Palackal Thoma Malpan[1] (c. 1780–1841) was an Indian Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church based in India.
He was the senior priest and founder who envisaged the formation of the first native religious institution in India, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate also known as C.M.I.
Palackal Thoma was born to the Palackal family, about 1780 in the village of Pallippuram, an ancient Christian priestly family in Kerala that trace their origin as Jewish lineage who were baptized by Thomas the Apostle, a disciple of Jesus Christ at Kottakkavu, North Paravoor.
[1] Thoma Palackal felt a call to the Christian ministry, for which he pursued theological studies under a noted priest of the Syrian Church, Abraham Thachil.
[1] As a major leader of Syrian Catholic Church in India, Palackal introduced many Western practices among his people.
[1] Palackal seems to have long held a desire for life in a religious community similar to that of the Discalced Carmelites who led the Catholic faith in that region.