Thiruvananthapuram: Prof VK Damodaran (85), noted science thinker, author, environmental activist, and a founding member of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad, passed away. He had served as the state president and general secretary of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad. He also held positions including Director of the Kerala Science, Technology and Environment Department; Director & Ex-officio Government Secretary of the Energy Management Centre; Assistant Director of the Kerala Bhasha Institute; Executive Committee Member of ANERT; UNIDO International Energy Consultant; and Managing Director of INSHIP in Hangzhou, China. He was also a professor in the Electrical Department at REC Kozhikode.

He was son of freedom fighter and one of the founders of the teachers’ movement, V.P. Kutti Master, and M.P. Mathu of Vadakara, Kozhikode.

Wife: PC Ranjini (Nadakkavu, Kozhikode).

Children: Shinju (Managing Partner, Newscape Consulting, Pittsburgh, US); Dr. Anju D. (Paediatrics Department, PRS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram).

Children-in-law: Diya (PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, U.S.); Dr. Deepak Unnithan (Orthopaedics Department, Neyyar Medicity & Govindans Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram).

Siblings: V.K. Vijayan (Retd. Sales Tax Officer, former Assistant Private Secretary to the Finance Minister), VK Radha Teacher, VK Sarojini Teacher, V.K. Chandri, and the late V.K. Balan Master (Library Council), and the late V.K. Janaki Teacher.