M.P. Parameswaran, renowned nuclear scientist and CPI(M) theorist, dies at 92
Parameswaran was one of the earliest and foremost members of Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad. His ideas on the ‘fourth world’ had triggered wide debate and eventually led to his expulsion from CPI(M) in 2004
M.P. Parameswaran, a distinguished nuclear scientist and a prominent figure within the CPI(M) theoretical framework, has succumbed to age at the age of 92. The nuclear scientist, who was also an ardent advocate for the CPI(M) people's science movement, breathed his last in Thrissur, Kerala, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Born on January 18, 1935, in Thrissur district, Mr. Parameswaran obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, in 1956. Subsequently, he earned his PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Moscow Power Institute in 1965. He lent his expertise to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, from 1957 to 1975. Post his departure from BARC, he devoted himself to activism, becoming one of the most recognizable figures associated with the KSSP.
His scholarly pursuits encompassed a wide spectrum of subjects, including environment, energy, education, and rural development. He authored numerous books, many of which garnered critical acclaim. A key milestone in his career included his instrumental role in the establishment of the All India People's Science Network (AIPSN), a network of science organizations spanning across the country.
He served as its secretary and eventually rose to the position of president. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, an organization that spearheaded literacy campaigns nationwide.
Parameswaran's seminal work, 'Fourth World', ignited a significant debate within the CPI(M). The book proposed a world based on decentralised democracy, economic production, and disentanglement from consumerism. This work led to his expulsion from the CPI(M) in February 2004 due to serious disciplinary charges, as he had deviated from the party's ideology.
Throughout his illustrious career, Parameswaran penned several popular science books in Malayalam and English, covering an array of topics ranging from atomic energy and radioactivity to astronomy, mathematics, political science, and ecology.
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