#HappyTeachersDay2020 Today is marked to coincide with the birth anniversary of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former Vice President and President of India, born in 1888. But besides these facts, many don't know of what his greatest contribution was. 
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was one of India's most distinguished scholars of comparative religion and philosophy, holding various eminent positions in the universities of Mysore, Calcutta, Chicago and Oxford (he was the first Indian to hold a professorial chair in the last).
His philosophical work was grounded in reinterpreting Advaita Vedanta for a contemporary understanding, resisting Western interpretations prevalent thus far, for which earned fame as a 'bridge-builder' between East and West.
He countered the prevalent (esp. Western) idea that the Vedanta system had cast aside the question of ethics.
Eg. He said, "In morals, the individual is enjoined to cultivate a Spirit of Abheda, or non-difference" which "naturally leads to the ethics of love and brotherhood".
Eg. He said, "In morals, the individual is enjoined to cultivate a Spirit of Abheda, or non-difference" which "naturally leads to the ethics of love and brotherhood".
There's lots more, obviously. For a quick, but (relatively) concise overview of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan's contribution to philosophy, read this page on him and his work from the (peer reviewed) Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy.
iep.utm.edu/radhakri/#SH2e
iep.utm.edu/radhakri/#SH2e
There is also reams of writing and great emphasis, in his work, on 'intuition': “The art of discovery is confused with the logic of proof and an artificial simplification of the deeper movements of thought results. We forget that we invent by intuition though we prove by logic.”
However, Radhakrishnan clarifies that: "It is unfortunate that insistence on intuition is often confused with anti-intellectualism. Intuition which ignores intellect is useless. The two are not only not incompatible but also vitally united."
Here's an explanation, in Radhakrishnan's own words, where he draws from Western and Eastern paradigms to discuss these ideas. maaber.50megs.com/forth_issue/pe…
And you will find many other works by Radhakrishnan here. He is still often referred to and cited when it comes to contemporary interpretations of Indian philosophy. biblio.com/s-radhakrishna…
Aspects of his work have been subjected to severe criticism of course. For example, his justification of the caste system (read here for more: jstor.org/stable/20106478). Thinkers like BR Ambedkar and Rahul Sanskrityayan called him out on this: forwardpress.in/2018/09/why-re… A summary:
Then there was the critique of his ideas in 'The Modern Review', run by Ramananda Chatterjee which included accusations of plagiarism (from Jadunath Sinha). Excerpts from his biography by Robert Neil Minor: books.google.co.in/books?id=2LzRk…
This led to further letters from Radhakrishnan and Sinha, writings in other publications and voices from intellectuals of the time in support of either side. It culminated in suits being filed (Radhakrishnan against Sinha and the Review, Sinha against Radhakrishnan).
The suits were settled finally in May, 1933, though the terms of the settlement weren't disclosed. Besides Minor's book you can also read about this episode in KS Murthy's book here: archive.org/details/radhak…
There have been other academic criticisms and questions too on Radhakrishnan's philosophical ideas, concepts and interpretations. But his legacy persists in being that figure to draw out Indian philosophy into the global arena +
+ contesting and complexifying existing colonial & Indian interpretations of Indian philosophy along with fresh ideas of his own that led to fresh (and often agitated) debates in India and abroad. And that, in the end, is at least one key purpose of a true philosopher.
With that thought, once again, #HappyTeachersDay
