List of people from Pala explained

Notable people from Palai include:

Politicians

• K. R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002), Vice-President of India (1992–97).
• K M Mani, Minister of Finance, Revenue, Laws, Kerala State.
• 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).
• Cherian J. Kappan,^[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

• Aryambika S. V., Malayalam poet.^[10]
• 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^[11]
• 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 ^{[12] [13] [14]}
• 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) - Managing Director of Palai Central Bank.
• Varkey Ouseph Vellookunnel

-Founder 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
• Meenakshi Anoop, actress
• Listin Stephen, film producer
• Chali Pala, actor

Journalists

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jacob Mathew Mundakkal b. 09 Aug 1928 Ramapuram, Kottayam: Roots. The Kerala Christian Family Tree. www.genealogy.rocksea.org.
2. Web site: www.nairs.in . 2007-06-01 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064134/http://www.nairs.in/bio_g.html . 2007-09-28 .
3. Web site: 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. Web site: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THIRD LOK SABHA(State wise) . parliamentofindia.nic.in . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040809012516/http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok03/state/03lskl.htm . 2004-08-09.
5. Web site: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SECOND LOK SABHA(State wise) . parliamentofindia.nic.in . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040809010234/http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok02/state/02lskl.htm . 2004-08-09.
6. Web site: General Info - Kerala Legislature. www.niyamasabha.org.
7. Web site: Palai - The Land of Latex, Rubber & Spices... . www.palai.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070822064524/http://www.palai.com/more.htm . 2007-08-22.
8. Web site: Archived copy . 26 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023526/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/kiosk/whoswho/prev90t.htm . 4 March 2016 . dead .
9. Web site: History of legislative bodies in Kerala-- Sri Moolam Praja Sabha. www.keralaassembly.org.
10. Web site: അംഗീകാരം ആചാര്യന് അശ്രുപൂജയായി. 2022-02-23. Deshabhimani. ml.
11. Web site: Special story on Writer Lalithambika Antharjanam - YouTube. www.youtube.com.
12. News: How is the world's first solar powered airport faring?. Menon. Supriya. 2015-10-09. BBC News. 2018-02-11. en-GB.
13. News: Kerala, India has the world's first solar-powered airport. Balachandran. Manu. Quartz. 2018-02-11. en-US.
14. News: The first world's first solar-powered airport is in Cochin, India. Mullen. Jethro. CNNMoney. 2018-02-11.