[1] [2] He was the principal author of the White Paper which was used to guide the formation of India into states drawn along linguistic lines after its independence.
[1] A man of humility and discretion, according to The Independent, Sundaram received in 1968 the second highest civilian award which can be bestowed by the Indian Government: the Padma Vibhushan.
An alumnus of Presidency College and Christ Church, Oxford, he registered himself in 1925 for the Indian Civil Services (ICS) training.
[1][5] This White Paper became the base used to reorganise India into states; Patel[clarification needed] and V P Menon would also use it to convince the princes to cede with the Indian union for an agreed pension.
On leaving that role, in 1971, he again entered into boundary issues, helping address the Assam and Nagaland state disputes as adviser to the Home Ministry.