Hello Everyone , this blog is a part of a thinking activity based on Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan .
-Assigned by Prakruti Ma'am.
Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan :
Birth and Death: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888, in Tiruttani, India, and died on April 16, 1975, in Madras (now Chennai).
President of India: He served as the President of India from 1962 to 1967.
Academic Career:
- Professor of Philosophy at Mysore University (1918–21) and Calcutta University (1921–31; 1937–41).
- Vice Chancellor of Andhra University (1931–36).
- Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford, England (1936–52).
- Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (1939–48).
- Chancellor of the University of Delhi (1953–62).
International Contributions:
- Led the Indian delegation to UNESCO (1946–52).
- Chairman of UNESCO's Executive Board (1948–49).
- Indian ambassador to the Soviet Union (1949–52).
Political Career:
- Elected Vice President of India in 1952.
- Elected President of India on May 11, 1962.
- Retired from politics in 1967.
Major Writings:
- Indian Philosophy (2 volumes, 1923–27).
- The Philosophy of the Upanishads (1924).
- An Idealist View of Life (1932).
- Eastern Religions and Western Thought (1939).
- East and West: Some Reflections (1955).
Goal in Writings: He aimed to interpret Indian philosophy and thought for Western audiences through his lectures and books.
* Now, Let's write the Question - Answer :
1. Write a note on S. Radhakrishnan S perspective on Hinduism.
Ans. In The Hindu View of Life (1929), Radhakrishnan starts by asking, "What is Hinduism?" He explains that the term was originally created by outsiders to describe the people and culture of India. Over time, Indians began using "Hinduism" to describe their own religion and way of life, even though India has many different cultures, all sharing a common history and civilization.
P Sreenivasulu Reddy in his article, "A critical Analysis of “The Hindu View of Life” by Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan" argues This work is based on lectures Radhakrishnan gave at Manchester College, Oxford. He was one of the leading scholars in philosophy and comparative religion and defended Hindu culture against Western criticism. It provides an analysis of the Hindu attitude towards life, divided into four chapters.
Chapter 1: Religious Experience
Essence of Hinduism: Hinduism is more about personal religious experience than rigid rituals or doctrines. It doesn't rely on blind faith but on individual experiences of the divine.
Term 'Hindu': Originally, 'Hindu' wasn't even a religious term. It referred to the people living around the Indus River, and over time, it became associated with the religion practiced by these people.
Diverse Paths to God: Hinduism acknowledges that people find God in different ways. It doesn’t claim to have the one 'correct' way to reach God. Hinduism accepts many views and respects all human efforts to connect with the divine.
Worship Beyond Temples: Worship isn’t limited to temples or images. True spirituality is about seeing God within oneself. Temples should guide people towards personal spiritual growth, not just be places for rituals.
Chapter 2: Conflict of Religions
Freedom and Individuality in Hinduism: Unlike some other religions, Hinduism allows people the freedom to follow their own paths to spiritual growth. It doesn't force one way of thinking or worshiping on everyone.
Respect for Diversity: Hinduism recognizes that people will have different beliefs, and it allows room for error or different interpretations. The religion doesn't insist on one fixed way of worship or a single, uniform belief system.
Personal Worship: Worship in Hinduism is often a personal act. It involves offerings to the deity, repeating mantras, and praying to favorite gods or goddesses.
Chapter 3: Hindu Dharma
Philosophical and Practical Side of Hinduism: Hinduism has both philosophical and practical aspects. Philosophically, it considers the world as 'maya' (illusion), meaning that the physical world is temporary and constantly changing. Spiritually, the goal of life is liberation (moksha), escaping the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Practical Side of Life: Hinduism sees life as being governed by four main goals:
Dharma – Righteousness or moral duty.
Artha – The pursuit of material success or wealth.
Kama – Fulfillment of desires and passions.
Moksha – Spiritual freedom or liberation, the ultimate goal. The philosophy is that while you can pursue wealth and desires, it should be done righteously (Dharma), and the final aim should always be spiritual liberation (Moksha).
Chapter 4: Hindu Dharma – II (The Caste System)
Original Purpose of the Caste System: The caste system was created to organize society based on different roles and functions. Each caste had a specific role, like priests, warriors, merchants, and laborers. Initially, it was meant to create cooperation and harmony among people.
Misuse of the Caste System: Over time, the caste system became rigid and created divisions. However, Radhakrishnan argues that this wasn't its original intention. The system was meant to encourage social function, trust, and cooperation, not exclusiveness or hierarchy.
2. Write a note on the contribution of S. Radhakrishnan in Indian Writing in English.
Ans. Radhakrishnan is one of India's most celebrated thinkers and philosophers. His contributions to Indian Writing in English are significant, especially his ideas on philosophy and living an ideal life. His philosophy drew heavily from ancient Indian texts and scriptures, which he interpreted in a modern way to address the problems people face today.
He advocated for the philosophy of absolute idealism and Advaita Vedanta, believing that humans are more than just physical beings. To him, humans are not only observers but essential parts of the universe, with spiritual, not just religious, natures. Radhakrishnan believed people have the ability to live beyond their physical existence, which can only be achieved through spiritual awakening. He gave examples of Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad, who he believed reached this spiritual level. While his philosophy and idealism may seem utopian today, and not many people live by such absolute ideals, his ideas still hold value.
Radhakrishnan also worked to improve education in India, and his birthday, September 5th, is celebrated as National Teacher's Day. He chaired the Radhakrishnan Commission, which was formed after India's independence to reform education. For him, university education was key to building a united and strong India by helping individuals reach their full potential. In the 1930s and 1940s, he shared his vision of an independent India, believing it should be led by educated people committed to awakening the nation's sense of identity and purpose.
3. According to Radhakrishnan, what is the function of philosophy?
Ans. Radhakrishnan's philosophy is idealist, spiritual, and transcendental. In An Idealist View of Life, he expresses the belief that the universe is driven by a spiritual force with meaning and value. Like Hegel, Radhakrishnan views all philosophy as idealistic, built on assumptions. He suggests that humans can transcend themselves by awakening the divine within.
Regarding reality, Radhakrishnan argues that everything is part of a single reality. He does not view God as the ultimate reality; instead, he sees the divinity within each individual as the true, transcendental reality.
In the pursuit of self-realization, Radhakrishnan identifies three sources of knowledge: sense experience, intellectual cognition, and intuitive apprehension. Sense experience comes from external stimuli, and intellectual cognition is achieved through analysis and synthesis. However, neither of these alone can help one reach the ultimate reality.
Reference :
“Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://iep.utm.edu/radhakri/#SH5a. Accessed 21 September 2024.
Radhakrishnan, S. An Idealist View Of Life. HarperCollins Publishers India, 2009. Accessed 21 September 2024.
Radhakrishnan, S. The Hindu View Of Life. HarperCollins Publishers India, 2009. Accessed 21 September 2024.
Reddy, P. Sreenivasulu. “A critical Analysis of “The Hindu View of Life” by Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.” Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, Mar-Apr 2014, https://www.oiirj.org/oiirj/mar-apr2014/45.pdf. Accessed 21 September 2024
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