Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s view on unfurling of the National Flag at Red Fort

VICE-PRESIDENT

          INDIA

        New Delhi

     August 8, 1961.                                                                                                                                                        

My dear Rajaji,

               Prime Minister spoke to me about his correspondence with you. While in ordinary circumstances he would have agreed with your suggestion that I should hoist the Flag and take the salute at the Red Fort, in the present context he feels, and I agree with him, that it is likely to be misunderstood.

               We laughed at your sentence that I would be able to climb the stairs!

               I am glad I met you though I am sorry I was not able to have a quiet chat with you.

                                                                                                                     

Yours affectionately,

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

Shri C. Rajagopalachari,

Bazlullah Road,

Thyagarajanagar, Madras - 17.

                                                                ***

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTAL

VICE-PRESIDENT

          INDIA

         New Delhi

     August 12, 1961

                                                                                                                                                             

My dear Rajaji,

                  Thank you for your letter of the 10^th.

                  You are not quite fair to the Prime Minister. He did not show me your letter. He merely quoted one or two sentences. He had to do it since your suggestion was that I should take the salute and unfurl the flag.

                 As you say, Jawaharlal Nehru is a national hero and people are eager to listen to him.

                 Rajen Babu has been the President from 26 January 1950 and all these years he had not unfurled the flag and taken the salute at the Red Fort, whatever may be the reason. If this August, when I am only discharging the functions of the President, I do so, uncharitable people, of whom we have a good number in our country, will take advantage and draw their own conclusions which will be most unfortunate.

                  I quite agree that civil servants and defence forces should be kept out of party politics. We should not do anything to involve them in party matters.

                 I trust you are getting better.

                                                                                                            Yours affectionately,

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

                  

Shri C. Rajagopalachari,

Bazlullah Road,

Thayagarajanagar, Madras - 17.

Source: C. Rajagopalachari Papers (V Inst.), MSS Section

Abstract of a tribute to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan by M.S. Aney

M.S. Aney                                                                                                                      5-Meenabag

       New Delhi. 

MESSAGE FOR DR. S. RADHAKRISHNAN

78^th BIRTH-DAY COMMEMORATION VOLUME.

                                                                                       ***

         

        Dr. S. Radhakrishnan can be mentioned as the best and the most out –standing example of the universal respect in which a Vidwan is held by the civilised world (विद्वान सर्वत्र पूज्यते). The word Vidwan literally means one who knows the Vidya….  

         

       Among those Indians in the last hundred years who have been chosen by the Almighty in my humble opinion for this noblest mission Dr. S. Radhakrishnan is one. From the days of Ramkrishna Parma Hansa and Swami Vivekananda, there has been an unbroken line of teachers India has given to the world to interpret the gospel of the Upanishads to enable it to see the essential unity of the creation and establish the brotherhood of man. The work done so far by S. Radhakrishnan is a complete vindication of those fundamental propositions which were for the first time revealed to the Vedik Rishis and expounded by them in the Nasadiya Sukta of the Rig Veda….    

       …It is, therefore, a matter of great gratification to the people of India as well as the people of other new developing countries of the world that the services of a pre-eminently spiritual Professor like S. Radhakrishnan are available to the world. In his capacity as President of the Indian Democratic Republic, he comes in contact with the whole world. His voice for promotion for brotherhood of man, his strong denunciation of methods and movements based on the pernicious doctrine of class war and his earnest plea for one world government are heard with rapt attention and consideration by the intelligentia of the whole world. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan is an oracle that is proclaiming from the housetops as it were to all men and women the basic principles which the Indian Vedantists have found essential for the stable growth of human happiness  and thus to turn the earth into an abode of Gods to live. Man is made in the image of God. Radhakrishnan’s mission is to make him aware of it.
                                                    Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ

Source: M.S. Aney Papers, MSS Section