M. R. Bhattathiripad

[1] He was born in 1908 into a Nambudiri family of Kerala with limited resources due to which he received only nominal education.

[citation needed] He joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with V. T. Bhattathiripad and his brother Premji.

When widow marriage was considered a taboo in Nambuthiri community, he married Uma Antharjanam, younger sister of VT's wife Sreedevi Antharjanam, on 13 September 1934.

[3][4] The ceremony, though boycotted by orthodox Nambudiris, was attended by Arya Pallam and M. C. Joseph.

[citation needed] When Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi started its flagship publication, Keli in 1963, Bhattathiripad was the first editor.