Born at Elamdesom in Idukki district of Kerala, grew up in a rural environment. Took Masters Degree in Chemistry from Muvattupuzha Nirmala College, an affiliated college of the University of Kerala in 1979 and went on to study for a Degree in Journalism (BJ) at the University of Calicut.

Started writing for Youth Times (defunct Times of India publication) and other publications while studying at the University. An investigative report done on water supply in the campus was reported in Indian Express during that period.

After completing the course and a brief stint with a weekly in Bangalore, joined The Hindu daily in 1981 as Staff Reporter. Took a Masters Degree in Journalism, Diploma in English for Communication and a Diploma and two certificates in Computer Programing through part time/correspondence courses while working at The Hindu. Became Deputy Chief of Bureau of The Hindu in 2010.

Covered the Kerala Legislative Assembly proceedings almost continuously for more than 30 years, and was honoured by the Assembly for the same during its quasquicentennial celebrations in 2013. Reported widely on developmental and environmental issues across Kerala including the endosulfan issue. Broke a story on conditions specified by the Asian Development Bank for its loan to Kerala for Modernising Government Programme and fiscal reforms. That and subsequent coverage of issues related to the loan and financial position of the Kerala Government by newspapers led to significant discourse on the subjects in the State.

Beats covered at The Hindu at senior level included Kerala Government Secretariat (policies and programmes of various departments, Ministers' press conferences, Cabinet briefings, etc.) besides Bharatiya Janata Party at the State level. Was also the State-level news coordinator for the Internet edition of The Hindu  and a forerunner in computer-assisted reporting and data journalism in this part of the world. A computer-assisted analytical report disproving the myth that higher polling percentages helped the United Democratic Front in Kerala, published in 1991, was one of the first such reports.

Edited News and Views (NewsandViews.org.in), a news site with special focus on Assembly proceedings and legislation, after voluntary retirement from The Hindu in 2015.

Selection of reports (2009-2016)

Chandy’s grievance redress mechanism fails to deliver
Stockholm convention approves alternatives to endosulfan
Kerala Assembly session from today
A benefit sharing model that did not yield desired results
Scientists wants inclusions of socioeconomic considerations in risk assessment of GM crops
Mullaperiyar: the rift shows in State's ranks
New government faces major challenges in governance
CPI(M) remains the most popular party in Kerala
Evidence mounts against endosulfan as Centre dithers
Idukki faces grave health risks from pesticides
Demand for ban on endosulfan through Stockholm Convention on POPs  (listed as a top story of 2010 by EHN)
Endosulfan: Divergent view on fresh studies
Reverse migration in hilly areas

Forests in Kerala face high risk of fires
Kerala spends controversial ADB loan without keeping proper accounts

Address:

TC 32/2417 Vettikonam
Manikanteswaram P. O. 
Trivandrum -695 013
Kerala, India. 
Phone +91 471 2993448

• Began taking pictures from the student days, wrote about photography in college magazine. More than 400 pictures have been published in The Hindu, Frontline, other publications and calendars.
  
  
• Won a Certificate of Merit at the Aries National Photographic Salon, Kollam,  Kerala, in 1991 (Salon approved by Federation of  Indian Photography, Bangalore).
  
  
• Developed several computer programs for use in the newspaper environment including an early archiving and indexing system (used by Trivandrum and Chennai offices of the The Hindu) and DOS shell for editing (used by Kerala desk of The Hindu). Did analysis of election results using self-developed programs and databases for The Hindu from early nineties. Also, prepared infographics that went with the analyses and other stories.
  
  
• Was member of Curriculum Committee for Journalism at the Higher Secondary level.
  
  
• Gave lectures on Information Technology, Computer Assisted Reporting and Online Journalism at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of the University of Calicut, Kozhikode;  Department of Communication and Journalism of the University of Kerala, Trivandrum; Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Kottayam; Institute of Journalism, Press Club, Trivandrum; Christian College, Kodaickanal (T. N.), St. Joseph's College, Irinjalakuda and the Department of Communication and Journalism, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam and Kerala Press Academy (State level study camp for journalists-- Internet as a tool for journalists).
  
  
• Maintain a Web resources site for journalists; CyberJournalist: Technology, tools, ethics...