The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expresses its profound grief and heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr. K.N. Panikkar, the eminent Marxist historian, fearless public intellectual, and a steadfast ally of the working-class movement. Dr. Panikkar passed away on 9th March, 2026 at the age of 90 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, leaving behind a monumental legacy of academic erudition and secular activism. In his passing, the nation has lost one of its most rigorous scholars and a towering figure who dedicated his life to defending the democratic secular fabric of India.
Dr. Panikkar was never a mere academic of remarkable intellectual brilliance he was a cultural warrior who understood that history is a vital site of struggle. Throughout his illustrious career, most notably during his decades at JNU from 1972, he mentored generations of students to view history through the lens of objective, scientific inquiry rather than myth-making. His seminal works, including Against Lord and State: Religion and Peasant Uprising in Malabar, Culture and Consciousness in Modern India, and Before the Night Falls: Forebodings of Fascism in India, remain essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of colonialism, class struggle, and communalism.
CITU particularly remembers Dr. Panikkar for his courageous interventions during the height of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. When historical narratives were being weaponized to incite communal division, Dr. Panikkar and his colleagues stood at the forefront, using evidence-based research to challenge the distortions of Hindutva politics. Through widely circulated pamphlets, he and fellow historians exposed the lack of archaeological evidence for the claims used to mobilize communal sentiment, warning the nation against the political misuse of heritage. He remained a consistent voice against the saffronization of education, serving with distinction as the Vice-Chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council, Vice-Chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University, and President of the Indian History Congress.
Dr. Panikkar was deeply involved in the people’s science movement and cultural activism. Born into the Kandiyur family of Guruvayur, he rose to become a global academic figure, invited as a visiting professor to numerous universities abroad. Yet, he remained rooted in the struggle for social emancipation, believing that knowledge should serve the people. His commitment to the secular-democratic values of the Indian Constitution earned him the respect of the working class and the ire of communal forces, threats he faced with unwavering Marxist conviction.
CITU conveys its deepest sympathies to his family, his students, and the academic community. At this crucial juncture in India, as neo-fascist forces attempt to rewrite history and reshape the nation in an extreme right-wing communal direction, Dr. Panikkar’s enormous contributions and intellectual legacy serve as a vital source of strength. His lifelong commitment to historical truth and secular values will continue to inspire the present and future generations to resolutely combat and defeat these neo-fascistic forces.
Issued By
Sudip Dutta
President
