Palai - Records and Achievements

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:

1. The Christian parish that is home to the largest number of priests in the world – Kozhuvanal Parish, Pala Diocese (151 priests).
2. 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:

1. India's only dalit President – K R Narayanan (1997).
2. First Indian to become Economic Advisor to Government of India – Dr P J Thomas (1942).
3. 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.
4. Longest term as Finance Minister of a State in India – K M Mani (7 years).
5. Longest term as State Governor in India – M M Jacob (12 years).
6. Highest number of Bishops from a Diocese in India – Pala Diocese.
7. The first travelogue in an Indian language – "Varthamana Pusthakam" by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (eighteenth century).
8. The first native Indian Roman Catholic (and the only Syro Malabar Catholic) Saint – St. Alphonsa.
9. Author of the first encyclopaedia in an Indian language – Mathew M Kuzhively Syrian Malabar Nasrani.
10. First head of a Homoeo Medical Dept. of a State in India – Dr K Z George (1973).
11. First Bank to open a branch in India's capital New Delhi – Palai Central Bank (1932).
12. Maker of India's largest selling medicinal toilet soap – C R Kesavan Vaidyar (Chandrika Soap).

State Records:

1. First and only President/Vice-President from Kerala – K R Narayanan (1997/1992).
2. First Speaker of the State since Independence – R V Thomas (1948).
3. Longest continuous term as MLA of the State and Finance Minister who presented highesr number of State Budgets – K M Mani (MLA from 1965 onwards and 10 State Budgets)
4. One of the first two from the State to be beatified by Catholic church – St Alphonsa (1986).
5. Promoter of the institution that was the largest in the State for over three decades – Joseph Augusti Kayalackakom - Palai Central Bank (1927–60).
6. First and foremost sports promoter of the State – Col. G.V. Raja.
7. First company promoter of the State to make a public issue of shares of a plantation company – J Thomas Kayalackakom - Mysore Plantations Ltd (1943).
8. First person to run a Star Hotel in the State – Dominic Joseph Kuruvinakkunnel - Malabar Hotel, Cochin (1962).
9. First Liquor Baron of the State – Joseph Michael Manarkattu (1980s).
10. First Stock Broker's Firm in the State – Kayalackakom Company (1946).
11. First person from the State to dominate the multi-crore Forward Trade (Satta Bazar) in spices – M O Devasia Mattathil (1970s).
12. First lady athlete of Kerala to win Asian Games gold medal – M D Valsamma (1982)
13. One of the first two women IPS officers from the State – B. Sandhya IPS (1994).
14. First MBA degree holder of Kerala – K M George Kayalackakom - New York University (1948).
15. First Christian Mahakavi and Editor of one of the oldest literary magazines in Malayalam – Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai - Sreeyesu Vijayam (1926) & Vijnaana Rathnaakaram (1913).
16. First person to introduce the ‘Vanchippaattu’ branch of Malayalam poetry – Ramapurathu Warrier - Kuchelavritham (18th century).
17. First editor of a Malayalam Newspaper – Nidhiry Mani Kathanar - Nasrani Deepika (1887).
18. 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)..
19. First Queen of the Malayalam silver screen: Miss Kumari
20. First candle manufacturing company in Kerala:THE LITTLE FLOWER CANDLE WORKS PALAI Estd.1939 Mg.Prop.J Thomas Chavara Palai
21. An entrance coaching institution: Brilliant Study Centre