Career
He founded Nazranee Deepika, which was the forerunner of today"s Deepika newspaper, and was instrumental in the founding of another newspaper, the Malayala Manorama. He had a role in organising the Malayali Memorial — one of the first steps in the social transformation of Kerala — and a key figure in the opening up of his community to English education. In 1969, as a tribute to his contribution to Malayalam literature, the Kerala Literary Academy unveiled his portrait in the Academy Hall at Trichur.
Born into a rich agrarian family on 27 May 1842 at Kuravilangad, Kathanar entered spiritual service at the age of 19 as a deacon.
He continued as deacon for 14 years before he was ordained priest in 1876. Kathanar died on 20 June 1904 due to unknown reasons.
