Dr. Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan: Luminous Light of Many Hues
Nibir K. Ghosh
The glory of your
Many-splendoured genius
Continues to shine in the regal
Precincts of what was once the
Abode of royalty where once
Earthly lords found solace from the
Summer heat of plains.
Your luminous vision in
Transforming the beautiful habitat into a
Sanctuary of creative minds
Stands proudly as a storehouse of
Creative and critical debates that
Pilgrims and seekers of knowledge
Taste from the fountain of wisdom of ages.
In the shoreless ocean of
Your intellect sparkled
Gems of diverse
Religious truths urging mankind to
Abandon conflicts and clashes and
Co-exist in peace and harmony
In quest of an ideal world.
You believed in the
Power of education as an
Instrument of change like the
Lighthouse that guides
Wandering ships in the deep sea.
Unity in diversity was not an adage but
A way of life for you.
Drawing sustenance of life and spirit from
The Upanishads and the
Hindu view of life, you
Affirmed the oneness of
Divergent beliefs and faiths in your
Sublime philosophy and day-to-day
Experience of life lived.
True to your name you had the
Magic touch to combine
Sarvepalli, the tiny
Hamlet of your birth, to the
Divine love and devotion of
Radha and Krishna to embrace
A world beyond borders
You brought dignity and nobility to
All August positions you graced
In your lifetime and
Engaged yourself tirelessly to
Spread the fragrance of your
Word and deed to make
India shine in the global firmament.
Guide us, O Kindly Light,
Like Lord Krishna, to forsake
Fear and temptation and be in
Readiness for battle
Unfailingly against
Injustice and untruth on the
Hallowed path to duty.
O Teacher of teachers!
Our Bharat Ratna
I humbly bow and offer thee
My humble salutations.
May thy spirit continue to guide us
Through darkness and ignorance to
Regions of hope and victory of the soul.
Multilingual Poetry on Dr. Radhakrishnan. Compiled by S.
Ranganath. On the occasion of 60 Years of Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Shimla. Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 2026. pp. 49-51.
Dr. Nibir K. Ghosh is UGC Emeritus
Professor and former Head, Department of English Studies and Research, Agra
College, Agra. A Senior Fulbright Fellow at the University of Washington,
Seattle, USA during 2003-04, he has been an Associate of IIAS, Shimla and is
Chief Editor of Re-Markings, an international biannual journal of English
Letters (www.re-markingd.com).
