Veteran RSS Leader M.A. Krishnan Dies at 97

KOCHI, Sep 29 (UNI): Veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak, cultural organiser and former editor of Malayalam weekly Kesari, M.A. Krishnan, popularly known as “M.A. Sir”, died at Amrita Hospital here on Tuesday while undergoing treatment. He was 97.

Krishnan was a prominent figure in the RSS and played a significant role in cultural, literary, educational and social initiatives in Kerala, particularly those involving children and the promotion of Indian cultural traditions.

Born on January 17, 1929, at Ayirakara in Kollam district, Krishnan joined an RSS shakha in 1947 and became a full-time pracharak in 1954 after briefly working as a teacher at Vazhoor High School in Kottayam. He worked in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam districts.

He later served as RSS Kerala Prantha Bauddhik Pramukh and Prachar Pramukh and was associated with several cultural initiatives. He became editor of Kesari in 1964 and continued as its chief editor until 1990. During his tenure, the weekly expanded its coverage of temples, cultural centres, personalities and historical subjects in Kerala. Several noted scholars and writers, including M.G.S. Narayanan and K.K.N. Kurup, contributed to the publication.

Krishnan was among the key figures associated with the development of Balagokulam, which grew from a children's column in Kesari into an organised cultural movement. The first Balagokulam unit began functioning at Karaparamba in Kozhikode in October 1972, and the movement subsequently spread across Kerala and among Malayali communities abroad.

He also played a major role in establishing and developing Thapasya Kala Sahitya Vedi and was associated with initiatives such as Amrithabharathi, Balasamskara Kendram, Balasahithee Prakashan, International Sree Krishna Kendra and Saurakshika.

During the Emergency declared in 1975, Krishnan, who was then editing Kesari, went underground. Balagokulam activities, however, continued and subsequently developed a wider organisational network across Kerala. The Sri Krishnajayanti Shobhayatra became one of the movement's prominent annual programmes, attracting large numbers of children and families.

Krishnan was also associated with literary and cultural personalities including poet Akkitham, writers Thikkodiyan and N.N. Kakkad, O.N.V. Kurup, critic Sukumar Azhikode and Chakyar Koothu exponent Mani Madhava Chakyar, according to Vishwa Samvada Kendram.

He participated in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh's national conference in Kozhikode in 1967 and covered the event under the pen name “Shakalyan”. He was also associated with efforts connected with worship rights at the Thali temple in Angadipuram in 1968.

Krishnan received the Vivekananda Seva Samman from the Badabazar Library in Kolkata in 2008 and was honoured with several other awards, including the Veerasree Veluthampi Memorial Seva Award. In 2023, he was among those who jointly unveiled a statue of Malayalam literary Nivas, the RSS South Kerala headquarters at Elamakkara in Ernakulam. His association with the RSS and its cultural and educational initiatives figure Thunchath Ezhuthachan at the Amrithabharathi Vidyapeetam in Kochi.

Krishnan spent his later years at Madhava Nivas, the RSS South Kerala headquarters at Elamakkara in Ernakulam. His association with the RSS and its cultural and educational initiatives in Kerala spanned more than seven decades.

He is survived by his legacy of work in cultural and children's organisations, particularly through the expansion of Balagokulam and his long association with Kesari.

The cremation will take place in Kollam on Wednesday.