He was the chief editor of Janayugam Daily, Balayugam (Children's monthly), the Novel Pathippu (Monthly novel issue), Cine Rama (Fortnightly movie magazine), and Janayugam Varika (Weekly),[1] a group of publications in Malayalam language, owned by the Communist Party of India.
He was an MLA, Member of Thiru-Kochi (Travancore-Cochin) Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1954 representing Kayamkulam constituency.
He died aged 55 around 4.30 P.M. on 27 July 1977 at the pay ward of the Medical College Hospital at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the Kerala state.
According to his wishes, his burial was conducted without social niceties and religious ceremonies within six hours of his death, at his ancestral house "Kambisseri" at Vallikunnam in Alleppey district.
He could not complete his 'Mahopadhyaya' education there as he was jailed in the final year of study for participating in the freedom movement.
Though these activities fizzled out due to strict orders from the elders, Karunakaran's spirit to work for the betterment of the society did not die.
In Jail, he was greatly influenced by fellow inmates such as Puthupally Raghavan, P. Jeevanandham and Ilangovan Rajasekharan.
Kambisseri agreed with youth leaders such as Thoppil Bhasi, K. Keshavan Potti, Pandalam P. R. Madhavan Pillai that the Congress Government seemed shy to honor its promise of a welfare state.
It was during his tenure as the MLA, the drama Ningalenne Communistakki in which he did the lead role was banned by the government and his speech in the assembly on the issue was notable.
After his this role as an MLA, Karunakaran did not contest for any public office as he felt that active political authority did not suit his nature and it severely limited his independence and ability to abide by his conscience.
Kambisseri was an exceptional editor and a journalist who understood the psyche of the reader and brought in several bold and path-breaking trends into journalism.
'Bharatha Thozhilali' was founded to support a youth-led organization in Vallikunnam under the aegis of the Indian National Congress.
Several notable writers have written for this hand-written magazine which Kambisseri collated, edited, illustrated and calligraphed himself.