▁invited ▁him ▁to ▁succeed ▁him ▁as ▁the ▁Vice - Ch an cell or ▁of ▁Ban ar as ▁H indu ▁University ▁( B H U ). ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁its ▁Vice - Ch an cell or ▁till ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 8 . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁ ▁Rad h ak r ish nan ▁started ▁his ▁political ▁career ▁" r ather ▁late ▁in ▁life ", ▁after ▁his ▁successful ▁academic ▁career . ▁His ▁international ▁authority ▁preced ed ▁his ▁political ▁career . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 1 ▁he ▁was ▁nominated ▁to ▁the ▁League ▁of ▁Nations ▁Committee ▁for ▁Intel lect ual ▁Co operation , ▁where ▁after ▁" in ▁Western ▁eyes ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁recognized ▁H indu ▁authority ▁on ▁Indian ▁ideas ▁and ▁a ▁persu as ive ▁interpreter ▁of ▁the ▁role ▁of ▁Eastern ▁institutions ▁in ▁contemporary ▁society ." ▁When ▁India ▁became ▁independent ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁Rad h ak r ish nan ▁represented ▁India ▁at ▁UN ES CO ▁( 1 9 4 6 – 5 2 ) ▁and ▁was ▁later ▁Amb assador ▁of ▁India ▁to ▁the ▁Soviet ▁Union , ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁to ▁ 1 9 5 2 . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Const itu ent ▁Assembly ▁of ▁India . ▁Rad h ak r ish nan ▁was ▁elected ▁as ▁the ▁first ▁Vice - Pres ident ▁of ▁India ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 2 , ▁and ▁elected ▁as ▁the ▁second ▁President ▁of ▁India ▁( 1 9 6 2 – 1 9 6 7 ). ▁ ▁Rad h ak r ish nan