<p>Gemini Sankaran, the founder of Gemini Circus and a pioneer of Indian circus, has died, family sources said on Monday. He was 99.</p>.<p>Sankaran was admitted to a private hospital near here for the past few days due to age-related ailments and died on Sunday night.</p>.<p>Condoling the demise, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed Sankaran for playing a major role in popularising Indian circus worldwide. "He played a major role in modernising the Indian circus and included foreign performers and their tricks," Vijayan said.</p>.<p>The Chief Minister said he had close ties with Sankaran who had a progressive outlook.</p>.<p>Sankaran used to have close relations with various prime ministers, presidents and other prominent personalities.</p>.<p>His demise is a great loss to the art of circus in the country, Vijayan said.</p>.<p>Sankaran, who was born in 1924, trained under noted circus artist Keeleri Kunhikannan for three years and later joined the military and retired after the Second World War.</p>.<p>After working with various circus groups across the country, he purchased Vijaya Circus Company in 1951 and renamed it as Gemini Circus. Later, he started his second company, Jumbo Circus.</p>.<p>He was honored by the Union government with a lifetime achievement award considering his overall contribution to circus in the country.</p>.<p>Sankaran is survived by two sons and a daughter.</p>.<p>His body will be kept at his residence for the public to pay homage and the last rites will be held at Payyambalam beach on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Gemini Sankaran, the founder of Gemini Circus and a pioneer of Indian circus, has died, family sources said on Monday. He was 99.</p>.<p>Sankaran was admitted to a private hospital near here for the past few days due to age-related ailments and died on Sunday night.</p>.<p>Condoling the demise, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed Sankaran for playing a major role in popularising Indian circus worldwide. "He played a major role in modernising the Indian circus and included foreign performers and their tricks," Vijayan said.</p>.<p>The Chief Minister said he had close ties with Sankaran who had a progressive outlook.</p>.<p>Sankaran used to have close relations with various prime ministers, presidents and other prominent personalities.</p>.<p>His demise is a great loss to the art of circus in the country, Vijayan said.</p>.<p>Sankaran, who was born in 1924, trained under noted circus artist Keeleri Kunhikannan for three years and later joined the military and retired after the Second World War.</p>.<p>After working with various circus groups across the country, he purchased Vijaya Circus Company in 1951 and renamed it as Gemini Circus. Later, he started his second company, Jumbo Circus.</p>.<p>He was honored by the Union government with a lifetime achievement award considering his overall contribution to circus in the country.</p>.<p>Sankaran is survived by two sons and a daughter.</p>.<p>His body will be kept at his residence for the public to pay homage and the last rites will be held at Payyambalam beach on Tuesday.</p>