Roexpertindia at 22:57, 30 October 2025

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{{short description|Indian environmental activist (1933–2022)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = A. Achuthan
| image =A Achyuthan (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| monuments =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|04|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Avittathur]] near [[Irinjalakuda]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]] (present-day [[Thrissur district]] of [[Kerala]])
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| death_cause =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|10|10|1933|04|01|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Kozhikode]], Kerala, India
| known_for = Environmental activism in Kerala
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Environmental activist]]|[[Academic staff|academic]]}}
| alma mater = {{ubl|[[University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering]]|[[IIT Madras]]|[[University of Kerala]]}}
| movement =
| awards = [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature]] (2014)
}}
'''A. Achuthan''' was an Indian environmental activist and science writer from [[Kerala]]. He was involved in many environmental protests in the state. His book titled ''Paristhithi Padanathinu Oramukham'' [An introduction to environmental studies], won the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature]] in 2014.

==Biography==
A. Achuthan was born on April 1, 1933, to Ikanda Variyar, a sub-registrar, and Madhavi Variyar, a civil servant, in [[Avittathur]] near [[Irinjalakuda]] in present-day [[Thrissur district]] of [[Kerala]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-10 |title=പ്രമുഖ പരിസ്ഥിതി പ്രവർത്തകൻ ഡോ. എ. അച്യുതൻ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/noted-environmental-activist-dr-a-achuthan-passes-away-1.7945147 |access-date=2025-09-05 |newspaper=[[Mathrubhumi]] |language=ml}}</ref> After completing graduation in civil engineering from the [[University of Kerala]], he studied master's degree in civil engineering from the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison|University of Wisconsin]] and a doctorate from [[IIT Madras]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-10-10 |title=A. Achyuthan, a man synonymous with environmental activism, passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-achyuthan-a-man-synonymous-with-environmental-activism-passes-away/article65993007.ece |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> As a civil engineer, he is specialised in [[hydraulics]].<ref name="NIEx">{{Cite web |last=A |first=Sam Paul |date=2014-10-17 |title=The Indomitable Warrior for Environment Protection |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2014/Oct/17/the-indomitable-warrior-for-environment-protection-672606.html |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

===Personal life and death===
Achuthan and his wife Sulochana have two children, Aruna, a VLSI design engineer in Canada, and Anupama A. Manjula, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology at Manjeri Government Medical College,.<ref name="Mathrubhumi" /> He died on October 10, 2022, at Kozhikode.<ref name="NIE">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-11 |title=Environmental activist A Achuthan passes away |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/Oct/11/environmental-activist-a-achuthan-passes-away-2506789.html |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> As per his wishes, his body was handed over to the [[Government Medical College, Kozhikode|Kozhikode Government Medical College]] for academic purposes, without being placed for public viewing or paying homage.<ref name="NIE" />

==Career==
Achuthan started his career as a demonstrator at the Government Engineering College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1954.<ref name="NIEx" /> Later he worked at the Public and Engineering Division of the Public Works Department, Government of Kerala.<ref name="Mathrubhumi" /> While working in PWD, he has done research on 'Total Sanitation' at the [[Indian Council for Medical Research]].<ref name="NIEx" /> He left PWD for teaching career and worked as a teacher at [[Government Engineering College, Thrissur|Thrissur]] and [[Government Engineering College, Barton Hill|Thiruvananthapuram]] engineering colleges and [[National Institute of Technology Calicut|Kozhikode Regional Engineering College]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi" /> He has also served as Dean and Director of Academic Staff College at the [[University of Calicut]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi" />

In the same year he arrived in Kozhikode as a teacher in 1962, the [[Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad]] was formed in Kozhikode.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-13 |title=അച്യുതൻ മാഷ് എന്ന കർമ്മയോഗിയായ ഗുരുനാഥൻ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/environment/features/about-environmentalist-dr-a-achuthan-1.7954008 |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=ml}}</ref> Although he did not attend any of the first meetings of Parishad, he was active in literature and cultural scene of Kozhikode in the 1960s. In a poetry circle, he met another Irinjalakuda resident, [[N. V. Krishna Warrier]]. Upon Warrier's request Achuthan became a member of the Parishad in 1965.<ref name=":0" /> In 1966, he became the general secretary of the Parishad and in 1969, he became its state president.<ref name=":0" /> It was during his time that the Parishad was registered as a society. It was first registered with the home address of Achuthan.<ref name=":0" />

For the Parishad, he focused on new methods of waste disposal, proper mosquito control, the design of a smoke-free stove (now called the parishad stove), ways to save electricity, drinking water conservation measures, and low-cost building construction using local resources.<ref name=":0" /> He prepared many books and pamphlets to promote these. The most important of these is ''Ningalkkoru Veedu'' [A Home for You], which was prepared in collaboration with Vincent Paul, a colleague at REC.<ref name=":0" />

Achuthan was a member of the expert committees of the Central Department of Science and Technology, [[University Grants Commission (India)|UGC]], [[Kerala State Planning Board]], and the Board of Studies, Faculty, and Academic Council of various universities.<ref name="Mathrubhumi" /> He also served as the editor of the science periodicals ''Sastra Gati'' and ''Ore Oru Bhoomi''.<ref name="Mathrubhumi" />

==Activism==
Achuthan was a person who actively intervened in environmental issues in Kerala. He was a member of the People's Inquiry Commission related to the [[Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle|Plachimada protest]] and the Inquiry Commission related to the [[Endosulfan tragedy in Kerala|Endosulfan disaster]], and was also active in the [[Save Silent Valley]] protest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-10 |title=Renowned environmentalist Dr A Achuthan passes away in Kozhikode |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/renowned-environmentalist-dr-a-achuthan-passes-away-in-kozhikode-4714d3c5 |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=[[Mathrubhumi]] |language=en}}</ref> At the time of Silent Valley issue, he was a member of the Task Forces on Energy under the Kerala State Planning Board.<ref name="NIEx" /> The first official report detailing the plight of endosulfan victims in Kerala was prepared under the leadership of Achuthan.<ref name="Manorama">{{Cite web |title=ഡോ.എ.അച്യുതൻ അന്തരിച്ചു; പരിസ്ഥിതി പോരാട്ടങ്ങളുടെ മുൻനിര പോരാളി |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kozhikode/2022/10/11/kozhikode-dr-m-achuthan-passwed-away.html |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Manoramaonline |publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref> He was also involved in other environmental protests in the state including issues related to Jeerakapara, [[Madayipara]], [[Mavoor]] Gwalior Rayons and [[Njeliyanparambu|Njeliyanparamba]] waste treatment plant.<ref name="NIEx" /> Achuthan was also at the forefront of the formation of the Kerala Environmental Conservation Committee in 1974 to deal exclusively with environmental issues.<ref name="Mathrubhumi" />

==Contributions==
Achuthan has published 20 books, twelve scientific papers in various international scientific publications, and more than a hundred scientific articles.<ref name="Manorama"/>

==Awards and honors==
His book titled ''Paristhithi Padanathinu Oramukham'' (meaning: An introduction to environmental studies) won the 2014 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature]].<ref name="Mathrubhumi" /> He had also received many awards including the Silent Valley National Park Jubilee Award and the Kerala State Science, Technology and Environment Council Award, for his environmental activism.<ref name="Manorama"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Achuthan, A}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Indian science writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:IIT Madras alumni]]
[[Category:University of Kerala alumni]]

A. Achuthan - Revision history

Roexpertindia at 22:57, 30 October 2025