▁sh aping ▁the ▁understanding ▁of ▁H indu ism , ▁in ▁both ▁India ▁and ▁the ▁west , ▁and ▁earned ▁a ▁reputation ▁as ▁a ▁bridge - builder ▁between ▁India ▁and ▁the ▁West . ▁ ▁Rad h ak r ish nan ▁was ▁awarded ▁several ▁high ▁awards ▁during ▁his ▁life , ▁including ▁a ▁kn ighth ood ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁the ▁B har at ▁Rat na , ▁the ▁highest ▁civil ian ▁award ▁in ▁India , ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁and ▁honor ary ▁membership ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Royal ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 3 . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁found ers ▁of ▁Hel page ▁India , ▁a ▁non ▁profit ▁organisation ▁for ▁elder ly ▁under priv ile ged ▁in ▁India . ▁Rad h ak r ish nan ▁believed ▁that ▁" te ach ers ▁should ▁be ▁the ▁best ▁minds ▁in ▁the ▁country ". ▁Since ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁his ▁birth day ▁has ▁been ▁celebrated ▁in ▁India ▁as ▁Te ach ers ' ▁Day ▁on ▁ 5 ▁September ▁every ▁year . ▁ ▁He ▁is ▁the ▁only ▁President ▁of ▁India ▁who ▁could ▁not ▁attend ▁the ▁Del hi ▁Republic ▁Day ▁para de ▁due ▁to ▁his ▁ill ▁health ▁ ▁Biography ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Sar v ap al li ▁Rad h ak r ish nan ▁ ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁a ▁Tel ug u - spe aking ▁ ▁Ni y og i ▁Bra h min ▁ ▁family , ▁in ▁Tir utt ani ▁in ▁the ▁erst while ▁Mad ras ▁Pres iden cy . ▁