Muttayil Govinda Sankara Narayanan, renowned as M.G.S. Narayanan, passed away on April 26, 2025, at the age of 92. He was a distinguished historian who made significant contributions to the study of Kerala's ancient history, temple inscriptions, and social transformations.

Narayanan served as the Member Secretary and later Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and authored over 200 scholarly works, leaving a lasting impact on historical research in India.

Key Points

• He was born on August 20, 1932, in Ponnani, Kerala, and was widely regarded as a distinguished historian and educator.
• Narayanan authored over 200 books and articles, including 112 research papers published in national and international journals.
• He served as the Member Secretary and later Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), contributing significantly to the development of historical research in India.
• Narayanan was affiliated with the University of Calicut, where he played a vital role in shaping the university’s academic and research direction.
• His research focused on Kerala’s ancient history, temple inscriptions, Brahmin settlements, and the social transformations in South India.
• Narayanan's scholarly work has had a profound influence on the study of South Indian history and has established a strong academic tradition in the field.