Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan as a Prose Writer

Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan as a Prose Writer

Introduction :-

Dr. Radhakrishnan was born in the year 1888 and he was died in the year 1975. An outstanding educationalist and philosopher, Dr. Radhakrishnan needs no introduction. He presented the Hindu philosophy and Indian viewpoint to the world through his literary works. He wrote in a very simple, intelligible prose style. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan defined "Hindu" tolerance as a quality of spiritual practice that promotes understanding and compassion among diverse individuals, promoting world progress.

His proclamation of the "religion of the spirit" as the solution to the world's problems increasingly centered around the use of the term tolerance as he approached his latter years (Minor, 1981). Radhakrishnan criticized the all too common intolerance of religions as the major barrier to world progress: "The barriers of dogmatic religions are sterilising men's efforts to coordinate their forces to shape the future. If religions are to heal humanity's divisions, if they are to bring peoples nearer one another, they must take themselves seriously, forget their partisan strife, affirm that religion is a matter of spirit and not form and its loyalty is to the whole world and not simply to the members of any one community. Such a view of religion' will help us to develop the quality of tolerance". This study attempts to clarify Radhakrishnan's definition of tolerance and its limits.

Now we discuss in detail some of the questions...

Q-1. Write a note on S. Radhakrishnan’s perspective on Hinduism.

A-1. Radhakrishnan saw Hinduism as a scientific religion based on facts, apprehended via intuition or religious experience. According to Radhakrishnan, "if philosophy of religion is to become scientific, it must become empirical and found itself on religious experience".

The Hindu View Of Life is a philosophical text by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. This text is based on the lecture-series addressed by him at the Manchester College, Oxford. The picture of India was not good in the eyes of the westerners. Therefore so as to clarify the vision of Hinduism, he addressed this "Upton Lecture" in Manchester College, so as to defend against uninformed criticism and explaining its inherent characteristics. Radhakrishnan was aware about the facts which ought to be clarified or without which the Hindu view is incomplete. In the Text, S.Radhakrishanan has stated the principle of Hinduism.

S.Radhakrishnan is known for his commentaries on the Bhagvad Gita, the Upnishads and the Brahma Sutras where he shows his ability to convert the incomprehensible into a meaningful. The Hindu view of life by S.Radhakrishanan is considered as a relic in the world of philosophy. S.Radhakrishnana was aware of the usual criticism leveled against the Hindu religious practice and beliefs by missionaries. He has painted the problems of nature and destiny of men, also portrait importance of spirituality in the very nature of men and men‟s spiritual development. In this Philosophical text S.Radhakrishnana has explained the origin, development of Hindu religion and analyzes Hindu way of life. S.Radhakrishnana believes that if it has content then it has altered from age to age. The ease of Hinduism is that it has steadily absorbed the customs and the ideas of the people without whom it has come in contact.

Religion is insight into the nature of reality (Darshana) or the Experience of reality (Anubhava). Religious experience is self certifying and depends on faith, institution which depends upon experience rather than on Authorighty just like in Christianity. To define "Faith" Radhakrishnan has quoted western critic Wesley  "Faith is the vision of soul the power by which spiritual things are apprehended. To transform the religious experience gained through vision of soul into reality we depend upon the intellectual account of experience."

Hinduism is a living tradition experimental and admits others points of view. Unlike others religions which believes in absolutism and dismisses other‟s experiences as illusionary, Hinduism readily admits others points of view and consider them to be worthy of attention. Like in Christianity which accepts only a particular kind of spiritual experience. S.Radhakrishnan has a belief that a tradition which doesn‟t grow means its followers are spiritually dead. Hinduism tradition is an organism with steady growth of insight and experimenting with new forms developing new ideals. In Second lecture, S.Radhakrishnan has discussed about the conflicts of religion and the attitude of Hinduism toward it. He says that "though different religions have inherent differences in formulations of mystical experiences, Hinduism is universal in believing in one Reality God". He means that God is one but images and descriptions of God vary from person, religion to religion. A seer who has seen the Divine doesn't attach importance to "outward forms". For him the exterior reality doesn't matter. Through his institutions, faith he gains the experience which is an apprehension of the spiritual things. The true seer is gifted with a universality of outlook. He is convinced of the inexhaustibility of the nature of

God and the number of its manifestation.

"Hinduism is not a rigid creed or fanatical religion." Hinduism elevates everything that comes into it, including animism and magic, by absorbing it all. Hinduism is known for its extensive philanthropy, respect for other religions, and compassion towards them. Hinduism is the world's first missionary religion because it incorporates non-Aryan creeds and beliefs without trying to convert everyone to its way of thinking. Assimilation, which is a religion of reconciliation, embraces both the good and the bad but eliminates undesirable aspects. Its vast, all-encompassing unity of livings has a set orientation. Hindu approaches to religious reform are fundamentally democratic in that they embrace all cults and bring about a change in their beliefs via integration, suggestion, and persuasion rather than coercion. Reformers seek to correct the flaw rather than disparage the viewpoint. By modifying mental prejudice, this feature facilitates the realisation of the integrate supreme. The Hindu religion holds that development is ongoing and slow. 

The Hindu approach to dispute resolution has come under fire for being apathetic since it permits each group to maintain its unique identity and set of interests while also maintaining its historical ties. It rejects exclusive absolutism, which aims to force people to hold the same beliefs. It holds that religion is about living a righteous life rather than having proper beliefs. Radhakrishnan‟s belief of tolerance of other belief is the only solution to achieve peace in the world. "Unity of religion not in common creed but in common Quest."

Q-2. Write a note on the contribution of S. Radhakrishnan in Indian Writing in English.

A-2. A link between Indian and Western intellectual traditions was created by Radhakrishnan. His academic writings, which include "Indian Philosophy" and "The Philosophy of Upanishads," examined the points of convergence and interaction between these two schools of thought. Radhakrishnan was a fervent supporter of religious tolerance and pluralism. His writings promoted a spirit of respect and understanding by highlighting the similarities across various religions and cultures.

The Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads are two examples of the classical Indian writings that Radhakrishnan translated into English. His translations increased the literature' accessibility and heightened Western appreciation of Indian philosophy and spirituality. Indian thinking and culture were popularised by Radhakrishnan through his publications and public talks. He dispelled myths and preconceptions while introducing Western audiences to India's rich intellectual legacy.

Several original works on philosophy, religion, and culture were written by Radhakrishnan. His writings frequently addressed spirituality, morality, and social justice, providing a distinctive Indian viewpoint on these subjects. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan made a significant contribution to English-language Indian writing. His original compositions, translations, and scholarly works contributed to the rise of Indian literature as a reputable and significant heritage.

Q-3. According to Radhakrishnan, what is the function of philosophy?

A-3. According to Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the function of philosophy is to provide insight into reality and experience. He believed that philosophy of religion should be based on religious experience and become more empirical to become scientific.

Radhakrishnan's philosophy was based on Advaita Vedanta, which he reinterpreted for modern understanding. Idealism, which maintained the notion of a transcendent absolute while acknowledging the actuality of the universe, served as the foundation of Radhakrishnan's philosophy. Radhakrishnan considered Hinduism to be a form of philosophical experience. He was a defender of Hinduism against Western criticism, which helped shape contemporary Hindu identity. Radhakrishnan believed that education should be based on the principles of truth and love. He thought that education should include training of the intellect, refinement of the heart, and discipline of the spirit. He believed that in India, the philosophy's duty was to "keep in touch with the past while stretching out to the future."

Conclusion :-

In conclusion, The Hindu View of Life offers a fair and logical explanation of Hinduism. The text highlights the distinctions between Hinduism and other religions without needlessly disparaging them. Hinduism is known for its democratic, tolerant, and adaptable philosophy. Hinduism places more emphasis on a moral and spiritual lifestyle than it does on religious compliance. 

It imparted the lesson that "Dharma" is morality. Indian writers writing in English were pioneered by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. His contributions to the field were diverse and included original works, translations, and critical analysis. The literary landscape of India and the rest of the world is still shaped and inspired by his legacy.

References :-

R. N. Minor et al. "Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on the Nature of “Hindu” Tolerance." Journal of the American Academy of Religion (1982): 275-290. https://doi.org/10.1093/JAAREL/L.2.275.

Rathee, Rahul. “Hinduism” in The Hindu View of Life by  Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, vol. 10, 4 July 2022. https://erpublications.com/uploaded_files/download/rahul-rathee_Rvbyf.pdf