[1] He continued his studies to get higher training in electrical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (formerly Rourkee University) and did an advanced course in Canada under the aegis of Colombo Plan in 1965-66.
[1] Three years later, when the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) was established in 1968, Pothen was made the founding managing director.
[1] He continued at IFFCO till 1981 and moved to Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) as the organization's founding managing director.
[3] The Government of India awarded the fourth highest Indian civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1977.
[1] The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative named one of their townships as Paul Pothen Nagar, in honour of their former managing director.