VK Krishna Menon: The Unyielding Voice of Indian Sovereignty and Non-Alignment

Menon's uncompromising views on sovereignty and non-alignment shaped India's foreign policy. His influence, from London to the UN, continues to resonate today.

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2025 October 25 . 6:05 AM

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VK Krishna Menon: The Unyielding Voice of Indian Sovereignty and Non-Alignment

VK Krishna Menon, a key figure in India's early independence, left an indelible mark on international politics. His fiery speeches and unyielding stance on sovereignty and non-alignment challenged the status quo and gave India a voice of defiance. Despite his acerbic style, Menon's refusal to flatter the mighty made him unshakable in his convictions.

Menon's influence began in London, where he built networks among intellectuals and policymakers. He persuaded Britons to rethink empire, planting seeds of decolonisation. His central message, that sovereignty is not a concession of the powerful but a right of the weak, resonated far and wide.

At the United Nations, Menon delivered thunderous speeches that rattled Washington and unnerved London. In 1957, he defended India's stand on Kashmir in a legendary eight-hour speech at the UN Security Council. Menon's doctrine of non-alignment was active resistance to domination, not fence-sitting. He condemned US intervention in Vietnam and dismissed Western criticism of India's liberation of Goa, railing against the nuclear stranglehold of superpowers and exposing their hypocrisies.

Menon's impact extended beyond diplomacy. He drafted the original Preamble of the Indian Constitution and served as Defence Minister, shaping India's destiny. Despite his controversial style, Menon's unyielding stance on sovereignty and non-alignment continues to influence Indian foreign policy today. The author of an article about Menon in 2021 remains unknown, but his legacy lives on.