K K Neelakantan Biography 
Bird lovers can never forget Induchhodan or contributions given by this bird lover easily. Induchoodan is the pen name of K K Neelakantan – a leading ornithologist of India. He belongs to god’s own country, Kerala, the land famous for its natural beauty and amazing varieties of flora and fauna. K K Neelakantan was born in Palakkad to a Tamil Brahmin couple in the year 1923. He was born in a place called Kavassery in Palakkad district. He has given significant contributions to Indian ornithology and all those works were purely based on his interest and observations that he has done over years. Now also, all his works are regarded as great references of students who want to study deep in this subject. He has written his books both in simple Malayalam as well as English and his simple language became the great strength of his powerful literary pieces.
K K Neelakantan’s father was a veterinary surgeon. He completed his early schooling in Chitragurga, Karnataka. Later he completed his school education at Malabar. He owns a bachelor degree from Madras Christian College and his subject was English literature. He has worked as an English professor in many colleges of Kerala belonging to different districts. He retired from his service as Head of the department English, University College Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1978. He started bird watching at an younger age from his ancestral home at Kavassery.
His first publication Keralathile Pakshikal (Birds of Kerala) published in the year 1958 is still considered as a classic literary piece of Malayalam and this book gives a detailed sketch of birds found in Kerala. This book was purely based on his observations and bird watching for a long time. He described about 261 birds found in Kerala. Another work titled, Pullu Thottu Poonara Vare (From grass to Poonara) won him award of the State Department of Science and I. C. Chacko Endowment prize by the Kerala Sahitya Academy. The book is a great asset on Kerala environment and its bird species.
His other important works include - Pakshikalum Manushyarum (Birds and man) – For kids, A day at a nest of the Great Black Woodpecker, A pelican's pathetic plight. Tigerpaper and The sacred birds of Thirukkalukundram.
Published: N/A
Updated: July 15, 2013
