Background
Viswanathan was born on February 8, 1928 in Vellanad, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, India.
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Mitraniketan Viswanathan
Edit ProfileEducation
He did his schooling in Thiruvananthapuram and joined Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore and completed Siksha Bhavana in 1953.
Career
He founded Mitraniketan, a non governmental organization in Vellanadu, Thiruvananthapuram in 1956. Later he continued his studies in the United States, the United Kingdom and in Scandinavia. During his days in the United States, he came in touch with Arthur East. Morgan which helped him shape his later years.
On his return to India, he founded Mitraniketan, The Home of Friends, in 1955, which works in the fields of innovation, training and extension in community development, environment, science, education and appropriate technology.
The organisation has since grown to cover 60 acres of land housing Mitraniketan People"s College, a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), a training centre for women, a fully equipped bakery, pottery centre, and a technology transfer programme. He was the patron of Kerala Voluntary Action League (KAVAL), a network of Non Governmental organizations.
He died on 28 April 2014 due to heart related problems at a private clinic in Thiruvananthapuram.
Achievements
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He was a winner of many awards and fellowships, including Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award by Indian Merchants Chamber, K P Goenka Award for Environment by Asian Cables Foundation and The Jamnalal Bajaj Award for application of science and technology in rural areas. He was awarded Padmashri by Government of India in 2009. Padmashri by Government of India - 2009 Sevanaratnam Award – 2002 Best Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award - 1998-1999 Architecture Bishop March Gregorious Memorial Award - 1997 M. K. K. Nair Award for Excellence in Social Work - 1997 Chellayyan Nadar Award for Excellence in Social Work - 1996 TRASS Award by Trivandrum Social Service Society for Excellence in Social Work - 1994 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for application of Science and Technology in rural areas - 1992 Ratindra Puraskar by Visva-Bharati University for contributions to rural development through the application of Science- 1991 K. P. Goenka Award for Environment by Asian Cables Foundation - 1987 Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award by Indian Merchants" Chamber - 1986 Sahodaran Sevaretna Puraskar Henry Dunant Red Cross Award.
Membership
Further, he chaired many organisations and attended conferences in India and abroad and served as a member of many government boards.
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Born
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Died
April 28, 2014 (aged 86) -
Nationality
India
Awards
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Jamnalal Bajaj Award; Padma Shri He was a winner of many awards and fellowships, including Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award by Indian Merchants Chamber, K P Goenka Award for Environment by Asian Cables Foundation and The Jamnalal Bajaj Award for application of science and technology in rural areas. He was awarded Padmashri by Government of India in 2009. Padmashri by Government of India - 2009 Sevanaratnam Award – 2002 Best Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award - 1998-99 Arch Bishop Mar Gregorious Memorial Award - 1997 M. K. K. Nair Award for Excellence in Social Work - 1997 Chellayyan Nadar Award for Excellence in Social Work - 1996 TRASS Award by Trivandrum Social Service Society for Excellence in Social Work - 1994 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for application of Science and Technology in rural areas - 1992 Ratindra Puraskar by Visva-Bharati University for contributions to rural development through the application of Science- 1991 K. P. Goenka Award for Environment by Asian Cables Foundation - 1987 Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award by Indian Merchants' Chamber - 1986 Sahodaran Sevaretna Puraskar Henry Dunant Red Cross AwardJamnalal Bajaj Award; Padma Shri He was a winner of many awards and fellowships, including Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award by Indian Merchants Chamber, K P Goenka Award for Environment by Asian Cables Foundation and The Jamnalal Bajaj Award for application of science and technology in rural areas. He was awarded Padmashri by Government of India in 2009. Padmashri by Government of India - 2009 Sevanaratnam Award – 2002 Best Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award - 1998-99 Arch Bishop Mar Gregorious Memorial Award - 1997 M. K. K. Nair Award for Excellence in Social Work - 1997 Chellayyan Nadar Award for Excellence in Social Work - 1996 TRASS Award by Trivandrum Social Service Society for Excellence in Social Work - 1994 Jamnalal Bajaj Award for application of Science and Technology in rural areas - 1992 Ratindra Puraskar by Visva-Bharati University for contributions to rural development through the application of Science- 1991 K. P. Goenka Award for Environment by Asian Cables Foundation - 1987 Platinum Jubilee Endowment Trust Award by Indian Merchants' Chamber - 1986 Sahodaran Sevaretna Puraskar Henry Dunant Red Cross Award