Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon (Malayalam: വി. കെ. കൃഷ്ണമേനോന്‍) (3 May 1896 – 6 October 1974) was an Indian nationalist, diplomat and statesman, described as the second most powerful man in India by Time magazine and others, after his ally and intimate friend, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Described as "vitriolic, intolerant, impatient, and exigent – yes, but generous, sensitive, considerate, a great teacher too, and a great man" by Lord Listowell, the last British secretary of state for India, Menon was an influential and controversial figure on the world scene, and the architect of the Third Bloc foreign policy of non-alignment. He headed India's diplomatic missions to both the United Kingdom and United Nations, and was repeatedly elected to both houses of the Indian Parliament from multiple constituencies, serving as Defence Minister from 1957 to 1962.

Menon cofounded Penguin Books in 1935 with Sir Allen Lane^{[citation needed]}, and also created the Sainik Schools. He is the first Malayalee to have won the Padma Vibhushan.

Marianne Louise Thieme (Dutch pronunciation: [mɐˈrijɑnə ˈtimə], born March 6, 1972 in Ede) is a Dutch politician of the Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren). She has been Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives since November 23, 2006 and an MP since November 30, 2006.

A jurist by education and an animal rights activist and author by occupation.

Marianne Thieme studied at the Duno College in Doorwerth. After that she studied from 1991 to 1992 at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. From 1992 she studied law at Erasmus University Rotterdam with a specialization in administrative law. During this time she became a vegetarian. Her interest in animal rights motivated her to start studying law. Thieme graduated in 1997.

From 1998 to 2001 Marianne Thieme worked at research agengy B&A Group in The Hague. Between 2001 and 2004 she was policy official at Bont voor Dieren (Fur for Animals, a Dutch anti-fur animal welfare foundation). Until November 2006 she was the general manager of Stichting Wakker Dier (a Dutch animal welfare foundation against industrial agriculture).