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M. Prabhakaran Thampi (20 October 1934 – 12 September 2022) was a retired teacher, headmaster, writer, state institute resource person, philanthropist, and social activist. He was the author of several books, essays, short stories, biographies, travelogues, science critiques, and a novel.

Early life and education
Prabhakaran Thampi was born on October 20, 1934 to Madhavan Muthalali (a dedicated and devoted farmer who was honored with the “Muthalali Pattom”, a position provided by the Maharaja of Travancore to those entrepreneurs with social commitment and integrity) and Sarada. His early years were spent aiding his father in farming, coir making, and coconut processing. His primary education was at Govt. Primary School, Shaasthamkovil, Mayyanad where he was an avid student with a keen eye for all activities.

A member of the school football club and a decorated athlete, he showed prowess in pole vault and shot put and was well awarded for it in his school and college years. He completed his schooling at Mayyanad HS and pursued his Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in mathematics at SN College, Kollam, and his bachelor’s degree in education (B.Ed) from Govt. Training College, Thiruvananthapuram.

Teaching
Prabhakaran Thampi started his career as a teacher in 1960 at Mayyanad High School. He later joined government service, and became the headmaster of Mayyanad Vellamanal Middle School, where the late C.V. Kunhiraman (an Indian social reformer, journalist, and the founder of Kerala Kaumudi daily) was the former headmaster. During his tenure at Vellamanal School, many academic reforms and social uplifting of children from different socio-economic background were achieved. One his most notable contributions was hosting the event of Kumaranasan’s centenary celebration, which was attended by prominent personalities like EMS Namboothirippad, K Balakrishnan, Vayalar Rama Varma, Thakazhi Sivasankarapillai, M.K Sanu, Prof. Thirunalloor Karunakaran, M Prabha and V Sambasivan. He successfully initiated and accomplished the process of upgrading Vellamanal School into a high school in Mayyanad village in 1974.

He immersed himself in the teaching profession over a period of 40 years and had served in various schools and educational institutes, namely the Government ITI Chandanathope, Govt.Model.U.P.S Kakkottumoola, Valathungal Boys Government High School. He tutored students of grades VIII to X in Mathematics and English. His unique teaching methods, notably his narration of poems with heart clenching emotions, attracted students from every class. From training his pupils to respect each step in an algorithm to solve equations and theorems 'beautifully', to bringing life to Shakespearean plays and sonnets, he believed in increasing the outreach of education amongst youth beyond the four walls of the classroom. His teaching methodology, authentic approach, and determination towards the social norm of ‘equal opportunity to all’ earned him the name ’Thampi Sir’ in society in his youthful early 20’s. He worked as a Kerala district-level resource person for developing new teaching techniques for the NCERT project and for the new central educational policies on many occasions. He had made indispensable contributions to the high school syllabus for the students of Kerala. He played a crucial role in decision making involving the refurbishment of student curricula

He pioneered a student companionable English composition guidance book in 1981 for high school students, which was widely accepted by the schools all over Kerala.

He pioneered Kerala's first Science Exhibition at the high school level in 1961, after many trials based on UNESCO sourcebooks and American consulate materials. It was highlighted by the display of a color television made by a combination of eight lenses with different focal lengths, which was later presented at the All-India Exhibition in Thiruvananthapuram. This gained the appraisal of several science experts and has thus headed subsequent editions in many schools on different occasions.

He had conducted numerous celebrations on various occasions like district school festivals and jubilee celebrations ,and played a pivotal role in all the editions henceforth.

He was one of the front-runners involved in the Kerala School Teacher’s Welfare Reformation Strike in the early 1970s and protested for more than fifty working days for the well-being of the teachers’ community, eventually leading to an arrest warrant being issued against him.

When the Halley’s Comet made its appearance in 1986, he and his colleagues went far and wide across the state, shedding light on the significance of this infrequent occasion.

Literary Contributions


Prabhakaran Thampi’s oeuvre comprises of several essays, short stories, biographies, travelogues, science criticisms, and a novel.

Among the many other facets of his avant-garde persona, Prabhakaran Thampi was known for his erudition and his conscientious attempts at recording every snippet of information he came across daily. His elucidation of his ancestral roots led him to author his first book, Panikkassery-Oru Charithra Kudumbam(2007).

Mayyanad is a village that thrives on long-lost folklore and tales of the past, regrettably only made aware to a few. Extracts from his numerous years of research and reading on the subject have been illuminated in his book Mayyanad-Oru Charithrasambanna Graamam(2008), which has received approbation from far and wide. It was the recipient of 2011 Sahodharan Ayyappan Award. His digressive literary style and excerpts from his travel and teaching experiences were well explored in his books Lakshadweeponnilekku Oru Theerthayaathra(2012) and Smrithi Maadhuryam(2015). His research on non-Euclidean geometry was skillfully recorded in his book Euclid Chodhyamcheyyapedunnu(2010), as he traversed various algorithms and theorems in this field that are yet to be wholly understood. It was an amalgamation of tireless research and writing since his early life.

Social Endeavors
Prabhakaran Thampi was one of the activists of the Science Popularization Movement (Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad) from 1967. His ventures for regularly updating students’ curricula got him indicted as a permanent member of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad in 1967, and he was one of the earliest members from Kollam district. His leadership and social acceptance had a good level of penetration of its movement in Mayyanad. He had represented Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad for the World Social Forum, Asian Social Forum, Asian Health Assembly.

In the late1980s, he spearheaded multiple events across the state under Kerala’s ‘campaign for total literacy’ which propelled the state to incur its 100% literacy label.

He was an active member of the Public Planning Campaign (ജനകീയാസൂത്രണം) since 1996. He was also a part of scientific, cultural, and environmental committees. He had successfully prepared and submitted many project reports for the Public Planning Campaign and was instrumental in conducting numerous classes to promote the same.

He was the founder member of the ‘Tagore Kala Kshetram’, from the 1970s. Artiste troupes from across the state graced the stage every month and brought about folklore and drama through the theatre arts. They also coordinated programs that encouraged the holistic development of youth.

In the early 2000s, he successfully commenced the Career Guidance Forum in association with LRC Mayyanad.

He was a founder member of the Elders Forum and played an integral role in working towards easing the redundancy abundant among senior citizens through carrying forward old age homes and regular social meets.

Publications

 * 1) Panikkassery-Oru Charithra Kudumbam (pub. Apr 2007)
 * 2) Mayyanad- Oru Charithrasambanna Graamam (pub. Aug 2008)
 * 3) Euclid Chodhyamcheyyapedunnu (pub. Aug 2010)
 * 4) Lakshadweeponnilekku Oru Theerthayaathra (pub. Nov 2012)
 * 5) Smrithi Madhuryam (pub. Dec 2015)
 * 6) Mugdaanuraaga Spandanangal (yet to be published)

Awards

 * 1) Mathai Memorial Award (1983)
 * 2) KGTA (Kerala Government Teachers Association) Award (1986)
 * 3) Prof. Joseph Mundassery Award (1987)
 * 4) Sahodaran Ayyappan Award (2011)