IndianGaurav

Heroes from Kerala

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

Showing 25–36 of 36 heroes

PN

P. Narayanan

A Kerala journalist and RSS worker who helped build the Malayalam daily Janmabhumi from 1975, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026
  • Kerala
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Bhushan to P.R. Sreejesh at Rashtrapati Bhavan

P.R. Sreejesh

India's hockey goalkeeper "The Wall", who won Olympic bronze at Tokyo and Paris, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2017
  • Padma Bhushan 2025
  • Kerala
PC

Pakaravur Chithran Namboodiripad

A Kerala educationist who founded a school, shaped the state school arts festival and led Kalamandalam, honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024 (posthumous)
  • Kerala
SR

S R D Prasad

A Kannur kalaripayattu master who leads the Sree Bharath Kalari founded by his father in 1936, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Kerala
Portrait of Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan

Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan

A Kathakali performer, choreographer and teacher who led Delhi's International Centre for Kathakali for 27 years, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Kerala
SV

Saji Valasseril

A furniture-shop owner in Aluva who has taught thousands of people to swim in the Periyar river for free since 2009, including children with disabilities.

  • Mann Ki Baat #134
  • Kerala
SM

Sankaranarayana Menon Chundayil

A Chavakkad kalaripayattu guru known as Unni Gurukkal, who taught for over 60 years; Padma Shri, 2022. He died in 2023.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Kerala
SB

Sathyanarayana Beleri

A Kasaragod farmer who conserves more than 650 traditional rice varieties in polybags and shares the seeds free, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Kerala
SI

Sosamma Iype

A veterinary scientist who brought Kerala's tiny Vechur cow back from the brink of extinction, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Kerala
VP

V P Appukuttan Poduval

A Payyanur Gandhian and freedom fighter who spent four decades spreading khadi across India, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023 at the age of 99.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Kerala
VS

V. S. Achuthanandan

A founding member of the CPI(M) who rose from coir worker to Chief Minister of Kerala (2006–2011), honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Vibhushan 2026 (posthumous)
  • Kerala
Portrait of Vellappally Natesan

Vellappally Natesan

The general secretary of the SNDP Yogam since 1996, under whom its branches and schools in Kerala have grown, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

  • Padma Bhushan 2026
  • Kerala