K. Vishwanathan, philanthropist and founder of Mitraniketan, a non-governmental organisation which works in the fields of agriculture, community development, environment and education, passed away at 3 a.m. on Monday. He was 86.
An alumnus of Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan, West Bengal, Mr. Vishwanathan was awarded the Padma Shri for his work for the cause of the socially marginalised.
After continued education in the U.S. and Scandinavian countries, the Gandhian came back home and set up Mitraniketan at Vellanad in 1986. The Mitraniketan campus, spread over 60 acres of land, houses Mitraniketan People’s College, a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), a training centre for women, a fully-equipped bakery, pottery centre, and a technology transfer programme. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, in a message, said Mr. Vishwanathan was able to lead the revival of villages through his work with Mitraniketan.
