States » SouthPosted at: Sep 30 2026 7:33AM


M A Krishnan’s death a loss of multi-faceted talent: Mohan Bhagwat

Kochi, Sep 30 (UNI) RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has described the death of veteran RSS Pracharak, cultural organiser and former Kesari editor M A Krishnan as the loss of a multi-faceted talent who made significant contributions to the cultural and social life of Kerala.
Krishnan, popularly known as “M A Sir”, died at Amrita Hospital here on Tuesday while undergoing treatment. He was 97. His cremation is scheduled to be held at his family home at Aivarkala in Kollam district on Wednesday evening, RSS sources said.
In his condolence message, Bhagwat recalled Krishnan as a senior and dedicated Sangh worker who played a major role in developing several cultural initiatives in Kerala. He particularly referred to his contribution to Balagokulam and Tapasya Kala Sahitya Vedi, which emerged as prominent cultural organisations in the State.
Bhagwat said Kerala had lost not only a dedicated senior Pracharak but also a person endowed with diverse talents who contributed to different spheres of social and cultural activity.
RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale also condoled Krishnan’s death, recalling his long years of dedication and commitment and describing his life as one marked by diverse talents and experiences. “May the memory of the great warrior remain forever. Om Shanti,” he said.
RSS Sah-Sarkaryavah Ram Dutt Chakradhar paid his last respects and recalled Krishnan’s significant contribution to the growth of Balagokulam.
Krishnan was among the early RSS organisers in Kerala and joined the organisation as a Pracharak in 1954 after beginning his career as a teacher at Vazhoor High School in Kottayam. Born on January 17, 1929, at Aivarkala in Kollam district, he worked in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam districts as a full-time RSS worker.
He became editor of the Malayalam weekly Kesari in 1964 and continued in the position until 1990. During his tenure, he played a significant role in expanding the publication’s presence in Kerala’s Malayalam media sphere and wrote extensively on temples, cultural heritage and social issues. He also published a series on temples in Malabar and issues related to religious conversions. A special issue on the Bharathapuzha river, titled “The Legend of Nila”, highlighted the need for its protection.
His association with Balagokulam became one of the most significant chapters of his public life. The initiative had its roots in a children’s column in Kesari and later developed into an organised movement. The first Balagokulam unit was started at Karaparamba in Kozhikode in October 1972 with 17 children. Krishnan played a key role in giving the movement an organisational framework and publishing guidelines for its activities through Kesari.
Balagokulam subsequently expanded across Kerala, conducting children's camps, cultural programmes, classes and Sri Krishnajayanti Shobhayatras. The processions, featuring children dressed as Lord Krishna and Radha, gradually became a prominent feature of Janmashtami celebrations in the State.
Krishnan was also a founder and guiding force behind Tapasya Kala Sahitya Vedi and was associated with initiatives including Amritha Bharathi, Balasamskara Kendram, Balasahithee Prakashan, International Sree Krishna Kendra and Saurakshika, a movement for child-rights protection. He served for long periods as RSS Kerala Prantha Bauddhik Pramukh and Prachar Pramukh.
His cultural activities extended to literary and environmental initiatives. He was associated with efforts to promote cultural awareness among children and with programmes linked to Kerala’s literary and artistic traditions. According to RSS-linked accounts, his long public life brought him into contact with several leading figures in Kerala’s literary and cultural spheres.
Krishnan was also associated with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s national conference held in Kozhikode in 1967 and covered the event for Kesari under the pen name “Shakalyan”. He was involved in the movement connected with worship rights and restoration of the Thali temple in Kozhikode in 1968.
His contribution to Tapasya also included major cultural initiatives. Among them was a cultural pilgrimage led by poet Akkitham from Kanyakumari to Gokarna, besides Balagokulam’s knowledge-oriented programmes and children’s conferences. Kerala Kaumudi reported that these were among the initiatives he helped conceptualise.
Krishnan received the Vivekananda Seva Samman from the Badabazar Library in Kolkata in 2008 and was also honoured with the Veerasree Veluthampi Memorial Seva Award. He spent his final years at Madhava Nivas, the RSS South Kerala provincial office at Elamakkara.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar also condoled Krishnan’s death, recalling his contribution to national movements and Kerala’s cultural and social activities.
UNI DS
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