Let’s be frank! Not all of us are fans of celebrating birthdays, just like Nana Patekar’s character in Agni Sakshi (remember that iconic scene?). You might be surprised to learn that even India’s 2nd President wasn’t too keen on birthday bashes.
But that’s just one of the many fascinating facts about Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, one of India’s greatest academicians and leaders, whose birth anniversary we celebrate as Teachers’ Day on September 5. Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about his life and legacy.
Great-granduncle of our ‘Very Very Special’ Batsman
All of us Indians share a deep connection with cricket, don’t we? Even our second President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, wasn’t immune to its charm. Although his days were filled with the weighty matters of politics and philosophy, he would occasionally steal a moment for some backyard batting (as you can see in the picture above).
Interestingly, Dr. Radhakrishnan’s family also contributed to India’s cricketing legacy. Our very own ‘Mr. Reliable,’ VVS Laxman, is his great-grandnephew.
No birthday parties for me; Celebrate the teachers instead
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan later rose to prominence as one of India’s most esteemed statesmen and leaders. But at his core, he remained a dedicated teacher and academician. When he became India’s second President, his friends and family suggested celebrating his upcoming birthday with a grand party. He swiftly objected, saying, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, mark the day to honour the teachers of our country.”
This incident highlights two things: first, his deep appreciation for the vital role teachers play in a nation’s growth; and second, perhaps, his lack of enthusiasm for grand celebrations.
27 nominations for the Nobel Prize
In a world where even an invitation to the Nobel Prize ceremony would be a dream come true, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was nominated an astounding 27 times! India’s second President received 16 nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature and 11 for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Though he never clinched the Nobel, Dr. Radhakrishnan was honoured with numerous other prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, the Templeton Prize, and the Order of Merit.
A ‘Philosopher by Chance’
Dr. Radhakrishnan was among the most influential Indian thinkers during and after the British rule over India. He was an avid student of Philosophy and a prolific writer, as well. During his lifetime, he closely studied Indian Philosophy and Religion and defended it against the baseless criticism from the elitist British intellectuals.
But Dr. Radhakrishnan had become a philosopher by pure chance. He had always wanted to pursue Mathematics. However, his financial situation was not good and he had to make do by studying the books passed on to him by a cousin who had graduated. And those were Philosophy books.
Sponsored the 1950 People’s World Convention in Geneva, alongside Albert Einstein
Dr. Radhekrishnan was also among the sponsors of the 1950 People’s World Convention held in Geneva, alongside the great Albert Einstein. The convention was attended by 500 dignitaries from a total of 45 countries.
This event, which was also endorsed by Martin Luther King Jr., was aimed to fostering global cooperation, being slated at the time as a ‘call to all nations’. A host of other Nobel Laureates and world leaders were a part of this grand convention.
