NEW DELHI: M G S Narayanan, renowned historian, academic and former chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), passed away at 93 due to age-related ailments at his residence in Malaparamba, Kozhikode on Saturday.
The distinguished scholar, who headed the history department at the University of Calicut and served as ICHR chairman, is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Narayanan’s significant contribution to Indian historiography was marked by his PhD thesis ‘Perumals of Kerala’, which explored Kerala’s socio-political history from the 9th to the 12th centuries.
His academic career was highlighted by his leadership at the University of Calicut’s history department from 1976 to 1990, followed by his role as ICHR chairman from 2001-2003.
From 1976, he actively participated in the Indian History Congress and led numerous historical research projects in collaboration with ICHR.
His research primarily focused on Kerala history, the history of Tamilakam, ancient Indian history, and historiography methodology. He mentored over a thousand students and supervised multiple postgraduate research projects.
Narayanan authored more than 200 articles in Malayalam and English, making historical scholarship more accessible through his engaging writing style.
His international academic experience included positions as a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and visiting fellowships at the University of Moscow and the Institute of Oriental Studies in Leningrad.
His distinguished career also included serving as a visiting professor at various universities in India and abroad.