Eminent Historian Dr MGS Narayanan Dies At 92 In Kozhikode (Image: X/mgsnarayanan)
Kozhikode, Kerala: Renowned historian, writer, and political thinker Dr MGS Narayanan died on Saturday morning at the age of 92 due to age-related ailments. He breathed his last at his residence, Maitra, in Malapparamba, Kozhikode.
A towering figure in Indian historical scholarship, Dr Narayanan served as the former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and left a lasting impact on academic history, particularly in the study of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and ancient India.
Born on August 20, 1932, to Narayani Amma and PK Govinda Menon, Dr. MGS completed his schooling in Parappanangadi and Ponnani.
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He went on to pursue higher studies at institutions like Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College, Farook College, Kerala Varma College in Thrissur, and Madras Christian College. After obtaining his Master’s degree in History with first rank, he began his teaching career at the age of 22.
At 28, he started his research under a UGC fellowship, eventually earning a PhD for his landmark work Perumals of Kerala.
This research, based on Tamil and Sanskrit texts as well as archaeological evidence, explored the socio-political history of Kerala from the 9th to the 12th century CE. The thesis was later published in book form after nearly two decades.
Dr Narayanan joined the Department of History at Kerala University’s Kozhikode Centre, which later became part of the University of Calicut.
He rose through the ranks to serve as Professor, Chairman of the Board of Studies, and Dean of Faculty. A long-time member of the Indian History Congress from 1976 onward, he led several nationally significant projects under the ICHR and taught at numerous universities across India and abroad.
A scholar of ancient Indian scripts and languages, Dr MGS was mentored by luminaries like Alumkulam Kunjan Pillai.
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Over his illustrious career, he published over 200 articles in English and Malayalam and guided numerous research scholars.
Apart from historical essays, he also had a deep appreciation for poetry and literature, often weaving literary sensitivity into his academic work.
Dr Narayanan leaves behind a legacy of rigorous research, passionate teaching, and a deep commitment to historical truth. His passing marks the end of an era in Indian historiography.
His wife is Premalatha, and has two children—N Vijayakumar, a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force, and N Vinaya, a dancer based in Bengaluru.
His daughters-in-law are Durga Vijayakumar, who resides in the USA, and Manoj, a software engineer also based in Bengaluru.
He was the brother of the late Devayani Gopinath and Jayamani Panicker. The cremation will be held at 4 PM at Smrithipatham, located on Mavoor Road in Kozhikode.
