Dr R Kesavan Nair (valia Kesavan Nair) was the Professor of Surgery at Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram and the first Superintendent of the Medical College Hospital.

He later joined as the Chief of Surgery in General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.

Later on he went abroad for further training and was the first person from Travancore to get a degree of Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons (in 1930).

Jawaharlal Nehru commissioned the Medical College hospital in Thiruvananthapuram in 1954, he was appointed as the Chief Surgeon and Superintendent of the hospital the post he held till 1962.

The road from Medical College junction to Murinjapalam is to be named in his honour[when?