N.B. Menon passes away

Special Correspondent

A diplomat who devoted his career to the Himalayan region



N.B. Menon

Bangalore: Nedyam Balachandra Menon, a distinguished Indian diplomat, whose career was largely focused on the Himalayan region and Southeast Asia, passed away here on Sunday.

Born March 1921 in Guruvayur, Kerala, the son of a mathematics teacher in Singapore, he spent his childhood in Southeast Asia.

He was educated in Allahabad University where he completed a degree in Economics Honours.

Navy stint

Like many of his generation he interrupted his studies to join the war effort against Japanese militarism and served in the Royal Indian Navy during the Second World War, mainly in Burma and the Bay of Bengal.

Menon's early foreign assignments were in post-war Europe including The Hague, Bonn and Berlin.

Towards the latter part of his career he served as Political Officer in Sikkim and Bhutan, and Ambassador to Indonesia, Turkey and Nepal.

First assignment

His life was greatly marked by the special political circumstances of the Himalayan region.

His first assignment in Kathmandu coincided with upheaval in the Nepalese monarchy and he served as Director, China Division during and after the Sino-Indian conflict. He was later Joint Secretary, North during the merger of Sikkim.

Interest in culture

He had an abiding interest in the culture and politics of India's northern neighbours, later learning to speak Tibetan. Menon was fascinated by the natural beauty of the region and travelled widely as a hiker and birdwatcher as well as a diplomat.

He is remembered by his friends in many parts of the world for his delight in language and punning and an avid interest in sports and dramatics.

He is survived by his wife, Aneethy, three sons, Krishnakumar, Ramachandran and Narayanan, a daughter, Parvathi, and eight grandchildren.