V.K. Krishna Menon

V.K. Krishna Menon once spoke at the UN for nearly eight hours. Years later, as Defence Minister, he resigned during one of India’s worst military setbacks. This page follows his life from London to Delhi, and shows why he is both praised and blamed.

Think of three questions as you read. How did Menon become Nehru’s man in London? What was the eight-hour speech? And why did he resign in 1962?

1How did Menon become Nehru’s man in London?

V.K. Krishna Menon was born on 3 May 1897 near Calicut, now Kozhikode. He studied in Madras, then at the London School of Economics, and became a barrister. (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

In 1928 he founded the India League in London. It became the centre of Indian nationalist activity in England. Through it he built a close bond with Jawaharlal Nehru. (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

In 1934 he was elected to the St. Pancras Borough Council as a Labour member. He kept the seat until 1947. After independence he became India’s first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

• Born: 3 May 1897, near Calicut.
• India League: 1928, London.
• St. Pancras council: 1934–47.
• First High Commissioner to the UK: 1947.

2What was the eight-hour UN speech?

In January 1957 Menon spoke at the UN Security Council for nearly eight hours. He was defending India’s position on Kashmir. It is described as the longest speech in UN history. (Source: Britannica)

He spoke without a script. The speech made him famous worldwide. At home he became a hero to many Indians. Abroad, many Western diplomats found him sharp and hard to like. (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

He had represented India at the UN General Assembly since 1952. (Source: Britannica)

• Speech: January 1957, Security Council.
• Subject: Kashmir.
• Length: nearly 8 hours.

3What did he do as Defence Minister?

Menon became Defence Minister in April 1957, after winning a Lok Sabha seat. He was among Nehru’s closest foreign-policy allies and helped shape India’s early non-alignment. (Source: Encyclopedia.com)

In December 1961 he advised Nehru on Operation Vijay, the Army’s action that ended nearly 450 years of Portuguese rule in Goa. Daman and Diu came into India with it. Goa was run as a Union Territory.

• Defence Minister: April 1957.
• Operation Vijay: December 1961.
• Goa, Daman and Diu: a Union Territory after 1961.

4Why did he resign in 1962?

The India–China border war ran from 20 October to 21 November 1962. India suffered a heavy defeat. Menon came under overwhelming pressure and resigned as Defence Minister on 31 October 1962. (Source: Britannica)

Who was to blame is still debated. Many contemporaries blamed Menon. The Henderson Brooks–Bhagat Report, India’s own inquiry into the defeat, has never been officially released.

After leaving office he practised as a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court. He died in Delhi on 6 October 1974, aged 77. (Source: Carnegie India)

• Resigned: 31 October 1962.
• Report on the defeat: Henderson Brooks–Bhagat, not public.
• Died: 6 October 1974.

5What are the exam traps?

• V.K. Krishna Menon is not K.P.S. Menon (first Foreign Secretary) or V.P. Menon (States Ministry).
• The 1957 speech was on Kashmir.
• Goa liberated in 1961; Menon resigned 1962.
• India League was founded in London.