IndianGaurav

Heroes from Kerala

People from the state of Kerala whose work we have profiled.

Showing 1–24 of 36 heroes

AE

A. E. Muthunayagam

The founding director of ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Centre, later Secretary for Ocean Development, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Kerala
AT

Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi

A writer from the Travancore royal family whose 13 books cover Kerala's temples, history and culture, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Kerala
BP

Balan Putheri

A blind writer from Malappuram who has written and published over 200 books, most after losing his sight entirely, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Kerala
CI

C I Issac

A Kottayam historian and writer who has served on the Indian Council of Historical Research since 2015, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Kerala
Cheruvayal Raman working in a paddy field in Wayanad

Cheruvayal Raman

A Kurichiya farmer from Wayanad who kept dozens of traditional rice varieties alive, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023. He died in 2026, aged 74.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Kerala
DK

Damodaran Kaithapram

A Malayalam lyricist, music director and Carnatic singer who has written more than 1,500 film songs over 30 years, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Kerala
DA

Devaki Amma

Known as "Forest Grandma", she turned five acres of sandy coastal land in Alappuzha into a forest of 3,000 trees, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Kerala
DD

Dhananjay Diwakar Sagdeo

A doctor who has spent four decades in Wayanad turning a small clinic into a hospital that treats tribal patients free, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Kerala
EP

E. P. Narayanan

A Kannur Theyyam artist who has performed the long ritual dances hundreds of times over decades, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Kerala
I.M. Vijayan at a football tournament in Thiruvananthapuram, 2012

I.M. Vijayan

A former India football captain and prolific striker from Kerala who scored 40 international goals, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Kerala
Portrait of Jose Chacko Periappuram

Jose Chacko Periappuram

A Kochi heart surgeon who performed Kerala's first heart transplant and more than 20,000 open-heart operations, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

  • Padma Bhushan 2025
  • Kerala
KK

K K Ramachandra Pulavar

An 11th-generation master of Kerala's tholpavakoothu shadow puppetry who has performed in about 42 countries, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Kerala
K. V. Rabiya receiving the National Youth Award, 1990s

K V Rabiya

A wheelchair-using activist from Malappuram who led a village literacy drive and founded Chalanam for disabled children; Padma Shri, 2022.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Kerala
KO

K. Omanakutty Amma

A Carnatic vocalist and teacher of 70 years who founded Kerala University's music department and taught K.S. Chithra, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Kerala
Portrait of K. T. Thomas

K. T. Thomas

A former Supreme Court judge known for his work on criminal law and police reform, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026
  • Kerala
KV

Kalamandalam Vimala Menon

A Mohiniyattam dancer and teacher who shaped the modern style of the dance and has trained over 10,000 students, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Kerala
KN

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra

The playback singer K. S. Chithra, who has sung some 15,000 songs in 15 languages and won the National Award six times, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2021.

  • Padma Bhushan 2021
  • Kerala
Portrait of M. Fathima Beevi

M. Fathima Beevi

The first woman judge of the Supreme Court of India and later Governor of Tamil Nadu, honoured posthumously with the Padma Bhushan in 2024.

  • Padma Bhushan 2024 (posthumous)
  • Kerala
Portrait of M.T. Vasudevan Nair

M.T. Vasudevan Nair

A towering Malayalam novelist, screenwriter and director whose work shaped generations of readers, honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan in 2025.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2025 (posthumous)
  • Kerala
MN

Madhavan Nambiar

The athletics coach O. M. Nambiar, who guided P. T. Usha and was among the first Dronacharya Award winners, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Kerala
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Bhushan to Mammootty at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026

Mammootty

The Malayalam film star with over 400 films, three National Awards and ten Kerala State awards for best actor, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Kerala
MN

Muni Narayana Prasad

Head of the Narayana Gurukula and author of some 130 books on Indian philosophy, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024. He died in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Kerala
Portrait of O. Rajagopal

O. Rajagopal

A veteran Kerala politician, former Union minister and the BJP's first member of the Kerala legislative assembly, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2024.

  • Padma Bhushan 2024
  • Kerala
PN

P Narayana Kurup

A Malayalam poet and critic whose works include Nishagandhi and Kaviyum Kavithayum, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022. He died in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Kerala