Panicker

The Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa said that "They are the skillful men who teach this art Kalarippayattu, and they are called the Panickers: these are the captains in war."[2].This title was most commonly used by the Nairs, Kalari Panicker, Kaniyars and Ezhavas. There are eminent families of Syrian Christians who were bestowed with the title.[3]

• Dharmoth Panikkar, Supreme Commander of the Zamorin's army[4]
• Ullanattu Panicker, one of the custodians of Guruvayur temple[5]
• Valiyamadhom Panicker, the sovereign protector of the Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna temple referred to as Melkoyma in Malayalam
• Mathoor Panicker, Commander of Chempakassery Rajah and proponents of Velakali[6]
• Geevarghese Mar Ivanios (born Geevarghese Panickeruveetil), first Archbishop of trivandrum and founder of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church in Kerala
• Geevarghese Panicker, priest and educationalist of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Kerala
• Achyuta Panikkar, astronomer of Kerala
• Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, warrior of the 19th century
• Ayyappa Paniker, poet
• Cheerappanchira Panicker, kalari martial arts practitioner
• G.N.Panicker, literary figure
• K. M. Panikkar, statesman and diplomat, professor, newspaper editor, historian and novelist
• K. N. Panikkar, historian
• Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan (born M. R. Ramakrishna Panikkar), writer
• Kavalam Madhava Panikkar, diplomat and writer
• Kavalam Narayan Panikkar, dramatist and poet
• Kavalam Narayana Panicker, dramatist, theater director, and poet
• Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker, Malayalam poet and prominent social reformer
• N. Kesava Panikkar, zoologist
• P. K. Narayana Panicker, former General Secretary and President of the Nair Service Society
• P. N. Panicker, father of the Library Movement
• Prem Panicker, cricket journalist
• Chaver warriors (suicide squad) from the four Nair families of erstwhile Valluvanad kingdom who fought for Vellatiri in Mamankam:[7]
  • Puthumana Panicker: Title held by the Padanair( head of army) from Puthumana family[8]
  • Chandroth Panicker: Title held by the Padanair from Chandroth family, 15 year old boy warrior chandroth chanthunni hailed from chandroth family[9]
  • Kokat Panicker: Title held by the Padanair from Kokat family[10]
  • Verkot Panicker: Title held by the Padanair from Verkot family[11]
• Rahul Panicker, entrepreneur, president and co-founder of Embrace Innovations
• Raimon Panikkar, Catalan scholar
• Renji Panicker, journalist, script writer, producer, actor, and director
• Sreejith Panickar, political analyst, debater
• Niranam poets:
  • Madhava Panikkar, one of the Niranam poets
  • Rama Panikkar, one of the Niranam poets
  • Sankara Panikkar, one of the Niranam poets