List of people from Kerala

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The following is a list of notable people from Kerala, India: Though many personalities in this list are/were multi-faceted, their names are classified according to their major area of work. Please ensure that brief Wikipedia articles on these personalities are linked.

Contents

[edit] Ancient rulers

[edit] Freedom fighters

  • V.K. Krishna Menon - Toiled for India's Independence in England itself, Diplomat, Orator and India's Defence Minister.
  • Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair - President of the Indian National Congress (1897 -1898)
  • U. Gopala Menon - Indian National Congress leader.
  • Sir C Madhavan Nair - Administrator during British Rule
  • K. Kelappan - Known as "Kerala Gandhi". Leader of the Payyannur Salt Satyagraha and the Guruvayur Satyagraha. He was also the founding President of Nair Service Society.
  • K. P. Kesava Menon - Freedom fighter, Founder-Editor of the Mathrubhumi .
  • A. V. Kuttimalu Amma - Top ranking freedom fighter

[edit] Politicians

  • A.K. Antony - Chief Minister of Kerala during 1977-78, 1995-96, and 2001-2004, leader of the Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly during 1996 to 2001. Current Defence Minister of India.
  • A.K.G or A.K. Gopalan - Communist leader. First opposition leader in Indian Parliament. Father of Indian Coffee Houses.AKG One of the most popular among all the Left leaders in India. He died on March 21, 1977 at the age of 73.
  • C.H. Mohammed Koya - Former Chief Minister of Kerala.
  • C. Kesavan - The Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin from 1951-52.
  • Devan Nair - Former Head of the state of Singapore.
  • Dr. P.C. Alexander - Former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Maharashra; former High Commissioner to UK.
  • E.K. Nayanar - Former Chief Minister of Kerala. Noted Communist leader.
  • E. M. S. Namboodiripad - First Chief Minister of unified Kerala State. Headed the first elected communist government in the world. General Secretary of CPI(M) for many years.
  • Joseph Mundassery - A prominent literary critic of Malayalam language. Education Minister in the first communist ministry of Kerala.
  • K. Karunakaran - Former Kerala Chief Minister.
  • E. Ahmed - Minister of state for External Affairs, Govt. of India
  • K. R. Narayanan (1921 - 2005) - Former President of India.
  • Lakshmi N. Menon - First woman foreign minister of India (1957-1966).
  • Mathai Manjooran (1912 - 1970) - A gallant freedom fighter, socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry, and the staunchest advocate towards the formation of Kerala State.
  • M. A. Baby- Leading leftist, present Education Minister.
  • M.G. Ramachandran - Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
  • Mohammed Abdurahiman Sahib - Freedom fighter and former KPCC President.
  • M. P. Veerendrakumar - Writer, noted politician.
  • Oommen Chandy - Present Opposition leader of Kerala and former Chief Minister of the state.
  • Paloli Mohammed Kutty - Minister for Local Govt.
  • P. Krishna Pillai - One of the founders of Communist Party in Kerala. He was the President of Kerala Congress Committee.
  • P K Kunhalikkutty - Former State Industries Minister, Secretary of Kerala State Committee of IUML
  • Pinarai Vijayan - CPI(M) Secretary, State Committee, Kerala and member of the Politburo.
  • Prakash Karat - General Secretary, CPI(M) National Committee.
  • R. Sankar - Former Chief Minister of Kerala.
  • Sayed Mohamedali Shihab Thangal - president of the Kerala state committee of the IUML
  • Sir C. Sankaran Nair - President of Indian National Congress in 1897. The only Keralite to hold the post.
  • Vayalar Ravi - Kerala politician. Union cabinet minister.
  • Ramesh Chennithala - President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. Former Lok Sabha MP.
  • V. K. Krishna Menon - Former Defence Minister of India and renowned statesman. Delivered an eight-hour-long speech on Kashmir dispute at a U.N. Security Council meeting in 1957. Krishna Menon was the close associate of Pandit Nehru, the then Prime Minister.
  • V. P. Menon - The right-hand man of Sardar Patel in the unification of princely states during the formation of the Indian Union.
  • V.S. Achuthanandan - Current Chief Minister of Kerala. He was the secretary of CPI(M) state committee from 1980 to 1992 and Opposition leader of KLA from 1992 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006.
  • John A. Thivy - Founding president (1946-1947) of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)

[edit] Writers

  • Akkitham Achuthan Namboodiri - A famous Malayalam poet who is honored by the epithet Mahaakavi. He won the Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for Malayalam in 1973. His famous poems include 'Irupatam Nuttantinte Ithihasam. Akkitham is associated with Tapasya _ a cultural organization.
  • Anita Nair - Writer.
  • Arundhati Roy - Writer, awarded the Booker Prize in 1997 for The God of Small Things, which is set in Kerala. Born in Kerala.
  • Balachandran Chullikkadu - Poet admired for his realistic approach and hummable and rhythmic poems.
  • Balamani Amma - Poet; won the highest literary medal in India, the Saraswathi Samman.
  • Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (1911-1948) - Poet, author of the pastoral elegy Ramanan (1936) which sold over 100,000 copies, a record that still stands. Changampuzha took Malayalam poetry to the zenith of romanticism.
  • Cherusseri Namboodiri - Mahakavi (great poet), part of the old Kavithrayam (triad of poets), with Ezhuthachan and Kunchan Nambiar. Author of Krishnagaadha (The Song of Krishna).
  • D. Vinayachandran - Poet.
  • Hameed Chennamangaloor - A prolific writer, a prominent progressive Muslim intellectual, and a widely acclaimed doyen of secularism in Kerala.
  • Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan- Noted Malayalam Poet.
  • Kamala Das - English poet and feminist, also wrote in Malayalam under the pen-name Madhavikkutty. First Indian woman to openly write about woman's sexuality. Embraced Islam under the name Kamala Suraiyya in 1999. Asian Poetry Prize, 1964, Kent Award, 1965.
  • Kesari Balakrishna Pillai - Social thinker, Literary critic who influenced a generation of writers and other intellectuals in Kerala during the first half of 20th Century. The name of one of his book "Navalokam" (New World) is symbolical representative of his intellectual contributions.
  • Kumaran Asan - Mahaakavi (great poet), part of the new Kavithrayam, with Ulloor and Vallathol. Kumaran Asan was the follower of Srinarayana Guru. He used poetry to influence the society.
  • Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar - Mahaakavi (great poet), part of the old Kavithrayam. Founder of the art form Ottan Thullal.
  • Kunjunni- Malayalam Poet
  • N.S. Madhavan - Writer and civil servant.
  • M. Krishnan Nair - Literary critic, whose column Sahithyavaraphalam has long served as a window to contem–porary world literature.
  • M. Mukundan - Novelist, author of Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil (On the Banks of Mayyazhi) and Deyvathinte Vikruthikal (Pranks of God).
  • Moothiringode Bhavathrāthan Namboothiripad - Author of the famous Aphante Makal. He was social reformer especially of the Namboothiri society.
  • Moyinkutty Vaidyar - Great poet (Mahakavi), author of many authentic Mappila songs.
  • M. P. Parameswaran - Scientist turned social activist, involved with Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad.
  • M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Writer and cinema personality. Jnanpith Award, 1995.
  • Niranam Poets - Three Great Malayali poets Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar of the Kannassa family. They lived between AD 1350 and 1450 in the Niranam village of Tiruvalla
  • Nitya Chaitanya Yati - Scholar, monk.
  • O. Chandumenon - Author of the Malayalam novel Indulekha. Also wrote the incomplete novel "Sharada".
  • Oommen Chandy - Present Opposition leader of Kerala and the former Chief Minister of the state.
  • O. V. Vijayan - Novelist, cartoonist. Author of Khasakkinte Ithihaasam (The Legends of Khasak) and Dharmapuranam (The Saga of Dharmapuri).
  • P. Parameswaran - Renowned thinker. Director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendram and former President of Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari. Also known as Parameswarji.
  • P. K. Gopi- Poet.
  • Paul, M.P. - Literary critic.
  • Paul Zacharia - Writer.
  • Poomulli Neelakandan Namboothiripad - An expert in arts and literature, Ayurveda, Kalari, Yoga and other performing arts from the famous Poomulli family.
  • Poonthanam - Poet belonging to the Bhakti school.
  • Shashi Tharoor - Novelist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1991; Under-Secretary-General (Communication and Public Information) of the United Nations.
  • S. K. Pottakkat (1913 - 1982) - A well-renowned author whose work Oru Desattinte Katha (The Story of a Land) fetched him the Jnanpith award of 1980.
  • Sukumar Azhikode - Thinker, teacher, critic and orator.
  • Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai - Novelist and short story writer whose work Chemmeen was awarded Jnanpith Award in 1984.
  • Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan - Architect of modern Malayalam. Mahakavi (great poet), part of the old Kavithrayam. Penned the most popular Malayalam renditions of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
  • Manu M.R- Poet,short story writer.Popular through his blogs also.
  • Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer - Poet, part of the new Kavithrayam. Author of Umakeralam.
  • Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - Writer, philosopher.
  • Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi - Publisher of the legendary publication Swadeshabhimani, social reformer, and a prominent leader of the progressive Islahi Movement in Kerala.
  • Vallathol Narayana Menon - Mahaakavi, part of the new Kavithrayam. Author of Sahithyamanjari. Founder of Kerala Kalamandalam, the state's flagship institution for the promotion of performing arts.
  • Vayalar Ramavarma - Arguably the greatest lyricist in the history of Malayalam cinema.
  • Vijayan, M. N - Thinker, writer, literary critic, social activist. Most of his works are compilation of speeches.
  • Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon (1911-1985)- Famous Malayalam poet.
  • Yusuf Ali Kechery- Poet.
  • Moncy Pothen - English Novelist

[edit] Journalists

  • Dr. Sebastian Paul- Media critic.
  • John Brittas- Managing Director of Kairali TV and People TV.
  • K. C. Mammen Mappillai- Founder of Malayala Manorama.
  • K. C. Narayanan- Editor-in-Charge of Bhashaposhini.
  • K. Jayachandran- Noted Journalist who highlighted the problems of Adivasis.
  • K. M. Mathew- Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama.
  • K. M. Roy- Noted Journalist.
  • K. P. Mohanan- Managing Editor of Asianet.
  • N. P. Chandrasekharan- Executive Editor of Kairali TV and People TV.
  • Prabhavarma- Director (News and Current Affairs) of Kairali TV and People TV.
  • V. K. Madhavankutty- Noted Journalist.
  • Victor George - A talented press Photographer who was buried alive by a landslide caused by the torrential rains in July 2002.
  • R.Gopikrishnan-Noted Journalist.
  • B.Aburaj- Young Journalist and Media Manager.Writing in Malayalam and English.Started career as a sub editor in Deshabhimani. Worked as Editor ,The Commercial Magazine (English)publishing from Muscat,and Asst. Manager, The Mangalam Daily, Kerala.Presently working as Asst. Private Secretary to Minister for Home and Tourism , Kerala.
  • P.M.Manoj- Senior Political Reporter associated with Deshabhimani, the organ of Comminist Party of India (Mrxist).Visited Peoples Republic of China.Former Secretary of Kerala Union of Working Journalists.Presently a member in book Marketing Society , Kerala

[edit] Arts & Film

  • K. J. Yesudas - Great classical musician and play back singer.
  • Raveendran - Famous music director.
  • Mammootty - One of the best actors in India. Winner of the national award for Best Actor 3 times.
  • Mohanlal - Considered one of the Best actors in India and Winner of the national award for Best Actor in 1992 (Bharatham) and 2000 (Vaanaprastham).
  • Adoor Gopalakrishnan - Internationally acclaimed director. Movies include Elipathayam (The Mousetrap) and Mathilukal (Walls).
  • G. Aravindan - Noted film director and cartoonist. Movies include Kanchana Seeta, Kummatty (Bogeyman) and Chidambaram. His cartoon strip series 'Valiya lokavum Cheriya manushyarum' was very popular.
  • G. Devarajan - Famous music director.
  • Naveen Andrews - British Actor. Parents are Malayali.
  • K. S. Chithra - Renowned playback singer and winner of several state and national awards.
  • K. G. Markkose- Singer.
  • Kozhikode Abdul Kader - Abdul Kader made his debut as a playback singer in Malayalam films in 1951 in the film `Navalokam.' The 'Malabar Saigal' died on February 13, 1977.
  • M. Night Shyamalan - Hollywood film director.
  • Kavya Madhavan- Malayalm Film Actress.
  • Meera Jasmine- Popular South Indian Film Actress.
  • M.G. Sreekumar - Playback singer.
  • M. T. Vasudevan Nair - Writer and cinema personality. Jnanpith Award, 1995.
  • Nedumudi venu - One of the greatest actors of Malayalam Cinema.
  • P. Padmarajan (1945-1991) - Popular film director, affectionately known as 'Pappan', whose films often blurred the line between artistic and commercial cinema.
  • Padma Lakshmi - Padma Lakshmi is a New York-based Indian American model, actress and award-winning cookbook author.
  • Tomin Thachenkary- Deovtional Christian music producer and IPS officer."
  • Pradip Somasundaran- Playback singer who did Kerala Proud by winning "Lata Mangeshkar Trophy" in "Meri Awaz Suno" in 1996.
  • Prem Naseer - The former evergreen hero of Malayalam cinema.
  • Rimi Tomi- Playback singer, heart-throb of youth.
  • Shaji N. Karun - Noted director, whose movies include Piravi (Birth), Swam and Vaanaprastham.
  • Shobana - Actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. Two-time National award winner.
  • Sujatha- Famous playback singer.
  • Thilakan - One of the greatest actors of Malayalam Cinema.
  • Vayalar Ramavarma - Arguably the greatest lyricist in the history of Malayalam cinema.
  • Madhu - Actor
  • Adithya - Actor
  • Divya Palat--Theatre personality, actor
  • Shweta Menon--Actor
  • Kay Kay Menon--Actor
  • Navya Nair--Noted Actress
  • Dileep -- Malayalam movie hero
  • Vayalar Sharathchandra Varma -- lyricist in Malayalam cinema, son of Vayalar Rama Varma
  • Arya -- Tamil movie hero[1]

[edit] Artists, Painters, Sculptors

[edit] Social reformers

  • Sree Narayana Guru (1856-1928) - Social reformer, scholar, teacher, saint and Vedantin and founder of SNDP.
  • Ayyankali- The leader of the backward casts in Kerala
  • Adi Sankara (788 - 820) - Saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India. Propounded the doctrine of Advaita (non-duality), which identified the Supreme with the Self. He is revered as the Shankaracharya.
  • Chattampi Swamikal (1853 - 1925) - was one of Kerala’s famed social reform activists and learned men.
  • C. Kesavan - The Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin from 1951-52.
  • Dr. P. Palpu - Social reformer.
  • K. M. Moulavi - An active leader of the Khilafat movement and the first president of Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (1950), which is responsible for fighting social evils like dowry, superstition, and promoting education and protecting rights of women among the Muslim population in Kerala.
  • K. P. Kesava Menon - Well known patriot and active volunteer of the freedom fight against the British. Founder of Mathrubhumi daily.
  • Mathai Manjooran (1912 - 1970) - A gallant freedom fighter, socialist revolutionary, member of the Indian Parliament, Labor Minister in the 2nd EMS communist ministry, and above all the staunchest advocate towards the formation of Kerala State.
  • Mannathu Padmanabhan - Founder of Nair Service Society.
  • M. C. Joseph - Rationalist, founding editor of Yukthivadi.
  • Nawab Rajendran - Social activist who stirred the conscience of the society for three decades.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan - Social reformer, follower of Sri Narayana Guru. He proclaimed "Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda Manusyanu" (No caste, No religion and No God for Human being" as a rejoinder to the famous words of his philosopher-guide Narayana Guru who said: "One Caste, One Religion and One God for Human Being".
  • Nataraja Guru - Disciple of Narayana Guru. He is a great sage and social reformer of India. Nataraja Guru founded Narayana Gurukulam.

[edit] Sports

  • Anju George - The only Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships.
  • T. C. Yohannan - First asian to cross 8M mark in long jump.
  • I. M. Vijayan - Soccer player who played for the national team and prominent Indian soccer clubs such as Mohan Bagan. He was a forward and scored many goals.
  • Jimmy George - Legendary volleyball player.
  • Cyril Valloor - Legendary volleyball player and captain of the 1986 indian team that won the bronze medal in asian games.
  • Joby Joseph - Indian volleyball player.
  • Tom Joseph - Indian volleyball player.
  • Kapil Dev - Indian volleyball player.
  • P. T. Usha - One of India's greatest athletes, who missed out on a bronze medal by 0.01 seconds in the 400 m hurdles event in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
  • Tinu Yohannan - Former Indian cricket team player.
  • Sreesanth - Indian Cricket Team player.
  • Shiny Wilson - famous athlete

[edit] Spiritual leaders

  • Adi Sankara (788 - 820) - Saint, poet, philosopher and reviver of Hinduism in India. Propounded the doctrine of Advaita (non-duality), which identified the Supreme with the Self. He is revered as the Shankaracharya.
  • Sri Narayana Guru - One of the greatest saints and social reformers Kerala has seen. Was instrumental in uplifting the downtrodden masses of Kerala from spiritual and social oppression.
  • Fr. Chavara Kuriakose - A Christian saint of Kerala. The yeoman service rendered by him led to the growth of the C.M.I. (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) Congregation.
  • H.H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I Catholicose of All the East and Malankara Metrolitan- Spiritual Leader of Indian Orthodox Christians.
  • Amritanandamayi - Renowned spiritualist from Kerala whose charisma has won her followers from around the world.
  • Swami Chinamayananda - Founder, Chinmaya Mission
  • Karunakara Guru- Founder of Santhigiri Ashramam.
  • Swamy Atmananda-Advaita philosopher.He was a householder . Retired as a Superintendent of Police. Had a large number of disciples from all over the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmananda.
  • G.Narayanan Nair-Main disciple of Swamy Atmananda. He also had a large following including foreigners.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Narayanan_Nair

[edit] Bureaucrats

[edit] Co-operators

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

[edit] Jurists

  • K.K. Mathew - Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India. He also served as the Tenth Law Commission Chairman and also as the Second Press Commission Chairman of India.
  • V. R. Krishna Iyer - Legislator and jurist, human rights activist. Krishna Iyer along with P.N. Bhagavathi as the justices of Indian Supreme Court radically interpreted the role of judiciary in ensuring the rights of citizens. This period is marked in the history of Indian Judiciary in Golden Letters as "Krishna Iyer-Bhagavathi Era".

[edit] Performing Artists

[edit] Science, Technology and Medicine

  • G. Madhavan Nair - Chairman of ISRO. He is from Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu State. He recently visited his ancentral home there.
  • George Sudarsan - Renowned theoretical physicist; Emeritus professor at University of Texas. Nominated for the Nobel prize a number of times. First to propose the V-A Theory with Robert Marshak in the 1950s.
  • Jyeshtadeva - Mathematician; author of Yuktibasa, the world's first treatise on calculus
  • Laurie Baker - Eco-friendly architect and engineer.
  • Madhava of Sangamagrama - A 14th century mathematician, founder of mathematical analysis.
  • M. S. Valliathan - Cardiologist.
  • Dr Thomas Thomas - The first Indian Cardio-Thoracic surgeon.
  • Charles Kannankeril - Inventor.
  • Javed Hassan - Prominent IT Business person, Chairman NeST.
  • Dr.Sarada Menon - Dr. Sarada Menon has laboured for over 50 years to rehabilitate and reintegrate the mentally-ill into society. Born into a well-known and accomplished Mambalikalam family, it was a quest for excellence that led her into medicine.Dr Sarada Menon is respected nationwide for her tireless work in developing treatment and rehabilitation facilities for the mentally ill and the incapacitated. She personifies total dedication to professional excellence and continuing commitment to advancement of psychiatry and an untiring zeal to serve the community through her chosen profession.'

[edit] Law enforcement

[edit] Academic persons

  • K. M. Panikkar - Eminent historian. India's first ambassador to China.
  • K. N. Raj - Economist who played a key role in India's first Five Year Plan, one of the founding fathers of the Delhi School of Economics.

[edit] Activists

Devotional

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