Madras, April 17: We record with profound regret the death of Dr. S Radhakrishnan, former President, at a nursing home here early this morning. He was 86.
Dr. Radhakrishnan, who had been convalescing in the nursing home for the past eight months, suffered repeated cardiac failure during the last ten days. His condition became critical yesterday morning. He was administered oxygen and intravenous fluid with drugs. He was semi-conscious the whole day and the best efforts of the doctors could not save him. The end came suddenly at 12-45 a.m.
The former President’s son, Dr. Gopal and two of his daughters were by his bed-side during his last moments.
He is survived by a son and five daughters.
The body was taken to his residence “Girija” in Edward Elliots Road.
The Philosopher-Statesman had a trying time for the last two years. He was admitted in the nursing home on September 10, 1973 with a hip fracture sustained when he slipped in his house and was discharged after a fortnight. Last year, he was treated for a cerebral stroke from June 22 and returned home on July 30 only to be re-admitted on the night of August 19 with a set-back in his condition. He was treated for gastro-intestinal bleeding. Since then he had been in the hospital.
According to the doctors who attended on him, Dr. Radhakrishnan was making rapid progress and he was moving about in a wheel chair. They recalled how gladly he received the news of Templeton Foundation prize for Progress in Religion awarded to him in February. He was the first non-Christian to be awarded the prize £40,000 (about Rs. eight lakhs).
The funeral will take place after 4 p.m. to-day with full State honours at the Mylapore crematorium. The body will lie in State from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. for public view.
The funeral procession will start from Girija at 4 p.m.
Published – April 17, 2025 04:03 am IST