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V.P.Menon: The Unsung Architect Of Modern India
With his initial plans for an independent India in tatters, the desperate viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, turned to his seniormost Indian civil servant, Vappala Pangunni Menon—or VP—giving him a single night to devise an alternative, coherent and workable plan for independence. Menon met his stringent deadline, presenting the Menon Plan, which would change the map of the world forever.
Menon was unarguably the architect of the modern Indian state. Yet startlingly little is known about this bureaucrat, patriot and visionary. In this definitive biography, Menon’s great-granddaughter, Narayani Basu, rectifies this travesty. She takes us through the highs and lows of his career, from his determination to give women the right to vote; to his strategy, at once ruthless and subtle, to get the princely states to accede to India; to his decision to join forces with the Swatantra Party; to his final relegation to relative obscurity.
Equally, the book candidly explores the man behind the public figure— his unconventional personal life and his private conflicts, which made him channel his energy into public service. Drawing from documents—scattered, unread and unresearched until now—and with unprecedented access to Menon’s papers and his taped off-the-record and explosively frank interviews—this remarkable biography of VP Menon not only covers the life and times of a man unjustly consigned to the footnotes of history but also changes our perception of how India, as we know it, came into being.
Menon was unarguably the architect of the modern Indian state. Yet startlingly little is known about this bureaucrat, patriot and visionary. In this definitive biography, Menon’s great-granddaughter, Narayani Basu, rectifies this travesty. She takes us through the highs and lows of his career, from his determination to give women the right to vote; to his strategy, at once ruthless and subtle, to get the princely states to accede to India; to his decision to join forces with the Swatantra Party; to his final relegation to relative obscurity.
Equally, the book candidly explores the man behind the public figure— his unconventional personal life and his private conflicts, which made him channel his energy into public service. Drawing from documents—scattered, unread and unresearched until now—and with unprecedented access to Menon’s papers and his taped off-the-record and explosively frank interviews—this remarkable biography of VP Menon not only covers the life and times of a man unjustly consigned to the footnotes of history but also changes our perception of how India, as we know it, came into being.
448 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 16, 2020
Socrates famously said “ A unexamined life is not worth living “. He meant that each of us need to examine our purpose in life .
VP Menon has done so splendidly by identifying, fighting for and contributing to the life of a billion Indians in a unique way. Narayani Basu examines his life as his biographer and brings to light the sheer magnitude of the Herculean task he performed successfully.
For me, VP’s story has all the stages of Maslow’s hierarchy. He inserted himself at the bottom by running away from home at an young age and ended it in self actualising his potential.
He was a multi faceted person .. a strategic thinker, man of action, a loyal public servant, a humble man. He stood for his values , faced racism but won over three viceroys. He worked shoulder to shoulder with giants who shaped our Nation. He was , in the ultimate analysis, a Patriot and a Bharat Ratna.
The book is a fascinating read. I loved the footnotes as well.. some of them give the stories behind the story!!
VP Menon has done so splendidly by identifying, fighting for and contributing to the life of a billion Indians in a unique way. Narayani Basu examines his life as his biographer and brings to light the sheer magnitude of the Herculean task he performed successfully.
For me, VP’s story has all the stages of Maslow’s hierarchy. He inserted himself at the bottom by running away from home at an young age and ended it in self actualising his potential.
He was a multi faceted person .. a strategic thinker, man of action, a loyal public servant, a humble man. He stood for his values , faced racism but won over three viceroys. He worked shoulder to shoulder with giants who shaped our Nation. He was , in the ultimate analysis, a Patriot and a Bharat Ratna.
The book is a fascinating read. I loved the footnotes as well.. some of them give the stories behind the story!!
February 9, 2020
As someone who has admired V P Menon for many years and written a modest biography of him, I awaited Ms Basu's biography of him with great anticipation. I was not disappointed. Ms Basu has produces a thoroughly-researched, well-written and comprehensive biography. She covers his early years of great hardship, his entry into the government service and his gradual advancement in great detail. She is fortunate to have the Hodson tapes which enable her to give voice to Menon's thoughts and feelings throughout the narrative. She describes his career during the Linlithgow and Wavell viceroyalties. There are new insights of Menon in every page. I never realised so many Englishmen helped him throughout his career. She describes how his professional and personal life interacted, usually to the detriment of the latter.
His role during Mountbatten viceroyalty was the most important part of his career, in particular the part he played in formulating the plan for India's independence and the subsequent integration of the princely states. She describes, starting from being a peripheral figure in Mountbatten's team, Menon became his most important trusted adviser. I have some comments on this section. Though Menon was not shown the final draft of Mountbatten's own plan, Plan Balkan, he was shown an earlier draft on 11 Apr. Menon gave a draft of his own plan to Mountbatten's other staff on Apr 25 and a summary was made by another official on 1 May. These two documents were what was considered as the Menon Plan in London. This plan was also sent to London.
During the meeting on in Simla 10 May with Nehru, Menon was in a difficult position as he was told not to mention the contents of Plan Balkan to Nehru as this plan was meant to be shown to all the leaders on 17 May. He was not told to pretend that his plan was Plan Balkan. It would have been immediately apparent to Nehru that Menon's plan was not Plan Balkan as Menon's plan was proposed many months before Mountbatten's arrival in India, whereas Plan Balkan was devised by Mountbatten in India. Indeed when Nehru made his strong objections to Mountbatten about Plan Balkan later in the day, he did not complain this was not the plan he was shown earlier in the day. Everyone knew that the Menon plan was a different plan the British might consider.
After Menon's plan was accepted by the party leaders on 3 Jun, Mountbatten held a news conference the next day and announced that date of transfer of power was 15 Aug. Though this date surprised the press and public, it would not have surprised the Indian leaders as they were told the day before in a document entitled Administrative Consequences of Partition. None of the leaders voiced any concerns. It is difficult to believe Menon would have been aghast as he wanted a date only 5 days later and that only to commemorate a historic anniversary.
Ms Basu then describes how Menon, Patel and Mountbatten achieved the Herculean task of persuading practically all the 565 Princely States to accede to India. She covers the complexities of their task without descending into a constitutional quagmire and includes interesting anecdotes. It is regrettable she understates Mountbatten's contribution and does not mention the tribute Menon pays to him (Int. of Indian States p 121-2).
Ms Basu's account of Menon's private life does not hide his unfair treatment of his first wife. She is able to shed so much light as she has access to to private family letters and recollections. She covers Menon's descent into obscurity after Patel's death with understandable sadness.
Though India has never honoured Menon, the British did. He was awarded a CSI (Commander of the Star of India) and the CIE (Commander of the Indian Empire). Mountbatten wanted to award Menon a knighthood but Menon declined the honour.
Many of the decisions that were taken during this period were controversial and Menon has given his considered judgements in his published books. Menon's views are extraordinarily important and it is disappointing they not reproduced in this book. They are included in a paper about him in the website Forgotten-raj. It would also have been very helpful if the book contained an index.
Ms Basu has produced a book that will be of immense value to anyone interested in the process by which India gained independence or wishes to know more about this extraordinary Indian. She will rightly receive many plaudits. As India learns more about V P Menon, I hope there will be a campaign to honour his achievements by naming an educational institute or public building after him.
R P Fernando
His role during Mountbatten viceroyalty was the most important part of his career, in particular the part he played in formulating the plan for India's independence and the subsequent integration of the princely states. She describes, starting from being a peripheral figure in Mountbatten's team, Menon became his most important trusted adviser. I have some comments on this section. Though Menon was not shown the final draft of Mountbatten's own plan, Plan Balkan, he was shown an earlier draft on 11 Apr. Menon gave a draft of his own plan to Mountbatten's other staff on Apr 25 and a summary was made by another official on 1 May. These two documents were what was considered as the Menon Plan in London. This plan was also sent to London.
During the meeting on in Simla 10 May with Nehru, Menon was in a difficult position as he was told not to mention the contents of Plan Balkan to Nehru as this plan was meant to be shown to all the leaders on 17 May. He was not told to pretend that his plan was Plan Balkan. It would have been immediately apparent to Nehru that Menon's plan was not Plan Balkan as Menon's plan was proposed many months before Mountbatten's arrival in India, whereas Plan Balkan was devised by Mountbatten in India. Indeed when Nehru made his strong objections to Mountbatten about Plan Balkan later in the day, he did not complain this was not the plan he was shown earlier in the day. Everyone knew that the Menon plan was a different plan the British might consider.
After Menon's plan was accepted by the party leaders on 3 Jun, Mountbatten held a news conference the next day and announced that date of transfer of power was 15 Aug. Though this date surprised the press and public, it would not have surprised the Indian leaders as they were told the day before in a document entitled Administrative Consequences of Partition. None of the leaders voiced any concerns. It is difficult to believe Menon would have been aghast as he wanted a date only 5 days later and that only to commemorate a historic anniversary.
Ms Basu then describes how Menon, Patel and Mountbatten achieved the Herculean task of persuading practically all the 565 Princely States to accede to India. She covers the complexities of their task without descending into a constitutional quagmire and includes interesting anecdotes. It is regrettable she understates Mountbatten's contribution and does not mention the tribute Menon pays to him (Int. of Indian States p 121-2).
Ms Basu's account of Menon's private life does not hide his unfair treatment of his first wife. She is able to shed so much light as she has access to to private family letters and recollections. She covers Menon's descent into obscurity after Patel's death with understandable sadness.
Though India has never honoured Menon, the British did. He was awarded a CSI (Commander of the Star of India) and the CIE (Commander of the Indian Empire). Mountbatten wanted to award Menon a knighthood but Menon declined the honour.
Many of the decisions that were taken during this period were controversial and Menon has given his considered judgements in his published books. Menon's views are extraordinarily important and it is disappointing they not reproduced in this book. They are included in a paper about him in the website Forgotten-raj. It would also have been very helpful if the book contained an index.
Ms Basu has produced a book that will be of immense value to anyone interested in the process by which India gained independence or wishes to know more about this extraordinary Indian. She will rightly receive many plaudits. As India learns more about V P Menon, I hope there will be a campaign to honour his achievements by naming an educational institute or public building after him.
R P Fernando
March 9, 2020
Fantastic!!!
One of the most important books written on how we developed from a colony to a republic, especially dealing with Little Menon, whom we owe so much, but, alas, know so little of!
The man deserves to be well known and to be taught to our generation and for those to come, for if not for him, we may not be living in India as we see now!!!!!
One of the most important books written on how we developed from a colony to a republic, especially dealing with Little Menon, whom we owe so much, but, alas, know so little of!
The man deserves to be well known and to be taught to our generation and for those to come, for if not for him, we may not be living in India as we see now!!!!!
August 3, 2025
Fantastic microhistory account of Independence years
March 14, 2020
The great grand daughter of V P Menon has done a yeoman’s service by penning this thrilling biography. Deeply researched and fluently articulated, this book is a testimony to the amount of behind the scenes work that happened pre and post independence. The story of integrating the princely states is a particularly mesmerising one and VP comes across as equally responsible for this achievement along with Sardar VP.
Must read for anyone who wishes to understand why communalism is still alive today.
Must read for anyone who wishes to understand why communalism is still alive today.
April 28, 2020
Unputdownable book. Finished in 2 marathon sessions. I don't think I have read a non-fiction book faster than this. V.P. Menon lived an amazing life and this book has captured it wonderfully.
April 24, 2020
A good read about someone who went under the shadow. VP deserves to be known by a wider range of people in India and I hope this book is read by many more people to understand the sacrifices and hard work of this man in setting up the integrity of modern India. From Montagu-chelmsford reforms to Menon plan to instruments of accession it provides a good deal of picture of the old bureaucracy and it's paper works.
October 9, 2020
Sardar Patel was the undoubted leader of the Congress party at the time of independence who was poised to become to the prime minister of the newly independent nation. However, Nehru cleverly pulled strings to lean on Gandhi to make himself the party president and then the prime minister. Patel was never power-hungry and he simply stepped aside for Nehru. He then took the responsibility of merging the 565-odd principalities to India as the minister in charge of the newly formed States ministry. Vappala Pangunny Menon (1893 – 1968), an official from Kerala and the secretary to the ministry, ably helped him achieve the impossible. V P Menon was a master in any field he touched upon. He was the Reforms Commissioner to three viceroys, drafted the plan of partition, Patel’s right hand man and secretary to the States ministry. With a mix of subtlety, gruff charm and ruthlessness, VP cajoled, coaxed and threatened rulers into joining the newborn Indian union. Even though politicians made impassioned speeches about Swaraj, nobody realized the sheer amount of work that went into making a modern nation. VP handled the tedium and technicality of the dream to be made reality which was stupendous. Narayani Basu is the great-grand daughter of V P Menon and is a historian and foreign policy analyst. This is her second book.
V P Menon’s life is amazingly brilliant, perhaps one in a billion, in which a person from a very disadvantaged background rose to the top positions of bureaucracy. He ran away from home at 13, after failing an exam and in revenge burning the school down. He worked in the Kolar Gold Fields and did all sorts of jobs in Mumbai, including selling towels on the streets. A kindly Englishman recommended him as a typist in a government office. VP never looked back and reached the pinnacle by sheer hard work. He never bent his back and was sometimes even blunt almost to the point of rudeness. Even as a lower level officer, he announced his ideas without demur and confidently argued his point in the middle of meetings. Along with surprise, this generated a mix of resentment and grudging respect among the British superiors. Racism was rampant in the colonial bureaucracy, but what mattered to VP was not titles, but authority; the authority to help guide his country on its path to freedom. With this extra care given to his official matters, he failed to bond with his children. He was emotionally distant with them and his sons addressed him ‘Sir’ at home, even as grown men!
This book reveals V P Menon’s attitude to some of the Congress’ agitation methods which is filled with post-independence hyperbole. The Congress launched non-cooperation and Satyagraha against the Raj in the 1920s. This was a systemic war which involved the return of decorations and honours, withdrawal of children from government schools and colleges, boycott of law courts by lawyers and litigants alike and the boycott of elections. The next stage anticipated the resignation of all officials and soldiers and non-payment of taxes. This seemed the height of folly to VP especially since he felt he could do something constructive from within the walls of the imperial secretariat. He always felt that the Congress policy of non-cooperation was a total mistake (p.149), especially with reference to the Second World War. The resignation of the Congress-led provincial governments in 1939 and refusal to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1940 in effect gave Pakistan in a platter to the Muslim League. This book also points to VP’s opinion on the Moplah Rebellion of 1921 in Kerala which is trumpeted as a chapter of the freedom struggle but was in fact a one-sided communal riot in which thousands of Hindus were killed, looted, raped and forcibly converted. VP’s neighbourhood was the worst hit. On the audio tape of his interview, his voice crackles and breaks for a minute as he talks about the devastation in his native village. He remarked that the Khilafat leaders were communal and were merely making use of Gandhi for their own purpose (p.60).
V P Menon maintained good working relationship with all the people he had had to serve. His dedication to Patel was complete. Patel reciprocated the feelings. During the winter of 1946, VP persuaded Patel to let go of his fond hopes for a united India. Except through Partition, there was no agreement possible and therefore no emancipation from Britain. Patel had no desire to govern India along with Jinnah who put obstacles on every move. VP entered Mountbatten’s inner circle because he was close to Patel, who was the real power in the Congress even though Nehru was its titular head. Another curious fact was also seen here. Both Nehru and Patel had a Menon as their trusted aide – VP for Patel and V K Krishna Menon for Nehru. Even Edwina Mountbatten once intervened to prevent VP’s resignation as Constitutional Advisor when he felt that he was being sidelined.
Basu gives a detailed narrative of the events in May and June 1947 which had a profound significance on the nature of the country’s birth as a free nation. Mountbatten’s announcement of 4 June that India will be granted independence on Aug 15 was a bolt from the blue. He gave only ten weeks for the preparations to undergo in the background. A program called Menon Plan was chalked out for the transfer of power to partitioned states. This was prepared hastily in Shimla in four hours. Mountbatten appropriated the plan for himself in his meetings with senior officials at London. The author also investigates the tall claims by the Viceroy in sorting out the Partition issues and comes out with a possible answer. VP and Patel pandered Mountbatten’s enormous ego. They knew that their plans would work only if the Viceroy was not just on board, but its ambassador too. At different points in 1947, he was told deferentially that the only way history could move forward was if he played his part. It worked well.
The author also notes the strong undercurrent of spite in Nehru-Patel relations. Nehru was always obsequious to Gandhi while Patel never agreed with his wild ideas once he took office (p.225). Nehru had nearly omitted Patel in the list of ministers in India’s first cabinet. Basu wonders whether this was out of fear of the Sardar who could govern India better than himself. He wanted to fill the cabinet with his cronies and had already dispatched his sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit to Moscow as India’s ambassador. In short, Nehru lost no time in stuffing positions of power with his hand-picked people. VP heard of this and implored Mountbatten to intervene with Nehru to revise the list.
A detailed narrative on the integration of Indian native states to the Union is included, with special references to Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. This was VP’s life’s work for which the nation still remembers him with respect and gratitude. He tried all tricks up his sleeve to coerce the petty rulers to part with their fiefs and sign it away to the nation. The book also describes some tactical moves made by VP to bolster India’s position on Kashmir. He pretended that the Instrument of Accession signed by its ruler was dated Oct 26, 1947. On the next day, Indian troops crossed the border to drive out Pakistani tribesmen and disguised soldiers out of Kashmir. Basu hints that the treaty was signed on Oct 27, in fact after the military intervention had taken place. She further claims that both VP and Patel were of the opinion that Kashmiris would opt for Pakistan if a plebiscite was held at that time and VP is said to have implied this in a discussion with Chaudhury Muhammad Ali and Lord Ismay (p.380). However, Pakistan’s refusal to pull out its troops negated the very first condition for plebiscite in the Valley as stipulated by the UN.
The first part of the book is riddled with many historical errors. It claims that during the First World War, 1.3 million Indians signed up for the army and ‘Mohandas Gandhi, then a young barrister in London, declared that every Indian should think imperially and began preparations to recruit an Indian Ambulance Corps’ (p.31). Probably the author is confused with the Boer War in South Africa in which Gandhi participated in this way. In another instance of goof up, the author claims that VP witnessed Gandhi arriving at St. James’ Palace for the first Round Table Conference in 1930 (p.97). In fact, Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference the next year which VP didn’t attend. It is also shown that the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5 May 1931 (p.84). The correct date is 5 March 1931. These wrong facts don’t affect the flow of the narrative, but the author’s credibility is imperiled.
The book is successful in bringing to light the man and bureaucrat who V P Menon was. She has relied on the reminiscences of family members and the original soundtrack of audio interviews given by him in the 1960s.
The book is highly recommended.
V P Menon’s life is amazingly brilliant, perhaps one in a billion, in which a person from a very disadvantaged background rose to the top positions of bureaucracy. He ran away from home at 13, after failing an exam and in revenge burning the school down. He worked in the Kolar Gold Fields and did all sorts of jobs in Mumbai, including selling towels on the streets. A kindly Englishman recommended him as a typist in a government office. VP never looked back and reached the pinnacle by sheer hard work. He never bent his back and was sometimes even blunt almost to the point of rudeness. Even as a lower level officer, he announced his ideas without demur and confidently argued his point in the middle of meetings. Along with surprise, this generated a mix of resentment and grudging respect among the British superiors. Racism was rampant in the colonial bureaucracy, but what mattered to VP was not titles, but authority; the authority to help guide his country on its path to freedom. With this extra care given to his official matters, he failed to bond with his children. He was emotionally distant with them and his sons addressed him ‘Sir’ at home, even as grown men!
This book reveals V P Menon’s attitude to some of the Congress’ agitation methods which is filled with post-independence hyperbole. The Congress launched non-cooperation and Satyagraha against the Raj in the 1920s. This was a systemic war which involved the return of decorations and honours, withdrawal of children from government schools and colleges, boycott of law courts by lawyers and litigants alike and the boycott of elections. The next stage anticipated the resignation of all officials and soldiers and non-payment of taxes. This seemed the height of folly to VP especially since he felt he could do something constructive from within the walls of the imperial secretariat. He always felt that the Congress policy of non-cooperation was a total mistake (p.149), especially with reference to the Second World War. The resignation of the Congress-led provincial governments in 1939 and refusal to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1940 in effect gave Pakistan in a platter to the Muslim League. This book also points to VP’s opinion on the Moplah Rebellion of 1921 in Kerala which is trumpeted as a chapter of the freedom struggle but was in fact a one-sided communal riot in which thousands of Hindus were killed, looted, raped and forcibly converted. VP’s neighbourhood was the worst hit. On the audio tape of his interview, his voice crackles and breaks for a minute as he talks about the devastation in his native village. He remarked that the Khilafat leaders were communal and were merely making use of Gandhi for their own purpose (p.60).
V P Menon maintained good working relationship with all the people he had had to serve. His dedication to Patel was complete. Patel reciprocated the feelings. During the winter of 1946, VP persuaded Patel to let go of his fond hopes for a united India. Except through Partition, there was no agreement possible and therefore no emancipation from Britain. Patel had no desire to govern India along with Jinnah who put obstacles on every move. VP entered Mountbatten’s inner circle because he was close to Patel, who was the real power in the Congress even though Nehru was its titular head. Another curious fact was also seen here. Both Nehru and Patel had a Menon as their trusted aide – VP for Patel and V K Krishna Menon for Nehru. Even Edwina Mountbatten once intervened to prevent VP’s resignation as Constitutional Advisor when he felt that he was being sidelined.
Basu gives a detailed narrative of the events in May and June 1947 which had a profound significance on the nature of the country’s birth as a free nation. Mountbatten’s announcement of 4 June that India will be granted independence on Aug 15 was a bolt from the blue. He gave only ten weeks for the preparations to undergo in the background. A program called Menon Plan was chalked out for the transfer of power to partitioned states. This was prepared hastily in Shimla in four hours. Mountbatten appropriated the plan for himself in his meetings with senior officials at London. The author also investigates the tall claims by the Viceroy in sorting out the Partition issues and comes out with a possible answer. VP and Patel pandered Mountbatten’s enormous ego. They knew that their plans would work only if the Viceroy was not just on board, but its ambassador too. At different points in 1947, he was told deferentially that the only way history could move forward was if he played his part. It worked well.
The author also notes the strong undercurrent of spite in Nehru-Patel relations. Nehru was always obsequious to Gandhi while Patel never agreed with his wild ideas once he took office (p.225). Nehru had nearly omitted Patel in the list of ministers in India’s first cabinet. Basu wonders whether this was out of fear of the Sardar who could govern India better than himself. He wanted to fill the cabinet with his cronies and had already dispatched his sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit to Moscow as India’s ambassador. In short, Nehru lost no time in stuffing positions of power with his hand-picked people. VP heard of this and implored Mountbatten to intervene with Nehru to revise the list.
A detailed narrative on the integration of Indian native states to the Union is included, with special references to Junagadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. This was VP’s life’s work for which the nation still remembers him with respect and gratitude. He tried all tricks up his sleeve to coerce the petty rulers to part with their fiefs and sign it away to the nation. The book also describes some tactical moves made by VP to bolster India’s position on Kashmir. He pretended that the Instrument of Accession signed by its ruler was dated Oct 26, 1947. On the next day, Indian troops crossed the border to drive out Pakistani tribesmen and disguised soldiers out of Kashmir. Basu hints that the treaty was signed on Oct 27, in fact after the military intervention had taken place. She further claims that both VP and Patel were of the opinion that Kashmiris would opt for Pakistan if a plebiscite was held at that time and VP is said to have implied this in a discussion with Chaudhury Muhammad Ali and Lord Ismay (p.380). However, Pakistan’s refusal to pull out its troops negated the very first condition for plebiscite in the Valley as stipulated by the UN.
The first part of the book is riddled with many historical errors. It claims that during the First World War, 1.3 million Indians signed up for the army and ‘Mohandas Gandhi, then a young barrister in London, declared that every Indian should think imperially and began preparations to recruit an Indian Ambulance Corps’ (p.31). Probably the author is confused with the Boer War in South Africa in which Gandhi participated in this way. In another instance of goof up, the author claims that VP witnessed Gandhi arriving at St. James’ Palace for the first Round Table Conference in 1930 (p.97). In fact, Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference the next year which VP didn’t attend. It is also shown that the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5 May 1931 (p.84). The correct date is 5 March 1931. These wrong facts don’t affect the flow of the narrative, but the author’s credibility is imperiled.
The book is successful in bringing to light the man and bureaucrat who V P Menon was. She has relied on the reminiscences of family members and the original soundtrack of audio interviews given by him in the 1960s.
The book is highly recommended.
Read
August 9, 2020 "Attention is too easily-though importantly- given to the movements and words of great political leaders in the course of India's independence movement. However, equally vital were the men who sat behind the scenes, trying to devise simple answers to difficult questions."
V.P Menon, was one such stalwart who relentlessly worked backstage during the critical phase of the transition of power from British Raj to Independent India. It is an inspirational account, written by Narayani Basu, of a young boy from Kerala who rose to heights from a temporary job of a clerk in the British administration to becoming a power-centre in echelons of British and Indian administration. Largely effaced from history, V.P Menon played a pioneering and key role in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union, a contribution which is often solely attributed to Sardar Patel. Relegated to the dark annals of history, there is no personal account written about him upto this date. Barring his own works, "The Transfer of Power in India" and "The Story of the Integration of the Indian States" which are largely factual narratives, there is dearth of reading material which brings out the life of "a competent little Madrasi" (as he was called by one of his bosses) in all its shades.
Narayani Basu, in the capacity of a historian has presented the most comprehensive account of the churnings that went on in India during the freedom struggle, the partition and post independence. The author also happens to be his great-granddaughter, and hence V.P Menon's persona is largely recreated through family member interviews, his own interview during the later years of his life with Harry Hodson, oral histories of those close to him and private archived papers available on him. Incisive and in-depth research is what makes this book an outstanding work. Not only does this book bring out the many contributions of V.P Menon made to the foundations of Indian Independence and its integrity, but also an account into the inner-details of his personal life, his work-style, his mindset and his foresightedness.
V.P Menon, was one such stalwart who relentlessly worked backstage during the critical phase of the transition of power from British Raj to Independent India. It is an inspirational account, written by Narayani Basu, of a young boy from Kerala who rose to heights from a temporary job of a clerk in the British administration to becoming a power-centre in echelons of British and Indian administration. Largely effaced from history, V.P Menon played a pioneering and key role in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union, a contribution which is often solely attributed to Sardar Patel. Relegated to the dark annals of history, there is no personal account written about him upto this date. Barring his own works, "The Transfer of Power in India" and "The Story of the Integration of the Indian States" which are largely factual narratives, there is dearth of reading material which brings out the life of "a competent little Madrasi" (as he was called by one of his bosses) in all its shades.
Narayani Basu, in the capacity of a historian has presented the most comprehensive account of the churnings that went on in India during the freedom struggle, the partition and post independence. The author also happens to be his great-granddaughter, and hence V.P Menon's persona is largely recreated through family member interviews, his own interview during the later years of his life with Harry Hodson, oral histories of those close to him and private archived papers available on him. Incisive and in-depth research is what makes this book an outstanding work. Not only does this book bring out the many contributions of V.P Menon made to the foundations of Indian Independence and its integrity, but also an account into the inner-details of his personal life, his work-style, his mindset and his foresightedness.
June 21, 2021
The life of VP Menon can be a viable tool to Understand the constitutional history of India. The book covers the gist of each constitutional reform starting from the Introduction of Diarchy under Lord Hardinge in 1914 right up to the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
The narrative is linear like a conventional biography but Narayani Basu’s research into the personal relationships and the psyche of our founding fathers is of the highest order and gives the necessary emotional connect that a reader enjoys.
**Spoilers ahead – Read at your own risk (Skip to Verdict)**
The book also sheds light on the controversial personal life of Menon as well as his inner trials and turbulations. The most significant inner battle being the turmoil of patriotism versus serving the empire. The narration is quite beautiful on how VP reconciled this difference and soldiered on.
The discrimination sometimes faced at one of the highest offices of the Raj are at once thought provoking and reminder of how office culture has not changed much even after seven decades of independence.
The most fascinating to read are the observations on how behavior of leaders affect the masses as well as the working of an organization – be it the relationship between the various Viceroys and the Secretary of State for India or the fabled dynamics between Prime Minister Nehru and Sardar Patel.
The author has analyzed the three roundtable conferences and has come up with a very clear explanation of why the idea of Indian Federation had to be done away with.
The biggest revelation that the book has made is of VPs role in the electoral reforms. When most of the congress leaders too were against women in Politics. VP in late 1930s as Under-Secretary was tasked with the 1937 elections.
He put down a recommendation that even adult women should be put on the electoral rolls.
It was the first step towards writing the rights of women into law and it is one of the most significant, and the most unsung, achievements in VP’s long career.
…one achievement that he was always proudest of.
Pg 96-97
Menon was the only civil servant of Independent India who was not from the ICS and rose from a clerk to the Secretary of the States Ministry (Under Sardar Patel) and Commissioner of the Reforms Branch (Under Lord Mountbatten).
VP Menon’s name and work has been conveniently left in the shadows when it comes to conventional history book. But analysts of Independent Indian History know how towering his job was. His books- The story of the Integration of the Indian States and the Transfer of Power in India are valuable documents to study the Political Integration of India. About time we all come to know about this great son.
Verdict:
With lucid writing and beautifully structured narrative the book gives a parallel story of India with the journey of VP. Outstanding research coupled with little known facts makes VP Menon a compelling read. Totally worth your time and efforts.
The narrative is linear like a conventional biography but Narayani Basu’s research into the personal relationships and the psyche of our founding fathers is of the highest order and gives the necessary emotional connect that a reader enjoys.
**Spoilers ahead – Read at your own risk (Skip to Verdict)**
The book also sheds light on the controversial personal life of Menon as well as his inner trials and turbulations. The most significant inner battle being the turmoil of patriotism versus serving the empire. The narration is quite beautiful on how VP reconciled this difference and soldiered on.
The discrimination sometimes faced at one of the highest offices of the Raj are at once thought provoking and reminder of how office culture has not changed much even after seven decades of independence.
The most fascinating to read are the observations on how behavior of leaders affect the masses as well as the working of an organization – be it the relationship between the various Viceroys and the Secretary of State for India or the fabled dynamics between Prime Minister Nehru and Sardar Patel.
The author has analyzed the three roundtable conferences and has come up with a very clear explanation of why the idea of Indian Federation had to be done away with.
The biggest revelation that the book has made is of VPs role in the electoral reforms. When most of the congress leaders too were against women in Politics. VP in late 1930s as Under-Secretary was tasked with the 1937 elections.
He put down a recommendation that even adult women should be put on the electoral rolls.
It was the first step towards writing the rights of women into law and it is one of the most significant, and the most unsung, achievements in VP’s long career.
…one achievement that he was always proudest of.
Pg 96-97
Menon was the only civil servant of Independent India who was not from the ICS and rose from a clerk to the Secretary of the States Ministry (Under Sardar Patel) and Commissioner of the Reforms Branch (Under Lord Mountbatten).
VP Menon’s name and work has been conveniently left in the shadows when it comes to conventional history book. But analysts of Independent Indian History know how towering his job was. His books- The story of the Integration of the Indian States and the Transfer of Power in India are valuable documents to study the Political Integration of India. About time we all come to know about this great son.
Verdict:
With lucid writing and beautifully structured narrative the book gives a parallel story of India with the journey of VP. Outstanding research coupled with little known facts makes VP Menon a compelling read. Totally worth your time and efforts.
February 11, 2021
A very comprehensive biography on one of the "unsung architects of modern india" - V.P.Menon. I especially liked the parts detailing the atmosphere that existed leading up to independence and with some very interesting stories involving key players - Patel, Nehru, Mountbatten, Jinnah and Gandhi. In many ways, this book also sheds light onto how much effort and toil has gone into actually merging (politically and administratively) individual princely states into the Union of India after it was clear the British were going to leave - something I was very enthralled to have discovered. It is truly a wonderful tribute to both Menon and Patel who have made a legendary contribution into the formation of the republic and it is a pity that their work is so underrated in public discourse through so many years and even to this day. I felt that this book does a good job of telling this story.
December 28, 2022
Really enjoyed reading this book. A must read if you want to know about this great man!
September 6, 2025
“V P Menon knew how to keep everyone happy even while their death warrants were being prepared.” – C C Desai (describing the cardinality of VP Menon’s Instrument of Accession)
While Sardar Vallabhai Patel has been given the significant credit for the integration of India post her independence, the Home Minister’s right hand man, VP Menon has often been relegated to the footnotes of an exercise that was painstakingly laborious, bemusing, cajoling and even coercive. Had it not been for VPM’s efforts, the India that we know today wouldn’t have come into being. Be it the Menon Plan that chalked out the history and geography of India’s independence forever, or his Instrument of Accession that integrated the over 500 princely states that sprouted in the wake of 14th -15th August 1947, VP Menon thoroughly deserved the credit far more than is narrativized in the annals of history, and definitely more than the mere cameo appearances accorded to him in most of the literature dating from the 1930s to the present.
Narayani Basu, the great grand-daughter of VPM has inserted a vital chapter in India’s historiography with her contribution on the personality in question that a huge majority in the country seems to have conveniently forgotten. Though VPM’s two seminal volumes, ‘The Transfer of Power in India’ and ‘The Story of the Integration of the Indian States’ are intensive and prized writings in the hand of the one who undoubtedly was the architect of modern India, very little has come by way of a biographical sketch, and even in places where it surfaces, almost nothing is known of this school-dropout’s running away from home in today’s Palakkad district in Kerala, upon setting fire to his school after being reprimanded by the Principal, to work in the gold mines of Kolar (Karnataka), selling towels on the streets in Mumbai to rising up the rungs of the ladder in the Imperial Secretariat Service in Shimla and Delhi to becoming the Constitutional Advisor and Political Reforms Commissioner (serving under three Viceroys, including Mountbatten), and Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of States. Basu’s biography is to reclaim VPM’s legacy not as an unsung hero, but as a figure whose contributions India simply cannot afford to forget. Though never trained as a civil servant, his was an appointment that resembles lateralism (albeit far-fetchedly), and didacticism on the job, oftentimes helped by good Samaritans when life approached crisis-periods.
After Mountbatten’s ‘Plan Balkan’ horrified Nehru which set out to partition India not just into two countries, but laid down the vivisection into a dozen countries, Mountbatten called upon the trusted VPM, and gave him not more than four hours to decide the future of India. VPM, who was then in Shimla as the whole administration had moved to the Summer Capital from Delhi, chain-smoked through the hours and completed the Draft before the impending deadline. The Menon plan differed radically from Plan Balkan in that instead of transferring power to a dozen or more provincial governments, power would be transferred to two countries – India and Pakistan. In the words of VPM,
“I reminded Lord Mountbatten that he himself had gained the impression that Jinnah was reconciled to the idea of partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Whereas the Plan approved by His Majesty’s Government would break up the country into several units, my Plan would retain the essential unity of India, while allowing those areas to secede which did not choose to remain part of it.”
VPM had worked under immense pressure earlier, but this was in a different league altogether. He had been invested with a task to decide India’s future between 7 am to 10.30 am. Nehru had accepted the plan, which was yet subject to approval from the Working Committee, and of course Sardar Patel to sign off on it.
Mountbatten then went to London with this final plan of partition and transfer of power. Prime Minister Clement Attlee’s Cabinet endorsed the plan, and Winston Churchill was delighted that India had agreed to dominion status. Mountbatten showed him written evidence of Congress’ support. And when told that Jinnah had not yet endorsed the plan, Churchill retorted, “It is a matter of life and death for Pakistan to accept this offer with both hands. By god! He (Jinnah) is one man who cannot do without British help.” On 3 June 1947, Mountbatten was able to bring Nehru, Patel, JB Kripalani (as Congress president), Baldev Singh, Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan and Abdur Rab Nishtar, around a conference table, where they collectively endorsed Mountbatten’s plan (actually the Menon Plan). The boundary lines were drawn by a barrister Cyril Radcliffe, a complete stranger to India’s history and geography, and thought of such a responsibility precisely because of this ignorance classed as unbiased perspective. Radcliffe allowed himself to be overborne, but he let the Gurdaspur corridor stay in India, thus letting the route to Jammu and Kashmir accessible to India.
Post-independence, VPM worked closely with Sardar Patel in integrating the country. He visibly noticed the petty and spiteful nature of Nehru at close quarters, and especially after Gandhi’s assassination, the relationship between Nehru and Patel soured. The accession of Junagadh & Katiawar, Jodhpur, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Manipur and Tripura have been extensively documented. But, what unfortunately adds to VPM’s oblivion are his tireless efforts to bring these about. He was the author of the Instrument of Accession, for which Sardar was given the sole credit, or almost so. VPM was the man behind the actions with his ceaseless travels and engaging with obdurate princes, many of whom were known for their vagaries. After the death of Sardar Patel, Nehru’s petulance took a misguided flight and his relations with VPM were just short of acrimony. He did serve as Governor of Orissa for two months, and had a stint with Finance Commission set up by the then Law Minister, BR Ambedkar for about a year, before dabbling into politics for the first and only time in is life as a co-founder of the Swatantrata Party, which was eventually buried by Indira Gandhi.
VPM wasn’t known as a sentimental soul, as is evident in Basu’s narrative on his first marriage and two sons born of his firs wife. Though later in his twilight years, he is shown to have thoroughly enjoyed staying in the company of his grandchildren, his end due to emphysema on the 31st December 1965 at the age of 72 closed a seldom remembered chapter in the Birth of Modern India. Narayani Basu’s book is a thoroughly researched work with fluid prose, and a must have on the shelf of anyone still befuddled by how India’s direction changed in the last days of the British Raj and initial days of independence with the whole calculus of integration and division.
While Sardar Vallabhai Patel has been given the significant credit for the integration of India post her independence, the Home Minister’s right hand man, VP Menon has often been relegated to the footnotes of an exercise that was painstakingly laborious, bemusing, cajoling and even coercive. Had it not been for VPM’s efforts, the India that we know today wouldn’t have come into being. Be it the Menon Plan that chalked out the history and geography of India’s independence forever, or his Instrument of Accession that integrated the over 500 princely states that sprouted in the wake of 14th -15th August 1947, VP Menon thoroughly deserved the credit far more than is narrativized in the annals of history, and definitely more than the mere cameo appearances accorded to him in most of the literature dating from the 1930s to the present.
Narayani Basu, the great grand-daughter of VPM has inserted a vital chapter in India’s historiography with her contribution on the personality in question that a huge majority in the country seems to have conveniently forgotten. Though VPM’s two seminal volumes, ‘The Transfer of Power in India’ and ‘The Story of the Integration of the Indian States’ are intensive and prized writings in the hand of the one who undoubtedly was the architect of modern India, very little has come by way of a biographical sketch, and even in places where it surfaces, almost nothing is known of this school-dropout’s running away from home in today’s Palakkad district in Kerala, upon setting fire to his school after being reprimanded by the Principal, to work in the gold mines of Kolar (Karnataka), selling towels on the streets in Mumbai to rising up the rungs of the ladder in the Imperial Secretariat Service in Shimla and Delhi to becoming the Constitutional Advisor and Political Reforms Commissioner (serving under three Viceroys, including Mountbatten), and Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of States. Basu’s biography is to reclaim VPM’s legacy not as an unsung hero, but as a figure whose contributions India simply cannot afford to forget. Though never trained as a civil servant, his was an appointment that resembles lateralism (albeit far-fetchedly), and didacticism on the job, oftentimes helped by good Samaritans when life approached crisis-periods.
After Mountbatten’s ‘Plan Balkan’ horrified Nehru which set out to partition India not just into two countries, but laid down the vivisection into a dozen countries, Mountbatten called upon the trusted VPM, and gave him not more than four hours to decide the future of India. VPM, who was then in Shimla as the whole administration had moved to the Summer Capital from Delhi, chain-smoked through the hours and completed the Draft before the impending deadline. The Menon plan differed radically from Plan Balkan in that instead of transferring power to a dozen or more provincial governments, power would be transferred to two countries – India and Pakistan. In the words of VPM,
“I reminded Lord Mountbatten that he himself had gained the impression that Jinnah was reconciled to the idea of partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Whereas the Plan approved by His Majesty’s Government would break up the country into several units, my Plan would retain the essential unity of India, while allowing those areas to secede which did not choose to remain part of it.”
VPM had worked under immense pressure earlier, but this was in a different league altogether. He had been invested with a task to decide India’s future between 7 am to 10.30 am. Nehru had accepted the plan, which was yet subject to approval from the Working Committee, and of course Sardar Patel to sign off on it.
Mountbatten then went to London with this final plan of partition and transfer of power. Prime Minister Clement Attlee’s Cabinet endorsed the plan, and Winston Churchill was delighted that India had agreed to dominion status. Mountbatten showed him written evidence of Congress’ support. And when told that Jinnah had not yet endorsed the plan, Churchill retorted, “It is a matter of life and death for Pakistan to accept this offer with both hands. By god! He (Jinnah) is one man who cannot do without British help.” On 3 June 1947, Mountbatten was able to bring Nehru, Patel, JB Kripalani (as Congress president), Baldev Singh, Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan and Abdur Rab Nishtar, around a conference table, where they collectively endorsed Mountbatten’s plan (actually the Menon Plan). The boundary lines were drawn by a barrister Cyril Radcliffe, a complete stranger to India’s history and geography, and thought of such a responsibility precisely because of this ignorance classed as unbiased perspective. Radcliffe allowed himself to be overborne, but he let the Gurdaspur corridor stay in India, thus letting the route to Jammu and Kashmir accessible to India.
Post-independence, VPM worked closely with Sardar Patel in integrating the country. He visibly noticed the petty and spiteful nature of Nehru at close quarters, and especially after Gandhi’s assassination, the relationship between Nehru and Patel soured. The accession of Junagadh & Katiawar, Jodhpur, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Manipur and Tripura have been extensively documented. But, what unfortunately adds to VPM’s oblivion are his tireless efforts to bring these about. He was the author of the Instrument of Accession, for which Sardar was given the sole credit, or almost so. VPM was the man behind the actions with his ceaseless travels and engaging with obdurate princes, many of whom were known for their vagaries. After the death of Sardar Patel, Nehru’s petulance took a misguided flight and his relations with VPM were just short of acrimony. He did serve as Governor of Orissa for two months, and had a stint with Finance Commission set up by the then Law Minister, BR Ambedkar for about a year, before dabbling into politics for the first and only time in is life as a co-founder of the Swatantrata Party, which was eventually buried by Indira Gandhi.
VPM wasn’t known as a sentimental soul, as is evident in Basu’s narrative on his first marriage and two sons born of his firs wife. Though later in his twilight years, he is shown to have thoroughly enjoyed staying in the company of his grandchildren, his end due to emphysema on the 31st December 1965 at the age of 72 closed a seldom remembered chapter in the Birth of Modern India. Narayani Basu’s book is a thoroughly researched work with fluid prose, and a must have on the shelf of anyone still befuddled by how India’s direction changed in the last days of the British Raj and initial days of independence with the whole calculus of integration and division.
April 3, 2020
VP MENON is one of those people who has seen history being written in front of him while making handsome contributions to it.
But his story, even among those interested in history and those who are well-read is one of many anecdotes, mostly unverified.
It is universally acknowledged that his contribution has been neglected or has not been given the prominence he deserves.
It filled a void and it feels good that indian history gets the meticulous research that usually, irritatingly, becomes some white men's burden.
My concerns are:
1. It is a tad too long. It is a book whereas content xould have been easily been spread over 3/4 essays. Long ones, these essays may have to be:one from family sourced information and the other from School of oriental studies in England may have been just as good
2. A panegyric feel: shouting out loud through those pages where contribution was enormous like the Mountbatten plan and 'bagging of the Princely apples of Union-in-the-making'. And a silent excuse when we do contrast it with- VP had no role in the disasters:J and K, communal conflagration following independence etc. it feels odd.
It is a must read though.
But his story, even among those interested in history and those who are well-read is one of many anecdotes, mostly unverified.
It is universally acknowledged that his contribution has been neglected or has not been given the prominence he deserves.
It filled a void and it feels good that indian history gets the meticulous research that usually, irritatingly, becomes some white men's burden.
My concerns are:
1. It is a tad too long. It is a book whereas content xould have been easily been spread over 3/4 essays. Long ones, these essays may have to be:one from family sourced information and the other from School of oriental studies in England may have been just as good
2. A panegyric feel: shouting out loud through those pages where contribution was enormous like the Mountbatten plan and 'bagging of the Princely apples of Union-in-the-making'. And a silent excuse when we do contrast it with- VP had no role in the disasters:J and K, communal conflagration following independence etc. it feels odd.
It is a must read though.
February 1, 2022
A story of a bureaucrat who strived for Independent India through his immense contributions to the Indian government bills for English parliament. It also speaks volumes of his association with Sardar Patel and his work on integrating princely states into Indian Union . The initial parts of the book were elaborate with a lot of pre independence events and leaders from England. The book picks up pace once the events reaches 1946 and post independence.
The interactions among Mountbatten, Gandhiji, Nehru, Patel, VP Menon would give great insights for anyone interested in India between 1900-1950 till it became a republic.
The interactions among Mountbatten, Gandhiji, Nehru, Patel, VP Menon would give great insights for anyone interested in India between 1900-1950 till it became a republic.
February 11, 2024
This book covers the life of one of the most important bureaucrats in modern India, with a deep imprint on the constitution and administration. The first part covers his upbringing and his unlikely path into government, while later parts track his administrative and public service career. While much of the story has been told, including by the subject himself, the author (herself a descendant) has brought forth new archival research.
I found the first and fifth (final) parts to be the strongest. Here we see a man rise and fall. We also see the more neglected parts of history. The toil of the goldfields, his difficult family life, and the neglected but critical tasks of establishing coherent administrative systems were all highly compelling moments. I felt the author was willing to be analytical, at times critical, here and it showed all sides of the man.
The middle parts cover the headier days leading up to independence. Here I think the book could read too much like hagiography at times. In particular, we are told that the insinuation of VP's partiality as a public servant is out of line, yet at the same time the author notes his own ideological sympathies and personal connections with political figures of the day. The author is willing to portray other administrators as having partisan flairs, but does not do so for VP. In my view it would have been more honest to say he fell within, not above, these general trends, even if his ideals were right.
This is a valuable original work on a man who, despite his historical importance, has more often been the one to narrate events rather than be a subject of narration. It covers an important gap and offers a fresh perspective of the early-middle decades of the last century, an era where the narratives of top-level politicians have often dominated the scene. Administrators mattered a great deal at every step of the way, though, and understanding them is necessary to understand the period. It has to be read with a critical eye at times, but this is a minor shortcoming.
I found the first and fifth (final) parts to be the strongest. Here we see a man rise and fall. We also see the more neglected parts of history. The toil of the goldfields, his difficult family life, and the neglected but critical tasks of establishing coherent administrative systems were all highly compelling moments. I felt the author was willing to be analytical, at times critical, here and it showed all sides of the man.
The middle parts cover the headier days leading up to independence. Here I think the book could read too much like hagiography at times. In particular, we are told that the insinuation of VP's partiality as a public servant is out of line, yet at the same time the author notes his own ideological sympathies and personal connections with political figures of the day. The author is willing to portray other administrators as having partisan flairs, but does not do so for VP. In my view it would have been more honest to say he fell within, not above, these general trends, even if his ideals were right.
This is a valuable original work on a man who, despite his historical importance, has more often been the one to narrate events rather than be a subject of narration. It covers an important gap and offers a fresh perspective of the early-middle decades of the last century, an era where the narratives of top-level politicians have often dominated the scene. Administrators mattered a great deal at every step of the way, though, and understanding them is necessary to understand the period. It has to be read with a critical eye at times, but this is a minor shortcoming.
October 26, 2020
Well written book about a man who is clearly one of the key architects of modern India. Great character sketch, of a man flawed in personal life, but larger than life in administative. It is incredible how someone with such a humble background ended up being one of the most powerful persons in the country, wielding an inordinate but responsible amounts of power against the multitude of wayward princes back then.
What I did not like about this book was how opinionated it could become, at times. It's criticism of a few people, although justified, ends up being over the top, and I find it a little hard to believe a few anecdotes if the author is clouded by her opinions about a particular person (Similar reason why I did not take a particular liking to Indian Summer). Not taking anything away from Narayani Basu in terms of her research done, though, especially her astute observations of the sources' veracity (cough... Mountbatten... cough), and the alternate view points about the same incidents.
What I did not like about this book was how opinionated it could become, at times. It's criticism of a few people, although justified, ends up being over the top, and I find it a little hard to believe a few anecdotes if the author is clouded by her opinions about a particular person (Similar reason why I did not take a particular liking to Indian Summer). Not taking anything away from Narayani Basu in terms of her research done, though, especially her astute observations of the sources' veracity (cough... Mountbatten... cough), and the alternate view points about the same incidents.
August 15, 2020
Just the depth of information that this Book gives is worthy of 5 stars. This is a very very informative read on man who's contribution in the transfer of power to India and the Integration of the princely states has not been recognised. From a reading of the book, it is evident that the author has done extensive research to put together this biography. The good part of this book is that along with focusing on VP Menon, it also focuses on the events that took place shortly before and after 15 August 1947.
The author gives significant amount of details on a bureaucrat who's contribution to Indian independence has largely been forgotten, and gives plenty of Information on how he and sardar Patel got the princely states to accede to India. The only part of the book that could have been more clear is the part on how Britain transferred Power to India.
But all in all, anyone interested in India's polity or Indian constitutional history should definitely give this a read!
The author gives significant amount of details on a bureaucrat who's contribution to Indian independence has largely been forgotten, and gives plenty of Information on how he and sardar Patel got the princely states to accede to India. The only part of the book that could have been more clear is the part on how Britain transferred Power to India.
But all in all, anyone interested in India's polity or Indian constitutional history should definitely give this a read!
August 20, 2020
VP Menon *is* the finest civil servant that India ever produced. From a child who ran away from his home, worked in gold mines as a laborer, sold towels in Bombay, to a meager clerk at the govt office to rising up the ladder and becoming the reforms commisioner of British India, to drafting independence plan, to drafting plan of accession for the integration of the 500+ princely states, and together with Sardar Patel carried out this humongous task, his work decided the future couse of the Indian subcontinent. Trust me, people don't really know enough about this person. He was a legend with enormous intellect and powers of persuasion who, sadly, has been forgotten. This is the first thorough biography of VP after ever written, that too after 70 odd years of independence. A must read.
August 7, 2021
This was a slow read. It's an eye opener and thought provoking piece of work mainly because I think we take India, as it is today, as a given, without realising that the states, borders we see today were about 600 small and big princely states. When we should have celebrated our independence and focussed on the road ahead, India struggled with a civil war, kings and princes looking after their own interests and the internal politics. Stories of awe-inspiring speeches and protests against the British rule are well told but the effort which goes in the background to execute it all, to actually build a nation is a story an Indian needs to know. Hats off on the book. It leaves you wanting for more!
September 7, 2020
I never heard of VP Menon before and this book not only gives a good perspective of his life but, more importantly,details out the manner in which independence- both pre and post - was handled. A few insights on how th merger of princely states was handled was illuminating.
If there has to be a quibble then it has to be this: the author at times, especially during VP’s early days and also while detailing his married life - is quite abrupt. But as I said it is just a quibble for the main part is about his contribution to uniting india...
If there has to be a quibble then it has to be this: the author at times, especially during VP’s early days and also while detailing his married life - is quite abrupt. But as I said it is just a quibble for the main part is about his contribution to uniting india...
September 21, 2020
This book does a great service to the freedom struggle history by shedding light on the important players who moulded india. It is fascinating to read about a man who rose from working in the mines to Secretary of Stats department & now whose achievements ought to be a model for all Indians. It is a must read for all persons who are interested in knowing more about our freedom struggle & constitutional history. Kudos to the author for bringing out this fabulous work & for having garnered vital family history against the backdrop of the times VP Menon lived. May their tribe flourish.
May 21, 2022
An important book about the role of VP Menon in the integration of the States.
September 15, 2021
"VP Menon: The Unsung Architect of Modern India" by Narayani Basu
This is among the best biographies I have read and an absolute page-turner. The author, who also happens to be VP's great-granddaughter has done a wonderful job in capturing the inspiring life of VP Menon.
VP Menon was a top bureaucrat, deputy of Sardar Patel, and was the key brain behind India's political integration. This book wonderfully captures the man himself and all the behind the scene efforts that went through in India's integrating of over 500+ principalities/princely states into the Indian Union, also his hand in many other reforms that happened in pre-Independent and post-Independent India including Women's suffrage among many.
What is most inspiring is his life by itself, from being a rebellious brat and a school dropout with no formal education after 8th grade, running away to work as manual labor in Kolar mines after burning down his school, selling towel on the roadside, then through sheer luck getting into a low-level Govt post though a random acquaintance and gradually through years experience rising to become among the topmost and the most Influential bureaucrat in India. Beyond his work, the author also beautifully captures his personal life, his interactions, and equations with family and friends.
Having read this, it did make me really sad that despite his huge contributions that continue to impact us today, he and his works are still underrated largely in our public discourse. Even I myself was ignorant of his existence, like many others, had confused him with Krishna Menon. In that regard, the author has done great work to bring back VP Menon's life into people's memory.
Must read, not only for those interested in history or politics but also for those who need inspiration.
This is among the best biographies I have read and an absolute page-turner. The author, who also happens to be VP's great-granddaughter has done a wonderful job in capturing the inspiring life of VP Menon.
VP Menon was a top bureaucrat, deputy of Sardar Patel, and was the key brain behind India's political integration. This book wonderfully captures the man himself and all the behind the scene efforts that went through in India's integrating of over 500+ principalities/princely states into the Indian Union, also his hand in many other reforms that happened in pre-Independent and post-Independent India including Women's suffrage among many.
What is most inspiring is his life by itself, from being a rebellious brat and a school dropout with no formal education after 8th grade, running away to work as manual labor in Kolar mines after burning down his school, selling towel on the roadside, then through sheer luck getting into a low-level Govt post though a random acquaintance and gradually through years experience rising to become among the topmost and the most Influential bureaucrat in India. Beyond his work, the author also beautifully captures his personal life, his interactions, and equations with family and friends.
Having read this, it did make me really sad that despite his huge contributions that continue to impact us today, he and his works are still underrated largely in our public discourse. Even I myself was ignorant of his existence, like many others, had confused him with Krishna Menon. In that regard, the author has done great work to bring back VP Menon's life into people's memory.
Must read, not only for those interested in history or politics but also for those who need inspiration.
October 27, 2022
For the biography of a man who was on the ground integrating 565 states, barring half a dozen instances the book spends too little (or not enough) time focusing on his stupendous work, compared to what it could have by, say, detailing how Menon managed to pull off this feat across the subcontinent.
While the author does initially introduce VP's life in the first quarter of the book, the thrust of the narrative then acquires author's personal political-voice, and shifts from focusing on VP and his work to using slyly VP's work as a shoulder not to criticize through logical arguments but to fire a volley of pejoratives and petty half-truths on the one giant of Indian Freedom struggle & Democracy: Jawaharlal Nehru, who's hated perforce either by nazi-worshipping sanghis or by liberty-hating communists for having used his power and position to make India a secular democracy instead of a Hindu Supremacist country (as the sanghis wanted) or a state-controlled prison (as the communists wanted).
Nonetheless, where the book does focus on VP, there is indeed intereseting knowledge/information to be gained. Given that the integration of the princely states was the biggest public achievement of VP's life, the book is way too short on details to do justice to the man or his feat.
Lacking enough details, and high on the jarring sanghi-esque Nehruphobia of the author, the book falls short of doing justice to the man and his accomplishment.
The author's (political and personal) voice out-screams the subject's - VP's - story.
While the author does initially introduce VP's life in the first quarter of the book, the thrust of the narrative then acquires author's personal political-voice, and shifts from focusing on VP and his work to using slyly VP's work as a shoulder not to criticize through logical arguments but to fire a volley of pejoratives and petty half-truths on the one giant of Indian Freedom struggle & Democracy: Jawaharlal Nehru, who's hated perforce either by nazi-worshipping sanghis or by liberty-hating communists for having used his power and position to make India a secular democracy instead of a Hindu Supremacist country (as the sanghis wanted) or a state-controlled prison (as the communists wanted).
Nonetheless, where the book does focus on VP, there is indeed intereseting knowledge/information to be gained. Given that the integration of the princely states was the biggest public achievement of VP's life, the book is way too short on details to do justice to the man or his feat.
Lacking enough details, and high on the jarring sanghi-esque Nehruphobia of the author, the book falls short of doing justice to the man and his accomplishment.
The author's (political and personal) voice out-screams the subject's - VP's - story.
May 30, 2020
Outstanding and seminal book on the making of modern india
I have read this book post the podcast of Narayani basu with Amit Varma on seen and the unseen, the book is rich with insights on how a self made man working within the British Raj and with freedom fighters played a pivotal role in the modern state of india- of course my heart bled hearing the difference between our two great leaders Patel and Nehru disagreements and the neglect of VP Menon post Sardars demise. Also the author does have a bias against Nehru I felt. For me the book was a seminal and enlightening read
I have read this book post the podcast of Narayani basu with Amit Varma on seen and the unseen, the book is rich with insights on how a self made man working within the British Raj and with freedom fighters played a pivotal role in the modern state of india- of course my heart bled hearing the difference between our two great leaders Patel and Nehru disagreements and the neglect of VP Menon post Sardars demise. Also the author does have a bias against Nehru I felt. For me the book was a seminal and enlightening read
June 2, 2024
Well written. Articulate and balanced.
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