The following is a list of notable people from

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. The names are classified according to the person's major area of work. For more details please see their respective articles.

Ancient rulers and kings

Early Cheras

The Cheras are referred to as Kedalaputo (Sanskrit: "Kerala Putra") in the Emperor

Ashoka Ashoka (, ; also ''Asoka''; 304 – 232 BCE), popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was the third emperor of the Maurya Empire of Indian subcontinent during to 232 BCE. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, s ...

Pali Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...

edicts (3rd century BCE). The earliest

Graeco-Roman The Greco-Roman civilization (; also Greco-Roman culture; spelled Graeco-Roman in the Commonwealth), as understood by modern scholars and writers, includes the geographical regions and countries that culturally—and so historically—were di ...

accounts referring to the Cheras are by

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ' ...

in the 1st century CE, in the

Periplus A periplus (), or periplous, is a manuscript document that lists the ports and coastal landmarks, in order and with approximate intervening distances, that the captain of a vessel could expect to find along a shore. In that sense, the periplus wa ...

of the 1st century CE, and by

Claudius Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importa ...

in the 2nd century CE.

Greeks The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...

and

Romans Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

are called "

Yavanas The word Yona in Pali and the Prakrits, and the analogue Yavana in Sanskrit and Yavanar in Tamil, were words used in Ancient India to designate Greek speakers. "Yona" and "Yavana" are transliterations of the Greek word for " Ionians" ( grc, ...

" in early Indian literature. *

Uthiyan Cheralathan Uthiyan Cheralathan ("Perum Chottu Uthiyan") is earliest known Chera ruler of early historic Kerala (c. 1st - 4th century CE) from available literary sources. He had his headquarters at a place called Kuzhumur in Kuttanad (southern Kerala). H ...

– earliest known ruler of the Chera family who was also known as "Vanavaramban" Cheral Athan. He is sometimes identified with the Chera ruler who prepared food for the warring cousins at Kurukshetra War in the epic

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the s ...

( Akananuru). * Nedum Cheralathan – Imayavaramban Nedum Cheral Athan, son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan, is the hero of the second decade of Pathitrupathu which was composed by the poet Kaveri Poompattanatthu Kaari Kannanar. The greatest of his enemies were the Kadambas whom he defeated in battles. He also attacked

Yavana The word Yona in Pali and the Prakrits, and the analogue Yavana in Sanskrit and Yavanar in Tamil, were words used in Ancient India to designate Greek speakers. "Yona" and "Yavana" are transliterations of the Greek word for "Ionians" ( grc, ...

ships and held

traders ransom. * Pallaana Chel Kelu Kuttuvan – son of Uthiyan Cheral Athan. Credited as the conqueror of

Kongu Kongu may refer to: * Kongu Nadu, a region of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and its inhabitants * Kongu Tamil, a dialect of Tamil language spoken in Western Tamil Nadu *Kongu vellala Gounder, a Dominant Landowning community in Western Tamil Nadu ...

. * Kalankakkanni Narmudi Cheral – led an expedition against the Adigaiman Anji of Tagadur. Initially defeated by Nannan of

Ezhimala Ezhimala, a hill reaching a height of , is located near Payyanur, in Kannur district of Kerala, south India. It is a part of a conspicuous and isolated cluster of hills, forming a promontory, north of Kannur (Cannanore). The Indian Naval Acad ...

in the battle of Pazhi, later defeated and killed Nannan in the battle of Vakai Perum Turai. * Chenguttuvan – identified with "Kadal Pirakottiya" Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan, son of Nedum Cheral Athan, celebrated by the poet Paranar in the 5th decade, ascended to the Chera throne after the death of his father. Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan is often identified with the legendary "Chenguttuvan Chera", the most illustrious ruler of the Early Cheras. Under his reign, the Chera territory extended from

Kollimalai Kollimalai is a taluk of Namakkal district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city ...

(near Karur Vanchi) in the east to Thondi and Mantai (Kerala) on the western coast. * Adu Kottu Cheral Athan – successor of Vel Kezhu Kuttuvan * Chelva Kadumko Valia Athan – son of Anthuvan Cheral and the hero of the 7th set of poems composed by Kapilar. He defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas and the Cholas. He is sometimes identified as the Ko Athan Cheral Irumporai mentioned in the Aranattar-malai inscription of

Pugalur Pugalur is a municipality in Karur district in Tamil Nadu, India. It has two parts: Nanjai Pugalur and Punjai Pugalur. Nanjai refers to land with plenty of water, and Punjai refers to land with few bodies of water. Geography Pugalur is on th ...

(c. 2nd century CE). * Perum Cheral Irumporai – "Tagadur Erinta" defeated the combined armies of the Pandyas, Cholas and that of the chief of Tagadur. He captured Tagadur which was ruled by the powerful ruler Adigaman Ezhni. He is also called "the lord of Puzhinadu" and "the lord of Kollimalai" and "the lord of oomuhar". Puhar was the Chola headquarters. Perum Cheral Irumporai also annexed the territories of a minor chief called Kaluval. * Illam Cheral Irumporai – defeated the Pandyas and the Cholas and brought immense wealth to his base Vanchi. * Yanaikatchai Mantaran Cheral Irumporai – ruled from

(near Karur Vanchi) in the east to Thondi and Mantai on the western coast. He defeated his enemies in a battle at Vilamkil. * Kanaikkal Irumporai – said to have defeated a chief called Muvan and imprisoned in him. The Chera then brutally pulled out the teeth of the prisoner and planted them on the gates of the city of

Thondi Thondi or Tondi is a Panchayat town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its c ...

. Upon capture by the Chola ruler Sengannan Kanaikkal committed suicide by starvation.

Kodungallur Cheras / Kulasekharas (Medieval Cheras)

* Kulashekhara Varma (c. 800–c.820 CE)Perumāḷs of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy : Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cēra Perumāḷs of Makōtai (c. AD 800 - AD 1124). . * Rajashekhara (c. 820–844 CE) * Sthanu Ravi Varma (844–c. 885 CE) * Rama Varma (c. 885–917 CE) * Kota Ravi Varma (917–947 CE) * Indu Kota Varma (944–962 CE) * Bhaskara Ravi Varma I (962–1019 CE) * Bhaskara Ravi Varma II (979–1021 CE) * Vira Kerala (1021–c. 1028 CE) * Rajasimha (c. 1028–c.1043 CE) * Bhaskara Ravi Varma III (c. 1043–c.1082 CE) * Ravi Rama Varma (c. 1082–1090 CE)

Venad Swaroopam (Later Cheras)

Rulers of

Venad Venad was a medieval kingdom lying between the Western Ghat mountains and the Arabian Sea on the south-western tip of India with its headquarters at the port city of Kollam/Quilon.Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Is ...

trace their origin to the

Vel Vel ( ta, வேல், lit=Vēl) is a divine javelin or spear associated with Murugan, the Hindu god of war. Significance According to Shaiva tradition, the goddess Parvati presented the Vel to her son Murugan, as an embodiment of her shakti, ...

family related to the Ay chiefs of the ancient southern India (c. 1st - 4th century AD). Venad - ruled by hereditary chiefs, acting with the help of a military entourage - emerged as a chiefdom in the state of the Cheras of

Kodungallur Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Th ...

in c. 8th century. *

Rama Varma Kulashekhara Rama Kulasekhara (''fl.'' late 11th century CE) was the last ruler of the Chera Perumal dynasty of medieval Kerala. He was a contemporary to Chola kings Kulottunga I (1070–1120) and Vikrama Chola (1118–35 AD). Rama Kulaskehara is best known ...

(1090–1102) – mentioned in Rameswarathukoil Inscription as the founder of

as an independent state * Kotha Varma Marthandam,

Keezhperoor Keezhperoor (kīḻpērūr, Kilapperur, Kizhperur) or Kupaka is a village located 6 kilometers from Kilimanoor in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. It houses Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy Temple, family temple of Venad, Kizhakkumkara Devi ...

(1102–1125) – conquered Kottar and Nanjanad from the Pandya Dynasty * Vira Kerala Varma I, Keezhperoor (1125–1145) – great religious benefactor, responsible for the rebuilding of Padmanabhaswamy and the endowment of Suchindram Temples * Kodai Kerala Varma, Keezhperoor (1145–1150) * Vira Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1161–1164) * Vira Kerala Varma II, Keezhperoor (1164–1167) * Vira Aditya Varma, Keezhperoor (1167–1173) * Vira Udaya Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1173–1192) – established his seat at Kulikkod and allied himself to the Pandya kings * Devadaram Vira Kerala Varma III, Keezhperoor (1192–1195) * Vira Manikantha Rama Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1195– ?) * Vira Rama Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1209–1214) * Vira Ravi Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1214–1240) * Vira Padmanabha Martanda Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1240–1252) – the Pandya kings asserted their dominance over

during his reign * Jayasimha Deva, Keezhperoor (1266–1267) – succeeded in bringing the whole of present-day

under his control. He established his seat at Kollam, the surrounding areas becoming known as Jayasimhanad (Desinganad). His wife Rani Umma Devi was probably a joint ruler with her husband. He died leaving several sons who quarrelled with his nephews over the succession, causing a long and disruptive civil war. * Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1299–1313) * Vira Udaya Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1313–1333) * Aditya Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1333–1335) * Vira Rama Udaya Martanda Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1335–1342) * Vira Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1342–1363) * Vira Martanda Varma III, Keezhperoor (1363–1366) * Vira Rama Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1366–1382) * Vira Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1383–1416) * Vira Ravi Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1416–1417) * Vira Kerala Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1383) * Chera Udaya Martanda Varma, Keezhperoor (1383–1444) * Vira Ravi Varma, Keezhperoor (1444–1458) * Sankhara Sri Vira Rama Martanda Varma (1458–1468) * Vira Kodai Sri Aditya Varma (1468–1484) – established his capital at

Kallidaikurichi Kallidaikurichi () or Kalladaikurichi is a town on the right bank of the Thamiraparani river in Ambasamudram Taluk of Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. Etymology 'Kal + idai + kurichi' meaning exactly in Tamil, ...

Vira Ravi Ravi Varma Vira Ravi Ravi Varma was Raja of Venad, also known as the Kingdom of Quilon, between 1484 and 1503. He was a member of the Kulasekhara Dynasty, predecessors of the Travancore Rajas. He moved the capital from Kallidaikurichi to Padmanabhapuram ...

(1484–1503) – established his capital at

Padmanabhapuram Padmanabhapuram is a town and a municipality near Thuckalay in Kanyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As of 2011, the town had a population of 21,342. History Padmanabhapuram was the erstwhile capital of the Kingdom of Travan ...

* Martanda Varma, Kulasekhara Perumal (1503–1504) * Vira Ravi Kerala Varma, Kulasekhara Perumal (1504–1528) – succeeded as Trippappur Mutta Tiruvadi

Mushika Kingdom (Ezhimalai)

The

Mushika kingdom Mushika dynasty, also spelled Mushaka, was a minor dynastic power that held sway over the region in and around Mount Ezhi (Ezhimala) in present-day North Malabar, Kerala, India. The country of the Mushikas, ruled by an ancient lineage of the Heh ...

was a kingdom in the early historic

south India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territ ...

in present-day

, ruled by a royal dynasty of the same name. Its dominions, for most of its recorded history, covered the present-day regions of northern

Tulunadu Tulunad or Tulu Nadu, also called Bermere sristi or Parashurama Srishti, is a region and a proposed state on the southwestern coast of India. The Tulu people, known as 'Tuluva' (plural 'Tuluver'), speakers of Tulu, a Dravidian language, ar ...

and Coorg (southern Karnataka), between the western slopes of the Western Ghats in the east and the

Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea ( ar, اَلْبَحرْ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Bahr al-ˁArabī) is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf of Oman, on the west by the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel ...

in the west. * Nannan I - He married the daughter of the Chera King Perunchorruthiyan sometime around the 3rd Century BCE. Sangam texts as well as several versions of the

cite a Chera king by the same name to have fed the rival armies in the Great War. Under Nannan, an able military commander also, Mushika kingdom transformed into a force in South India, and stretched into Wynad and Gudalur Districts in the foothills of the Western Ghats, and the northern parts of present-day Coimbatore district,

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

. Eager to expand his kingdom, Nannan waged war against the Cheras, and successfully defeated the Chera commanders at the Battle of Pazhi. * Isanavarman – married a Chedi princess Nandini. He also married the daughter of the then Chola King. Their son Nrpurama was the next king. * Virochana – defeated the

Pallavas The Pallava dynasty existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a significant portion of the Deccan, also known as Tondaimandalam. The dynasty rose to prominence after the downfall of the Satavahana dynasty, with whom they had formerly served as f ...

, and married Harini, the daughter of the Pallava King. * Kandan Kari Varman – (The Mushika king who lived in the Eleventh Century CE) is referred to as a close relative of the Ay- Chera King Vira Kerala. Several inscriptions exist in both the

Kasargod Kasaragod () is a municipal town and administrative headquarters of Kasaragod district in the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1966, Kasaragod was the first municipal town in the district. It is the northernmost district of Kerala and ...

Kannur Kannur (), formerly known in English as Cannanore, is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur district and situated north of the major port city and commercial hu ...

area (in Eramam) and in the

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...

Kanyakumari Kanniyakumari (; , referring to Devi Kanya Kumari), also known as Cape Comorin, is a city in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland Ind ...

area, throwing light on the synchronism between

Rajendra Chola Rajendra Chola I (; Middle Tamil: Rājēntira Cōḻaṉ; Classical Sanskrit: Rājēndradēva Cōla; Old Malay: ''Raja Suran''; c. 971 CE – 1044 CE), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, and also known as Gangaikonda Chola (Middle Tami ...

, Chera Vira Kerala and Kandan Kari Varman and that the latter Mushika King belonged to the Ay Dynasty.

Kola Swarupam (Chirakkal Rajah)

Kolattunādu (Kola Swarupam, as Kingdom of

Cannanore Kannur (), formerly known in English as Cannanore, is a Cities in India, city and a municipal corporation in the state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur district and situated north of the major port city a ...

in foreign accounts, Chirakkal (Chericul) in later times) was one of the three most powerful feudal kingdoms on the Malabar Coast during the arrival of

Portuguese India Armadas The Portuguese Indian Armadas ( pt, Armadas da Índia) were the fleets of ships funded by the Crown of Portugal, and dispatched on an annual basis from Portugal to India. The principal destination was Goa, and previously Cochin. These armada ...

, the others being Zamorin's

Calicut Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...

and

Quilon Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city ...

. The Kolathiris are praised as Vadakkan Perumals ("Kings of the North") by the noted "Keralolpathi". Kolathiri were also known as Chirakkal Raja or King of Chirakkal. * Rama Ghata Mushaka – established the lineage of Kola Swarupam; * Vikrama Rama an inscription dating to 929 AD mentions about one Vikrama Rama identifiable with the ruler Vikrama Rama who appears in the Mushika Vamsa * Udaya Varma, also known as "Rama Ghata Muvar" – mentioned on the inscription from 10th century AD * Eraman Chemani (Rama Jayamani) – the inscription from the Tiruvattur temple mentions him to be identifiable as the king who appears as the 109th ruler in the Mushika Vamsa

Arrakal Kingdom

Arakkal kingdom (Kingdom of Cannanore, Sultanate of Laccadive and Cannanore) was a former city-state on the Malabar Coast, ruled by a dynasty of the same name. The ruling King was called

Ali Raja The Sultan Ali Raja or Ali Raja or Adi Raja was the title of the Muslim king of Arakkal kingdom from the sixteenth to early nineteenth century. Arakkal dynasty Reigning rajas and beebis * Ali Raja Ali I (1545–1591) * Ali Raja Abubakar I (1591– ...

("the Sea Ruler") and the ruling queen was called Arakkal Beevi. The royal family is said to be originally a branch of the Kolattiri, descended from a princess of that family who converted to Islam. They owed allegiance to the Kolattiri rulers, whose ministers they had been at one time. The Arakkal family was the only Muslim royal family of Kerala to control parts of the coast and

Lakshadweep Lakshadweep (), also known as Laccadives (), is a union territory of India. It is an archipelago of 36 islands in the Arabian sea, located off the Malabar Coast. The name ''Lakshadweep'' means "one lakh islands" in Sanskrit, though the Lac ...

. * Ali Raja Ali II – known to have deployed his naval Mappila forces on behalf of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb during the

Child's War The Anglo-Mughal War, also known as Child's War, was the first Anglo-Indian War on the Indian Subcontinent. The English East India Company had been given a monopoly and numerous fortified bases on western and south-eastern coast of the Mugh ...

Samoothiri of Kozhikode

Zamorin of Calicut The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edited ...

(Saamoothiri, സാമൂതിരി) – rulers of Malabar from the 14th and 18th century AD. At the peak of their reign, the Samoothiris ruled over a region from Kollam (Quilon) to Panthalayini Kollam (

Koyilandy A Survey of Kerala History, A. Shreedhara Menon ar, Fundriya pt, Pandarani , settlement_type = MunicipalityTaluk , image_skyline = KadaloorPointLight 01.jpg , image_alt = , image_caption ...

). * Mana Vikrama (Manikkan) – legendary founder of the ruling family * Mana Vikrama the Great – the

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

n merchant of

Tver Tver ( rus, Тверь, p=tvʲerʲ) is a city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is northwest of Moscow. Population: Tver was formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and a model provincial town in the Russian ...

Afanasy Nikitin Afanasy Nikitin (russian: Афана́сий Ники́тин; died 1472) was a Russian merchant from Tver and one of the first Europeans (after Niccolò de' Conti) to travel to and document his visit to India. He described his trip in a narrat ...

(1468–1474) visited

Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...

during his reign * Mana Vikrama III – the expulsion of the Portuguese from Chaliyam (1571) by his forces * Mana Vikrama (Saktan Tampuran) – uncle of the author of the Krishnanatakam * Mana Veda – author of the Krishnanatakam * Asvati Tirunal – his forces undertook the expulsion of

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

from

(1662) * Puratam Tirunal – Portuguese were expelled from Kochi under his reign (1663) * Uttrattati Tirunal – ceded Chetwai to the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

* Bharani Tirunal Mana Vikram – the terror of the

; two Mamankams (1694 and 1695) * Nileswaram Tirunal – adoptions from Nileswaram (1706 and 1707) * Samoothiri from Kilakke Kovilakam (1741–1746) * Putiya Kovilakam (1746–1758) – the Dutch War was fought during his term (1753–1758). * Kilakke Kovilakam (1758–1766) – battles with

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

and the invasion of

Mysore Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...

; committed suicide; annexed by

* Putiya Kovilakam (1766–1788) * Kerala Varma Vikrama (1788–1798) – Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) * Krishna Varma (1798–1806) – agreement of 1806 with EIC (died in 1816)

Purannatt Swarupam (Cotiote Rajah)

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...

– known as the Lion of Kerala; a prince from the royal dynasty of Pazhassi Kottayam. He was the only person to defeat

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish people, Anglo-Irish soldier and Tories (British political party), Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of Uni ...

in a war.

Kings of Travancore

In the 18th century,

Marthanda Varma Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (Malayalam: ) was the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore (previously Venadu) from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja") (1758–98).Subrahman ...

(1706–1758), of the Trippappoor, successfully developed the centralised state of

. Varma routed all of major

Nair The Nair , also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom histo ...

nobles in Travancore, organised a standing army, defeated most of the chiefdoms in central Kerala, entered into strategic alliances with Europeans, supported Kerala merchants ( Syrian Christian) in the place of the Europeans, and eventually formed one of the first modern states of southern India. *

Kulasekhara Perumal (1729–1758) * Balarama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal –

Dharma Raja Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, ധർമ്മരാജാ കാർത്തിക തിരുനാൾ രാമവർമ്മ, 1724–17 February 1798) was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He s ...

Karthika Thirunal (1758–1798) * Balarama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1798–1810) * Gouri Laksmibhai Ranee (1810–1815) * Gouri Parvathibhai Ranee (1815–1829) * Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1829–1847) * Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja (1847–1860) *

Ayilyam Thirunal Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma (1832–1880) was the ruler of the princely state of Travancore in India from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful with Travancore gaining the appellation of "model state of India". Ayilyam Thirunal was ...

Rama Varma Maharaja (1860–1880) * Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma Maharaja (1880–1885) * Shri

Moolam Thirunal Sir Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885). Early life and education Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma was bo ...

Maharajah (1885–1924) * Sethu Laksmibhai Ranee (1924–1933) * Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharajah (1933–1949) – last King of

;

Rajpramukh Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain Indian provinces and states. Background The British Indian Empire, which inclu ...

of Thiru-Kochi

Dewan of Travancore

Raja Kesavadas Kunnathur Kesavan Raman Pillai, also known as Raja Kesavadas (1745-1799; Sanskrit ') was the Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma. He is well known for his military tactics and administrative acumen ...

–

Dewan ''Dewan'' (also known as ''diwan'', sometimes spelled ''devan'' or ''divan'') designated a powerful government official, minister, or ruler. A ''dewan'' was the head of a state institution of the same name (see Divan). Diwans belonged to the e ...

of Travancore during the reign of

Dewan of Malabar

* E.K Krishnan –

of Malabar district, during the deputy collecter of state and district.

Kings of Cochin

* Unniraman Koikkal I (1500–1503) * Veera Kerala Varma (1537–1565) * Kesava Rama Varma (1565–1601) * Rama Varma (1701–1721) * Rama Varma

Sakthan Thampuran Rama Varma Kunji pillai Thampuran (1751–1805), or Rama Varma IX, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran (''Sakthan'' meaning powerful), was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin. The current southern Indian city of Kochi was part of the erstwhile ...

(1790–1805) *

Rama Varma XV Sir Sri Rama Varma XV (1852–1932), known as the Rajarshi of Cochin and as Abdicated Highness, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1895 to 1914. Rama Varma abdicated the throne in 1914. He died in January 1932 at his summer reside ...

(1895–1914) * Kerala Varma (1946–1948) * Rama Varma Pareekshithu Thampuran (1948–1964) – last king of

Cochin Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of K ...

Villarvattom Dynasty (vassal principality of the Kingdom of Cochin)

* King Thoma of Villarvattom.

Heads of state

President of India

* K.R. Narayanan – 10th

President of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Mur ...

(1997–2002), 9th

Vice-President of India The vice president of India (IAST: ) is the deputy to the head of state of the Republic of India, i.e. the president of India. The office of vice president is the second-highest constitutional office after the president and ranks second in the ...

(1992–1997)

President of Singapore

Devan Nair Chengara Veetil Devan Nair (5 August 1923 – 6 December 2005), also known as C. V. Devan Nair and better known simply as Devan Nair, was a Malaysian-Singaporean politician who served as the third president of Singapore from 1981 until his resi ...

– 3rd

President of Singapore The president of Singapore is the head of state of the Republic of Singapore. The role of the president is to safeguard the reserves and the integrity of the public service. The presidency is largely ceremonial, with the Cabinet led by the prime ...

(1981–1985)

Prime Minister of Malaysia

* Mahathir Mohamad - 4th

Prime Minister of Malaysia The prime minister of Malaysia ( ms, Perdana Menteri Malaysia; ms, ڤردان منتري مليسيا, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the fed ...

(1981-2003), (2018-2020)

Parliament of India

Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. , it has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using si ...

* P. J. Kurien – 18th

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha The Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha (IAST: ) presides over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha in the absence of the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha (Vice President of India). The Deputy Chairperson is elected internally by the Rajya Sabha ...

(2012–2018)

Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-p ...

* T. K. Viswanathan – Secretary General of the Lok Sabha (15th)

Governors of states

Pattom A. Thanu Pillai Raja Shri Pattom A. Thanu Pillai (15 July 188527 July 1970) was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the chief minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962. He was known as the 'Bhishmacharya' o ...

** fourth Governor of Punjab, 1962–1964 ** fourth

Governor of Andhra Pradesh This is a list of governors of Andhra, including Andhra State and United Andhra Pradesh, in office from 1953 to the present date. The official residence of the governor is the Raj Bhavan, situated in Vijayawada. E. S. L. Narasimhan is the lo ...

, 1964–1968 *

P.C. Alexander Padinjarethalakal Cherian Alexander (20 March 1921 – 10 August 2011) was an Indian Administrative Service officer of 1948 batch who served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1988 to 1990 and as the Governor of Maharashtra from 1993 to 2002. ...

** ninth

Governor of Tamil Nadu The governor of Tamil Nadu is the head of state of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The governors have similar powers and functions at the state level as those of the president of India at central level. They exist in the state appointed by t ...

, 1988–1990 ** seventeenth

Governor of Maharashtra The governor of Maharashtra is the ceremonial head of the state of Maharashtra. The Constitution of India confers the executive powers of the state to the governor, however the de facto executive powers lie with the Council of Ministers. Bhagat ...

, 1993–2002 ** seventh

Governor of Goa The governor of Goa is a nominal head and representative of the president of India in the state of Goa. The governor is appointed by the president for a term of five years. P. S. Sreedharan Pillai became governor on 7 July 2021. Powers and func ...

, 1996–1998 *

P V Cherian Palathinkal Varkey Cherian (or Cheriyan) (9 July 1893 – 9 November 1969) was a physician, surgeon and politician from India. He was the Governor of Maharashtra from 14 November 1964 to 8 November 1969. Early life and medical career Cherian wa ...

– eighth

, 1964–1969 *

M. M. Jacob M. M. Jacob (9 August 1926 – 8 July 2018), in full Mundakkal Mathew Jacob, was an Indian politician, working in Indian National Congress. He married Achamma Kunnuthara from Tiruvalla, Kerala (since deceased) and had four daughters. He was ap ...

– ninth Governor of Meghalaya, 1995–2007 * A. J. John, Anaparambil – fourth

Governor of Madras This is a list of the governors, agents, and presidents of colonial Madras, initially of the English East India Company, up to the end of British colonial rule in 1947. English Agents In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized b ...

, 1956–1957 *

M K Narayanan Mayankodu Kelath Narayanan (born 10 March 1934) is a former Indian Police Service officer. He was National Security Adviser of India from 2005 to 2010, assuming the role after the demise of his predecessor Jyotindra Nath Dixit in January 2005. ...

– 24th

Governor of West Bengal The Governor of West Bengal is the nominal head of state of the Indian state of West Bengal and a representative of the President of India. The governor is appointed by the president for a term of five years. His official residence is the Raj ...

, 2010–2014 **

Madathilparampil Mammen Thomas Madathilparampil Mammen Thomas (1916—1996) was an Indian Christian theologian, social thinker, and activist. He served as Governor of the Indian State, Nagaland (1990–1992), and as the Chairperson of the Central Committee of World Council of ...

Governor of

Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Its capital cit ...

, 1990–1992 *

Vakkom Purushothaman Vakkom Purushothaman (born 12 April 1928) is an Indian politician who served as the Governor of Mizoram from 2011 to 2014, Former Speaker of Kerala, state minister and former Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar. Early life Vakkom B. Purushot ...

– eleventh

Governor of Mizoram This is a list of governors of Mizoram, an Indian state part of Northeast India Powers and functions The Governor enjoys many different types of powers: *Executive powers related to administration, appointments and removals, *Legislative p ...

, 2011–2014 *

K. Sankaranarayanan Kateekal Sankaranarayanan (15 October 1932 – 24 April 2022) was the governor of the Indian state of Maharashtra. He had also served as the Governor of Nagaland and Jharkhand. Prior to his appointment as governor, he had served as a minister i ...

– 21st

, 2010–2014 * K.K. Viswanathan – sixth

Governor of Gujarat The governor of Gujarat Is a nominal head and representative of the president of india In the state of Gujarat. The governor is appointed by the president for a term of five years and resides in Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar. Acharya Devvrat took ...

, 1973–1978 *

Kummanam Rajasekharan Kummanam Rajasekharan (born 23 December 1952) is an Indian politician and former governor of Mizoram (2018–2019). He began his political career as an activist of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Sangh Parivar in Kerala in 1970. From 201 ...

BJP The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Mo ...

– 18th

, 2018–2019 * P. S. Sreedharan Pillai,

– 19th

, 2019–present

Council of Ministers, India

Union Cabinet Ministers

John Mathai John Matthai CIE (1886–1959) was an 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. He was born on January 1 ...

– Minister for Finance (1948–1950) * V. K. Krishna Menon –

Minister for Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...

(1957–1962) * Panampilly Govinda Menon – Minister for Law and Railways (1969–1970) *

Ravindra Varma Ravindra Varma (9 April 1925 – 10 October 2006) was a Gandhian politician who served as the Minister for Labour and Parliamentary Affairs in the Morarji Desai Ministry in India from 1977 to 1979. Politics He entered active politics in 194 ...

– Minister for Labour (1977–79) *

K. P. Unnikrishnan K. P. Unnikrishnan (born 20 September 1936) is an Indian former politician, writer, Union Minister and parliamentarian of Vatakara constituency. Life K. P. Unnikrishnan was born on 20 September 1936 in a family from Malabar Coast. His fathe ...

– Minister for Telecommunications in the V P Singh Cabinet (1989–90) * K. Karunakaran – Minister for Industries (1995) * A.K. Antony –

Minister of Defence A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...

(2006–2014) – Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (1993–1995) *

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

– Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs (2006–2014) – Minister for Civil Aviation (2011)

Minister of State (Independent Charges)

M. P. Veerendra Kumar Maniyankode Padmaprabha Veerendra Kumar (22 July 1936 — 28 May 2020) was an Indian politician, writer and journalist, who was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha. He was a member of the Loktantrik Janata Dal political party and president of the ...

– Ministry of Labour with additional charge of Urban Affairs (1997–1998) *

K. V. Thomas K. V. Thomas (born 10 May 1946), in full Kuruppasserry Varkey Thomas, is an Indian politician from Kumbalangi in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. He represented Ernakulam Constituency from 2009 to 2019. He was the Minister of State in ...

–

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is a government ministry of India. The ministry is headed by a Cabinet rank minister. Departments The ministry is divided into two departments, the Department of Food and Pub ...

(2009–2014) * Alphons Kannanthanam,

- Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Culture, and Tourism (2016–2019)

Minister of State (MoS)

* Lakshmi N. Menon – Ministry of External Affairs of India (1957–1966) * Mullappally Ramachandran –

Ministry of Home Affairs An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

(2009–2014) – Agriculture and Cooperation (1991–1996) *

– Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources and Home Affairs at different periods (1987–93) * O. Rajagopal,

– Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Railways, Urban Development, Defence (1999–2004) *

Shashi Tharoor Shashi Tharoor (; ; born 9 March 1956 in London, England ) is an Indian former international civil servant, diplomat, bureaucrat and politician, writer and public intellectual who has been serving as Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, ...

– Ministry of External Affairs of India (2009–2010), Minister of State for Human Resource Development (2012–2014) * E. Ahamed – Ministry of External Affairs (2011– ); Minister of State for Human Resource Development; Minister of State for Railways (2004–2014) * K. C. Venugopal – Ministry of Power (2011–2014) * Kodikkunnil Suresh – Ministry of Labour and Employment (2012–2014) *

V Muraleedharan Vellamvelly Muraleedharan (born 12 December 1958) is an Indian politician from Kerala and current Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs of India since 30 May 2019. He was the eighth State President of Bharatiya Ja ...

– Minister of state for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs

Chief Ministers

From Kerala

From Tamil Nadu

M. G. Ramachandran Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 24 December 1987), also popularly known as M.G.R., was an Indian politician, actor, philanthropist, and filmmaker who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987 ...

, 3rd CM of Tamil Nadu 2. V N Janaki Ramachandran, 4th CM of Tamil Nadu

Ministers

Other states

* K. J. George – Minister of Home, Karnataka (2013–2016)

Political leaders

* A. P. Udhayabhanu – Member Travancore State Assembly (1944–1952) * C.P.Mathen – Member of Parliament (1952); Indian Ambassador to Sudan (1957–1960) * A.K. Gopalan , Lok Sabha (1952–1977);

Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)/CPIM/CPM) is a Marxist–Leninist communist political party in India. It is the largest communist party of India in terms of membership and electoral seats and one of the na ...

Mathai Manjooran Mathai Manjooran (13 October 1912 – 14 January 1970) was an Indian independence activist from Kerala, socialist revolutionary, founder of the Kerala Socialist Party, Member of Parliament, Minister of Labour (economics) in the second E.M.S. ...

– member of Rajya Sabha (1952–1954) * K. M. George – member, Kerala Legislative Assembly (1960–1964) founder Kerala Congress (1964) * K.Damodaran (Damodaran Kizhedath) – Member Rajya Sabha (1964–1970); the first 'Malayalee Communist' (1937) *

Thennala Balakrishna Pillai Thennala Balakrishna Pillai (born 11 March 1930) is an Indian politician representing the Indian National Congress and is a former Member of the Parliament representing Kerala in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. He wa ...

– Member Rajya Sabha, three terms (1991–1998; 2003–2009) * P. Krishna Pillai – founder of communist movement in Kerala (1937) *

Azhikodan Raghavan Azhikodan Raghavan was a leader of the Communist Party of India ( Marxist) (CPI(M)). Personal life He was born on 1 July, 1919, in South Bazar, Kannur. Political life In 1940, he was groomed into a true communist by comrades P. Krishna ...

– Communist Party Leader in Kerala * Pannyan Raveendran – Member Loka Sabha (2006–2012); Kerala State Secretary, Communist Party of India (2012–2015) * Pinarai Vijayan – Chief Minister, Kerala; Kerala State Secretary, CPI(M) (1998–2015), and member of the CPI(M) Politburo (2002–incumbent) *

Prakash Karat Prakash Karat (born 7 February 1948) is an Indian Communist politician. He was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from 2005 to 2015. Education and early career Prakash Karat was born in Letpadan, Burma on 7 Februar ...

– General Secretary, CPI(M) of India (2005–2015) * Panakkad Shihab Thangal (Panakkad Sayeed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal) – President of the Kerala state committee of the IUML (1975–2009) *

Ramesh Chennithala Ramesh Chennithala, , (born 25 May 1956), is an Indian politician, and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly. He also served as the state Home Minister in t ...

– President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (2005-incumbent); four times Lok Sabha MP (1989–2004) * Anathalavattom Anandan – President, CITU State Committee; Vice Chairman, Apex Body for Coir; State Secretariat Member, CPI(M); three times MLA from Attingal Constituency * P. Chacko MLA – Member, Kerala Legislative Assembly (1960–1964) *

Dr. George Thomas Dr. K. George Thomas was a journalist, academic, Indian National Congress politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Kallooppara to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1967. He was also a founding member of Kerala Congress. Thomas ...

– Kerala Legislative Assembly (1967–1970) * M. T. Jacob – Mayor of Aluva (2010–incumbent) * Vakkom Bharathan – CPI(M) leader, trade union leader *

– former Mizoram Governor; former BJP Kerala state president * P.J. Kurien – Member and Deputy Speaker of

Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. , it has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using si ...

from

(2012–incumbent) *

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 Kerala (2006–11) * P. K. Jayalakshmi – youngest minister in the Oommen Chandy Government (elected to office at age 30); first Adivasi Minister of Kerala * K.Karunakaran – former chief minister

(3235 days) *

Oommen Chandy Oommen Chandy, , (born 31 October 1943) is an Indian politician and statesman who served as the Chief Minister of Kerala for two terms, from 2004 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2016. He was also Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislati ...

– former chief minister

(2446 days) * O. Rajagopal – former Central Minister, two times MP, first BJP MLA in Kerala *

Suresh Gopi Suresh Gopi (born 26 June 1958) is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his acti ...

– BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala; National Award-winning superstar actor * Richard Hay – BJP Loksabha MP from Kerala, second Malayalee nominated as Anglo Indian MP *

– Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala * Alphonse Kannanthanam – former Central Tourism, IT, Electronics Minister; BJP Rajyasabha MP from Kerala

Award winners

Bharat Ratna

The

Bharat Ratna The Bharat Ratna (; ''Jewel of India'') is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinctio ...

is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

Padma Vibhushan

The

Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons without ...

is India's second highest civilian honour. * V.K. Krishna Menon – Public Affairs (1954) *

John Matthai John Matthai CIE (1886–1959) was an 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. He was born on January 10 ...

– Literature & Education (1959) * Kalpathi Ramakrishna Ramanathan ( K. R. Ramanathan) – Science & Engineering (1976) * Mambillikalathil Kumar Menon (

M. G. K. Menon Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon (28 August 1928 – 22 November 2016) also known as M. G. K. Menon, was a physicist and policy maker from India. He had a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over four ...

) – Civil Service (1985) *

V. R. Krishna Iyer Justice Vaidyanathapuram Rama Krishna Iyer (15 November 1915 – 4 December 2014) was an Indian judge who became a pioneer of judicial activism. He pioneered the legal-aid movement in the country. Before that, he was a state minister and poli ...

– Public Affairs (1999) * Kakkadan Nandanath Raj (

K. N. Raj Kakkadan Nandanath Rajan (13 May 1924 – 10 February 2010) was an Indian economist. He is popularly known as K. N. Raj. He played an important role in India's planned development, drafting sections of India's first Five Year Plan, specifically ...

) – Literature & Education (2000) *

Adoor Gopalakrishnan Adoor Gopalakrishnan (born 3 July 1941) is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer and is regarded as one of the most notable and renowned filmmakers in India. With the release of his first feature film '' Swayamvaram'' (1972), Go ...

– Arts (2006) *

George Sudarshan Ennackal Chandy George Sudarshan (also known as E. C. G. Sudarshan; 16 September 1931 – 13 May 2018) was an Indian American theoretical physicist and a professor at the University of Texas. Sudarshan has been credited with numerous contrib ...

– Science & Engineering (2007) *

ONV Kurup Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup (known as O. N. V. Kurup; 27 May 1931 – 13 February 2016) was a Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He receive ...

– Literature & Education (2011) * K. J. Yesudas – singing (2017)

Padma Bhushan

The

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

is India's third highest civilian honour. (This is not a complete list.) :: *

Vallathol Narayana Menon Vallathol Narayana Menon (Malayalam: വള്ളത്തോൾ നാരായണ മേനോൻ) (16 October 1878 – 13 March 1958) was a Malayalam poet and one of the triumvirate of modern Malayalam poetry, along with Asan and Ulloor ...

– Literature & Education (1954); poet (Mahakavi) *

Mira Nair Mira Nair (born 15 October 1957) is an Indian-American filmmaker based in New York City. Her production company, Mirabai Films, specializes in films for international audiences on Indian society, whether in the economic, social or cultural spher ...

– Film Direction/Arts (2012) * Lakshmi Nandan Menon ( Lakshmi N. Menon) – Public Affairs (1957) * Kumar Padma Siva Shankara Menon (

K. P. S. Menon (senior) Kumara Padmanabha Sivasankara Menon Sr. (18 October 1898 – 22 November 1982), usually known as K. P. S. Menon, was a diplomat and diarist, a career member of the Indian Civil Service. He was appointed independent India's first Foreign S ...

) – Civil Service (1958) * Mannathu Padmanabhan, (

Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai Mannathu Padmanabhan (2 January 1878 – 25 February 1970) was an Indian social reformer and freedom fighter from the south-western state of Kerala. He is recognised as the founder of the Nair Service Society (NSS), which represents the Na ...

) – Social Work (1966) * K.P. Kesava Menon – Public Affairs (1966) * Govinda Shankara Kurup (

G. Sankara Kurup G. Sankara Kurup, (3 June 1901 – 2 February 1978) also referred to as Mahakavi G (The Great Poet G), was an Indian poet, essayist and literary critic of Malayalam literature. Known as one of the greats of Malayalam poetry, he was the first r ...

) – Literature & Education (1968); poet * Poyipilli Kunju Kurup, ( Guru Kunchu Kurup) – Arts (1971) * Kandathil Mammen Cherian – Literature & Education (1971) * Pothan Joseph – Literature & Education (1973) *

– Literature & Education (1976) * Prem Nazir – Arts (1983); actor *

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (17 April 1912 – 10 April 1999), popularly known as Thakazhi after his place of birth, was an Indian novelist and short story writer of Malayalam literature. He wrote over 30 novels and novellas and over 7 shor ...

– Literature & Education; (1985) novelist and short story writer * Nalapat Balamani Amma – Literature & Education (1987); poet * Marathanda Verma Sankaran Valiathan, ( M. S. Valiathan) – Medicine (1990) *

Thomas Kailath Thomas Kailath (born June 7, 1935) is an electrical engineer, information theorist, control engineer, entrepreneur and the Hitachi America Professor of Engineering, Emeritus, at Stanford University. Professor Kailath has authored several books ...

– Science and Engineering (2009) * Thayil Jacob Sony George ( T. J. S. George) – Literature & Education (2011) * K.J. Yesudas – Arts (2002); classical singer and musician * Jacob Cherian – Social Work (1999) * Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair Arts (2019); Art, film Acting * S Nambi Narayan (

Nambi Narayanan S. Nambi Narayanan (born 12 December 1941) is an Indian aerospace scientist who worked for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and contributed significantly to the Indian space program by developing the Vikas rocket engine. He led ...

) – (2019); Science & Engineering-Space * K. S. Chithra - (2021); Arts

Padma Shri

The

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

is India's fourth highest civilian honour. (This is not a complete list.) :: * Perakath Verghese Benjamin – Medicine (1955) * Guru Kunchu Kurup – Arts (1965) * Kandathil Mammen Cherian – Literature & Education (1965) * C.K. Nair Alias V. Kunchu Nair – Arts (1971) *

Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair (16 October 191611 March 1997) was an Indian poet, playwright, script writer, lyricist, orator, film director and actor, though he is best known as an actor in Malayalam cinema. He is the recipient of Padma Shri fr ...

– Arts, poet and actor (1973) *

Mani Madhava Chakyar Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (IAST: ''Māṇi Mādhava Cākyār'') (15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Kood ...

– Arts,

Koodiyattam Koodiyattam ( ml, കൂടിയാട്ടം; IAST: kūṭiyāṭṭaṁ; ) is a traditional performing art form in the state of Kerala, India. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with elements of ''Koothu'', an ancient perfo ...

and

Chakyar Koothu Chakyar Koothu (pronounced ) is a performance art from Kerala, India. It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics (such as the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'') and stories from ...

(1974) * K.J. Yesudas – Arts, classical singer and musician (1975) *

Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (21 January 1908 – 5 July 1994), popularly referred to as Beypore Sulthan, was a writer of Malayalam literature. He was a writer, humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer, noted for his path-breaking, ...

– Literature & Education (1982) * Manathoor Devasia Valsamma, M. D. Valsamma – Sports (1983) *

– Arts (1984); director, screenwriter, producer * P. T. Usha – Sports (1985) *

Bharath Gopi Gopynathan Velayudhan Nair (2 November 1937 – 29 January 2008), popularly known by the stage name Bharat Gopy, was an Indian actor, producer and director. He was one of the first actors to be associated with the New Wave cinema movement in ...

– Arts (1991); actor * P. I. Mohammed Kutty ( Mammootty) – Arts (1998); actor * Viswanathan

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically app ...

– Arts (2001); actor * Rajagopalan Krishnan Vaidyan – Ayurveda (2003) *

Shobana Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai (born 21 March 1970) is an Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. She acts predominantly in Malayalam films along with Telugu and Tamil films with few Hindi, Kannada and English films. She has won two National Fil ...

Chandrakumar – Arts (2006); actress and

Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam () is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of ...

dancer *

Sugathakumari Sugathakumari (22 January 1934 – 23 December 2020) was an Indian poet and activist, who was at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India. Her parents were the poet and freedom fighter Bodheswaran and V. K. ...

– Literature & Education (2006) *

T. K. Alex Thekkethil Kochandy Alex is an Indian space scientist. He was the director of the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (2008–2012) and Member, Space Commission. He specialized in electro-optic systems ...

– Science and Technology (2007) *

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 ...

– Arts, actor (2009) * K. Viswanathan – Social Service (2009) * Palpu Pushpangadan – Science and Engineering (2010) * Resul Pokutty – Arts (2010); sound editor * K. S. Chithra – Arts (2005); singer *

Balachandra Menon Balachandra Menon ( ml, ബാലചന്ദ്ര മേനോൻ) (born 11 January 1954) is an Indian actor, director and script writer. He made a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s. He has directed 40 films and has acted in over 100. ...

– Arts (2007); acting, direction, script writer * Shaji N.Karun – Arts (2011); director/cinematographer *

Jose Chacko Periappuram Jose Chacko Periappuram (born 28 April 1958) is an Indian cardiac surgeon and medical writer who performed the first successful heart transplant in the state of Kerala, India, as well as the first successful heart retransplant in the countr ...

– Medicine (2011); first heart transplant Kerala *

Gopalan Nair Shankar Gopalan Nair Shankar, popularly known as G. Shankar, is an architect from Kerala, India. He advocates the use of locally available materials, sustainability, eco-friendliness and cost effectiveness. He founded the Habitat Technology Group, Thiruva ...

– Science and Engineering (2011); architecture * Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri – Arts (2012); Indian classical dance – Kutiyattam * Soman Nair Priyadarsan – Arts (2012); cinema direction * J. Hareendran Nair – Medicine (2012); Ayurveda * Pepita Seth – Literature and Education (2012) * Madhu – Arts (2013) * Padma Shri Kalamandalam Kshemavathy – Arts; dance * K. P. Haridas – Medicine (2015); surgery *

Jayaram Jayaram Subramaniam, (born 10 December 1965) known mononymously as Jayaram, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam,Tamil films, along with a few Telugu films. He is also a chenda percussionist, mimicry artist, and occasional ...

– Arts, cinema acting * N. Balakrishnan Nair – Medicine (1984) * R.K. Krishna Kumar – contributions to Indian trade and industry (2009) *

K. K. Muhammed Karingamannu Kuzhiyil Muhammed (born 1 July 1952) is an Indian archaeologist. He was the Regional Director (North) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He was honored with India's fourth highest civilian honor Padma Shri in 2019 by P ...

– Others - Archaeology (2019) *

Thalappil Pradeep Thalappil Pradeep is an institute professor and professor of chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He is also the Deepak Parekh Chair Professor. In 2020 he received the Padma Shri award for his ...

- Science and Technology (2020) * O. M. Nambiar - Sports (2021) *

Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri Padma Shri Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, popularly known as Kaithapram, is a Malayalam lyricist, poet, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, music therapist and performer of Carnatic music. He debuted with the movie Ennennum Kannet ...

(Kaithapram) - Arts (2021);

National Medal of Science

The

National Medal of Science The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social scienc ...

is an honor bestowed by the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

to individuals in

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

and

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of

behavioral Behavior (American English) or behaviour (British English) is the range of actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms, systems or artificial entities in some environment. These systems can include other systems or organisms as we ...

and

social sciences Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of so ...

biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...

, chemistry,

, mathematics and

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

. *

(2012) – presented by President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

in 2014 for "transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry"

Academy Awards

The

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

also known as

the Oscars The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

are a set of 24 awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry, given annually by the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...

(AMPAS), to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy's voting membership. *

Resul Pookutty Resul Pookutty (born 30 May 1971) is an Indian film sound designer, sound editor and audio mixer. He won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, along with Richard Pryke and Ian Tapp, for ''Slumdog Millionaire''. Pookutty has worked in Hin ...

– Best Sound Mixing (2009) along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke for his work in ''

Slumdog Millionaire ''Slumdog Millionaire'' is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel '' Q & A'' (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Pa ...

Booker Prize

The Booker Prize (formerly known as the Booker–McConnell Prize and the Booker Prize for Fiction) is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original novel written in the English language and published in the UK. *

Arundhati Roy Suzanna Arundhati Roy (born 24 November 1961) is an Indian author best known for her novel ''The God of Small Things'' (1997), which won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997 and became the best-selling book by a non-expatriate Indian author. S ...

– awarded the 1997 Booker Prize for her novel ''

The God of Small Things ''The God of Small Things'' is a family drama novel written by Indian writer Arundhati Roy. Roy's debut novel, it is a story about the childhood experiences of fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the "Love Laws" prevalent in 1960s Ker ...

Government and world organisations

Deputy Collector

Choorayi Kanaran– (1812-1876) was the first Deputy Collector of India.

Indian Administrative Service The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the administrative arm of the All India Services of Government of India. Considered the premier civil service of India, the IAS is one of the three arms of the All India Services along with the Indian ...

* Moorkoth Ramunni –(1915-2009 the first indian Administrative officer (IAS) from dharmadam village.

Members of the Imperial Civil Service

* K P S Menon Sr. – First Foreign Secretary of India and the 1st Ambassador of India to China * V. P. Menon – Political Reforms Commissioner to the

Viceroy of India The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 19 ...

Lord Louis Mountbatten * N. R. Pillai – First Cabinet Secretary (1950–1953) * M. K. Vellodi – Third Cabinet Secretary (1957–1958)

Civil Services of India

Cabinet Secretaries

* Sir N R Pillai – first Cabinet Secretary of India * T.N.Seshan – 18th Cabinet Secretary (1989–1989) *

K. M. Chandrasekhar K. M. Chandrasekhar (born 20 February 1948) is a retired Indian civil servant, who was the 29th Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of India from 2007 to 2011 for a four-year term under which he directly reported to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmoha ...

– 29th Cabinet Secretary (2007–2011)

Members

* P.J Thomas Parakunnel – first Chief Economic Advisor of India * T. K. A. Nair – former Adviser and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India * Anna Malhotra – first female member of the

Indian Administrative Service The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the administrative arm of the All India Services of Government of India. Considered the premier civil service of India, the IAS is one of the three arms of the All India Services along with the Indian ...

Shivshankar Menon Shivshankar Menon (born 5 July 1949) is an Indian diplomat, who served as National Security Adviser of India under Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh. He had previously served as the Foreign Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs ...

– National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India * Jyotindra Dixit – former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India * Nirupama Rao – Ambassador of India to United States of America * Ranjan Mathai – 28th Foreign Secretary of India * Gopal Pillai – former Home Secretary of India * Kavalam Panikkar – former Home Secretary of India * Hormis Tharakan – former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing * P. J. Thomas – 14th

Central Vigilance Commission Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. In 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC. It has the status of an autonomous body, f ...

er of India * R.B. Sreekumar – former

Director General of Police Director general of police (DGP) is a rank in the Indian Police Service, held by the highest ranking police officer in a State or a Union Territory of India, typically heading the state or the UT police force. The DGP is appointed by the cab ...

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

Abdul Rahman Abd al-Rahman ( ar, عبد الرحمن, translit=ʿAbd al-Raḥmān or occasionally ; DMG ''ʿAbd ar-Raḥman''; also Abdul Rahman) is a male Arabic Muslim given name, and in modern usage, surname. It is built from the Arabic words '' Abd'', '' ...

– former

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

* Letika Saran – former

* Moorkoth Ramunni – fourth Administrator of Lakshadweep

Members of the United Nations The United Nations member states are the sovereign states that are members of the United Nations (UN) and have equal representation in the UN General Assembly. The UN is the world's largest intergovernmental organization. The criteria ...

* Chandran Nair – Civil servant with

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

(1981–2004) *

Vijay K. Nambiar Chenicheri Vijay Nambiar (born August 1943) is a retired Indian diplomat and served as the UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on Myanmar. He was Chef de Cabinet (Chief of Staff) under UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon from 1 January 2007 to F ...

–

Under-Secretary-General An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under-s ...

of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

(2007–2012) *

– Under-Secretary-General of the

(2001–2007) * Ajay Prabhakar – Country Programme Coordinator of the

(2001–2014)

International Monetary Fund

* Gita Gopinath – First woman Chief Economist of the IMF (2019–)

Military leaders

Early Modern Period

* Edachena Kunkan – Chieftain of Nair clan and military commander of

Pazhassi Raja Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...

* Thalakkal Chanthu – Chieftain of Kurichya clan and military commander of Pazhassi Raja *

Iravikkutti Pillai Iraivikutty Pillai was the commander-in-chief of Venad Kingdom in the present Kerala, India Overview Iravikkutti Pillai belonged to Nair family of Keralapuram in Kalkulam, Travancore now in the Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. His father was ...

– Commander-in-Chief of the Venad Kingdom of present-day Kerala, India

Contemporary period

Army

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

Sundararajan Padmanabhan General Sundararajan Padmanabhan PVSM, AVSM, VSM (born 5 December 1940 in Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 u ...

– 22nd General of the

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

and Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (2000–2002) *

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Philip Campose – Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the

Satish Nambiar Lieutenant General Chenicheri Satish Nambiar is a retired Indian general. He was the first Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR, the United Nations Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia during 1992-93. He is the elder brother of f ...

– Head of Mission of the

United Nations Protection Force The United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR; also known by its French acronym FORPRONU: ''Force de Protection des Nations Unies'') was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav War ...

(1992–1993) *

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Jai Shanker Menon – Head of Mission and Force Commander of

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is a United Nations peacekeeping mission tasked with maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The mission was established by United ...

Bobby Cherian Mathews – General officer commanding of Konark Corps *

G.M. Nair – Military Secretary of India (2010-?) *

K.P. Candeth – Deputy Chief of Army Staff (1965–1971?) *

Havildar Havildar or havaldar ( Hindustani: or (Devanagari), (Perso-Arabic)) is a rank in the Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese armies, equivalent to sergeant. It is not used in cavalry units, where the equivalent is daffadar. Like a British sergeant, ...

Thomas Philipose – medal winner in the

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 until the Pakistani capitulation in Dhaka on 16 Decem ...

Air Force

* Moorkoth Ramunni (15 September 1915 – 9 July 2009) was the first

Malayali The Malayali people () (also spelt Malayalee and also known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. They are predomin ...

pilot in the

Royal Indian Air Force The Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) was the aerial force of British India and later the Dominion of India. Along with the Indian Army, and Royal Indian Navy, it was one of the Armed Forces of British Indian Empire. The Indian Air Force was offi ...

. :::''Param Vishist Seva Medal holders'' * Air Marshal E.P.R. Nair – Commanding-in Chief of the

Training Command, Indian Air Force Training Command is the Indian Air Force's command responsible for flying and ground training. In the 1930s, the approaching threat and later advent of World War II and the leaning of Japan towards the Axis powers, the latter was considered as a ...

(1981–1985) * Air Marshal K.N. Nair – Commanding-in Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force * Air Marshal Narayan Menon – Air Officer-in-Charge (Personnel), Air Headquarters (1999–2004)

Navy

* Admiral Ronald Lynsdale Pereira – 9th Chief of Naval Staff of the

Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates si ...

(1979–1982), former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), Eastern Naval Command, former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the

Southern Naval Command The Southern Naval Command is one of the three command-level formations of the Indian Navy. It has its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala at INS Venduruthy. It is the Training Command of the Indian Navy. The Command is commanded by a Three Star Fla ...

and former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the

Western Naval Command The Western Naval Command is one of the three command–level formations of the Indian Navy. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. As the senior–most of the three formations, the command is responsible for the all naval forces in the A ...

* Vice-Admiral K. N. Sushil – former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the

* Radhika Menon – India's first female Merchant Navy captain.

Jurists

Chief Justice of India

K. G. Balakrishnan Konakuppakatil Gopinathan Balakrishnan (born 12 May 1945) is an Indian judge who has been the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India. He is a former Chief Justice of India. He was the first judge from Kerala to become the C ...

– 37th Chief Justice of India (2007–2010)

Judges of the Supreme Court of India

* K. K. Mathew (1971–1976) * V.R. Krishna Iyer (1973–1980) * V. Balakrishna Eradi (1981–1987) *

M. Fathima Beevi M. Fathima Beevi (born 30 April 1927) is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India. Appointed to the apex Court in 1989, she became the first female judge to be a part of the Supreme Court of India, and the first Muslim woman to be appointed ...

(1989–1992) – first woman Judge of the Supreme Court of India * K. S. Paripoornan (1994–1997) *

Kurian Joseph Kurian Joseph (born 30 November 1953) is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Previously, he has served as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court and Judge of Kerala High Court. Early life Kurian Joseph was born on 30 Novem ...

(2013–)

Women Judges of the Supreme Court of India

(1989–1992) – first woman Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Women Judges of the High Court

* Smt. Justice Anna Chandy – Judge of the High Court of

(1959–1967) and the first woman in India to be a judge of a High Court * Kumari Justice P. Janaki Amma – second woman Judge of the High Court of

(1974–1982)

Academia

Ancient mathematicians

Madhava of Sangamagrama Iriññāttappiḷḷi Mādhavan known as Mādhava of Sangamagrāma () was an Indian mathematician and astronomer from the town believed to be present-day Kallettumkara, Aloor Panchayath, Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District, Kerala, India. He ...

(c.1350–c.1425) –

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets and galaxies – in either ...

mathematician A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, and change. History On ...

* Vatasseri Parameshvara Nambudiri (c. 1380–1460) – major

and

of the

Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics or the Kerala school was a school of mathematics and astronomy founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama in Tirur, Malappuram, Kerala, India, which included among its members: Parameshvara, Neelakanta S ...

Nilakantha Somayaji Keļallur Nilakantha Somayaji (14 June 1444 – 1544), also referred to as Keļallur Comatiri, was a major mathematician and astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. One of his most influential works was the comprehens ...

(14 June 1444 – 1544), major

* Jyeshtadeva (c. 1500–c. 1610) – astronomer-mathematician of the

; author of a treatise on

calculus Calculus, originally called infinitesimal calculus or "the calculus of infinitesimals", is the mathematical study of continuous change, in the same way that geometry is the study of shape, and algebra is the study of generalizations of arithm ...

* Achyuth Pisharodi (c. 1550 at thrikkandiyur (aka Kundapura), Tirur, Kerala, India – 7 July 1621 in Kerala) Sanskrit grammarian, astrologer,

and

* Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (1560–1646/1666) – member of

and a mathematical

linguist Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...

Scientists

* K. R. Ramanathan – physicist, meteorologist and first director of

Physical Research Laboratory The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is a National Research Institute for space and allied sciences, supported mainly by Department of Space, Government of India. This research laboratory has ongoing research programmes in astronomy and astrop ...

, Ahmedabad; President of the

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG; french: Union géodésique et géophysique internationale, UGGI) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the scientific study of Earth and its space environment us ...

(1954–57) *

Tessy Thomas Tessy may refer to: People * Tessy Antony de Nassau (born 1985), Luxembourgian businesswoman and non-profit executive, a former member of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg * Tessy Bamberg-Schitter (born 1980), Luxembourgian football midfielder * ...

(1963–) – Indian scientist and Director General of Aeronautical Systems and the former Project Director for

Agni-IV Agni-IV ("Fire") is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles which was earlier known as ''Agni II prime''. It has been developed by India's DRDO and displayed a number of new technologies and significant improvement in missile technology. T ...

missile in

Defence Research and Development Organisation The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) (IAST: ''Raksā Anūsandhān Evam Vikās Sangaṭhan'') is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, ...

. She is the first woman scientist to head a missile project in

. She is known as the 'Missile Woman' of

. * V. R. Lalithambika (1962–) – Indian scientist working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); will lead the Gaganyaan mission as the Director of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme which is intended to send Indian astronauts in the space by 2022 *

Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (born 24 October 1940) is an Indian space scientist who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1994 to 2003. He is presently Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan and NIIT University. He ...

– space scientist who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 1994–2003 He is presently Chancellor of

Central University of Rajasthan Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) is a central university located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. CURAJ has 12 schools, 30 academic departments and one community college covering technology, science, humanities, commerce, management, public ...

. He is the former chancellor of

Jawaharlal Nehru University Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a public major research university located in New Delhi, India. It was established in 1969 and named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The university is known for leading faculties and r ...

and the chairman of

Karnataka Knowledge Commission Karnataka Knowledge Commission (Karnataka Jńana Aayoga} is a commission constituted in September 2008 under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan by B. S. Yeddyurappa, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka with an overarching aim of "transfo ...

. He is a former member of the

(2003–09) and a former member of the now defunct Planning Commission of India. He was also the Director of the

National Institute of Advanced Studies National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) is a premier institute in India engaged in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. It was founded by J. R. D. Tata for providing an ...

, Bangalore, from April 2004 to 2009.

Faculty

* George Sudarsan –

Emeritus professor *

–

; Professor of Engineering *

Faisal Kutty Faisal Kutty is a lawyer, academic, writer, public speaker and human rights activist. He is Visiting Associate Professor of LAWS at Southwestern Law School. He served as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and was an Associate Prof ...

– Professor of Law *

George Varghese George Varghese (born 1960) is a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research. Before joining MSR's lab in Silicon Valley in 2013, he was a Professor of Computer Science at the University of California San Diego, where he led the Internet Algorithm ...

– Professor of Computer Science * K. Mani Chandy – Professor of Computer Science *

Mathai Varghese Mathai Varghese is a mathematician at the University of Adelaide. His first most influential contribution is the Mathai–Quillen formalism, which he formulated together with Daniel Quillen, and which has since found applications in index theory ...

– Professor of Mathematics * Pulickel Ajayan – Professor of Engineering * Thomas Zacharia – computer scientist * T. Pradeep – Professor of Chemistry * Shree K. Nayar – Professor of Computer Science V C Samuel Yale PhD

* Rev. Fr. Dr. V.C. Samuel – Theologian, Historian, Author, Polyglot and Ecumenical Leader * P. N. Vinayachandran – Associate Professor of Oceanography *

Thanu Padmanabhan Thanu Padmanabhan (10 March 1957 – 17 September 2021) was an Indian theoretical physicist and cosmologist whose research spanned a wide variety of topics in gravitation, structure formation in the universe and quantum gravity. He published n ...

– professor *

Kuruvilla Pandikattu Kuruvilla Pandikattu Joseph, SJ, (कुरुविला पांडिक्काट्ट or കുരുവിള പാണ്ടിക്കാട്ട്) (born November 28, 1957) is an Indian Jesuit priest. He is Chair Professor o ...

– Professor of Philosophy * G. Balakrish Nair – director * Prahlad Vadakkepat – professor and robotics scientist * K. R. K. Easwaran – Astra Chair Professor of the

Indian Institute of Science The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is a public, deemed, research university for higher education and research in science, engineering, design, and management. It is located in Bengaluru, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The institute was ...

Heads of institutions

* John Palocaren - Founding principal of St. Thomas College, Thrissur *

– Director of the Institute for Geometry and its Applications (IGA), Adelaide * Eluvathingal Devassy Jemmis – Director of

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (abbreviated as IISER Thiruvananthapuram or IISER-TVM) is an autonomous public university located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The institute is one of the seven IISERs esta ...

– former President of the

Indian Statistical Institute Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is a higher education and research institute which is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the 1959 act of the Indian parliament. It grew out of the Statistical Laboratory set up by Prasanta ...

* V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai – 6th Vice Chancellor of

Indira Gandhi National Open University Indira Gandhi National Open University, known as IGNOU, is a Central University located at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 20& ...

Salim Gangadharan Salim Gangadharan (born 30 October 1953) is an Indian banker and the incumbent Chairman of the South Indian Bank. He was also Principal Chief General Manager of Reserve Bank of India and Regional Director for Kerala and Lakshadweep. He has also b ...

– Chairman,

South Indian Bank South Indian Bank Limited (SIB) is a major private sector bank headquartered at Thrissur in Kerala, India. South Indian Bank has 933 branches, 4 service branches, 1 extension counters and 18 Regional Offices spread across India. The bank has al ...

and Regional Director,

and

Medical sciences

Abraham Verghese Abraham Verghese (born 1955) is an American physician, author, Professor for the Theory and Practice of Medicine at Stanford University Medical School and Senior Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. He is also the author of ...

– Professor of

Medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...

and Senior Associate Chair of Department of Internal Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine *

Mani Menon Mani Menon, born 9 July 1948 in Trichur, India, is an American surgeon whose work has helped to lay the foundation for modern Robotic Cancer Surgery. He is the founding director and the Raj and Padma Vattikuti Distinguished Chair of the Va ...

– Director of the Vattikuti Urology Institute at the

Henry Ford Hospital Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) is an 877-bed tertiary care hospital, education and research complex at the western edge of the New Center area in Detroit, Michigan. The flagship facility for the Henry Ford Health System, it was one of the first hos ...

* Thomas Thomas – first Indian cardio-thoracic surgeon * M. Krishnan Nair – leading oncologist * M. S. Valiathan – cardiac surgeon; former Vice Chancellor, Manipal University * R. Kesavan Nair – Kerala's first civil surgeon *

Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier (10 April 1869 – 30 January 1944) was an Ayurveda practitioner from Kerala, India. He is well-regarded as the founder of Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala, a major Ayurvedic treatment centre in Kerala. L ...

– Ayurvedic physician and founder of the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala * Salim Yusuf – Director of Population Health Research Institute, Canada * Rajagopalan Krishnan Vaidyan – Ayurvedic physician * Mohan D. Nair – Indian pharmaceutical scientist and author * Ayyathan Janaki Ammal (1881-1945) was the first female

doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

Humanities and social sciences

Nivedita Menon Nivedita Menon (1960, Poona/Pune) is a writer and a professor of political thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. She previously taught at Lady Shri Ram College and the Department of Political Science at Delhi University. Scholarly c ...

– feminist writer; professor of political thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University

Business and commerce

* Rajeev Madhavan – entrepreneur * Rajesh Gopinathan – CEO of

Tata Consultancy Services Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is an Indian multinational information technology (IT) services and consulting company with its headquarters in Mumbai. It is a part of the Tata Group and operates in 150 locations across 46 countries. In July ...

Thomas Kurian Thomas Kurian is an Indian-American business executive and Chief Executive Officer of Google Cloud since 2019. Early life Thomas Kurian was born to P.C. Kurian and his wife Molly in 1966 in Pampady village of Kottayam district in Kerala, India. ...

– Global President of Product Development at Oracle Corporation * Reji Abraham – Managing Director of ABAN Group of Companies *

C J George Chenayappillil John George is an Indian businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and managing director of Geojit Financial Services. Personal life George was born in Pothanikkad, a suburb of Ernakulam in the south Indian state of Ke ...

– founder and CEO of

Geojit Financial Services Geojit Financial Services Ltd. is an investment services company in India headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. It operates a network of offices across India and the Middle East. Geojit was the first company in India to launch online-trading facilities ...

Kris Gopalakrishnan Senapathy "Kris" Gopalakrishnan is an Indian billionaire businessman who is recognized as a global business and technology thought leader for his role in growing the IT services industry worldwide. He co-founded Infosys, where he served as the ...

– Co-Chairman and former CEO of

Infosys Technologies Infosys Limited is an Indian multinational information technology company that provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. The company was founded in Pune and is headquartered in Bangalore. Infosys is the s ...

S. D. Shibulal S. D. Shibulal (born 1 March 1955, in Alappuzha, India), better known as Shibulal, is an Indian business executive. He was the chief executive officer and managing director of Infosys, and one of its seven founding members. He stepped down from ...

– CEO and Managing Director of Infosys Technologies *

T K Kurien T. K. Kurien is an Indian chartered accountant and business executive. Kurien is Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Premji Invest, a venture capital company set up by Azim Premji. Prior to that he was the Executive Vice Chairman ...

– CEO of

Wipro Wipro Limited (formerly, Western India Palm Refined Oils Limited) is an Indian multinational corporation that provides information technology, consulting and business process services. Thierry Delaporte is serving as CEO and managing directo ...

* RK Krishna Kumar – trustee of

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust was established by Sir Dorab Tata (fondly called ''Sir Dorabji''), the elder son of Tata Group founder Jamsetji Tata. Founded in 1932, it is one of the oldest non-sectarian philanthropic organisations in India. Histo ...

and

Sir Ratan Tata Trust Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) came into being in 1919 with a sum of Indian currency 8 million. It is under the ownership of Ratan Tata. Established in accordance with the will of Sir Ratanji Tata, the Trust is now one of the oldest grant bestowing ...

R Gopalakrishnan Ramabadran Gopalakrishnan (born 25 December 1945) is an Indian businessman and author. Until his retirement he was an executive director of Tata Sons Ltd and served on the boards of Tata Power, Tata Technologies, AkzoNobel India, Castrol India ...

– Executive Director of

Tata Sons Tata Sons Private Limited is the parent company of the Tata Group and holds the bulk of shareholding in the Tata group of companies including their land holdings across India, tea estates and steel plants. It is a privately owned conglomerate of ...

* Mavila Nair – former Chairman and Managing Director of

Union Bank of India Union Bank of India, commonly referred to as Union Bank or UBI, is an Indian public sector bank headquartered in Mumbai. It has 120+ million customers and a total business of US$106 billion. After the amalgamation with Corporation Bank and A ...

B. Ravi Pillai B. Ravi Pillai (born 2 September 1953) is a Dubai-based Indian billionaire businessman. He is the founder and chairman of the RP Group. As of September 2021, his net worth is estimated at US$2.5 billion. Early life Ravi Pillai was born on 2 ...

– Indian business magnate * George Alexander Muthoot – Managing Director of Muthoot Finance & Muthoot Group * Verghese Kurien – founder Chairman of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. * Thakiyudeen Wahid – owner of East West Airlines * K.M. Mammen Mappilai – founder of Madras Rubber Factory, MRF Tyres and ''Malayala Manorama, Manorama'' publications * C. P. Krishnan Nair – founder of the Leela Group of Hotels * Rajmohan Pillai – Chairman of Beta Group * Kochouseph Chittilappilly – Managing Director of V Guard Industries Ltd * M. A. Yousuf Ali – founder of EMKE Group, Lulu Hypermarkets and Supermarkets in United Arab Emirates * Beena Kannan – Managing Director and Lead Designer of Seematti * Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai or "Coffee House Pillai" – co-founder of Indian Coffee Houses in

* Byju Raveendran – founder of Think and Learn Private Ltd, popularly known as BYJU'S - The Learning App, the first investment in Asia from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative It is considered to be one among the only few Indian consumer startups that has gone global, particularly with the 2017 acquisition of TutorVista. * Ajit Balakrishnan – founder and Chairman of Rediff * Dileep K Nair – first Chancellor of North East Frontier Technical University (NEFTU), North East Frontier Technical University; publisher of ''The Engineers Outlook Magazine'' * PNC Menon – founder of Sobha Developers Limited * Arun M. Kumar – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at KPMG India * Mathunny Mathews – former MD of Al-Sayer Group; former Chairman of Jabriya Indian School; co-founder of Indian Arts Circle, Kuwait

Social reformers

Independence activists

* Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair – Order of the Indian Empire, KCIE, President of the Indian National Congress (1897–1898) * Lakshmi Sehgal – as Captain Lakshmi, she commanded the Jhansi Rani Regiment of the INA under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose * Veliyankode Umar Khasi – mystic leader and Muslim scholar, freedom fighter and poet * NP Nayar, N.P. Nayar – administrator of Azad Hind Dal * Ammu Swaminathan * Accamma Cherian – Jhansi Rani of Travancore * Mohammed Abdul Rahiman – freedom fighter and former KPCC President * Vakkom Majeed – former Member of Travancore-Cochin State Assembly * T. M. Varghese – Minister of Travancore-Cochin * George Joseph (Kerala), George Joseph – lawyer, trade unionist and nationalist activist * C. Kesavan – Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin * K. Kelappan – leader of the Payyanur Salt Satyagraha and the Guruvayur Satyagraha *

– Malayalam fiction writer, humanist, freedom fighter, novelist and short story writer * K. P. Kesava Menon – founder-editor of the ''Mathrubhumi'' newspaper * A. K. Gopalan – founder leader of the Communist Party of India * Velu Thampi Dalava * Ammu Swaminathan * A. J. John, Anaparambil * Nettur. P. Damodaran – social worker * Moidu Moulavi – leader of the Indian National Congress * K. Kumar (Kumarji) – Gandhian nationalist, orator and reformer who revived the banned ''Swadeshabhimani'' newspaper

Social reformers

* Adi Sankara (788–820) – saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India * Ayyankali – leader of Dalits * Kallingal Madathil Rarichan Moopan - (1856-1919) Kozhikode social reformer and Sreekandeswara Temple construction activity. * K. M. Seethi – Saheb Bahadur, usually referred to as Seethi Saheb * Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1925) – social reformer * C. Kesavan – Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin, 1951–1952 * Kuriakose Elias Chavara – social reformer and Syrian Catholic saint * Lalithambika Antharjanam – social reformer and writer * K. P. Kesava Menon – founder of ''Mathrubhumi'' daily * K. Kumar (Elanthoor Kumarji) – freedom fighter and social-reformer who worked for Harijan upliftment and communal harmony * K. Kelappan – freedom fighter and social reformer *

(1912–1970) – socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry * Mannathu Padmanabhan – founder of Nair Service Society * M.C. Joseph, M. C. Joseph – rationalist, founding editor of ''Yukthivadi'' * Nawab Rajendran – social activist * Narayana Guru, Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) – pivotal figure in the Renaissance of Kerala, social reformer, scholar, teacher, saint and Vedantin * Sahodaran Ayyappan – social reformer, follower of Sri Narayana Guru * Nataraja Guru – disciple of Narayana Guru * Vakkom Moulavi (1877–1933) – social reformer, educationist, writer and journalist * Abraham Barak Salem – Zionist, Indian nationalist, leader of the Jewish community and social activist

Religion and spirituality

Hinduism

* Adi Sankara (788–820) – saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India * Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1924) – Hindu sage and social reformer * Vagbhatananda (1885 – October 1939) was a Hindu religious leader and Social reformer in British India. * Sree Narayana Guru (1854–1928) – founder of Sivagiri Mutt and social reformer of India * Tapovan Maharaj (1889–1957) – teacher of Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Sundaranand * Swami Ranganathananda (1908–2005) – 13th president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission * Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999) – spiritual teacher, developed passage meditation used across traditions * Chinmayananda (1916–1993) – founder of Chinmaya Mission * Nitya Chaitanya Yati (1924–1999) – exponent of Advaita Vedanta * Karunakara Guru (1927–1999) – spiritual leader, founder of Santhigiri Ashram * Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha (1933–) – spiritual leader and the founder of Narayanashrama Tapovanam * Swami Abhedananda Abhedashramam Thriruvanthapuram * Mata Amritanandamayi (1953–) – spiritual leader and founder of Mata Amritanandamayi Math popularly known as Amma

Islam

* Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal, Panakkad Thangal * Ahmad Kutty – Islamic scholar * Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar – Grand Mufti of India * Cherussery Sainudheen Musliyar, Cherussery Musliyar * KT Manu Musliar * Kalambadi Muhammad Musliyar * Ullal Thangal * Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, Hyderali Shihab Thangal * Chekannur Maulavi – progressive Islamic cleric * MM Akbar – Muslim intellectual, comparative religion scholar * Abdul Hakeem Azhari - Islamic scholar

Christianity

* Philipose Mar Chrysostom – Grand Metropolitan of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church and Marthoma XX * Mar Yohannan Yoseph – Episcopal Bishop of the Holy Assyrian Church of the East * Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception – first woman of Indian people, Indian origin to be canonised as a saint by the Catholic Church * Baselios Cleemis – San Gregorio VII, Cardinal-Priest of the Church of Saint Gregory VII * Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II – Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church * Baselios Thomas I – Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church *Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala, Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni) – First Indian canonized saint by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church * George Alencherry – San Bernardo alle Terme, Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme * Joseph Mar Thoma – primate of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church * Joy Alappat – Syro-Malabar Catholic bishop in the United States * Joseph Parecattil – inducted as Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in June 1988 * K. P. Yohannan, KP Yohannan – Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church * Kuriakose Elias Chavara – Syro-Malabar Catholic Church saint and social reformer * K.V. Simon – Kerala Brethren pioneer * Mar Gregory Karotemprel – Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Rajkot * P.C. John – Kerala Brethren pioneer * Euphrasia Eluvathingal, Saint Euphrasia – Indian Carmelite nun of the Syro-Malabar Church * Varkey Vithayathil – former San Bernardo alle Terme, Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme * Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly – elevated as Venerable by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church * Palackal Thoma – Indian Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church based in India

PRDS

*Poykayil Yohannan aka Poykayil Kumara Guru Devan – activist, poet and the founder of the socio-religious movement Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha

Literature and writing

Writers

* Ajay Prabhakar – international author and researcher * A. R. Raja Raja Varma – linguist and grammarian * Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri – Malayalam poet; winner of the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for Malayalam in 1973 * Appu Nedungadi – author of ''Kundalatha'', the first Malayalam novel * Anita Nair – writer *

– actress turned writer, awarded the Booker Prize in 1997 for ''

'', which is set in Kerala * Balachandran Chullikkadu – poet * Balamani Amma – poet; won the literary medal in India, the Saraswathi Samman * Chandiroor Divakaran – poet, folk songwriter and 2011 Ambedkar Award winner * Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (1911–1948) – poet, author of the pastoral elegy "Ramanan" (1936) * Cherusseri Namboothiri – poet, author of ''Krishnagaadha (The Song of Krishna)'' * D. Vinayachandran – poet * Edasseri Govindan Nair – poet and playwright *

– lawyer, professor and columnist *

– poet * George Menachery – historian, editor of ''The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India'', editor of ''The Indian Church History Classics'' (''The Nazranies'') * Gopi Kottoor – internationally renowned poet * Hassan Thikkodi – writer, poet, Chairman of MES Raja Residential School * Hameed Chennamangaloor – writer, progressive Muslim intellectual, critic of religious fundamentalism * E. Harikumar – novelist and short story writer * Ilango Adigal – author of ''Silappatikaram'', one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature; identifies himself as a Chera prince from the 2nd century CE * Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan – Malayalam poet * Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar – poet * Kamala Das – English poet and novelist; also wrote in Malayalam under the pen-name Madhavikkutty; first Indian woman to openly write about women'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 * Kottarathil Sankunni – well known author of Malayalam literature. He made significant contributions in both poetry and prose. He started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and completed the work in eight volumes over a quarter of a century. "Aithihyamala" (Garland of Legends) is a collection of stories of legends prepared by Kottarathil Sankunni. The works on the legends were collected and published by Sankunni in the famous Malayalam literary magazine of the nineteenth century, the Bhashaposhini. * Kumaran Asan – poet, also called Mahakavi Kumaran Asan, died at age 51 in a boat (named Redeemer) accident en route Alapuzha to Kollam in January 1924 * Kunjunni – Malayalam poet * N. S. Madhavan – writer and civil servant *Manu S. Pillai, Manu S Pillai – author of “The Ivory Throne” * M. Krishnan Nair (author), M. Krishnan Nair – literary critic * M. Mukundan – novelist * Moothiringode Bhavathrāthan Namboothiripad – author and social * Moyinkutty Vaidyar – poet * M. P. Parameswaran – scientist turned social activist * M. P. Paul – literary critic * M. T. Vasudevan Nair – writer and cinema personality; Jnanpith Award, 1995 * Nalankal Krishna Pillai - writer and educationist * Nanditha K. S. – poet * Niranam Poets – three 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 and monk * Oyyarathu Chandumenon, O. Chandumenon – novelist * O. V. Vijayan – novelist and cartoonist * O. N. V. Kurup * P. C. Devassia (1906–2006) – Sanskrit scholar and poet who won the Sahitya Akademi Award (1980) for Sanskrit for his poem "Kristubhagavatam" * P. Parameswaran – Director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendram; former President of Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari; also known as Parameswarji * P. F. Mathews – novelist, short story writer and screenwriter * P. K. Gopi – poet * P. M. Taj – writer * Paul Zacharia – writer * Poonthanam – poet belonging to the Bhakti school * Sarah Joseph (author), Sarah Joseph – writer, Novelist, Sahitya Academy winner *

– novelist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1991; previous Under-Secretary-General (Communication and Public Information) of the United Nations, Deputy Minister of External affairs * S. K. Pottekkatt – author winner of the Jnanpith award of 1980 * Shreekumar Varma – novelist, award-winning playwright, poet, children's author *

– Indian poet and activist * Sukumar Azhikode – teacher, critic and orator *

– novelist and short story writer; Jnanpith Award in 1984 * Thirunalloor Karunakaran – poet, scholar, teacher and leftist intellectual * Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan – architect of modern Malayalam; poet * Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer – poet * Uroob – writer, novelist, Sahitya Academy winner, winner of president of India's silver medal *

– writer, philosopher * Vakkom Moulavi, Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi – publisher, social reformer, and a leader of the progressive Islahi Movement in Kerala *

– Mahaakavi; founder of Kerala Kalamandalam, * Vayalar Ramavarma – lyricist * Vayalar Sarath Chandra varma – Malayalam film * Vijayan, M. N – writer, literary critic, social activist * Vrindavanam Venugopalan – writer, journalist and educationalist * Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon – Malayalam poet * V. Madhusoodanan Nair – Malayalam poet and winner of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam in 2019 * Yusuf Ali Kechery – poet, lyricist

Journalists

* O. Abdurahman – Editor-in-charge of ''Madhyamam Daily, Madhyamam'' * Sunnykutty Abraham – COO and Chief News Editor of Jaihind TV; political analyst * BRP Bhaskar - senior journalist and human rights-social activist * T. N. Gopakumar – Editor-in-Chief, Asianet News * K. Kumar of Travancore – Gandhian reformer, nationalist and Freedom Fighter who revived and edited "Swadeshabhimani" run by the deported Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishnana Pillai *

– lawyer and columnist for ''Express Tribune'', ''Toronto Star'', ''Middle East Eye'' and ''Madhyamam Daily'' * V. K. Madhavan Kutty – Former Editor of the Malayalam daily ''Mathrubhumi'', and a founder director of satellite channel Asianet (TV channel), Asianet * K. C. Mammen Mappillai – founder of ''Malayala Manorama'' * Sebastian Paul – Media critic * Nisha Pillai – BBC newsreader * Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai the deported nationalist who edited the Swadeshabhimani newspaper *

– Managing Director of Malayalam daily ''Janmabhumi'', General Secretary Hindu Aikya Vedi

Film and media

Models

* Lakshmi Menon (model), Lakshmi Menon * Nafisa Joseph * Nina Manuel * Parvathy Omanakuttan * Sana Khan * Sheetal Menon * Surelee Joseph

Actresses

* Ambika (actress), Ambika * Ambika Sukumaran * Ann Augustine * Asin * Bhavana (Malayalam actress), Bhavana * Catherine Tresa * Geetu Mohandas – Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress (2004) * K. P. A. C. Lalitha – National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (1990) * Kalpana (Malayalam actress), Kalpana * Kaviyoor Ponnamma * Kavya Madhavan * Lakshmi Menon (actress), Lakshmi Menon * Lalitha (actress), Lalitha * Liza Koshy * Manju Warrier – Special Jury Award (National) * Meera Jasmine – National Film Award for Best Actress (2004) * Monisha Unni – National Film Award for Best Actress (1986) * Namitha Pramod * Navya Nair * Nayantara man * Nazriya Nazim * Neha Dhupia * Nithya Menen * Padmini (actress), Padmini * Ragini (actress), Ragini * Remya Nambeesan * Revathi Menon * Rima Kallingal * Samvrutha Sunil *

–

recipient, National Film Award for Best Actress (1993,2001) * Shweta Menon * Siddhi Mahajankatti * Sindhu Menon * Sukumari –

recipient * Trisha Krishnan * Urvashi (actress), Urvashi – National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (2005) * Vidya Balan

Actors

–

recipient; National Award winner for acting and direction; holder of a world record *

– actor,

recipient and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 1977 * Shankar (actor) – Romantic Hero of Malayalam in the eighties. * Dileep (actor), Dileep * Dulquer Salmaan * Fahadh Faasil * Jagathy Sreekumar * Jayan – greatest superstar actor in Malayalam film for ever. *

–

recipient * Jayasurya – actor, winner of the national for National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Feature Film), Special Jury Mention in 2016 * John Abraham (actor), John Abraham *Kalabhavan Mani – actor; National Award for special jury * M.N. Nambiar * Madhu – actor, winner of Padma Shri * Mammootty –

recipient; three-time National Award winner *

–

recipient; two-time National Film Award winner * Murali (Malayalam actor), Murali – actor and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 2002 * Naveen Andrews – Hollywood actor * Nedumudi Venu * Nivin Pauly * Prem Nazir –

recipient; holds four Guinness records * Premji – stage and film actor * Prithviraj Sukumaran – actor; Kerala State Award winner 2006 * Salim Kumar – actor, winner of the national award for Best Actor in 2010 * Sathyaneshan Nadar, Sathyan * Shishir Kurup – Hollywood actor * Suraj Sharma – Hollywood and Bollywood actor * Suraj Venjaramoodu – actor and winner of the National award for Best Actor in 2013 *

– actor and winner of the national award for Best Actor in 1998 * Suresh Menon – Bollywood comedian and actor * Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair –

recipient; actor; winner of the national award for Best Supporting Actor in 1959 * Tovino Thomas

Film producer and directors

* Alberrt Antoni – film director * Navodaya Appachan, Appachan – film director and producer * Bejoy Nambiar – film director * Benny Mathews – Hollywood director *

– film, drama producer, director and actor * Bharathan – filmmaker * Blessy – filmmaker * Fazil (director), Fazil – film director and writer * G. Aravindan – film director and cartoonist * G. Devarajan – music director * Gowtham Menon – Tamil film director * I.V. Sasi – film director * Jayaraj – director * John Matthew Matthan – Hindi film director * Joshiy – film director * K P Kumaran – filmmaker * Kunchacko – film producer * Lohithadas – film director and writer * Madhu Muttam – script writer *

– Hollywood film director, BAFTA Award recipient * M. Night Shyamalan – Hollywood film director * M. T. Vasudevan Nair – writer and cinema personality; Jnanpith Award, 1995 * P. F. Mathews, P.F. Mathews – script writer, recipient of National Award * P.T. Kunju Muhammed, P.T.Kunju Muhammed – film director and writer * P. Padmarajan (1945–1991) – film director * Priyadarshan – film director * Rajeev Ravi – cinematographer, director, producer, National Film Award for Best Cinematography * Ranjith (director), Ranjith – film director and writer *

– sound engineer, first Oscar-winning Indian (for film ''Slumdog Millionaire'') * Rosshan Andrrews – director * Rupesh Paul – Hollywood director * Sabu Cyril – art director * Sangeeth Sivan – director * Sankar director, V.R.Sankar – film director and writer * Santosh Sivan – director and cinematographer * Sathyan Anthikkad – Malayalam film director * Shaji Kylas – action film director * Shajith Koyeri – National Film Awards-winning sound designer ‘The power of silence is underestimated’ SHAJITH KOYERI, SOUND DESIGNER
Times of India, e-paper archive * Shaji N. Karun – film director * Sibi Malayil – Malayalam film director * Siddique (director), Siddique – filmmaker * Sohanlal – director and writer * Sreenivasan – writer, director and actor * TK Rajeev Kumar – filmmaker

Music

* Alex Paul – music director * Benny Dayal – playback singer * Berny-Ignatius – music director duo * K. S. Chithra, Chitra – playback singer * Deepak Dev – music composer, playback singer * G. Venugopal – playback singer * Gireesh Puthenchery – lyricist and writer * Gopi Sunder, Gopi Sundar – music director and keyboard artist * Jassie Gift – music composer, playback singer *

– lyricist * Kannur Rajan – music composer * Kozhikode Abdul Kader – playback singer * Krishnakumar Kunnath, KK (Krishnakumar Kunnath) – playback singer * M. G. Sreekumar – playback singer and music director * M. Jayachandran – music director and playback singer * Madhu Balakrishnan – playback singer * Manjari Babu – playback singer * Mridula Warrier – playback singer * Nikhil Mathew – playback singer * Ouseppachan – music director * P. Jayachandran – playback singer * Pradip Somasundaran – playback singer * Rahul Raj – music composer, playback singer * Raveendran – music director * Sabrina Setlur – German rapper and singer * Sharreth – music director and playback singer * Sruthy Sasidharan – playback singer * Stephen Devassy – pianist, music composer * Sudeep Kumar – playback singer * Sujatha Mohan – playback singer * Swetha Mohan – playback singer * Unni Menon – playback singer * P. Unnikrishnan, Unnikrishnan – playback singer * Vaishnav Girish – playback singer * Vayalar Ramavarma – lyricist * Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma – lyricist * Vidhu Prathap – playback singer * Vijay Yesudas – playback singer * K. J. Yesudas, Yesudas – classical singer and musician

Artists, architects, painters, sculptors

Painters * Raja Ravi Varma * K. C. S. Paniker – founder of Cholamandal Artists' Village * Namboothiri (artist), Namboothiri – painter, cartoonist and sculptor * T. K. Padmini * A. Ramachandran * C. N. Karunakaran – Chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academi * Akkitham Narayanan * Balan Nair * Sekar Ayyanthole – art teacher, former president of Kerala Chithrakala Parishath * M. V. Devan – artist and writer * Mubarack Nissa (born 1981), contemporary artist and curator * Chitra Ramanathan - Contemporary artist, painter * Bose Krishnamachari * Paris Viswanathan * Yusuf Arakkal * Kavitha Balakrishnan – artist and art historian * V. S. Valiathan – artist, Raja Ravivarma award winner * C.L Porinchukutty – Raja Ravi Varma Awardee for 2011 * K. Janardanan Architects * Eugene Pandala – architect and artist Sculptors * Kanayi Kunhiraman – sculptor, former Chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academy * Balan Nambiar – sculptor, painter and research scholar * Sasikrishnan – sculptor Cartoonists * Abu Abraham – cartoonist * Cartoonist Shankar (1902–1989) – political cartoonist * K. S. Pillai (1919–1978) – political cartoonist * O. V. Vijayan – cartoonist, writer * P. K. Manthri – artist, cartoonist * Gopikrishnan – cartoonist * S. Jithesh – performing cartoonist * Yesudasan – cartoonist; former Chairman of Kerala Lalitakala Academy

Sports

* (C) denotes players who have captained the national side.

Athletics

* Anil Kumar * Anilda Thomas * Anju Bobby George * Bobby Aloysius * C. K. Lakshmanan * Chitra K. Soman * Ivan Jacob * Jincy Phillip * Jisna Mathew * Joseph Abraham * K.M. Beenamol * K. M. Binu * K. T. Irfan * M. D. Valsamma * Mayookha Johny * Mercy Kuttan * Mohammad Anas * Molly Chacko * O. P. Jaisha * P. T. Usha * P. U. Chitra * Preeja Sreedharan * Renjith Maheshwary * Rosa Kutty * Shiny Abraham * Sini Jose * Sinimol Paulose * Suresh Babu * T. C. Yohannan * Tintu Lukka

Badminton

* George Thomas (badminton), George Thomas * Jaseel P. Ismail * P. C. Thulasi * Prannoy Kumar * Sanave Thomas * U. Vimal Kumar * V. Diju

Basketball

* Geethu Anna Jose Captain (sports), (C) * P. S. Jeena Captain (sports), (C)

Canoeing

* Siji Kumar Sadanandan

Chess

* Arjun Vishnuvardhan * Geetha Narayanan Gopal * N R Anil Kumar * Nihal Sarin * Soumya Swaminathan (chess player), Soumya Swaminathan

Cricket

India

* Abey Kuruvilla * Abhishek Nayar * Ajay Varma (Kerala cricketer), Ajay Varma * Basil Thampi * Bhaskar Pillai * Devdutt Padikkal * Jalaj Saxena * K. N. Ananthapadmanabhan * Karun Nair * Kelappan Thampuran (cricketer, born 1937) * Kelappan Thampuran (cricketer, born 1925) * P. Ranganathan * Padmanabhan Prasanth * Prasanth Parameswaran * Raiphi Gomez * Rohan Prem * S Sreesanth * Sachin Baby * Sandeep Warrier * Sanju Samson * Shreyas Iyer * Sony Cheruvathur * Sujith Somasunder * Sunil Valson * Tinu Yohannan * VA Jagadeesh

Other countries

* Krishna Chandran United Arab Emirates national cricket team, (Uae)

Football

* Anas Edathodika * Anil Kumar (footballer), Anil Kumar * Ashique Kuruniyan * C.K. Vineeth * C. V. Pappachan * I. M. Vijayan Captain (sports), (C) * Jiju Jacob * Jo Paul Ancheri Captain (sports), (C) * K. V. Dhanesh *Mashoor Shereef * Maymol Rocky * Mohammed Rafi * Mundiyath Devdas * O. Chandrashekar * P. B. A. Saleh * Pappachen Pradeep * Prasanth Karuthadathkuni * Rahul K.P * Rino Anto * S. S. Narayan * Sahal Abdul Samad * Suhair V P * T. Abdul Rahman * Thenmaddom Varghese, Thomas Varghese (Thiruvalla Pappan) * U. Sharaf Ali * Usman Ashik * Victor Manjila * V. P. Sathyan Captain (sports), (C) *V.P. Suhair

Hockey

* Earnest Goodsir-Cullen * Dinesh Nayak * Helen Mary * Manuel Frederick * P. R. Sreejesh Captain (sports), (C)

Kabbadi

* Shabeer Bapu Sharfudheen

Volleyball

* Aswani KiranCaptain (sports), (C) * Cyril C. Valloor Captain (sports), (C) * Jimmy George Captain (sports), (C) * K. J. Kapil Dev Captain (sports), (C) * K. Udayakumar Captain (sports), (C) * Minimol Abraham Captain (sports), (C) * Soorya Thottangal * Tom Joseph Captain (sports), (C)

Shooting

* Elizabeth Koshy

Swimming

* Sebastian Xavier * Sajan Prakash

Table tennis

* A. Radhika Suresh

Activists

* K. V. Rabiya – literacy campaigner, social worker * Tiffany Brar – blind social worker * Pramada Menon – queer feminist activist, stand-up comedian, gender and sexuality consultant, and co-founder of Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action * Sally Varma – animal activist, humane educator, founder of Save A Life and Senior Campaigner in the Farm Animal Protection Campaign of Humane Society International/India * Kannan Gopinathan – former Indian Administrative Service officer, now engaged in the Citizenship Amendment Act protests

Performing artists

(1989–1991) –

and

artist, Natya Shastra scholar * Gopinath Muthukad – magician * Tirur Nambissan – Kathakali singer * Kalamandalam Hyderali – Kathakali singer * Kalamandalam Gopi – Kathakali artist * Kottakkal Sivaraman – Kathakali artist * Guru Gopinath (1908–1987) – classical dancer and author * Guru Chandrasekharan (1916–1998) – dancer and choreographer * Mrinalini Sarabhai – dancer * Kalamandalam Kshemavathy – dancer * Athira – violin prodigy, Guinness World record holder * Kim Thayil – guitarist * Haripad Murukadas (b. 1971) – Nadaswaram player, music educator * Paul Varghese – comedian * Stephen Devassy – pianist and composer * Balabhaskar – violinist and composer * Chenganoor Raman Pillai – Kathakali artist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:People From Kerala, List of Lists of people by state or union territory in India, Kerala People from Kerala, Lists of people from Kerala,