N. J. Kuncheria (1886–1967) set up the first rubber plantation in South India. He came from the Nalpathamkalam family, who were prominent Catholic aristocrats in Central Travancore. He became a member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly and was a promoter-director of Marthoma Rubber Company when it was incorporated in 1910. He spent his last phase of life at Veliyanad, from whence he had come.