Renowned Historian Dr. M.G.S. Narayanan Passes Away at 93

Last Updated Apr - 26 - 2025, 03:23 PM | Source : Fela News

Eminent historian Dr. M.G.S. Narayanan, known for his groundbreaking work on Kerala’s history and the Chera dynasty, passed away in Kozhikode at the age of 93.

Eminent historian Dr. M.G.S. Narayanan passed away on Friday at his residence in Malaparamba, Kozhikode. He was 93 and had been battling age-related ailments. The funeral will take place at the Mavoor Road crematorium on Saturday at 4 p.m. A native of Ponnani, Dr. Narayanan was a former chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and a celebrated scholar in Kerala’s historical and cultural studies.

His pioneering research on the Chera dynasty culminated in the acclaimed book Perumals of Kerala. He also unearthed important stone and copper plate inscriptions, significantly enriching Kerala's historiography. Internationally recognized for his scholarly papers, he served as a visiting professor in the UK and Russia.

Born on August 20, 1932, as Muttayil Govinda Menon Shankara Narayanan, he studied economics and history at the University of Madras. He began teaching in 1954 and later joined the University of Calicut, retiring as head of its history department in 1992. Dr. Narayanan authored several notable books and published his autobiography Jalakangal in 2018. He is survived by his wife Premalatha, son Vijayakumar, and daughter Vinaya Manoj.