Kerala personalities who made Kerela and us Proud - A fact which every Kerelaites should know

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Ancient rulers

Saamoothiri (Zamorin, ) - Rulers of Malabar from 14th and 18th century AD. Ayilyam Thirunal - Ruler of Travancore from 1831 to 1880. Also known by his literary works. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma - Last King of Travancore; Rajpramukh of Thiru-Kochi. Dharma Raja - Ruler of Travancore from 1733 to 1798. Known for his Principles of Justice. Marthanda Varma - Ruled in the 18th century. Generally referred to as "the maker of modern Travancore". Moolam Thirunal - Ruler of Travancore. Famous for his educational reforms. Raja Kesavadas - Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja. Sakthan Thampuran - Ruler of Kingdom of Cochin during 1751-1805. Sir Sri Rama Varma - a.k.a Rajarshi, Ruler of Kingdom of Cochin and Father of Modern Cochin. (Abdicated highness) Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma - Erstwhile king of Travancore and a great musician. Rama Varma Kulashekhara - The last king of Chera empire and undivided Kerala in the 12th century and ruled for 36 years. Supposed to have converted to Islam according to a Muslim legend.

Independence Activists

Mohammed Abdurahiman Sahib - Freedom fighter and former KPCC President. V.K. Krishna Menon - Toiled for India's Independence while he was in England. Diplomat, orator, and former Defence Minister of India. Vakkom Majeed - Freedom fighter, former Member of Travancore-Cochin State Assembly. Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair - President of the Indian National Congress (18971898). T.M. Varghese - Leader of Abstebtion Movement. Founder member of the Travancore State Congress. Minister of Travancore-Cochin. C. Kesavan U. Gopala Menon - Indian National Congress leader. Sir C. Madhavan Nair - Administrator during British Rule. K. Kelappan - Known as "Kerala Gandhi". Leader of the Payyannur Salt Satyagraha and the Guruvayur Satyagraha. He was also the founding President of Nair Service Society. K.P. Kesava Menon - Freedom fighter, Founder-Editor of the Mathrubhumi newspaper.

K.P. Kuttikrishnan Nair - Popularly known as Kuttiettan - he was the prominent leader of the Trade Union Movement in India. Former KPCC Vice President, AICC Secretary, Home Minister of Madras Presidency and Member of Parliament. A. K. Gopalan - Independence activist from Malabar region and leader of the Communist Party. A.V. Kuttimalu Amma - Freedom fighter. N.P. Nayar - Freedom fighter and former Administrator, Azad Hind Dal. Ammu Swaminathan - Freedom fighter. Lakshmi Sehgal - As Captain Lakshmi, commanded the Jhansi Rani Regiment of the INA under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Velu Thampi Dalava - Fought the East India Company at a time they were grabbing power in princely states. Pazhassi Raja - Fought the British half a century before the first war of independence fought by the rest of India. Panampilli Govinda Menon - One of the early freedom fighters of the princely state of Cochin. Later, became a cabinet minister under Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Ammu Swaminathan - Freedom fighter. George James - Rebel leader Nettur. P. Damodaran- Eminent freedom fighter, social worker, author and member of Parliament from Tellichery constituency,

Spiritual leaders

Varghese Palakkappillil Adi Sankara (788 - 820) - Saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India. Propounded the doctrine of Advaita (non-duality), which identified the Supreme with the Self. He is revered as the Shankaracharya. St. Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala - Canonized Spiritual Leader of Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. St. Athanasius Paulose - A Christian Saint from Kerala, who was the former Malankara Metropolitan and entombed at Thrikkunnathu Seminar, Aluva, Kerala, and canonized by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. St. Coorilos Paulose - Former Malankara Metropolitan of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, canonized by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. Archbishop Mar Ivanios Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios

Sri Narayana Guru - One of the greatest saints and social reformers Kerala has seen. Was instrumental in uplifting the downtrodden masses of Kerala from spiritual and social oppression. CatholicosBaselios Paulose II - Former Catholicos of the East of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in India and entombed at Malecuriz Dayaro in Ernakulam District, Kerala. Sister Alphonsa - First female saint from India. On Sunday, 12 October 2008, Pope Benedict XVI announced her canonization at a ceremony at St Peter's Square. H.H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I Catholicose of All the East and Malankara MetrolitanSpiritual Leader of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Christians in Kerala. Fr. Chavara Kuriakose - A Christian saint of Kerala. The yeoman service rendered by him led to the growth of the C.M.I. (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) Congregation. Fr.Varghese Palakkappillil (Payyappilly) - A Christian saint from Kerala. He was declared Servant of God on 6 September 2009. He founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute. H.B Catholicos Dr. Baselios Thomas I, Catholicos of India - Spiritual Leader of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in India Amritanandamayi - Renowned spiritualist from Kerala whose charisma has won her followers from around the world. Swami Chinamayananda - Founder, Chinmaya Mission

Politicians

Mahathir bin Mohamad - Fourth and longest serving Prime Minister of Malaysia.[1] K.R. Narayanan (19212005) - Former President of India. Dr. John Matthai Former Union Finance Minister Devan Nair - Former President of Singapore. V. K. Krishna Menon - First defence minister of India. Joseph Mundassery (1903-77): Literary Critic and Social Reformer (First Education Minister of Kerala). A.K. Antony - Current defence minister of India.Chief Minister of Kerala during 1977-78, 199596, and 2001-2004. Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Shashi Tharoor - Former Minister of state for external affairs, and former UN undersecretary. Vayalar Ravi - Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Govt of India. Lakshmi N. Menon - First woman foreign minister of India (19571966). E. Ahamed - Former Minister of state for External Affairs, Govt. of India, current minister of state for railways. Mullappally Ramachandran - Minister of state for Home. O. Rajagopal - First BJP leader from state to become a Union Minister. Minister of state for railways in Vajpayees ministry.

C. Achutha Menon-Former Kerala Chief Minister and noted Communist leader. Mr. Menon has a bright academic background. He was rank holder in Mathematics Bsc, as well as in LLB. He established the first public sector electronic corporate company, Keltron in India in 1974. Also, the world renowned Sri Chithira institute(Sri chithira heart valve is the product of this institute), Cochin university of science and technology, Kerala agriculture university etc was Mr.Menons contributions. He established the first technopark of India in Thiruvananthapuram. He is considered as the best CM Kerala ever had. V.S. Achuthanandan - Current Chief Minister of Kerala. He was the secretary of CPI(M) state committee from 1980 to 1992 and Opposition leader of KLA from 1992 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. Legislative Assembly during 1996 to 2001. Current Defence Minister of India. A.K. Gopalan (AKG) - Communist party leader. First opposition leader in Indian Parliament. Father of Indian Coffee Houses AKG. One of the most popular among all the Left leaders in India. He died on March 21, 1977 at the age of 73. K.Damodaran- One of the founders of communist movement in Kerala. C.H. Mohammed Koya - Former Chief Minister of Kerala. K.C. Abraham - Former Governor of Andhra Pradesh, member of the first Kerala Legislative Assembly, and former Congress Working Committee Member. C. Kesavan - The Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin from 1951-52. Dr. P.C. Alexander - Former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashra. Former High Commissioner to UK. E.K. Nayanar - Former Chief Minister of Kerala. Noted Communist leader. E.M.S. Namboodiripad - First Chief Minister of unified Kerala State. Headed the first elected communist government in the world. General Secretary of CPI(M) for many years. Joseph Mundassery - A prominent literary critic of Malayalam language. Education Minister in the first communist ministry of Kerala. K. Karunakaran - Former Kerala Chief Minister and Congress party leader. P. Krishna Pillai - founder of communist movement in Kerala. Mathai Manjooran (19121970) - A gallant freedom fighter, socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry, and the staunchest advocate towards the formation of Kerala State. M.A. Baby - Leading leftist, present Education Minister. M.P. Veerendrakumar - Writer, noted politician. Monce Joseph - The youngest minister in Kerala's present Left Democratic Front ministry. Oommen Chandy - Present Opposition leader of Kerala and former Chief Minister of the state. Paloli Mohammed Kutty - Minister for Local Govt. P.K. Kunhalikkutty - Former State Industries Minister, Secretary of Kerala State Committee of IUML. Pinarai Vijayan - CPI(M) Secretary, State Committee, Kerala and member of the Politburo. Prakash Karat - General Secretary, CPI(M) National Committee. P. J. Joseph - Kerala Congress (J) leader.

R. Sankar - Former Chief Minister of Kerala. Sayeed Mohamedali Shihab Thangal - President of the Kerala state committee of the IUML. Ramesh Chennithala - President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. Former Lok Sabha MP. V.P. Menon - The right-hand man of Sardar Patel in the unification of princely states during the formation of the Indian Union. V.N. Janaki - Served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a short duration following the death of her husband, M.G. Ramachandran. K. R. Gowri Amma - Founder of JSS. Was a leading leftist and the first revenue minister of Kerala. K.M. Mani - Leader of Kerala Congress (M) and former Minister. P.K. Vasudevan Nair - Former Chief Minister of Kerala. Noted CPI leader. Dr. George Thomas, Former MLA and publisher [2] Thomas Joseph - Ex-MLA who changed the face of East Kerala. Ravindra Varma, Former Labour Minister of India

Writers

Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri - A famous Malayalam poet who is honored by the epithet 'Mahaakavi'. He won the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for Malayalam in 1973. His famous poems include 'Irupatam Nuttantinte Ithihasam. Akkitham is associated with Tapasya _ a cultural organization. Kandathil Varughese Mappillai Writer and poet Anita Nair - Writer. Arundhati Roy - Writer, awarded the Booker Prize in 1997 for 'The God of Small Things', which is set in Kerala.// Balachandran Chullikkadu - Poet admired for his realistic approach and hummable and rhythmic poems. Balamani Amma - Poet; won the literary medal in India, the Saraswathi Samman. Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (19111948) - Poet, author of the pastoral elegy 'Ramanan' (1936) which sold over 100,000 copies, a record that still stands. Changampuzha took Malayalam poetry to the zenith of romanticism. Cherusseri Namboothiri - Mahakavi (great poet), part of the old Kavithrayam (triad of poets), with Ezhuthachan and Kunchan Nambiar. Author of 'Krishnagaadha (The Song of Krishna)'. K.V.Dominic - Indian English poet, critic, editor and short story writer . D. Vinayachandran - Poet. Gayatri - Wrter, Painter, art and literary critic Hameed Chennamangaloor - writer, progressive Muslim intellectual, critic of religious fundamentalism.

Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan- Noted Malayalam Poet. Kamala Das - English poet and novalist, also wrote in Malayalam under the pen-name Madhavikkutty. First Indian woman to openly write about woman's sexuality. Embraced Islam under the name Kamala Suraiyya in 1999. Asian Poetry Prize, 1964, Kent Award, 1965. Kesari Balakrishna Pillai - Social thinker, Literary critic who influenced a generation of writers and other intellectuals in Kerala during the first half of 20th Century. The name of one of his book "Navalokam" (New World) is symbolical representative of his intellectual contributions. Kesari read and wrote about various subjects. He gave advice and guidance most of the second generation Malayalam writers including, Thakazhi, Basheer, Pottekkadu. Kesari published a newspaper "Kesari" by which name he is known later. Kesari translated many literary works directly from French to show examples of world Literature to then Malayali writers. Kumaran Asan - Mahaakavi (great poet), part of the new Kavithrayam, with Ulloor and Vallathol. Kumaran Asan was the follower of Srinarayana Guru. He used poetry to influence the society. Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar - Mahaakavi (great poet), part of the old Kavithrayam. Founder of the art form Ottan Thullal. Kunjunni- Malayalam Poet N.S. Madhavan - Writer and civil servant. M. Krishnan Nair - Literary critic, whose column Sahithyavaraphalam has long served as a window to contemporary world literature. M. Mukundan - Novelist, author of 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil (On the Banks of Mayyazhi)' and 'Deyvathinte Vikruthikal (Pranks of God)'. George Menachery - Historian, Editor of The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Ed., The Indian Church History Classics (The Nazranies). Moothiringode Bhavathrthan Namboothiripad - Author of the famous Aphante Makal. He was social reformer especially of the Namboothiri society. Moyinkutty Vaidyar - Great poet (Mahakavi), author of many authentic Mappila songs. M. P. Parameswaran - Scientist turned social activist, involved with Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad. M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Writer and cinema personality. Jnanpith Award, 1995. Niranam Poets - Three Great Malayali poets Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar of the Kannassa family. They lived between AD 1350 and 1450 in the Niranam village of Tiruvalla Nitya Chaitanya Yati - Scholar, monk. O. Chandumenon - Author of the Malayalam novel 'Indulekha'. Also wrote the incomplete novel "Sharada". O. V. Vijayan - Novelist, cartoonist. Author of 'Khasakkinte Ithihaasam (The Legends of Khasak)' and 'Dharmapuranam (The Saga of Dharmapuri). O. N. V. Kurup P. Parameswaran - Renowned thinker. Director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendram and former

President of Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari. Also known as Parameswarji. P. K. Gopi- Poet. Paul, M.P. - Literary critic. Paul Zacharia - Writer. Philipose Vaidyar - People group researcher and Writer. Poomulli Neelakandan Namboothiripad - An expert in arts and literature, Ayurveda, Kalari, Yoga and other performing arts from the famous Poomulli family. Poonthanam - Poet belonging to the Bhakti school. Sara Joseph - Writer, Novelist, Sahitya Academy winner. Shashi Tharoor - Novelist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1991; previous Under-SecretaryGeneral (Communication and Public Information) of the United Nations, Deputy Minister of External affairs. S. K. Pottekkatt (19131982) - A well-renowned author whose work 'Oru Desattinte Katha' (The Story of a Land) fetched him the Jnanpith award of 1980. Sukumar Azhikode - Thinker, teacher, critic and orator. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai - Novelist and short story writer whose work Chemmeen was awarded Jnanpith Award in 1984. Thirunalloor Karunakaran- Renowned poet, scholar, teacher and leftist intellectual Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan - Architect of modern Malayalam. Mahakavi (great poet), part of the old Kavithrayam. Penned the most popular Malayalam renditions of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer - Poet, part of the new Kavithrayam. Author of 'Umakeralam'. G.S.UnnikrishnanNair-Science Writer,children's Writer,winner of national science communication award,Bhima Balasahithya Award and State Science Literature Award.Author of 'Ottakangal Paranja Katha' Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - Writer, philosopher. Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi - Publisher of the legendary publication Swadeshabhimani, social reformer, and a prominent leader of the progressive Islahi Movement in Kerala. Vallathol Narayana Menon - Mahaakavi, part of the new Kavithrayam. Author of 'Sahithyamanjari'. Founder of Kerala Kalamandalam, the state's flagship institution for the promotion of performing arts. Vayalar Ramavarma - Arguably the greatest lyricist in the history of Malayalam cinema. Vayalar Sarath Chandra varma - noted young Malayalam film lyricist. Vijayan, M. N - Thinker, writer, literary critic, social activist. Most of his works are compilation of speeches. Vrindavanam Venugopalan - Writer, Journalist and Educationist, Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon (19111985)- Famous Malayalam poet. Yusuf Ali Kechery- Poet.

Business and Commerce

TPG Nambiar - Founder of electronics firm BPL Capt.C. P. Krishnan Nair - Founder of the Leela Group of Hotels. K.M. Mammen Mappilai - Founder of MRF Tyres & Manorama publications. PNC Menon - Founder of Sobha developers. Ravi Puravankara - Chief of real estate giant Puravankara Builders. Ravi Pillai - Managing Director of Nasser S Al-Hajri Corporation & Gulf Asia, won Bharatyia Pravasi Samman Award in 2008, Honoured by Padmashree by Govt of India in 2010 Reji Abraham - Managing Director ABAN Group of Companies Rajan Pillai - Singapore based industrialist who founded Britannia. Thakiyudeen Abdul Wahid - Owner of East West Airlines S Gopalakrishnan (Kris Gopalakrishnan) - Co Founder and current CEO of Infosys Technologies Ltd. Shibulal SD - Founder and Director of Infosys Technologies Ltd. Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Business man, V-Guard and highest tax payer of Kerala state. Vineet Nayar-CEO and Wholetime Member of the Board of Directors of HCL Technologies.

Journalists

Dileep Premachandran (PremC)- Wisden cricket journalist. Writes columns in Cricinfo, The Times, Daily Telegraph, The observer R Gopal Krishna (RGK)- Journalist and Columnist with The Times of India and The Illustrated Weekly of India Rohit Viswanath- CNN Young Journalist of the Year 2006 [3]. Editorial Page writer with The Times of India. C Gauridasan Nair- Noted political analyst, media critic and Special Correspondent of The Hindu T.Sasi Mohan - editor of the first Malayalam Web portal www.weblokam.com (formerly with Mathrubhoomi Daily) T. N. Gopakumar Sunnykutty Abraham- COO and Chief News Editor of Jaihind TV and noted political analyst Johnny Lukose- COO of Manorama News Dr. Sebastian Paul- Media critic. John Brittas- Managing Director of Kairali TV and People TV. K. C. Mammen Mappillai- Founder of [[Malayala Manorama) K. C. Narayanan- Editor-in-Charge of Bhashaposhini. K. Jayachandran- Noted Journalist who highlighted the problems of Adivasis. K. M. Mathew- Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama. K. M. Roy- Noted Journalist. V. K. Madhavan Kutty - Former Editor of the Malayalam daily, Mathrubhumi, and a founder

director of satellite channel Asianet O. Abdurahman-Editor-in-charge of Madhyamam K. Raveendran Noted business journalist and Dubai-based columnist K. P. Mohanan- Managing Editor of Asianet.noted journalist. Divya Menon - Journalism Award 1st prize Winner 2009 in Kuwait. Freelance Journalist Daughter of ex-columnist Ravi Menon (Ravindran)and Grand daughter of noted poet and Aksharashloka Vidwan Late Sri V.Kamalakara Menon of Trichur N. P. Chandrasekharan- Executive Editor of Kairali TV and People TV. Prabhavarma- Director (News and Current Affairs) of Kairali TV and People TV. KNK Menon - Former sports editor of The Hindustan Times and The Pioneer; the only Indian sports journalist invited by IOC to take part in the 2004 Olympic Flame relay. Victor George- A talented press Photographer who was buried alive by a landslide caused by the torrential rains in July 2002. R.Gopikrishnan-Noted Journalist.Deputy Editor and Unit head of Kerala Kaumudi at Kochi.Formerly worked with the Deepika and Mangalam. Dr. Krishna Kishore - USA based television anchor; host of Asianet's 'America Today' and noted television news correspondent B.G. Verghese - Former Editor of The Hindustan Times. P.k.Prakash-Noted Journalist.Political analyst.Highlited adivasi,delith land problem.exposed kidny racket and forest encrochment.PUCL,Statesman,RNG Award winner. Philipose Vaidyar, Chennai, Developmental journalist and writer

Arts & Film

Mammootty - Famous actor. Three time winner of the national award for Best Actor and was chosen as the Most Popular Keralite by a worldwide survey conducted by Asiavision and Radio Asia in 2010. Mohanlal - Famous actor, Winner of the national award for Best Actor in 1992 (Bharatham) and 2000 (Vaanaprastham).

Mammootty Adoor Gopalakrishnan - Internationally acclaimed director. Movies include Elipathayam (The Mousetrap) and Mathilukal (Walls). K. J. Yesudas - Classical musician and famous play back singer. John Abraham - Bollywood actor and model

K. S. Chithra - Renowned playback singer and winner of several state and national awards. Prem Naseer - Popular actor of Malayalam cinema. M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Writer and cinema personality. Jnanpith Award, 1995. Priyadarshan- Bollywood Film Director. Shaji N. Karun - Noted Film Director, whose movies include Piravi (Birth), Swam and Vaanaprastham. Bharathan- Popular Film Maker. Santosh Sivan - Famous Director and Cinematogrpher. M. Night Shyamalan - Hollywood film director. Resul Pookutty - Sound Engineer, first Oscar winning malayalee. Shobana - Actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. Two-time National award winner. Lohithadas - Film Director / Writer. G. Aravindan - Noted film director and cartoonist. Movies include Kanchana Seeta, Kummatty (Bogeyman) and Chidambaram. His cartoon strip series 'Valiya lokavum Cheriya manushyarum' was very popular. P. Padmarajan (19451991)- popular film director, affectionately known a 'Pappan' whose films often blurred the line between artistic and commercial cinema. Murali - Famous actor and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 2002 (Neythukaran). Vayalar Ramavarma - Arguably the greatest lyricist in the history of Malayalam cinema. Madhu - Actor Capt.Raju Daniel - Actor Jayaraj - Famous director. Suresh Gopi - Famous actor Meera Jasmine - Popular South Indian Film Actress. Monisha Unni - Famous Actress. Manju Warrier - Malayalam Film Actress. V. Dakshinamoorthy - Carnatic Music exponent and one of the greatest Malayalam Music Directors. Hariharan - playback singer in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu. Jagathy Sreekumar - Famous Actor. Manoj K Jayan - Actor. Gireesh Puthenchery - Lyricist / Writer. Jijo Punnose - Film Director - Navodaya Films - Maker of first 70 mm film in malayalam "padayottam"/ 3D film in India " My dear Kuttichathan" - National / State Award Winner Appachan - Film Producer- Navodaya Films P. Jayachandran: Ever Green Singer, in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi Raveendran - Famous music director. Renjith - Film Director / Writer. Alex Paul - Music Director K P Kumaran - Film Maker G. Devarajan - Famous music director.

P.T.Kunju Muhammed - Film Director / Writer. Remesh Narayan - Music director. Pattanam Rasheed - Makeup Artist. Blessy - Popular Film Maker. Madhu Muttam - Popular script writer. Unni Menon - Renowned Playback singer and multiple Tamil State Award winner. Fazil - Film Director / Writer. Kozhikode Abdul Kader - Abdul Kader made his debut as a playback singer in Malayalam films in 1951 in the film `Navalokam.' The 'Malabar Saigal' died on February 13, 1977. Kavya Madhavan- Famous Malayalm Film Actress. Priyamani- Popular South Indian Film Actress. M. G. Sreekumar - Playback singer. Nedumudi Venu - Famous actor. Asin-Tamil and Bollywood actress Srinivas - Play back Singer / Music Director - Kerala / Tamilnadu State Award Winner Pradip Somasundaran- Playback singer who won "Lata Mangeshkar Trophy" in "Meri Awaz Suno" in 1996. Sujatha Mohan- Famous playback singer. Thilakan - Famous actor. Shweta Menon--Popular South Indian Film Actress. Shaji Kylas - Action film director Kannur Rajan - Music composer Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair - Actor Ouseppachan - Music director. Navya Nair--Noted Actress Sibi Malayil -- Malayalam Film Director. Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma -- lyricist in Malayalam cinema, son of Vayalar Rama Varma Johnson - Music director. M. G. Ramachandran - Famous Tamil Actor. Parents are Malayali. Bharath Gopi - Famous Film, Drama Producer, Director and Actor. Kaviyoor Ponnamma - Famous actress. K. P. A. C. Lalitha - Famous actress. Madhu Balakrishnan - Famous Play back singer Sathyan Anthikkad - Malayalam Film Director. Suresh Kumar - First Indian to win the 'Best Photography' Award in the San Francisco Short Film Festival in 2008. Urvashi - Famous Actress. Suresh Menon - Bollywood actor, comedian and TV personality. Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri - Lyricist. Vidya Balan- popular Bollywood actress born in Ottapalam. Naveen Andrews - Actor. He is best known for playing Sayid Jarrah on the American television series Lost (TV series).

Shankar Mahadevan - Bollywood's one of the finest Music Directors and a noted singer. Kay-Kay-(Krishna Kumar)- Bollywood singer from Thrissur. Kay-Kay-Menon-(Krishna Kumar Menon)- Bollywood Actor Originally from Kerala.

Artists, painters, sculptors

Painters Raja Ravi Varma - World renowned painter. Narayanan Ramachandran-Famous painter,exhibited in USA,FRANCE K. C. S. Paniker - Painter, founder of Cholamandal Artists' Village. T. K. Padmini - Painter A. Ramachandran - World renowned painter. C. N. Karunakaran - Painter, Chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academi Akkitham Narayanan - Painter, settled in Paris Balan Nair - Painter V. S. Valiathan - Artist, Raja Ravivarma award winner. Gayatri- Worldly known Painter, Art critic.Conducted many solo shows all over the country, won many national and international awards. Sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman - Sculptor. Cartoonists Abu Abraham - Cartoonist, worked for The Guardian and The Observer. Cartoonist Shankar (19021989) -Renowned Indian Political Cartoonist K. S. Pillai ( 19191978 ) - Famous versatile political cartoonist (Deshabandhu, Malayala Manorama, Sarasan, Narmada) O. V. Vijayan Cartoonist, writer. Unni - Cartoonist, P. K. Manthri- Artist, Cartoonist. Gopikrishnan- Cartoonist. Toms - The creator of the cartoon characters Boban and Molly. Yesudasan - Famous Kerala Cartoonist. Staff Cartoonist Malayala Manorama Others A. R. Raja Raja Varma - Linguist and grammarian known as the Kerala Panini. Sekar Ayyanthole - Painter, art teacher, former president of Kerala Chithrakala Parishath M. V. Devan- Artist, Writer. Yusuf Arakkal - Bangalore based painter. Ajit kumar G - trivandrum based watercolour artist.

Social reformers

Adi Sankara (788 - 820) - Saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India. Propounded the doctrine of Advaita (non-duality), which identified the Supreme with the Self. He is revered as the Shankaracharya. Mitavadi C. Krishnan - Kerala's Leading Social Reformer - 1913-1938 (See http://www.mitavadi-ckrishnan.org/) Ayyankali- The leader of the backward casts in Kerala Chattampi Swamikal (18531925) - was one of Keralas famed social reform activists and learned men. C. Kesavan - The Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin from 1951-52. K. M. Moulavi - An active leader of the Khilafat movement and the first president of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (1950), which is responsible for fighting social evils like dowry, superstition, and promoting education and protecting rights of women among the Muslim population in Kerala. K. P. Kesava Menon - Well known patriot and active volunteer of the freedom fight against the British. Founder of Mathrubhumi daily. Mathai Manjooran (19121970) - A gallant freedom fighter, socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry, and above all the staunchest advocate towards the formation of Kerala State. Mannathu Padmanabhan - Founder of Nair Service Society. M. C. Joseph - Rationalist, founding editor of Yukthivadi. Nawab Rajendran - Social activist who stirred the conscience of the society for three decades. Sree Narayana Guru (18561928) - Social reformer, scholar, teacher, saint and Vedantin. One of India's greatest sons Sahodaran Ayyappan - Social reformer, follower of Sri Narayana Guru. He proclaimed "Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda Manusyanu" (No caste, No religion and No God for Human being" as a rejoinder to the famous words of his philosopher-guide Narayana Guru who said: "One Caste, One Religion and One God for Human Being". Nataraja Guru - Disciple of Narayana Guru. He is a great sage and social reformer of India. Nataraja Guru founded Narayana Gurukulam. Vakkom Abdul Khadir Moulavi (18771933) - A visionary social reformer and educationist, a prolific writer and fearless journalist, a noted scholar and linguist and, above all, a patriot. Muttathil Sivarama Menon (19001983) A Visionary social reformer, teacher, writer, Social activist. Simplified the social studies school text books for 6th-11th grade for Kerala schools. Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmad is Secretary-General of the Calicut-based Sunni Cultural Center (Markaz).

Sports

Rajiv Ouseph - English badminton player of Kerala origin, current England number 1 and World ranked 21 Anju George - The only Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships. T. C. Yohannan - Longjump gold in the 1974 Asian Games. I. M. Vijayan - One of the leading Indian football players of modern times. Indian Player of the Year in 1992, 1997 and 1999. Jimmy George - Legendary volleyball player. Cyril Valloor - Legendary volleyball player and captain of the 1986 Indian team that won the bronze medal in Asian games. Joby Joseph - Indian volleyball player. Tom Joseph - Indian volleyball player. P. T. Usha - One of India's greatest athletes, who missed out on a bronze medal by 0.01 seconds in the 400 m hurdles event in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Tinu Yohannan - Former Indian cricket team player. Sreesanth - Indian cricket player. Sahil Pisharody - Youngest male certified scuba diver of India[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] [10] Shiny Wilson - One of the best middle-distance runners India has ever seen. Abey Kuruvilla - Indian cricket player. V. Sivaraman - former National Champion, National Team Captain and National Coach of table tennis M. D. Valsamma - 400m hurdles gold medal in the 1982 Asian Games. Alex Oommen - High School All-Star and Legendary Orthodox Basketball Player representing OPD

Diplomats

Moorkoth Ramunni - First Fighter Pilot from Kerala. He gained IPS after retiring from Air Force. Shivshankar Menon- Foreign Secretary.nephew to KPS Menon Jr. and grandson to KPS Menon Sr.Credited with ending India's nuclear isolation by playing a pivotal role in the negotiations with the US, the NSG and the IAEA Shashi Tharoor- Former united nations under secretary and present deputy minister of external affairs of India. Mr.Tharoor was the highest ranking Indian official in the U.N. Gen. Satish Nambiar- Former united nations security general. Nirupama Rao- Foreign Secretary and successor of Shivshankar Menon, hail from Malappuram District, Kerala. Married to Sudhakar rao present chief secretary of Karnataka.

M.K. Narayanan- National Security chief and former chief of IB (Intelligence Bureau). K. P. S. Menon - Diplomat who served as Indian Ambassador to China and USSR. He was the head of India's mission in Moscow when Jawaharlal Nehru visited Soviet Union in early fifties, opening a long chapter of friendship between the two countries. John Mathai - Economist who served as India's first Railway Minister and subsequently as India's Finance Minister, taking office shortly after the presentation of India's first Budget, in 1948. P.C. Alexander - Former governor of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and a former Indian civil servant. He served as governor of Tamil Nadu from 1988 to 1990, and governor of Maharashtra from 1993 to 2002. Served as Indira Gandhi's private Secretary.Author of The Corridors of Power N. R. Pillai - Secretary-General, Ministry of External Affairs, in Jawarhalal Nehru's cabinet. Kavalam Madhava Panikkar - Was Home Secretary when Sardar Patel was the Home Minister. Had a successful career as Ambassador to different countries, including China. Authored many books. T.N.Seshan - Former CEC.Credited with ensuring fair and free elections and bringing credibility to the Election Commission K P S Menon Jr. - Foreign Secretary.His father, KPS Menon was independent India's first Foreign Secy. E. Sreedharan - MD Delhi Metro Corp, Former CMD Konkan Railways M. S. Swaminathan - Scientist: Father of the Green Revolution in India Dr Verghese Kurien - Former Chairman Amul: Father of the White Revolution in India P.V.Sathyan famous foot baller

Co-operators

Advocate T. K. Krishnan- Cofounder of Indian Coffee Houses in Kerala. Founder President of ICH Societeies in Thrissur and Palakkad. Communist Leader, prominent advocate and Former M.L.A. Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai or Coffee House Pillai- Cofounder of Indian Coffee Houses in Kerala. Founder Secretary of ICH Societeies in Thrissur and Palakkad. Chairman of the All India Federation of Coffee Board Workers Co-operative Societies. Author of Coffee Housinte Katha, the history of ICH Movement.

Jurists

V.R. Krishna Iyer - Former Judge Supreme Court of India, politician, and social worker. K.K. Mathew - Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Tenth Law Commission

Chairman, and later Chairman of the Second Press Commission. K. G. Balakrishnan - 37th Chief Justice of India. The only Malayali to head the Supreme Court of India and the first Dalit to do so

Performing Artists

Guru Gopinath (19081987) - World renownd Indian Classical Dancer, Master and Author Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar (19891991) -World renowned Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu artist, Natya Shastra scholar and authority of Acting. Gopinath Muthukad - Noted magician. Kalamandalam Hyderali - Kathakali singer. Kalamandalam Gopi- Renowned Kathakali Artist. Keeleri Kunhikkannan, the great circus acharya of Kerala established the first circus institute in Kerala (1901). Kottakkal Sivaraman- Renowned Kathakali Artist. Mrinalini Sarabhai - Famous danseuse. She is the wife of late Indian physicist, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, mother of Mallika Sarabhai, and sister of Captain Lakshmi. Athira -Internationally Acclaimed Violin Prodigy /Guinness World Record Holder. Kim Thayil famous guitarist of 90's vanguard grunge band Soundgarden.

Scientists, Technocrats

G. N. Ramachandran Renowned biophysicist, known for Ramachandran plot. K. Radhakrishnan - Chairman of ISRO. G. Madhavan Nair - Former chairman of ISRO. M. S. Swaminathan - Famous Agriculture Scientist known as the father of Green Revolution Prof. Dr. George Sudarsan - Renowned theoretical physicist; Emeritus professor at University of Texas. Nominated for the Nobel prize a number of times. First to propose the V-A Theory with Robert Marshak in the 1950s. Two American scientists later won nobel price based on the theories formed by Sudarshan. M. G. K. Menon - Mambalikalathyl Govindan Kumar Menon, Renowned cosmic ray physicist; Was Director of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Later became Union Minister for Science and Technology. Laurie Baker - Eco-friendly architect and engineer. K. Mani Chandy, Ph.D. - Simon Ramo Chair Professor and Professor of Computer Science, California Institute of Technology. Member of the United States National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Chandy's family has its roots in Mepral, Pathanamthitta District. Jyeshtadeva - Mathematician; author of Yuktibhasa, the world's first treatise on calculus

Santhosh George Kulangara could soon become the countrys first space tourist by Global space tour operator Virgin Galactic, a venture of Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic Madhava of Sangamagrama - A 14th century mathematician, founder of mathematical analysis. Remi Chandran - UN researcher renown for his work on Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System Project. Thanu Padmanabhan - Distinguished Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics E. Sreedharan, Dr. E. Shreedhara Menon, Indian technocrat, M.D of Delhi Metro, Chairman of Konkan Railway Project. Dr Jai Menon - IBM scientist in the field of data storage K. C. Sreedharan Pillai Indian mathematician. P. K. Venugopalan Nambiar - Indian agricultural scientist credited with the development of the first hybrid variety of black pepper in the world. G. Balakrish Nair, an eminent Indian microbiologist. At present, he is the Director of National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases (NICED, ICMR), Kolkata, India. Mathai Varghese, Mathematician Dr.K.T.Jacob, Pioneering Plant-Geneticist, Took over the work of Sir. Jagadish Chandra Bose. Dr.Thekkethil Kochandy Alex , Director ISRO Satellite Centre , Major contributions to Chandrayaan-1 mission. Thomas Kailath George Varghese Thomas Zacharia Devadas D. Pillai, Intel Fellow, Arizona, USA. Recognized worldwide for his contributions in the area of computer simulation and modeling of dynamic production system in semiconductor manufacturing. He is one of the most influential designers of large-scale factory and robotic automation in wafer-fab manufacturing. Javad K Hassan, owner of 23 patents in Semi-Conductor Industry , Served as Head of IBM Tape Drive Division and Global Head of AMP-Tyco. His work in electron beam direct writing on semi conductors was eventually developed into the first electron beam machine for prodcution.He also introduced the revolutionary 3480 catridge tape drive systems to replace reel-to-reel tape drives.

Medicine

Dr Thomas Thomas - The first Indian Cardio-Thoracic surgeon. M. Krishnan Nair - Leading oncologist Mani Menon, Eminent Surgeon [Detroit, U.S.A.] Dr. Diljit Karayil - Renowned doctor of internal medicine [Florida, U.S.A]

M. S. Valiathan, Cardiac surgeon, Former Vice Chancellor, Manipal University. R. Kesavan Nair - Renowned surgeon

Law enforcement

Jayaram Padikkal - Director General of Police (DGP) Retd. B. Sandhya- Police Officer. R.B. Sreekumar-Former Director General of Police (DGP), Gujarat. Letika Saran-DGP,T.N. [ Academic persons

Sardar K.M. Panikkar - Eminent historian. India's first ambassador to China. K. N. Raj - Economist who played a key role in India's first Five Year Plan, one of the founding fathers of the Delhi School of Economics. K. R. Narayanan President of India and Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Father V.C. Samuel World renowned theologian, historian, author and multilinguist. First Keralite of highest academic pursuit (B.A. ph, M.A. ph, B.D. th, S.T.M. th, PhD - Yale University, Post Doctoral Research Scholar - University of Chicago, Rockefeller Fellow). First Keralite became principal of a foreign university (Haili Salasi U. Addis Ababa)

Activists

C. K. Janu - leader of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha, a social movement that has been pushing for land to be redistributed to landless adivasis and that grew out of the DalitAdivasi Action Council. Views: 884 Replies: 2