Noted historian and previous chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Dr. M G S Narayanan, passed away at his Kozhikode residence on Saturday. He was 92 years old.
Born in Ponnani, Malappuram, Muttayil Govidan Menon Sankara Narayanan, commonly known as MGS in the realm of historical research, commenced his career as a faculty member at Guruvayurappan College in Kozhikode after earning a Master’s degree in history.
In 1968, he became a lecturer at the University of Calicut and led the history department from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. During this period, he was instrumental in establishing a specialized library and a museum dedicated to Kerala History and Culture.
Throughout his illustrious career as a historian, Narayanan served as a visiting faculty at numerous national and international academic institutions. He held the position of chairman at ICHR from 2001 to 2003. Narayanan has been a close associate of the Indian History Congress since the 1970s, serving in various roles for the next three decades. He was elected as the president of the Indian History and Cultural Society in 2001.
He played a significant role in the establishment and promotion of the South Indian History Congress, the Epigraphical Society of India, and the Place Name Society of India. His bibliography includes three volumes of sources for Kerala History and a compilation of extracts from research works conducted in the last hundred years of the Malabar region in Kerala. He discovered and published a Brahmi inscription of Bindusara from Sanchi, and several medieval Vattezhuttu inscriptions of Kerala.
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In addition to his academic contributions, Narayanan was a dedicated educator and mentor, inspiring many young minds with his passion for history. His loss will be deeply felt by the academic community and the people of Kerala.
Here is a brief overview of Dr. M G S Narayanan’s life and accomplishments:
– Born: Ponnani, Malappuram
– Education: Masters in History
– Career: Faculty at Guruvayurappan College, University of Calicut, ICHR Chairman
– Publications: Three volumes of sources for Kerala History, Compilation of extracts from research works, Discoverer and publisher of several inscriptions
– Significant Associations: Indian History Congress, Indian History and Cultural Society, South Indian History Congress, Epigraphical Society of India, Place Name Society of India.
– Died: Kozhikode, at 92 years of age.
