According to family sources, on April 23, the founder of Gemini Circus, Gemini Sankaran, passed away at the age of 99.
Sankaran was admitted to a private hospital for the past few days because of an age-related ailment. But on the night of April 23, he died. He was a native of Kerela.
The Chief Minister of Kerela, Pinarayi Vijayan, condoled the demise of the circus stalwart and hailed Sankaran’s prominent role in taking Indian circus worldwide and popularising it.
The Chief Minister said, “He played a major role in modernising the Indian circus and included foreign performers and their tricks”. Because of Sankaran’s progressive outlook, Pinarayi Vijayan had close ties with him.
Sankaran maintained good and close relationships with various prime ministers, presidents and other prominent personalities. Commenting on the death of Sankaran Vijayan said his demise is a great loss to the art of circus in the country.
Sankaran was born in June, 13, 1924 to Kavinisheri Raman Nair and Moorkoth Kalyaniyamma. He was not that educated and left his formal education after completing class 7. He got his training under the artist Keeleri Kunhikannan, a doyen in the field of the circus. Apart from the circus, he also learned Kalaripayattu. After his training, he opened a grocery store but failed, and he joined the military and got retired after World War 2.
After that, he worked as a trapeze artist with Boss Lion Circus. He purchased Vijaya Circus in 1951 for Rs 6000 and later renamed it Gemini Circus and also went to purchase Jumbo Circus.
In 2012, he wrote his autobiography, Mariyunna Jeevitha. There is another biography, Malakkam Mariyunna Jeevitham. The Government of India honoured him with a Lifetime achievement award for his role and contribution to the field circus in the country.
The body will be kept at his residence for the public to pay homage to. The last rites will be held on April 25 at the beach of Payyambalam.
He was married to Shobhana, and the couple had two sons, Ajay Shankar and Ashok Shankar, and a daughter, Renu Shankar.
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