Question

In his public addresses, Dr. Radhakrishnan often stressed the importance of:

• A. Political reform
• B. Cultural synthesis and world unity
• C. Military strength
• D. Economic dominance

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Cultural synthesis and world unity

• Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on Sept. 5, 1888, in Tiruttani, India. He died on April 16, 1975, in Madras [now Chennai] an Indian philosopher, scholar, and statesman, widely regarded as one of the most prominent thinkers of the 20th century.

• He served as the first Vice President of India (1952–1962) and the second President of India (1962–1967).

• He served as a professor of philosophy at Mysore (1918–21) and Calcutta (1921–31; 1937–41) universities and as vice chancellor of Andhra University (1931–36).

• He was a professor of Eastern religions and ethics at the University of Oxford in England (1936–52) and vice-chancellor of Benares Hindu University (1939–48) in India. From 1953 to 1962 he was chancellor of the University of Delhi.

• Radhakrishnan led the Indian delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO; 1946–52) and was elected chairman of UNESCO’s executive board.

• From 1949 to 1952 he served as Indian ambassador to the Soviet Union. On his return to India in 1952 he was elected vice president, and on May 11, 1962, he was elected president, succeeding Rajendra Prasad, the first president of independent India.

• Radhakrishnan retired from politics five years later.