Dr. K.S. Manilal passed away on 1 January 2025. He was an eminent botanist known for his significant contributions to the study of the Latin botanical treatise "Hortus Malabaricus," which has provided extensive botanical knowledge on Malabar.

He received the Padma Shri award in January 2020 for his contributions to science and engineering, highlighting his impact in the field of botany.

Manilal was passionate about Kerala's history and culture, integrating these interests into his botanical research, which adds a unique dimension to his scholarly work.

PM Modi expressed his condolences on X :