April 17

Manwel Dimech was a Maltese social reformer, journalist, and philosopher devoted to education and workers' rights. Born in Valletta, he began his career writing for local newspapers and founded the journal Il-Bandiera tal-Maltin. He advocated for universal suffrage, public education, and improved living conditions for the working class. Dimech's writings blended political theory with practical proposals for social justice in colonial Malta. After conflicts with authorities, he was exiled to Egypt, where he continued his philosophical work until his death. Honored as a pioneer of Maltese nationalism, his ideas laid the groundwork for modern Maltese society.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born in 1888 in Tiruttani, India, and excelled in philosophy and education. He taught at Madras Christian College and later as Spalding Professor at Oxford University, introducing Eastern philosophies to Western audiences. His writings on Vedanta and comparative religion earned him international acclaim. Radhakrishnan served as India’s first Vice President from 1952 to 1962 and then as President from 1962 to 1967. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1954. After his presidency, he continued to lecture globally and inspired generations of educators until his death in 1975.