Pattathanam was born in Kollam, Kerala in India. He began his career as a police constable, but later took up the job of a primary school teacher.
Pattathanam was the Editor of Ranarekha, a monthly in Malayalam, which ceased publication in 1980s. He was also the secretary of the Kerala state branch of Indian Rationalist Association. Pattathanam later left IRA and started, with like-minded people, another rationalist association, Bharathiya Yukthivadi Sangham.
References
Matha Amritanandamayi: Divya Kathakalum Yatharthyavum (Matha Amritanandamayi: Sacred Stories and Realities): Mass Books, Kollam, Kerala