Radhakrishnan, Sir Sarvepalli

Radhakrishnan, Sir Sarvepalli ( 1888 – 1975 )
Indian philosopher and statesman, President ( 1962 – 67 ). A teacher of philosophy at Mysore, Calcutta, and Oxford universities, he introduced some of the main ideas of classical Indian philosophy to the West. Major works include Indian Philosophy ( 1923 – 27 ) and Eastern Religions and Western Thought ( 1939 ). Radhakrishnan was Indian ambassador to the Soviet Union ( 1949 – 52 ) before returning to India in 1952 to become Vice-President under Nehru ; he was elected President ten years later.