When Dr S Radhakrishnan was invited in 1926 to Manchester College, Oxford to deliver the Upton lectures, he was already a renowned professor of philosophy at Calcutta University. As a teacher, he was demonstrating his ability to simplify complex issues of western and Indian philosophy; making the subject inspiring, interesting for students and lay-people who wanted to uplift their lives.
“The world is now full of racial, cultural and religious misunderstandings,” he said, referring to the end of the First World War, the millions who had died in Europe, Africa and Asia, and the anti-colonial upsurge in the 1920s shaking up the British Empire. “We are groping in a timid and tentative way for some device which would save us from our suicidal conflicts. Perhaps the Hindu way of approach to the problem of religious conflicts may not be without its lessons for us,” he advised the august audience.
Dr Radhakrishnan questioned at the start, “How was Hindu society built up out of material so diverse, so little susceptible in many cases to assimilation, and scattered across a huge continent measuring nearly two thousand miles from north to south and eighteen hundred miles from west to east? It cannot be denied that in a few centuries the spirit of cultural unity spread through a large part of the land, and racial stocks of varying levels of culture became steeped in a common atmosphere. The differences among the sects of the Hindus are more or less on the surface, and the Hindus as such remain a distinct cultural unit, with a common history, a common literature and a common civilisation.”
This story is from the September 04, 2023 edition of The Statesman.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 04, 2023 edition of The Statesman.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Emergency preparedness in place for Mahakumbh
The Uttar Pradesh government is fully committed to ensuring the success of Mahakumbh 2025, with extensive preparations to handle any emergency.
DFS reviews credit disbursement to agri-allied activities by banks
DFS Secretary urged PSBS to take all necessary steps to ensure that respective targets are met during the current financial year, and stressed on the State Governments to facilitate banks in improving flow of credit to these sectors
French court convicts 18 in a major trial that casts light on the deadly migrant-smuggling trade
A French court found 18 people guilty Tuesday in a major migrant-smuggling trial that shed light on the lucrative but often deadly clandestine business of transporting people on flimsy boats across the perilous sea from France to the U.K.
'Failure of Delhi govt': Congress' Sandeep Dikshit slams Kejriwal over Yamuna's toxicity
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Wednesday slammed former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the deteriorating situation of Yamuna, calling out the Aam Aadmi Party government over its failure to do anything to clean the river.
Work for revival of Kolkata's iconic Adi Ganga to start from January
The restoration work of Kolkata’s iconic Adi Gander also known as Gobindapur Creek and Tolly's Canal, will start from January next year.
Panel to take up issue of redeveloping old buildings: CM
She said the government never intervenes in someone's food habits or religious beliefs; the CM also wished people on Chhath Puja
Police recover unknown body from jungle
The Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (ADPC) has recovered a body of an unknown person from a jungle near a closed open cast coal mine in Kalipahari area, under Asansol South police station here this morning.
Solar tree in front of Burnpur House to generate green power
In a new initiative towards sustainability of this picturesque steel township, a 10 KW on-grid solar tree is set to generate 12,000 units of electricity per year and to reduce carbon footprint by 11.6 tonnes per year.
Junior doctors urge chief secretary to streamline referral system
Sushil Haldar, a Garia resident, died at SSKM Hospital on Tuesday after being allegedly denied admissions in 3 hospitals
Trump Win Caps Historic Political Comeback
The election was a shocking disappointment for Kamala Harris who stepped in to carry the Democratic Party torch three months ago