Vayalar Ravi, an Indian politician is presently serving as the cabinet minister in Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. He was born on 1937 to father Shri M.K. Krishnan and mother Shrimati Devaky Krishnan at Vayalar, Distt. Alappuzha (Kerala). He was educated at S.D. College, Alappuzha, Maharajas College, Ernakulam and Law College, Ernakulam and obtained B.A., M.A., and B.L. He was married on 9th June 1969 to Shrimati Mercy Ravi who is on her own credit is the Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly. The couple has two daughters and one son.

Vayalar Ravi is a member of Indian National Congress. The positions that he held throughout his political life are:
1971-77 Member, Fifth Lok Sabha1977-79 Member, Sixth Lok Sabha1982 Home Minister, Kerala1982-91 Member, Kerala Legislative AssemblyJuly 1994 Elected to Rajya SabhaApril 2003 Elected to Rajya SabhaJune 2003 onwards Member, Committee on Petitions Member, Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. He has also been served as former President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (I); prominent trade union leader; President, (i) Cochin Port Staff Association, (ii) Cochin Thuramukha Thozhilali Union and (iii) Cochin Port Wharf Staff Association (C.P.W.S.A.); Founder Leader, Kerala Students` Union, the pioneer student movement in 1957; was incharge, Students Wing of All India Congress Committee (A.I.C.C.) and organized National Students` Union of India (N.S.U.I.); was Convener, State Youth Congress in 1965; was General Secretary, Indian Youth Congress; Member, (i) A.I.C.C. since 1967, (ii) Congress Working Committee in 1972 and (iii) Indian delegations to U.N.; General Secretary, A.I.C.C.