K. N. Panikkar: A Pillar of Scientific and Objective Historical Thought, Says Chief Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed condolences on the demise of eminent historian Dr. K. N. Panikkar. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister stated that Dr. K. N. Panikkar was a cultural leader who stood as the guardian of a scientific and objective historical consciousness, which marks the true essence of a human being.

He constantly reminded us, through his writings, speeches, and teachings, that India’s pluralism was shaped by the course of its history, and that its collapse would lead to the collapse of India itself. Dr. Panikkar, in turn, became a beacon of light that spread into the collective consciousness of society, especially during times when Indian secularism was overshadowed by the dark clouds of communalism. He studied what India truly is and presented it to the new generation, continuously alerting them to the dangers of divisions.

He followed the approaches of D. D. Kosambi and Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya in conducting cultural studies based on the principles of historical materialism. Through these studies, he actively resisted and confronted efforts to communalize India, fighting against them at every step.

As a result, he and his research were excluded from historical research institutions such as the Indian Council for Historical Research. Dr. Panikkar's life was a constant struggle against attempts to revive the chaturvarnya order, with all its decay, and to replace historical facts with legends, myths, and speculations. He was one of the renowned historians who rose to prominence in the international arena. His role in placing the Malabar Rebellion in its true historical context and highlighting its anti-imperialist aspect, as part of the freedom struggle and agrarian revolt, is of great historical significance.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that Dr. K. N. Panikkar played a leadership role in opposing the interventions of the BJP-led government, which sought to exclude events like the Punnapra-Vayalar and Kayyur incidents from the history of the national freedom struggle. He also fought against the communalisation of syllabi and resisted cultural marginalisation in various fields.

Having served as the Vice Chancellor of the Kalady Sanskrit University and as a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dr. Panikkar was a prominent figure in the cultural landscape of Delhi. Throughout his life, he remained aligned with leftist politics. His passing is an irreplaceable loss to the Indian secular democratic movements. The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of Dr. K. N. Panikkar.