M.G.S. Narayanan
Encyclopedia
Muttayil Govindamenon Sankara Narayanan (also known as M.G.S.), born on 20th August 1932, is a historian, academic and a former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research
.
. He topped the University of Madras
in his post graduation in 1953 and later went on to complete his Ph.D. from the University of Kerala in 1973. His thesis titled Perumals of Kerala was published in 1996. He studied ancient scripts like Brahmi, Vattezhuttu and Grantha and is well versed in classical Sanskrit and ancient South Indian scripts.
at Calicut. Later, when the University of Calicut
was established in 1968, he served in the Department of History in various positions before retiring in 1992 as Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, a post he held from 1970.
He held academic positions in MG University, Kottayam and Mangalore University
in India and also served abroad in various foreign universities, notable among them being the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow University, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
.
MGS served as First Member Secretary of the Indian Council of Historical Research
under Irfan Habib
in 1990-92 and later as its Chairman from July 2001 to December 2003.He was forced out by the NDA-led government of India due to differences in opinion over what he termed "squandering public funds for promoting communal schemes in the field of historical research". His tenure at the helm of ICHR, where he oversaw the publishing of nearly 40 books was praised for his competence by his contemporaries like RS Sharma.
Since 1969, he was member of Executive Committee of the Indian History Congress
and later went on to become its General Secretary during 1982-85. He was President of Indian History and Culture Society (2001) and member of academic bodies like Journal of Indian History, Indian Historical Review etc.
(1969-70) and discovered and published the Bindusara Brahmi inscription of Sanchi
and many medieval Vattezhuttu inscriptions of Kerala.
The more prominent among his works include:
He has also published many books in Malayalam, including:
Indian Council of Historical Research
The Indian Council of Historical Research is a Society . The ICHR is registered under Societies registration Act 1860 with the Department of Industries of Delhi Government, Delhi.Role...
.
Education
MGS Narayanan had his primary education in Kerala and later moved to Madras to pursue his Master’s degree in History from the Madras Christian CollegeMadras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
. He topped the University of Madras
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
in his post graduation in 1953 and later went on to complete his Ph.D. from the University of Kerala in 1973. His thesis titled Perumals of Kerala was published in 1996. He studied ancient scripts like Brahmi, Vattezhuttu and Grantha and is well versed in classical Sanskrit and ancient South Indian scripts.
Academic Career
Narayanan started his academic career in 1965 at the Post Graduation Centre of Kerala UniversityKerala University
The University of Kerala, formerly the University of Travancore, is an affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. It was established in 1937, long before the birth of the state of Kerala in India...
at Calicut. Later, when the University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...
was established in 1968, he served in the Department of History in various positions before retiring in 1992 as Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, a post he held from 1970.
He held academic positions in MG University, Kottayam and Mangalore University
Mangalore University
Mangalore University is a public university located in Konaje, Karnataka State of India. Ranked with a four star by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in June 2000, this young university offers higher education and conducts research in various fields...
in India and also served abroad in various foreign universities, notable among them being the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow University, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
TUFS is a specialized institution only in foreign language, international affairs and foreign studies, thus it is not as well-known as other big universities such as University of Tokyo and Kyoto University...
.
MGS served as First Member Secretary of the Indian Council of Historical Research
Indian Council of Historical Research
The Indian Council of Historical Research is a Society . The ICHR is registered under Societies registration Act 1860 with the Department of Industries of Delhi Government, Delhi.Role...
under Irfan Habib
Irfan Habib
Irfan Habib is an Indian Marxist historian, a former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research and a Padma Bhushan awardee. He is a Professor Emeritus at Aligarh Muslim University. He has served in the Indian History Congress for many years. Irfan Habib and R.S...
in 1990-92 and later as its Chairman from July 2001 to December 2003.He was forced out by the NDA-led government of India due to differences in opinion over what he termed "squandering public funds for promoting communal schemes in the field of historical research". His tenure at the helm of ICHR, where he oversaw the publishing of nearly 40 books was praised for his competence by his contemporaries like RS Sharma.
Since 1969, he was member of Executive Committee of the Indian History Congress
Indian History Congress
Indian History Congress is the largest professional and academic body of Indian historians with over 10,000 members. It was established in 1935. The name of any new applicant for membership needs to be proposed and seconded by existing Ordinary or Life Members....
and later went on to become its General Secretary during 1982-85. He was President of Indian History and Culture Society (2001) and member of academic bodies like Journal of Indian History, Indian Historical Review etc.
Research and Publications
He has published numerous research papers in national and international journals. In 1994 he served as Chief Editor of Malabar, a compilation of research extracts brought out over the last century. He was also an observer in excavations in KodungallurKodungallur
Kodungallur is a municipality in Thrissur District, in the state of Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is located about 29 km northwest of Kochi city and 38 km Southwest of Thrissur, on National Highway 17 . Muziris the ancient seaport at the mouth of the Periyar River was...
(1969-70) and discovered and published the Bindusara Brahmi inscription of Sanchi
Sanchi
Sanchi is a small village in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, it is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and Vidisha in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd...
and many medieval Vattezhuttu inscriptions of Kerala.
The more prominent among his works include:
- Aspects of Aryanisation in Kerala (1973)
- Re-Interpretations in South Indian History (1977)
- Historical studies in Kerala (1976) - co-authored with K. K. N. Kurup
- The people's plan: a debate on Kerala's decentralised planning experiment(1997) - co-authored with N. P. Chekkutty
- Foundations of South Indian Society and Culture (1994)
- Cultural Symbiosis in Kerala (1972)
- Kerala through the Ages (co-authored; 1976)
- Perumals of Kerala (1996)
- Calicut: The City of Truth Revisited (2006)
He has also published many books in Malayalam, including:
- India Charitra Parichayam(1969)
- Sahitya Aparadhangal(1970)
- Kerala Charitrathinte Adisthaana Silakal(1971 & 2001)
- Kozhikkodinte Katha(2001)
- Vanjeri grandhavari(1987)