Teachers’ Day 2026 will be celebrated in India on September 5 which is the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a highly revered Indian philosopher, educator, and statesman. Dr Radhakrishnan was the first vice president of India between 1952 to 1962 and later the second president of India between 1962 to 1967. His contribution to philosophy and education is greatly appreciated by generations of students and teachers. The life story of Dr Radhakrishnan from a humble background to becoming the highest constitutional authority in India is an indication of his dedication to learning, teaching, and excellence in intellect.
Early Life and Education
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, in Tiruttani, in Madras Presidency, India, to a Telugu-speaking family. Sarvepalli Veeraswami was the name of his father who was working as a sub-revenue officer in the government.
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan went to different schools in Tiruttani and Tirupati and then studied further in Madras Christian College. He had earned both BA and MA degrees in philosophy from Madras Christian College.
One reason why he became so interested in philosophy may be due to the circumstances during his school days.
Personal Life
In 1903, Radhakrishnan married Sivakamu. The couple had five children. Among his children is Sarvepalli Gopal, who was a renowned historian and biographer.
Though Radhakrishnan reached the highest constitutional posts in India, he was still more remembered as a teacher and philosopher.
Teaching Career as a Professor
Once his education was complete, he began his career as a professor. He taught philosophy in various renowned educational institutes, which resulted in him being acclaimed internationally for his scholarly works.
He served as a professor at various institutions including Madras Presidency College, University of Mysore, and the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University.
Apart from gaining fame as an author of scholarly works, he also earned recognition as a scholar on the international platform due to his affiliation with Oxford and other international educational institutes.
Teacher to Vice-President and President of India
Finally, Radhakrishnan’s career extended from the academic world into politics.
Post Independence, he was India’s representative in international organizations and India’s representative to UNESCO. His contributions in diplomacy as well as intellectually helped him gain popularity as a statesman and scholar.
In 1952, Radhakrishnan became the first Vice-President of independent India for two consecutive terms. In 1962, he became the second President of India, succeeding Dr Rajendra Prasad.
He held the office of the President from 1962 to 1967. Even in politics, he continued to be linked to education, philosophy, and intellectual debate.
Contributions of to Education and Philosophy
According to Radhakrishnan, education must develop intelligence as well as morals of an individual. His philosophy was based on high regards for critical thinking, ethics and deep insight into human life.
His contribution to philosophy was the way he introduced the philosophies of India to the Western world. He wrote about various topics like Hindu philosophy, comparative religions and connections between Eastern and Western philosophies.
Some of his most important works includes,
- Indian Philosophy
- Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore
- Hindu View of Life
- Idealist View of Life
- Eastern Religions and Western Thought
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and the Bharat Ratna
In 1954, Radhakrishnan was conferred the prestigious Bharat Ratna, one of India’s highest civilian awards. This award is in recognition of his vast contributions to philosophy, education and public affairs.
Radhakrishnan’s academic contribution was recognized internationally as well. According to the nomination records of the Nobel Prize, Radhakrishnan was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize in Literature and Nobel Peace Prize during his life time.
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