P. Balan

P. Balan was born on September 20, 1930, the son of N. Sankaran Nair.^[1] As a child, he was sent to work at a wood cutting company by his family, due to poverty.^[2] But he escaped from that and later started his job as a sewing worker.^[2]

Balan and his wife A. V. Bharathy have two daughters.^[1] He died on June 8, 2004, at a private hospital in Coimbatore, following a respiratory illness.^[1][3]

As a member of Indian National Congress, Balan served as general secretary of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and the president and secretary of Palakkad District Congress Committee.^[1] He also held several positions including member of Indian Coffee Board, president of INTUC and state president of Deseeya Karshaka Thozhilali Federation (National Agricultural Workers' Federation).^[1]

Balan represented Ottapalam Assembly constituency in the 5th Kerala Legislative Assembly and Sreekrishnapuram Assembly constituency in the 8th and 9th Kerala Legislative Assemblies.^[1]