SANJEEV GAUR

It is not a Book. It is a Treatise on the developments which began to take place from the end of World War I and culminated in transfer of power to the two Dominions on 14th and 15th August 1947. It is astonishing that the Author started his career as an ad-hoc clerk in govt. of India in 1914-15 and rose to the Constitutional Advisor to last three Viceroys. Throughout this journey, VP Menon in different capacities, remained associated with political developments which were gaining momentum day by day. He is the witness to almost all negotiations and political developments which eventually gave birth to the dominions of India and Pakistan. VP Menon prepared a Plan which came to known as the Mountbatten Plan which was accepable the major political parties as well as His Majesty Government. The account which the author has given will not be available elsewhere.

A masterpiece. The Author comes from a humble background and serves as the Constitutional Advisor to the last three Viceroys and becomes the Secretary to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. VP Menon, negotiates with the princes of States on behalf of Sardar Patel and Govt. of India and one by one, convinces them to sign the Instrument of Accession and join the Constituent Assembly. In VP Menon, we find a Master Negotiator having profound knowledge of history, geography and socio economic conditions of the Country. He deserves to be conferred as the Bharat Ratna. He is rightly said as the Unsung Architect of Modern India. A must read for all Civil Servants and all literate citizens of India.

Mr. Arun Shourie has come with citations from the debates in the Constituent Assembly, communications and instruments procured from the Government Archive, written communications between contemporary dignitaries and officials, including British authorities. This Book helps in dispelling myths which have been created by politicians. A must read book.