V. P. Menon

Vappala Pangunni Menon (Malayalam: [ʋaːpːaːlɐ puŋɡuɳːi menoːn]) (30 September 1893 – 31 December 1965) was an Indian civil servant who served as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of the States, under Sardar Patel to integrate 562 princely states. By appointment from Viceroy and Governor-General of India Wavell, he also served as Secretary to the Governor-General (Public) and later as Secretary to the Interim Government of India (Cabinet). He also was the Constitutional Adviser and Political Reforms Commissioner to the last three successive Viceroys during British rule in India. In May 1948, at the initiative of V. P. Menon, a meeting was held in Delhi between the Rajpramukhs of the princely unions and the States Department, at the end of which the Rajpramukhs signed new Instruments of Accession which gave the Government of India the power to pass laws in respect of all matters that fell within the seventh schedule of the Government of India Act 1935. He played a vital role in India's partition and political integration. Later in his life, he became a member of the free-market–oriented Swatantra Party. He was a member of the Imperial Secretariat Service.