Pala
Pala is a town and a municipality in Kerala, India. It is located 28 km east of the district capital Kottayam and is situated 173 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is situated in the banks of Meenachil river. It spans over an area of 74.09 square kilometres (28.61 sq mi) and is the headquarters of the Meenachil Taluk and the Pala Revenue Division.
Pala is located 5 km west of Bharananganam, an important Syro-Malabar Catholic pilgrimage center which holds the tomb of Saint Alphonsa and 12 km west of Aruvithura , another pilgrim center. It is one of the main gateways to the southern high ranges of the Western Ghats. Pala connects to the high ranges through Thodupuzha and Kanjirappally taluks.
Though food crops like paddy and tapioca are cultivated, majority of the population depends on cash crops like rubber and black pepper for income. Recently people had diversified into the cultivation of vanilla on account of the sudden spurt in prices. However, with rubber prices ruling high and vanilla prices nosediving, the original agricultural pattern is seen reemerging. Though there are families with considerable wealth, a large section of the population are farmers with small and medium agricultural holdings.
The Kerala Government has accorded high priority to the implementation of the Meenachil River Valley Project. The project aims at diverting excess water from the Moovattupuzha river into the Meenachil River basin by constructing a tunnel from Arakkulam to Melukavu. Once implemented the project will help in increasing the availability of water in the area.
Source - Wikipedia [Apr 2021]
Nearest Airport - Cochin International Airport - 71 km
Nearest Railway Station - Ettumanoor railway station - 17 km
Nearest Bus Stand - Pala
Politicians
Roshy Augustine - Politician
Roshy Augustine (born 20 January 1969) is a Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly from Idukki constituency, Kerala, India representing Kerala Congress (M).
Personal life
He was born to Augustine Thomas and Leelamma on 20 January 1969 at Pala. He started his political career since his school level. He was the leader of Edakkoli Government High School Parliament, Unit President of Kerala Students Congress (M) in St. Thomas College, Pala, State General Secretary and President of Kerala Students Congress (M), Member of Kerala State Legal Aid and Advisory Board and Director Board Member of Ramapuram Service Co-Operative Bank. Now he is the General Secretary of Kerala Congress (M).
Political Career
Roshy Augustine entered into politics while he was still a student and soon became the leader of the Edakkoli Government High School Parliament. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Physics From St. Thomas College Pala affiliated to M.G. University Kottayam in 1990-9. He had held different positions in K.S.C. (M) such as college Unit President, St Thomas College, Palai; State General Secretary and President K.S.C.(M); Member, Kerala State Legal Aid and Advisory Board; Director Board Member, Ramapuram Service Co-operative Bank. His notable acts include ‘Vimochana Padayathra’ in which he led 43 days long from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram in 1995 and 'Vimochana Yatra’ in 2001 to awake the people of Kerala against corruption, alcoholism and moral degeneration.
K. R. Narayanan, President of India (1997–2002), Vice-President of India (1992–97).
Jose K. Mani
N M Joseph
M M Jacob
Kidangoor Gopalakrishna Pillai, General Secretary of NSS (1967 onwards) and Indian High-Commissioner to Singapore (1992 onwards).
P K Vasudevan Nair
K M Chandy
K M Mani
Cherian J Kappen
George Thomas Kottukapally
Mani C. Kappan
R V Thomas
Dr P J Thomas
Ulahannan Ulahannan Vadakkan
J Thomas Kayalackakom
Literature, education, Social service
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'
Eby J Jose,
Pravithanam PM Devasia, poet
Lalithambika Antharjanam, novelist
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
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
Cinema
Bhadran, movie director
Miss Kumari, Actress
Suvarna Mathew, Actress
Ponnamma Babu, Actress
Pala Thankam, Actress
Miya (Gimi George), Actress
Mani C. Kappan, Director, Poducer, Actor
Rimi Tomy, Singer
Listin Stephen, Film producer
Chali Pala, Actor
Journalists
Jose Panachippuram, Associate editor, Malayala Manorama daily
Eby J Jose, Editor, Gulf Life magazine
