K. R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002), Vice-President of India (1992–97).
[In reverse chronological order]
Jose K. Mani Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha (2010-Continuing).
M J Varkey (Vakkachen) Mattathil, Member of Indian Parliament - Rajya Sabha (1998–2004).
N M Joseph, Minister of Forests, Kerala State (1987–91)
Pala K.M.Mathew, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha).
M M Jacob, 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, 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, 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).
Joseph Chazhikadan, Member of the Legislative Assembly.
T A Thomman, Minister of Home, Kerala State (1964–65)
Cherian J Kappen, Freedom Fighter,Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha (1962–67). Municipal Chairman.
George Thomas Kottukapally, Member of Indian Parliament - Lok Sabha (1957–62), U.N. Delegate.
P.T.Chacko, member of the Constituent Assembly, Member of Parliament, Opposition leader in the State Assembly (1957 - 1959), Minister of Home (1960 - 1964).
R V Thomas, President (Speaker) of Travancore State Legislative Assembly (1947–49).
Dr P J Thomas, Member of Madras Legislative Council, 1937–42 and Member of Indian Parliament - Rajya Sabha 1957-62.
Ulahannan Ulahannan Vadakkan, Member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore State (1928–31).
J Thomas Kayalackakom, Member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore State (1922–28).
Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar: Author of "Varthamana Pusthakam", the first travelogue in an Indian language.
Ramapurathu Warrier - Poet (Kuchelavritham).
Mahakavi Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai (1859–1936) - Author of Sri Yesu Vijayam (1926) & Editor of Vijnaana Rathnaakaram (1913)
Mathew m Kuzhively, Editor of Children's Encyclopedia.
Mahakavi Pala Narayanan Nair, poet, teacher, most celebrated work 'keralam valarunnu'
Mahakavi Pravithanam PM Devasia, poet
Lalithambika Antharjanam, novelist
Fr. Abel Periapuram, Founder of Kalabhavan.
B. Sandhya IPS, writer and police officer.
Paul Zacharia, writer & columnist
Santhosh Pala, new generation poet
Ezhacherry Ramachandran, poet
Bishop Sebastian Vayalil, Founder of St. Thomas College
Cyriac Thomas, former Vice Chancellor
Dr Babu Sebastian, Vice Chancellor M.G. University.
K.J.Mathew I.A.S., Chief Secretary to Govt. of Kerala.
.V.V.Joseph Vellookunnel I.A.S., Secretary to Govt of Kerala
V.J.Thomas I.P.S., Director General of Police, Kerala.
V.J.Kurien I.A.S., Addl. Chief Secretary to Govt. of Kerala.
Col. G.V. Raja - Foremost Sports Promoter.
M D Valsamma, Athletics - Asian Games Gold Medalist.
(C.V. Sunny),Basketball-Former Indian Captain.
Mani C. Kappan International Volleyball Player
Wilson Cherian International Swimmer
Dr. A.M.Michael, Former Director of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and also Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University. Dr. Michael is the 1st Indian Agricultural Engineer, graduating from the Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad.
Jom Michael Koottumkal, son of Thomas k Michael is known for his works and research in aerodynamics,aerospace and avionics.
Dr. K. L Sebastain (Kizhakkayil) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize For Science & Techknology
C R Kesavan Vaidyar - Pioneer Medicinal Soap Maker Chhandrika).
Joseph Augusti Kayalackakom (1884–1968) - Founder Managing Director of Palai Central Bank.
Jacob Cherian Maruthukunnel - Pioneer in Motor Transport, Deep sea Fishing ( West Coast Fisheries).
Joseph Michael Manarkatt, Leading figure in abkari, plantation, hotel and movie theater industries.
M.O.Devassia Mattathil, Leading figure in rubber & pepper trade and jewelry business.
Dominic Joseph Kuruvinakunnel, Planter and founder of the CGH (Casino) Group of Hotels.
Michael A Kallivayalil, Planter and founder of the Heaveacrumb Group of Industries.
Mani C. Kappan (Director,Producer,Actor)
Bhadran, Movie Director
Miss Kumari, Malayalam actress in leading roles
Suvarna Mathew Actress
Ponnamma Babu Actress
Pala Thankam Actress
Mia George (Gimi George)Actress
Asin Actress
Rimi Tomy Singer
Listin Stephen, Film producer
Chali Pala, Actor
Remya Nikhil,TV Anchor,Dancer,Model
Albichan Adhikaram Film Editor, Short Film Director
Issac Thomas Kottukapally, Film Music Director, Producer, TV producer.
Premkumar, Actor.
Kenneth Sebastian, Stand-up comedian
V.J.Mathew, Ex Managing Director and Managing Editor, Deepika Daily
Jose Panachippuram, Associate Editor, Malayala Manorama daily
Eby J Jose Editor, Gulf Life Magazine
Robin Jose Editor, Palanews.com News Portal
Ebin Babu is known for best journals and photography.
George Kallivayalil, Associate Editor and New Delhi Beauro Chief, Deepika Daily.
Fr. Coloumbier, Managing Editor, Deepika Daily.
Fr. Victor narivelil, Chief Editor, Deepika daily.
Fr. Thomas Aikkara, Chief Editor, Deepika daily.
Records and Achievements
Meenachil Taluk, of which Pala town is the headquarters, has the unique distinction of holding innumerable records. It is amazing that a rather remote Taluk located in the hilly inland could achieve so much.
World Records:
- The Christian parish that is home to the largest number of catholic priests in the world – Kozhuvanal Parish, Pala Diocese (151 priests).
- Promoter of one of the world's ten best Resort Hotels selected by the world's leading travel magazine – Dominic Joseph Kuruvinakkunnel (Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom of Casino CGH Earth Group of Hotels).
National Records:
- India's only dalit President – K R Narayanan (1997).
- First Indian to become Economic Advisor to Government of India – Dr P J Thomas (1942).
- India's first and only Taluk to produce one President/Vice-President, two State Governors, one State Chief Minister and one Ambassador – K R Narayanan, K M Chandy, M M Jacob, P K Vasudevan Nair & Kidangoor Gopalakrishna Pillai.
- Longest term as Finance Minister of a State in India – K M Mani (13 years).
- Longest term as State Governor in India – M M Jacob (12 years).
- Highest number of Catholic Bishops from a Diocese in India – Pala Diocese.
- The first travelogue in an Indian language – "Varthamana Pusthakam" by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (eighteenth century).
- The first native Indian Roman Catholic (and the first Syro Malabar Catholic) Saint – St. Alphonsa.
- Author of the first encyclopaedia in an Indian language – Mathew M Kuzhively Syrian Malabar Nasrani.
- First head of a Homoeo Medical Dept. of a State in India – Dr K Z George (1973).
- First Bank to open a branch in India's capital New Delhi – Palai Central Bank (1932).
- Maker of India's largest selling medicinal toilet soap – C R Kesavan Vaidyar (Chandrika Soap).
State Records:
- First and only President/Vice-President from Kerala – K R Narayanan (1997/1992).
- First Speaker of the State since Independence – R V Thomas (1948).
- Longest continuous term as MLA of the State and Finance Minister who presented highest number of State Budgets – K M Mani (MLA from 1965 onwards and 13 State Budgets)
- One of the first two from the State to be beatified by Catholic church – St Alphonsa (1986).
- Promoter of the institution that was the largest in the State for over three decades – Joseph Augusti Kayalackakom - Palai Central Bank (1927–60).
- First and foremost sports promoter of the State – Col. G.V. Raja.
- First company promoter of the State to make a public issue of shares of a plantation company – J Thomas Kayalackakom - Mysore Plantations Ltd (1943).
- First person to run a Star Hotel in the State – Dominic Joseph Kuruvinakkunnel - Malabar Hotel, Cochin (1962).
- First Liquor Baron of the State – Joseph Michael Manarkattu (1980s).
- First Stock Broker's Firm in the State – Kayalackakom Company (1946).
- First person from the State to dominate the multi-crore Forward Trade (Satta Bazar) in spices – M O Devasia Mattathil (1970s).
- First lady athlete of Kerala to win Asian Games gold medal – M D Valsamma (1982)
- One of the first two women IPS officers from the State – B. Sandhya IPS (1994).
- First MBA degree holder of Kerala – K M George Kayalackakom - New York University (1948).
- First Christian Mahakavi and Editor of one of the oldest literary magazines in Malayalam – Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai - Sreeyesu Vijayam (1926) & Vijnaana Rathnaakaram (1913).
- First person to introduce the ‘Vanchippaattu’ branch of Malayalam poetry – Ramapurathu Warrier - Kuchelavritham (18th century).
- First editor of a Malayalam Newspaper – Nidhiry Mani Kathanar - Nasrani Deepika (1887).
- First bridge constructed by private individuals - Puzhakkara Bridge - 80 ft*16 ft (Constructed in 1998 by P.A Kuriakose and brothers John and Joseph, Puzhakkara family).[Page10, 15 June 1998 Malayala Manorama Daily, Business Deepika 15-21, 1999].
- First Queen of the Malayalam silver screen: Miss Kumari
- First candle manufacturing company in Kerala:THE LITTLE FLOWER CANDLE WORKS PALAI Estd.1939 Mg.Prop.J Thomas Chavara Palai
- An entrance coaching institution: Brilliant Study Centre
