The

Ezhava The Ezhavas () are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as Kerala, where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the population and were reported to be the largest Hindu community. They are also known as ''Ilhava'' ...

are a prominent community in kerala making up approximately 25% of the state's population. The following is a list of notable members of the Ezhava community.

Dynasty

Mannanar The Mannanar () were a Thiyya dynasty of Malabar, a well known ruler, in the present-day Kannur and Kasaragod districts of India. The ruins of Mannanar palace can still be seen at the foot of the Ghats borders of Coorg. The Mannanar palace i ...

Legendary characters

Cheerappanchira Cheerappanchira is a noble Ezhava tharavad renowned for its Kalari in Muhamma, Alappuzha District. Recently, the family Kalari was reopened and around 40 students are being trained in the martial art of Kalarippayattu. The former minister of K ...

Panicker - Martial ( Kalary) Guru of Swamy Ayyappan, Father of Malikappurathamma- 13/ 14 century. * Itty Achudan vaidyar - famous physician *

Aromal Chekavar Aromal Chekavar, also known as Puthooram Veettil Aromal Chekavar, was a legendary warrior who is believed to have lived during the 16th century in the North Malabar region of Kerala, India. He was a warrior from a Thiyyar community and a paramount c ...

Unniyarcha Unniyarcha (sometimes spelled "Uñnįarcha") is a legendary warrior and heroine 16th century mentioned in the ''Vadakkan Pattukal'', a set of historical ballads from northern Kerala, a state in southwestern India. She was a member of a Thiyya ...

Spiritual leaders

Narayana Guru Narayana Guru, , (20 August 1856 – 20 September 1928) was a philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer in India. He led a reform movement against the injustice in the caste-ridden society of Kerala in order to promote spiritual ...

(1855- 1928) * Malayala Swamy (1885-1962) - Spiritual leader in Andra Pradesh, Founder of Sri Vyasasramam in YERPED, born in Guruvayur, disciple of Sivalinga Dasa Swamikal *

Vagbhatananda Vayaleri kunhikannan Gurukkal-''(Vagbhatananda)'' (1885 – October 1939) was a Hindu religious leader and Social reformer in British India. He was the founder of the Atmavidya Sangham, which was fundamentally a group of professionals and in ...

(1885-1939) - Founder of Atmavidya Sangam *

Nataraja Guru Nataraja Guru (born P. Natarajan, 18 February 1895 – 19 March 1973) was a disciple of Narayana Guru. Nataraja Guru founded Narayana Gurukula on 1923 for the integral study of various wisdom approaches. Life P. Natarajan was born in Bangalor ...

(1895- 1973) - Founder of Narayana Gurukulam, Varkala, son of Dr. Padmanabhan Palpu *

Karunakara Guru Karunakara Guru (1 September 1927 – 6 May 1999), also known as Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru, was an Indian Guru, and founder of Santhigiri Ashram in Pothencode, Kerala, India. Birth and childhood Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru was born on ...

(1927-1999) is known as Navajyothi Karaunakara Guru, founder of Santhigiri Asramam. *

Nitya Chaitanya Yati Nitya Chaitanya Yati (2 November 1924 – 14 May 1999) was an Indian philosopher, psychologist, author and poet, best known for his commentaries on Advaita Vedanta as well as his literary criticisms. He was a disciple of Nataraja Guru, the succe ...

(1924-1999) - guru, philosopher

Literature

Kumaran Asan Mahakavi Kumaran Asan (Malayalam: എൻ. കുമാരൻ ആശാൻ) (12 April 1873 – 16 January 1924) was a poet of Malayalam literature, Indian social reformer and a philosopher. He is known to have initiated a revolution in Malayalam ...

(1873 - 2924) – also known as Mahakavi Kumaran Asan *

Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker (a.k.a. Mooloor Asān or Sarasa Kavi, meaning "humour poet") (1869-1931) was a poet and a prominent social reform activist from the Travancore region of present-day Kerala. Early years Padmanābhan was born in hi ...

(1869-1931) – poet and prominent social reformer *

C. V. Kunhiraman C. V. Kunhiraman (6 February 1871 – 10 April 1949) was an Indian social reformer, journalist and the founder of Kerala Kaumudi daily. A follower of Sree Narayana Guru, Kunhiraman was the author of a number of books covering the genres of ...

(1871-1949) – founder of

Kerala Kaumudi ''Kerala Kaumudi'' is a Malayalam language daily newspaper published from Kerala, India. It was founded in 1911 by C. V. Kunhiraman as a periodical. His son K. Sukumaran later served as the newspaper's editor. Kerala Kaumudi Daily is among the ...

, writer and journalist *

S. K. Pottekkatt Sankarankutty Kunjiraman Pottekkatt (14 March 1913 – 6 August 1982) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature and a politician from Kerala, India. He was also a great traveller among the Keralites, who wrote many travelogues for the peopl ...

(1913-1982) - Recipient of Jnajpith Award (ജ്ഞാനപീഠം അവാര്‍ഡ്), novelist, *

Sukumar Azhikode Koloth Thattarath Sukumaran, popularly known as Sukumar Azhikode (26 May 1926 – 24 January 2012) was an Indian academic, orator, critic and writer of Malayalam literature, known for his contributions to Malayalam language and insights on Indian ...

(1926-2012) - Recipient of Kendra Sahithya Academy Award, writer, philosopher, Sanskrit scholar, critic and orator * O. V. Vijayan (1930-2005) - Indian author (

Khasakkinte Itihasam ''Khasakkinte Itihasam'' ( or , generally referred to as ''Khasak'' in Malayalam literary circles) is the Malayalam debut novel by Indian writer O. V. Vijayan (1930–2005). It was first serialised in 1968 and published as a single edition in ...

) and cartoonist

Politics

Chief Ministers

* C. Kesavan - former Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin *

R. Sankar R. Sankar (30 April 1909 – 7 November 1972) was an Indian politician who was the third Chief Minister of Kerala from 1962 to 1964. He was also the Deputy Chief Minister of the State from 1960 to 1962. Sankar apart from as a politician is kn ...

- former Chief Minister of Kerala. *

V.S. Achuthanandan Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan (born 20 October 1923) is an Indian Communist politician who was the Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. At 82, he is the oldest person to have assumed the office. He served as the chairman of Adm ...

- former Chief Minister of Kerala. *

Pinarayi Vijayan Pinarayi Vijayan (; born 24 May 1945) is an Indian Communist politician who is the current Chief Minister of Kerala, serving since 25 May 2016. A member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he is the longest-serving sec ...

- incumbent Chief Minister of Kerala.

Political Leaders

* A. P. Udhayabhanu - former KPCC President, freedom fighter, writer, editor -

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...

party selected him as the Chief Minister of Kerala, but he declined. *

Vayalar Ravi Vayalar Ravi (born 4 June 1937
) is an Indian politician, who served as the

- former AICC Gen. Secretary, CWC member, Union Cabinet minister, former State Home minister, former KPCC president, founder of KSU, NSU and Youth Congress *

K. R. Gowri Amma K. R. Gouri (14 July 1919 – 11 May 2021), born Kalathilparambil Raman Gouri, commonly known as Gouri Amma, was an Indian politician from Alappuzha district, Alappuzha in central Kerala. She was one of the most prominent leaders of the Left pol ...

- Communist Party leader (

CPM CPM may refer to: Advertising *Cost per mille, the advertising cost per thousand views *Cost per impression, Cost per thousand impressions, the online advertising equivalent Management *Certified practising marketer, a qualification for Australi ...

) leader, Minister in the first Kerala ministry in 1957. *

Susheela Gopalan Susheela Gopalan (29 December 1929, at Muhamma, in Alappuzha, Kerala – 19 December 2001, at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala) was an Indian Communist leader and one of the founding members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Life She wa ...

- Community Party leader and former minister * Veliyam Bhargavan - Communist Party leader (

CPI A consumer price index (CPI) is a price index, the price of a weighted average market basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households. Changes in measured CPI track changes in prices over time. Overview A CPI is a statistic ...

) former state secretary * Pannyan Raveendran - CPI former state secretary. MP. * V. M. Sudheeran - former KPCC President, former Speaker, former state Minister' *

Mullappally Ramachandran Mullappally Ramachandran (born 7 November 1944) is an Indian politician and former president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). He is a member of the Indian National Congress, and the son of Congress leader Mullappally Gopalan. ...

- KPCC President, former Union minister. * V. Muraleedharan - former BJP State President, Union minister * K. Surendran - BJP State President

Social reformers

Padmanabhan Palpu Padmanabhan Palpu LMS, DPH (Cantab) FRIPH (London) (2 November 1863 – 25 January 1950) was the second public health doctor in Travancore and a social revolutionary, who become the chief medical officer of Mysore State. He was a member of the ...

Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker Arattupuzha Velayudha Chekavar, also known as Kallisseril Velayudha Chekavar (7 January 1825 – 3 January 1874) was a 19th-century social reformer and warrior, known for his fight against many social evils prevalent in the state of Kerala. He ...

, ne 'Mangalam Vazhunnor Velayudha Perumal' *

Ayyathan Gopalan Rao Sahib Ayyathan Gopalan (3 March 1861 – 2 May 1948), popularly known as Darsarji and Darsar Sahib ("Darsar" means "doctor", derived from Latin word "docere" for doctor), was an Indian doctor, surgeon, professor, writer, philanthropist, s ...

- founder of Sugunavardhini movement, leader of Bhehmo Samaj *

T. K. Madhavan T. K. Madhavan (2 September 1885 – 27 April 1930) was an Indian social reformer, journalist and revolutionary, who was involved with the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam. He hailed from Kerala and led the struggle against untoucha ...

Sahodaran Ayyappan Kumbalathuparambu Ayyappan (August 21, 1889 – March 6, 1968), better identified as Sahodaran Ayyappan , was a social reformer, thinker, rationalist, journalist, and politician from Kerala, India. A vocal follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was ...

Moorkoth Kumaran Moorkoth Kumaran (1874–1941) was a social reformer, a teacher and a short story writer in Malayalam. Kumaran came from a Thiyya family of Thalassery, Kannur. He was a disciple of Narayana Guru and wrote the first biography of Guru. He initiated ...

Cinema

Thilakan Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...

- actor *

Ratheesh Ratheesh (1954–2002) was an Indian actor best known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He was a native of Kalavoor in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. He performed villainous roles during the 1990s. He had acted in 158 films with dire ...

- actor in late 1970s and 1980s. *

Sreenivasan Sreenivasan (born 6 April 1956) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, dubbing artist and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Sreenivasan has starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as ' ...

- actor *

Devan (actor) Devan Sreenivasan (born January 8, 1952), is an Indian film and television actor, producer, and politician from Kerala. He is known for his character roles in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu language films. After many second hero and supporting act ...

- actor *

Mukesh (actor) Mukesh Madhavan (born 5 March 1957), known mononymously as Mukesh, is an Indian actor, film producer, television presenter, and politician who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil-language fi ...

- actor *

Harisree Ashokan Harisree Ashokan is an Indian actor and director who is known for his comedy roles in Malayalam films. Ashokan has acted in more than 200 Malayalam films. He started his career as a mimicry artist in the troupe Harisree and then worked in Kalab ...

- actor *

Mala Aravindan Mala Aravindan (15 January 1939 – 28 January 2015) was an Indian actor. He was best known for his work as a comedian and character artist in Malayalam films. He has acted in over 500 films. Early life He was born in Vadavucode, Ernakulam d ...

- actor *

Kuthiravattom Pappu Padmadalakshan, better known by his stage name Kuthiravattam Pappu (24 December 1936 – 25 February 2000), was a popular Indian stage and film actor. His repertoire of acting was based on his unique style and use of the ''Kozhikodan'' dialect, i ...

- actor *

Kunchan (actor) Kunchan (born 14 November 1952) is an Indian actor, primarily concentrating on Malayalam films. He has done over 650 films in Malayalam. He usually does minor roles. He has also done important character roles. He started his career when Malayal ...

- actor *

Edavela Babu Ammanath Babu Chandran (born 11 August 1963), better known by his stage name Edavela Babu, is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam cinema. He made his acting debut in 1982 with ''Idavela'', from which he got his stage name. Since then, he ...

- actor *

Samvrutha Sunil Samvritha Sunil (born 31 October 1986) is an Indian actress who appears in Malayalam films. She made her debut in 2004 through the film ''Rasikan'' directed by Lal Jose before which she had also appeared as a junior artist in the film '' Ayal ...

Nithya Das Nithya Das is an Indian actress who works prominently in Malayalam cinema along with Malayalam and Tamil Television series. Career Das was active in the film industry during the early-2000s. She started her career with the 2001 film ''Ee Para ...

Mamta Mohandas Mamta Mohandas is an Indian actress, film producer and a playback singer of Malayalam film industry, she has also worked in Tamil and Telugu productions. She has acted in more than 50 films and won several accolades including two Filmfare Awar ...

Mythili Brighty Balachandran (born 24 March 1988), better known by her stage name Mythili, is an Indian actress who appears in Malayalam films. She made her debut in the 2009 Malayalam film '' Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha'' which ...

Namitha Pramod Namitha Pramod (born 19 September 1996) is an Indian actress who appears mainly in Malayalam films She made her acting debut in the Malayalam film '' Puthiya Theerangal''. She went on to appear in super hit films like Puthiya Theerangal (2012 ...

- Malayalam film actor. *

Vijay Babu (actor, born 1976) Vijay Babu (born 14 May 1976) is an Indian film producer, actor, and businessman, who works in the Malayalam film industry. He is the founder of the film production company Friday Film House. Vijay Babu is best known for producing and starring ...

Vinay Forrt Vinay Kumar, professionally credited as Vinay Forrt is an Indian film and stage actor. He hails from Fort Kochi, Kerala and is a theatre activist with more than a decade's worth of experience in the theatrical field as well as a postgraduate in ...

- actor *

Sunny Wayne Sujith Unnikrishnan (born 19 August 1983), known by his stage name Sunny Wayne is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based ...

- actor *

Sreenath Bhasi Sreenath Bhasi (born 29 May 1988) is an Indian actor, disco jockey and singer who works in Malayalam films. He started his career as a Radio Jockey in Red FM 93.5. At the same time he worked as a Video Jockey. He gained recognition in the film ' ...

- actor *

Ramu Kariat Ramu Kariat (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed many acclaimed films in the Malayalam cinema. His noted films include ''Neelakkuyil'' (1954), ''Mi ...

- film director. *

I. V. Sasi Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran (28 March 1947 – 24 October 2017), better known as I. V. Sasi, was an Indian film director who made over 110 films predominantly in Malayalam, in addition to Tamil and Hindi languages. In 2015, he was awarded the J. ...

- film director. Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ezhavas

Ezhavas The Ezhavas () are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as Kerala, where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the population and were reported to be the largest Hindu community. They are also known as ''Ilhava'' ...