About Krishna Menon Institute|
Press Releases
The Encyclopedia Kerala – Past and Present; Krishna Menon Institute's new initiative. |
The Krishna Menon Institute (KMI) to honour high achieving Indian and Diaspora women and men.|
Krishna Menon Award 2008
call for nominations
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The Krishna Menon Institute 
Our Objectives
- To commemorate the memory of Krishna Menon, a distinguished intellectual, diplomat and Defence Minister of India who is a role model for emulation by younger generations of Indians in India and the Diaspora.
- To publish original work in diplomacy, science, economics, literature, human rights etc.
- To award annually the KM Award to persons who have distinguished themselves in diplomacy, science, economics, literature, human rights etc.
- To set up and maintain an archive of the published works on and about Krishna Menon, his letters, speeches and other relevant documents.
- In addition, the archive will also include, wherever possible, documents relating to the Indian independence struggle, the lives of Indian scientists, writers, historians, philosophers etc. for use by students and scholars researching such documents for their thesis. This can also be a valuable source for current and contemporary historians, journalists, researchers etc.
- To publish books on relevant subjects - these will either be commissioned by the institute or works submitted by individuals.
Menon founded the India League in London in the 1940s. It was composed of prominent British intellectuals and politicians sympathetic to the struggle for Indian Independence and was the European voice of that struggle. A brilliant lawyer, intellectual and politician, Menon had a string of degrees from British Universities, particularly the famous London School of Economics (LSE).
Menon developed close relations and friendships with influential Britons. He was one of the first Asians to become a local government councillor. He represented St. Pancras in the London Borough of Camden. Soon after India’s Independence, Menon was appointed India’s first High Commissioner in London. Nehru then sent him to the United Nations where the formidable Soviet Defence Minister Molotov hailed him as “this Tremendous Representative”. Menon, a very close friend of Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, was virtually India’s international ambassador.
After his success at the UN, Nehru appointed Menon India’s Defence Minister. His intellectual prowess won the admiration of friend and foe alike. Menon is also remembered as an eloquent advocate of peace who fought valiantly for peaceful co-existence and a world free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
It is to foster these principles – the spread of freedom, peace and settlement of disputes by peaceful means– that the Institute has decided to set up the Krishna Menon Award for Indians and people of Indian origin abroad. This annual award will be given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in the following areas: diplomacy, science, economics, literature, human rights etc.
Individuals can apply to be considered for the Award. Universities and other institutions are invited to send their nominations. Entrants must submit evidence of their achievements.
Closing date for the 2008 KM Award is 31 July 2008.
Apart from the Award, the KMI proposes to publish books on diplomacy, science, economics, literature, human rights etc.