A prominent director of the Malayalam film industry, a glittering product of the Film and Television Institute Pune, winner of state as well as national awards for best film and director. His Elipathayam won the British Film Institute Award, considered the greatest honour in the field. Most of his works are artistic rather than commercial.
A venerable personality in Indian politics, adorned the chief minister ship of Kerala for two consecutive terms 1969-70 and 70-77.he started political carrier as a congressman, later joined Communist Party of India (CPI) and stood by it, when it was split to CPI and CPI (M). Sree Chitira Thirunnal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology was set up during his tenure.
AKG, was the life wire of trade unionism and communist movements in India, plunged in to the freedom struggle, resigning the post of a schoolteacher. Assume the post of opposition leader for a period during his 25 yearlong parliamentary life. He led many struggles for the upheaval of the downtrodden masses.
EMS(Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad 1909-1998)
Marxist theoretician political-leader thinker and writer, abandoning college studies, plunged into civil disobedience movement. A communist, broke away with the Marxist faction (CPI (M)) on the split of communist party of India. Headed the first elected Communist ministry in Asia (1957-59). He adorned the chief minister-ship once again in 1967, and secretary of the CPI (M) for a decade and more.
Kocheri Raman Narayanan, first Keralite, the president of India. Born in Kottayam, joined the Indian Foreign Services after graduation from London school of economics. Served as, the ambassador to various countries including China and USA, vice-chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Elected to the Indian parliament, became a Cabinet minister for planning, external affairs, science and technology. In 1992 elected as the Vice President of India and later President of India in July 1997
Dominic Chacko Kizhakkemuri, columnist, author and an active participant in the freedom struggle. He revolutionized the publication industry with his innovative schemes to promote books. He began his carrier with the National Book Stall, initiated the set up of sahitya pravarthaka sangam and merged his NBS with it. On his retirement he started the D C Books, which publishes majority of Malayalam books today.
The man behind, white revolution and co-operative milk sector, in India. Founded the co-operative dairy movement in Gujarat, Mobilizing 6 million dairy farmers in 60,000 co-operatives to procure 3 million tonnes of milk, 'Amul' started by him at Gujarat is one of the largest dairy institutions in the world. The Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board, Kurian, recipient of Magsesay Award (1963), the World Food Prize (1989) and Padmavibhushan.
A doctor by profession, fascinated by Indian national army (I N A) joined it and participated in the freedom struggle. She worked together with Subash Chandra Bose the founder of INA, as the commander of the women's wing. She was active in social and political movements even after attaining independence.
Noted freedom fighter politician journalist and a social reformer. Quit a profession in law, to join civil- disobedience movement in 1910 active participant in the Vaikom as well as Guruvayoor Satyagrahas editor of 'Mathrubhoomi' and president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. On attaining independence he quit politics and joined Sarvodaya of gandhiji.
V T Bhattathiripad, a social critic well known dramatist and a prominent freedom fighter, fought against the evil customs prevalent among the Brahmin community and the cruelty on women. Encouraged widow marriage in the Brahmin society his glorious drama 'Adukkalayilninnum arangathekku' has played a major role in bringing to light many atrocities within the orthodox Brahmin community.
T N Shesan, the former election commissioner of India, revolutionized the electoral system of the country. His non-compromising and bold approach eliminated many corrupt practices in the elections and restored credibility to a great extend. Recipient of Magseysay award held many prestigious posts as the cabinet secretary and the planning commission member.
Sree Narayanaguru, a great visionary and a social reformer, criticized and campaigned against the rigours of the caste system, the Bhrahmin hegemony and the numerous social disabilities of the Ezhavas and other lower castes. The Ezhavas and Thiyyas united and organized the Sree Narayana DharmaparipalanaYogam (SNDP), a
Sahodaran Ayyappan, was a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru, and a social reformer. Led many struggles for the eradiation of castism and communalism, started a newspaper, 'Sahodaran' (1919-1956) and 'Sahodaran Sangam' to propagate reformist and progressive ideas in society. Leader of the atheist movement, and founding editor of it's periodical, 'Yukthivadi'. A trade unionist, member of legislative assembly of Kochi and later became a minister of Travancore-Kochi.
A dalit, pioneered many social movements against castism. He set apart his life to achieve dignity of dalits, the right to use public roads, the freedom of dalit women to cover their torso, their education. The dalits were not permitted in public schools, so he started a school especially for the dalits. It's amazing that he became a member of the legislative assembly of Travancore; at a time the basic rights were deprived to the dalits.
A freedom fighter, statesman and a bureaucrat, served as the Indian high commissioner to England and represented India in the United Nations, where he created a distinctive impression with his extra ordinary rhetoric. As the defence minister of India in the Nehru ministry he was instrumental in the modernisation of the Indian armed forces.
A beacon of learning, journalist, researcher and a critic, initiated renaissance in Malayalam literature. A great campaigner of freedom of press, he even suspended the publication of his newspaper 'Kesari', in protest against the Newspaper Regulation Act of Travancore. He was instrumental in developing and exploring the literary and intellectual horizon of Kerala.
Founding president of the Progressive Writer's Movement in Kerala, a literary critic and educationalist. His intellectual integrity and vigor gave a great source of inspiration to the future generation of Kerala's writers.
Mannathu Padmanbhan, a known contributor to social reformations especially in the fight against casteism and untouchability prevalent in the Hindu community of Kerala. An active participant in Vaikom Sathyagraha, he established the Nair Service Society for the upliftment of the Nair community, which continues its service in the field of education health care and culture. Mannath is accredited with the first ever Malayalam speech at oxford university.
Politician cum Writer was the educational minister in the first Communist ministry. His controversial educational bill, aimed to revolutionalize education criterion, was misinterpreted and led to the downfall of the government. Mundassery served as the vice chancellor of Cochin University of science and technology and several other prestigious offices
An internationally renowned Malayali artist pioneered the Indo-European style of painting. He popularised oil colour in Kerala with his paintings, mostly scenes and figures of mythological interest, remarkable for their richness of tone. Even during his lifetime, Ravivarma was famous in the art circles of the World. His paintings are exhibited at the Sreechitra art gallery in Thiruvananthapuram, Baroda and Mysore Museums.
Sree Narayana Guru Raja Ravivarma Ayyankali Sahodaran Ayyappan Captian Lakshmi Mannath Padmanabhan Kesari A Balakrishnapillai V.K. Krishnamenon V.T. Bhattathiripad M.P Paul Kelappan EMS A.K. Gopalan C. Achuthamenon Joseph Mundassery K.R Narayanan Adoor Gopalakrishnan D.C. Kishakkemuri T.N Shesan Dr. Varghese Kurian
