Menon (English spelling) Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon

Indian politician. Born in Kozhikode (Calicut) in southern India. After completing his university education in Madras (now Chennai), he studied in London in 1924. He obtained a Master of Science in Economics and was admitted to the bar in 1934. In 1929, he founded the Indian League, a propaganda organization for the Indian nationalist movement. He was interested in socialist ideas and was closely involved with the British Labour Party. He also met J. Nehru in London and they remained lifelong friends. After India's independence, he was the first High Commissioner in London. In 1953, he was elected to the House of Representatives. After serving as a Minister without Portfolio, he served as Minister of Defence in the Nehru Cabinet from 1957 onwards, but resigned in 1962 after being held responsible for India's defeat in the Sino-Indian conflict. In 1967, he was elected to the House of Representatives as an independent. He represented India on the UN Security Council from 1946 to 1947. He was India's Chief Representative to the UN General Assembly from 1952 to 1960.

[Masao Naito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

インドの政治家。南インドのコジコーデ（カリカット）生まれ。マドラス（現チェンナイ）で大学教育終了後、1924年ロンドンに留学。経済学・理学修士号、また1934年法廷弁護士資格を取得。1929年にはインド民族運動の宣伝組織「インド連盟」を設立した。社会主義思想に関心を寄せ、イギリス労働党とも密接にかかわった。J・ネルーともロンドンで会い、終生交友が続く。インド独立後、初代の在ロンドン高等弁務官。1953年下院議員に当選。無任所相を経て、1957年以後ネルー内閣国防相を務めたが、1962年、中印紛争での敗戦の責を問われ辞任。1967年無所属で下院議員当選。1946～1947年の国連安保理のインド代表。1952～1960年の国連総会へのインド首席代表。

［内藤雅雄］

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