Professor Nedumangattu Kesava Pannikar – an Indian Zoologist, specialized in crustacean physiology, marine fisheries, and oceanography was born on 17 May 1913 in Kottayam, Kerala. He was a doctoral degree (D.Sc) holder from the University of Madras.
He served as an adviser to the Government of India on fishery development, as the director of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and also as the Vice Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.
Dr Pannikar’s research was on the marine organism and conducted 22 voyages across the Indian ocean to collect specimens. He took immense efforts in establishing various fishery institutes like National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Central Institute of Fisheries Education and Central Institute of Fisheries Operatives.
Government of India honoured his work in the field of marine research by awarding him the fourth highest Indian civilian award: Padma Shri, in 1973.
Remembering, N K Pannikar (17 May 1913 – 24 June 1977) on his birthday.
Article by M R Raghul
