Zamorin Raja P.K. Kerala Varma, Veteran Pharmacologist, Passes Away at 89

On the morning of September 8, 2026, the quiet corridors of a private hospital in Kozhikode became the setting for a solemn farewell. Zamorin Raja P.K. Kerala Varma, 89, slipped away while undergoing routine treatment, leaving behind a legacy that stretched across laboratories, export halls and public‑health programmes.

Born on September 3, 1936, in the historic town of Thiruvannur, he belonged to the Thekkekettu branch of the Puthiya Kovilakam lineage. After finishing his pharmacy degree at L.M. Pharmacy College in Ahmedabad, he cut his teeth at German Remedies in Mumbai and later at the medical college in his native Kozhikode.

In the early 1970s he took a bold step: founding Narniat Pharmaceuticals. The company quickly earned a reputation for producing reliable medicines – antibiotics among the flagship products – and for shipping them far beyond India’s shores. His dedication to quality didn’t go unnoticed; both the central and Kerala governments honoured him with awards for excellence in exports.

But his contributions weren’t limited to the boardroom. Kerala Varma served as president of the Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association in Kozhikode and sat on the executive panel of the Small Industries Association. He also lent his expertise to a Central Export Promotion Council committee that scouted industrial opportunities across nine countries, from Australia to South Africa. On the health‑front, he collaborated with the state’s Filariasis Research Centre, helping devise strategies to curb the spread of filariasis in the Lakshadweep islands.

Beyond the professional sphere, he was a trusted pharmacology adviser to venerable institutions such as Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, Oushadhi and Vaidyamadham, guiding them through modern drug‑development challenges.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jayasree Varma, their daughter Sunidhi Raja, son Dr K. Sujith Varma, and a close‑knit extended family. After the body was brought back to his Chinthavalappu residence at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, friends and relatives gathered to pay respects. The cremation was held later that evening at Smrithipatham crematorium on Mavoor Road.