Latest news with #IndianCouncilofHistoricalResearch
The Print
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
RSS sympathisers ‘infiltrated' professional institutes, ‘destroyed' them: Cong
New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) The Congress on Monday alleged there is a systematic infiltration of the RSS into professional institutes which are being destroyed, while citing 'irregularities' in the Indian Council of Historical Research which are being probed by the CVC. Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, 'Since May 2014, there has been a systematic infiltration of the RSS into professional institutions. One such example is the Indian Council of Historical Research.' 'Now these activists stand indicted by no less a body than the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) for financial misdeeds. It is a Rs 14 crore scam, which for the ICHR is a big amount,' he alleged.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
MGS Narayanan, scientific voice in Kerala's historiography, dead
Kozhikode: Prof MGS Narayanan , one of India's most distinguished historians and former chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), who made seminal contributions to Kerala historiography , passed away at his residence at Malapparamba on Saturday morning. He was 92. Narayanan broke new ground in Kerala history studies by strongly advocating for evidence-based or scientific history writing and adopting it as the cornerstone of his research. He had been suffering from age-related ailments for the past few years and passed away at 9.42 a.m. The funeral was held at the Mavoor Road crematorium at 4.37pm on Saturday. Narayanan's authoritative treatises on medieval history, including his seminal research on the Chera dynasty, stand as a beacon for objective, source-based historical writing, for which he meticulously studied around 150 inscriptions and discovered about 30 new ones. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Born on Aug 20, 1932, in Ponnani, as Muttayil Govindamenon Sankara Narayanan, his father KP Govinda Menon was a doctor. His mother passed away when he was seven and he spent his childhood at his maternal home in Neduva-Parappanangadi. He first attended school in the third grade at Neduva Elementary School, having been tutored at home by his father's friend Parameswaran master until then. He joined AV High School in Ponnani, his father's place, for the second form and passed the SSLC examination in 1947. During high school, he was passionate about poetry and literature. In 1947, he joined Guruvayurappan College in Kozhikode for intermediate studies, where his interest in history was sparked by history teacher KV Krishna Iyer. He later joined Farook College for BA in Economics and subsequently moved to Kerala Varma College in Thrissur. After completing his degree, he took MA in History from Madras Christian College in 1953, securing the first rank. He earned his PhD from Kerala University in 1973. MGS began his official career as a teacher at Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode, and joined Calicut University in 1968, where he served as lecturer, reader, and later professor (1976), heading the department of history from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. In 1974–75, he served as a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow at the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and went on to serve as visiting professor at the University of Moscow, Leningrad University, and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (1994–95). In 1990, he became the member secretary of the Indian Council of Historical Research and served as chairman of ICHR during the Vajpayee govt from 2001 to 2003. He was closely associated with the Indian History Congress and served as general secretary during 1983–1985. He also served as director general of the Centre for Heritage Studies in Tripunithura. His major works include 'Perumals of Kerala', 'Indian Charithra Parichayam', 'Sahitya Aparadhangal', 'Kerala Charithrathinte Adisthaana Shilakal', 'Kozhikkodinte Katha', 'Secular Jaatiyum Secular Matavum', and 'Janaadhipatyavum Communisavum', among others. He published around 200 research papers in national and international journals. He participated as an observer in the Kodungallur excavations (1969–70) and discovered and published a Brahmi inscription of Bindusara from Sanchi and several medieval Vattezhuttu inscriptions of Kerala. He is survived by wife VC Premalatha; children N Vijayakumar (Retd. Air Force Officer, currently in the US) and N Vinaya (Mohiniyattam teacher, Bangalore); and in-laws Durga (HR vice chairperson, US) and Manoj Ramanujan (IT consultant, Bangalore). The late historian M Gangadharan was his maternal uncle.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sahitya Akademi condoles demise of historian MGS Narayanan
The Kerala Sahitya Akademi, in a statement here on Saturday, condoled the demise of historian, scholar and teacher MGS Narayanan 'The demise of Prof. Narayanan is deeply saddening. He carved a unique path in historical research and profoundly transformed the study of ancient Kerala history through his distinctive approach. Unafraid of criticism, he remained steadfast in his views, both in academic circles and in socio-political discourse, earning admiration for his principled and courageous stance,' said Akademi president K. Satchidanandan and secretary C.P. Aboobacker. Over 200 books Prof. Narayanan served as both the member secretary and chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). He authored over 200 books and scholarly articles. His strong command over Malayalam, English, Tamil, and Sanskrit as well as fluency in Brahmi, Vattezhuthu, Grantha scripts and in epigraphy were a great advantage for Kerala's historical research. As a visiting professor in several prestigious universities and academic institutions within India and abroad, he elevated Kerala's intellectual landscape to an international level. His autobiography Jaalakangal – Oru Charithranveshiyude Vazhikal Kaazhchakal (Windows – The Paths and Views of a Historian) received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2019. Prof. Narayanan's passing marks the loss of a powerful presence in the realm of historical research in Kerala as well as a meaningful voice in its socio-cultural landscape. His invaluable contributions will be remembered forever. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi expresses its heartfelt condolences on his demise, the statement added.
Indian Express
26-04-2025
- General
- Indian Express
MGS Narayanan, ex-ICHR chairman who offered a new perspective on Kerala's history, no more
Renowned historian and former chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) Dr M G S Narayanan died at his residence in Kozhikode on Saturday. He was 92. Narayanan conducted extensive research on Kerala's history, offering a new perspective and interpretation, and authored several works, including on the state's Aryanisation. Hailing from Ponnani in Malappuram, Muttayil Govidan Menon Sankara Narayanan, who was later known as MGS in the corridors of historical research, began his career as a faculty at Guruvayurappan College in Kozhikode after obtaining masters in history. In 1968, he joined the University of Calicut as a lecturer and headed the history department from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. During that time, he was instrumental in establishing a specialised library and a museum of Kerala History and Culture. During his illustrious career as a historian, Narayanan served as visiting faculty at several national and international academic centres. He served as the chairman of ICHR from 2001 to 2003. Narayanan had been closely associated with the Indian History Congress from the 1970s and served at its various bodies for the next three decades. He became the president of the Indian History and Cultural Society in 2001. He also played a key role in establishing and promoting the South Indian History Congress, the Epigraphical Society of India, and the Place Name Society of India. His publications include three volumes of sources for Kerala History and a compilation of extracts from research works 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.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
MGS worked on a sound methodology to reach conclusions: historian K.N Ganesh
Historian and chairperson of the Kerala Council for Historical Research K.N Ganesh has said that he knew MGS Narayanan as a historian who steered the study of history into a realm in which more scientific methods are used, deploying evidence from archaeology, literature and numismatics and worked on a sound methodology to reach conclusions. 'MGS had his strong opinions on which he held forth. The debates, he said, used to be hot but at the same time MGS kept close to the path of open and honest discussion. He did not mince words when it came to his political opinions. He accepted the Marxist historiography but did not agree with the Marxist party,' Dr. Ganesh said. 'Though he became the Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research he did not fully toe the line set by the National Democratic Alliance-led government at the centre', he said. Dr. Ganesh remembers MGS Narayanan, who had his strong opinions, as one with whom he enjoyed a great friendship. His opinions did not keep MGS away from friendships. 'My association with MGS began towards the end of 1970s and the warm friendship continued until the end of his life', he said.
