He was philosopher, humanist, educationist and orientalist. Elected the Vice-President of India (1952); unanimously elected the President of the Republic of India (1962-67). Amongst his many works are Indian Philosophy (1923-27), The Philosophy of the Upanishads (1924), Eastern Religions and Western Thought (1939), East and West (1955).

While the sayings of Sri Ramakrishna did not penetrate so much into academic circles, they found their way into lonely hearts who have been stranded in their pursuit of pleasure and selfish desires. Under the inspiration of this great teacher there has been a powerful revival of social compassion. …He has helped to raise from the dust the fallen standard of Hinduism, not in words merely, but in works also.