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan ji was born at Thiruttani, Madras Presidency of India. His activities were so huge that volumes and volumes are required to write; anyway few lines are mentioned here.      

    He was genius from childhood and was awarded scholarships throughout his academic life. At the young age of 33 years in 1921; he was selected for the prestigious George V Chair in Philosophy at Calcutta University where he had proved his scholarly skill. While, he was in Calcutta (now Kolkata) two volumes of Indian Philosophy were published. Also during this time, his publication, the Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore was a brilliant publication and an excellent piece of work.  From 1920s, Dr. Radhakrishnan's reputation as a scholar continued to grow both in India and overseas. He was invited to Oxford to deliver the 1926 Upton Lectures and subsequently same was also published in 1927 as ‘The Hindu View of Life’, and in 1929 he delivered the Hibbert Lectures, later on it was published under the title of ‘An Idealist View of Life’. In 1931, Dr. Radhakrishnan ji was selected as the Vice Chancellor (at that time newly established), Andhra University where he served for five years.  And in 1936, Oxford University appointed him to the H.N. Spalding Chair of Eastern Religions and Ethics. In 1939, he took up Vice Chancellorship at Benares Hindu University (BHU), and served there till mid-January 1948. He was also one of the founders of Helpage India, a non-profit organisation for elderly underprivileged in India.

  Dr. Radhakrishnan ji wrote commentaries on the Prasthanatraya (main primary texts of Vedanta), the Upanisads (1953), Brahma Sutra (1959) and the Bhagavadgita (1948). He was awarded several prestigious awards including the Bharat Ratna in 1954. Also he was awarded honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. Radhakrishnan ji was actively involved in UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), served there  in Executive Board as well as Indian delegation from 1946-1951. He served two years immediately after India's independence as a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly. Later on, he served as the first Vice President of India (1952–1962) and he was the Second President of India.

   I extend my Pronam to this great scholar, academician, erudite person who dedicated his life towards education and shaping up the youth of the country. Although, he passed away on 17 April 1975 in then Madras now Chennai but no Indians can forget such a great personality, legendary figure and erudite scholar.  

Before conclusion, I wish to mention one of the lines from his writing which greatly attracts as well as inspires me, "Reading a book gives us the habit of solitary reflection and true enjoyment."

                                 

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