Named by Kerala’s poet laureate, Mahakavi Vallathol Narayana Menon, the Bombay Keraleeya Samaj had a string of eminent, dedicated Malayalees of Mumbai to nurture it from the early 1930s. The organization took birth at the Bavasky Lodge at a meeting of enthusiastic young men and women to set up a socio-cultural body to work for the welfare of Malayalees in Mumbai.

The meeting was chaired by Mrs. Yasodha M. Karuvan, and went on to elect Mr. K. Karuvan as the first President and Mr. K.A. Nambiar as the Secretary. As one of its principal aims of fostering fellow-feeling among Malayalees in the city, the Samaj celebrated “Onam”, Kerala’s harvest festival as an annual event which continues to be observed on a grand style.

Vallathol pointed out that the original name – Bombay Kerala Samaj – was inappropriate since there could not be a Kerala Samaj in Bombay. It could be only a Samajam of Malayalees. It, thus, became the Bombay Keraleeya Samaj. It was registered under the Societies Registration Act in 1934.

The Samaj was registered as a Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.

Dr. K.B. Menon, a Socialist leader, galvanized the activities of the Samaj in the early forties. Soon, he got involved in the Quit India movement and his place was taken up by other young men.

In 1949 Mr. V.K. Menon energized the working of the Samaj, enrolling several eminent men as members and forming the Kerala Samaj Co-operative Hostel Society to provide accommodation for several members of the Samaj.

Mr. V.K. Menon also launched the Keraleeya Samaj’s Ayurvedic Dispensary. This proved to be very popular and the Samaj had to set up similar Ayurvedic dispensaries in Matunga, Dadar, Chembur, Goregaon and Mulund where patients could be provided free consultation.

The new premises of the Samaj was inaugurated by the Union Defence Minister, Mr. V.K. Krishna Menon in 1958. With the expansion of the activities of the Samaj, even this was found to be inadequate. The Samaj therefore undertook the construction of two more storeys over the existing Kerala Bhavanam.

After the two additional storeys in Kerala Bhavanam, Samaj extended its activities in the multi purpose hall to literary activities, symposium, seminars etc.

The Samaj owes a deep debt of gratitude to several leading Malayalees of Mumbai who have helped to build this institution and set high goals to be achieved in future. Among them are M. Karuvan, the first President, Mrs. Yashoda Karuvan, N. J. Nair, G. P. Nair, Dr. K. B. Menon, K. N. Menon, V. K. Menon, C. G. Nair, A. P. Narayanan, V.R. Ezhuthachan, S.V. Embrandiri, P. N. Nanappan, M. N. Kurup, A. V. Menon, T. K. Warrier, B. G. Menon, K.K.E. Pillai, P. Bhaskran, C.K.K. Poduval, G. K. Menon, George John, Pappanamkod Prabhakaran, Krishnamoorthy , Krishnan Parappilly , S. Venkiteswaran , R. Kalyanaraman (Good Knight Mohan)