Son of  Shri T.P. Mathew  and   Smt. Saramma Mathew; born at Kottappuram, near Kodungallur on  26^th  September 1952;  Ph.D in Economics; Economist, Political Worker.

                        Started Political life  as an S.F.I. activist (1971); was S.F.I. Office bearer of Ernakulam Maharaja’s College Union (1973-74); S.F.I. Ernakulam District President (1974-80); President, S.F.I. State Committee (1979); Senior Activist of Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad from  1977; Research Associate, Associate Fellow, Fellow of Centre for Development  studies from 1980 to 2001. Awarded Doctorate in 1985; was State planning Board Member from 1996 to 2001; State President, Coir Centre (C.I.T.U), Parliamentary Party Secretary of C.P.I. (M) in Kerala Legislative Assembly (2001-2006); C.P.I. (M) State Committee Member Since 1991; was Minister for Finance (2006-2011).

   Published a number of articles on Economics, Planning and Politics in the leading Regional, National and International Periodicals. Presented Lectures and Papers in National and International Conferences and Seminars.

Published many books in English including:

1.      Science for Social Revolution (with Dr. B. Ekbal) (1989)

2.      Modernisation and Employment : The coir Industry in Kerala (with R.A. Van Stuijveberg and K.N. Nair)   (1984).

3.      Democracy at Work in an Industrial Co-operative : The story of Kerala Dinesh Beedi (with Richard W. Franke and Pyaralal Raghavan) (1998)

4.      Local Democracy and Development: People’s Campaign for De Centralised Planning (With Richard W. Franke) (2000)

Published many books in Malayalam also.

1.      Kariyunna Kalpavriksham (with M.P. Parameswaran) (1984)

2.      Daridryathinte Arthasasthram  (1985)

3.      Arthasasthram Harisree (1986)

4.      Lokabankum Nanayanidhiyum (1986)

5.      Keralam: Mannum Manushyanum (1987)

6.      Keezhadangalinte Arthasasthram (with N. Harilal)  (1991)

7.      Alappuzhayude Samarapatha (1996)

8.      Janakeeyasoothranam : Chodhyangalum Utharangalum (1998)

9.      Janakeeyasoothranam : Sidhanthavum Prayogavum (1998)

10.  Janakeeyasoothranathinte Rashtriyam (2005)

11.  Kerala Vikasanam : Janapakshathuninnulla Porattam (2006).

Currently, Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.

            Previously elected to K.L.A in 2001 and 2006.