Divakaran was born on 4 September 1942 to C. K. Shivarama Panikkar and Ammukuttyamma at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.

His writing, his own preaching style and a prominent personality made C Divakaran the favorite in the college.

and BEd degrees he started working as a teacher at Ottasekharamangalam and K.S.Abhraham Memorial Higher Secondary school at Thirumala, Thiruvananthapuram.

[4] During his political career, he held several posts, including State General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), State Secretariat member of CPI, National Executive member of CPI, and All India Vice-President of AITUC.

In the year 2006-2011 he was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection, Dairy Developments, Milk Co-operatives, and Animal Husbandry[5] in V.S.Achudhananthan ministry.

He had published many books including an essay collection titled "lokathe njetticha vediyochakalkku pinnil" (Behind the gunshots that shook the world), a travelogue titled Nirangalude China (The Colorful China), Rashtriyam Smarana Prabhashanam (collection of articles).