Palathinkal Varkey Cherian (or Cheriyan) (9 July 1893 – 9 November 1969)[citation needed] was a physician, surgeon and politician from India.

[1][2] Cherian was born in Alleppey, Travancore, as the son of Achamma and Magistrate P. M. Varkey and to the Anglican Syrian Christian Palathinkal family.

[4][5] In 1925, Cherian went to the United Kingdom to specialise in ear, nose and throat diseases and, in 1926, passed the FRCS examination from Edinburgh.

Tara Cherian, who died in November 2000, was the first woman mayor of independent India and was herself a Member of the Legislative Council during M. G. Ramachandran's government.

[1] In recognition of their services to the Indian Christian community, Dr. Cherian and his wife Tara were vested with the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Benemerenti medal respectively, by Pope Paul VI.