He was born to Teresa and K. O. Mathai of the Koyapillil family on March 16, 1930 in
Ramapuram, Kottayam,
Kerala, India. Born into a family of farmers he completed his school education at St. Augustine's High School, Ramapuram, initial collage studies at
SB College Changanacherry and moved to
Tiruchirapalli for higher studies. He did his bachelor's degree in University of Madras, India and completing his M.Sc. degree during 1958-60, he acquired his doctorate (1960–62) on the alien plants of the Palni hills with the guidance of
Hermenegild Santapau and he did his Doctor of Philosophy from University of Bombay in 1963. A total of 2020 species was covered in this work. Another contribution is an illustrated Flora entitled the Flora of the Palani Hills in three volumes. ==Awards==