One of the pioneers of toponymy in Kerala, he focused on the origin of place names in the state as the subject of his works which are known for their attention to historic detail.

His career started as a civilian clerk in Indian Army, stationed in Whitefield, Bangalore and on his return to Kerala, he taught at his alma mater, Little Flower Upper Primary School, for a short period, before joining Al Farookiya High School, Cheranellore where he spent the rest of his teaching career spanning 27 years until his superannuation from service.

[6] Though not involved in active politics, Valath was attracted to communist ideals and his works focused mainly on the effects of capitalism and poverty.

Later, going against the normal practice followed in the 1940s, he pioneered free verse in Malayalam poetry, by writing poems without following poetic rules, metre, or rhythms.

[11] His work, Rigvedathilude,[12] is an attempt to relate the Rigveda to the history of the land and the book detailed the customs and culture of vedic age India.