THRISSUR: Eminent botanist and Padma Shri awardee K S Manilal, celebrated for translating the ancient Latin text “Hortus Malabaricus” into English and Malayalam, died following age-related ailments, family sources said here on Wednesday. He was 86. He was not keeping well for some time and breathed his last at a private hospital here, they said.
Kattungal Subrahmanyan Manilal, popularly known as K S Manilal, was a former head of the Department of Botany at the University of Calicut.
Condoling Manilal’s demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his rich work in botany will continue to be a guiding light for generations of upcoming botanists and researchers.
Modi said on X, “He was equally passionate about the history and culture of Kerala. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”
Manilal’s decades-long contributions to botany, particularly his efforts to translate Hortus Malabaricus, a 17th century botanical treatise documenting the rich flora of Malabar region (south-western coast of India) into English and Malayalam, earned him widespread recognition.
The treatise remains a vital resource for researchers, academicians and students studying the region’s botanical history.
Manilal penned several books and published over 200 research papers besides introducing many new plant species. He is a recipient of several national and international awards.
The Centre honoured him with Padma Shri in 2020 for his contributions in the field of science.
