Menon graduated from Madras University in 1920 and was appointed at Nizam college, Hyderabad. Soon, he resigned the post in order to a pursue graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. in Economics, at the University of California, Berkeley. After earning a graduate degree from Berkeley in 1923 for a thesis entitled The cooperative movement and economic welfare, Menon went on to receive a doctorate in economics and sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1932, with his dissertation entitled Postwar Progress of the Cooperative Movement in the United States and USSR: A Comparative Study.[6] He joined Harvard as professor, where he met Jayaprakash Narayan who was sent to the US for higher studies; that friendship guided Menon into a new way.[1]
Menon returned to Kerala as part of Quit India Movement, this arrival intensified strength of the movement in Malabar dist. and Cochin.[8] He was main man behind the famous Keezhariyur bomb conspiracy case which attracted media attention from the whole country, with Mathai Manjooran as his second-in-command.[9] He was the first accused and sentenced to ten year rigorous imprisonment. He was released after five years following independence, however those days in jail rotted his health.[10][11][12]
After independence
Menon was a strict follower and proponent of Gandhism as well as socialism. He left Congress as socialists departed. Nehru, a close friend and admirer of his wanted Menon by his side, but Menon asked to join the socialists instead. He was elected to Madras Legislative Assembly in 1952 from Thrithala constituency as a socialist candidate.[13] He represented Badagara in the Loksabha following the second general election. Once again he shone in electoral politics as he was elected from Quilandy constituency in 1965, since none of the parties gained majority the assembly was dissolved. There was a move in background for creating government under Menon but he became a victim of backstage betrayals. He returned to Congress in his last days.
Death
Menon died on 6 September 1967 at Kozhikode Medical College. He was cremated in the compound of Thrithala High School where he used to reside during his last days, the school was established as a result of his serious interventions.[14]
