Representing Indian Philosophy Through the Nation: an Exploration of the Public Philosopher Radhakrishnan

Several authors working on cross-cultural philosophy underscore that a cross-cultural conversational space, which breaks away from dominant theoretical frameworks, is necessary for a genuine cross-cultural dialog. This paper too seeks to contribute to the development of such a space. To this end, its focus will lie on one salient representation of Indian philosophy in the postcolonial context: the ‘Report of the University Education Commission’ of 1948–1949 (Report 1950). The paper will analyze how this document marries shared values like freedom and equality with the role of philosophy for the Indian nation.