THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Noted Vedanta scholar, philosopher and writer Prof G Balakrishnan Nair (88), who died on Friday was cremated here on Saturday morning. He died in Kollam at around 8.45 p.m. and was undergoing ayurveda treatment for the past one year.
He was scheduled to receive the Guptan Nair award instituted by the S Guptan Nair Foundation at a function to be held at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here on Sunday.
He was living with his daughter Dr Sathi, Sivaravindam, Palkulangara, here. His wife Saraswathi Amma predeceased him.
He was honoured with various awards including Srinarayana Samskarika Sangham Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Srinarayana Samskarika Samithi Award, Sivagiri Madom Award, Geetha Puraskaram, Samskrithi Prathisdan Award, Sidhinadananda Award, Ramasram Award and Kerala Vysan Award.
Balakrishnan Nair was born on February 5,1923 at Peroorkada, here as the son of late Gowriamma and late Govinda Pillai of Vazhayila Kurukannaal House.
He was an alumnus of Government Sanskrit College and University College here.
Balakrishnan Nair qualified the Mahopadhyaya in Sanskrit grammar of the Kerala University before securing MA degrees in Malayalam language and Sanskrit language also from the same university. Later, he took an MA degree in Hindi from Banaras Hindu University.
Balakrishnan Nair was on the faculty of Victoria College, Palakkad, Mahatma Gandhi College, Government Sanskrit College and Women's College here.
His major works included Sree Narayana Gurudeva Krithikal Sampoorna Vyakyanam published by the State Institute of Languages, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Sivaravindam Mahabhashyam, Vendanta Darsanam, Upanishad Swadyayam (Three parts), Bhashya Pradeepam Brahmasutra Bashyanuvadham, Vasishtasudha Yogavasishta Saaram, Bhagavata Hrudayam, Panchadashi, Jeevanmukti Vivekam, Harinamakeerthanam interpretation, Jnanapaana interpretation and Prawdanubhoothi Prakarana Prakashika.