January 17

Babu Gulabrai was a prominent Indian philosopher and author born in 1888. He wrote extensively on ethics, culture, and Hindi literature. His works include critical essays, biographies, and philosophical treatises that shaped 20th-century Indian thought. Gulabrai advocated for the use of Hindi as a literary language and contributed to language policy debates. He served as an educator and influenced generations of writers and scholars. His blend of philosophical rigor and literary flair made his books widely read across India.

Robert Maynard Hutchins served as President of the University of Chicago from 1929 to 1951 and reshaped higher education. He promoted the concept of a core curriculum centered on the great works of Western thought. Hutchins introduced interdisciplinary studies and discouraged elective courses in favor of a unified approach to learning. He later led the Fund for the Advancement of Education and continued to write on democracy, education, and culture. His ideas influenced liberal arts programs across the United States. Hutchins’s work sparked debates about the purpose and methods of higher education that continue today.

Aron Gurwitsch studied under Edmund Husserl and became a key figure in American phenomenology. His work focused on the structures of consciousness and the role of Gestalt principles in perception. Gurwitsch’s major publications, including 'The Field of Consciousness,' influenced both philosophy and cognitive psychology. He taught at several universities in the United States, mentoring a generation of scholars. His interdisciplinary approach bridged philosophical analysis and empirical research. Gurwitsch’s legacy endures in contemporary studies of mind and perception.

Born in 1937 in Rabat, Morocco, Alain Badiou studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and became involved in Maoist activism. His landmark book, Being and Event (1988), uses set theory to develop a new ontology, challenging conventional philosophical frameworks. Badiou has held professorships across Europe and founded the influential journal L’Infini. A committed Marxist, he continues to write on subjects ranging from love and art to contemporary politics, advocating for radical democracy. His prolific career spans philosophy, mathematics, and activism. Badiou remains a central figure in 21st-century continental thought.