K Narayan Gurukkal passes away

Noted Kalaripayattu instructor and founder of CVN Kalarisangham, K Narayan Gurukkal of Sobha Nivas, Kunnathurmedu died here on Friday night. He was 81. He is survived by his wife Padmavathy, son Narayanan Kutty and daughters Vasini and Ramani.

Narayan Gurukkal was born in 1926 in Kandoth family in Thalassery. He underwent intensive Kalaripayattu training under Late CV Narayan Nair.

He was invited to Palakkad by late Kandathil Ayyappankutty Vaidyar. As per the invitation, he came to Palakkad and established the CVN Kalari here in 1947.

Narayan Gurukkal had demonstrated his Kalari prowess in several Malayalam and Tamil movies and has an array of renowned students in and around Kerala.

He had been awarded with citations by late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Travancore Raja.

Former president KR Narayan had awarded the VeeraSringhala to Narayan Gurukkal for his outstanding contributions and he was also a recipient of several awards instituted by the State Government