Krishna Menon, Vengalil Krishnan (1896-1974), an Indian statesman, served as India’s minister of defense from 1957 to 1962. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dismissed Krishna Menon after China defeated Indian forces in border fighting in 1962. Many of the Indian people blamed Krishna Menon for India’s lack of preparedness. Krishna Menon remained a member of the Indian parliament until he was defeated in the 1967 elections.
Krishna Menon was born on May 3, 1896, in southern India. He studied at the University of Madras and in London. He was prominent in the Indian independence movement, serving as secretary of the India League in London from 1929 to 1947. He was Indian high commissioner in the United Kingdom from 1949 to 1952, and chief delegate to the UN from 1953 to 1962. He was a severe critic of British and U.S. foreign policy. He died on Oct. 6, 1974.
