List of people from Pala

Notable people from Palai include:

Politicians

• K. R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002), Vice-President of India (1992–97).
• Jose K. Mani Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha (2010-Continuing).
• N M Joseph, Minister of Forests, Kerala State (1987–91)
• M M Jacob,[1] Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) (1981-1993), Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha (1986–87), Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Home (1987–93), State Governor of Meghalaya (1995–2007).
• Kidangoor Gopalakrishna Pillai,[2] General Secretary of NSS (1967 onwards) and Indian High-Commissioner to Singapore (1992 onwards).
• P K Vasudevan Nair, Member of Parliament, Chief Minister of Kerala State.
• K M Chandy,[3] State Governor (1982–89), President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee(I).
• K M Mani, Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly (1965 onwards) and Minister of Kerala State (different terms during 1977 - 2015), Chairman Kerala Congress(M).
• Cherian J Kappen,[4] Freedom Fighter,Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha (1962–67). Municipal Chairman.
• George Thomas Kottukapally,[5] Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha (1957–62), U.N. Delegate.
• R V Thomas,[6] President (Speaker) of Travancore State Legislative Assembly (1947–49).
• Dr P J Thomas,[7][8] Member of Madras Legislative Council, 1937–42 and Member of Indian Parliament - Rajya Sabha 1957-62.
• Ulahannan Ulahannan Vadakkan,[9] Member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore State (1912–31).
• J Thomas Kayalackakom,[9] Member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore State (1922–28).

Literature, education and social service

• Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar: Author of "Varthamana Pusthakam", the first travelogue in an Indian language.
• Ramapurathu Warrier - Poet (Kuchelavritham).
• Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai (1859–1936) - Author of Sri Yesu Vijayam (1926) & Editor of Vijnaana Rathnaakaram (1913)
• Pala Narayanan Nair, poet, teacher, most celebrated work 'keralam valarunnu'
• Pravithanam PM Devasia, poet
• Lalithambika Antharjanam, novelist[10]
• Fr. Abel Periapuram, Founder of Kalabhavan.
• Paul Zacharia, writer & columnist
• Ezhacherry Ramachandran, poet
• Bishop Sebastian Vayalil, Founder of St. Thomas College
• Cyriac Thomas, former Vice Chancellor

Government and administration

• V. Joseph Thomas IPS, Director General of Police, Kerala.
• V. J. Kurian IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary to Govt. of Kerala. Managing Director of the World's First Solar Powered Airport [11][12][13]
• B. Sandhya IPS, writer and police officer.

Sports

• Col. G.V. Raja, sports promoter
• M D Valsamma, athletics, Asian Games Gold Medalist
• Mani C. Kappan international volleyball player

Commerce and industry

• Joseph Augusti Kayalackakom (1884–1968) - Founder Managing Director of Palai Central Bank.

Movies

• Bhadran, movie director
• Miss Kumari, Malayalam actress in leading roles
• Suvarna Mathew, actress
• Ponnamma Babu, actress
• Pala Thankam, actress
• Miya (Gimi George), actress
• Mani C. Kappan, director, producer, actor
• Rimi Tomy, singer
• Listin Stephen, film producer
• Chali Pala, actor

Journalists

• Jose Panachippuram, associate editor, Malayala Manorama daily
• Eby J Jose, editor, Gulf Life magazine

References

1. "Jacob Mathew Mundakkal b. 09 Aug 1928 Ramapuram, Kottayam: Roots. The Kerala Christian Family Tree". www.genealogy.rocksea.org.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "Prof. Chandy Mathai Kizhakkayil b. 06 Aug 1921 Pala, Kottayam d. 07 Sep 1998 Lissy Hospital, Ernakulam: Roots. The Kerala Christian Family Tree". www.genealogy.rocksea.org.
4. http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok03/state/03lskl.htm
5. http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok02/state/02lskl.htm
6. "General Info - Kerala Legislature". www.niyamasabha.org.
7. http://www.palai.com/more.htm
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "History of legislative bodies in Kerala-- Sri Moolam Praja Sabha". www.keralaassembly.org.
10. "Special story on Writer Lalithambika Antharjanam - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
11. Menon, Supriya (9 October 2015). "How is the world's first solar powered airport faring?". BBC News. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
12. Balachandran, Manu. "Kerala, India has the world's first solar-powered airport". Quartz. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
13. Mullen, Jethro. "The first world's first solar-powered airport is in Cochin, India". CNNMoney. Retrieved 11 February 2018.