Krishna, who was Karnataka’s Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004 and also served as India’s External Affairs Minister, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 92. Over his six-decade political career, he played a key role in turning Bengaluru into a global hub.
SM Krishna Biography
Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, popularly known as S.M. Krishna, was born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli village in Maddur taluk of Mandya district in Karnataka. He belonged to a Vokkaliga family and was the son of S.C. Mallaiah.
Krishna completed high school at Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Mysore and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Maharaja College, Mysore. He then studied law, earning a degree from the University Law College (formerly Government Law College) in Bangalore.
Later, he moved to the United States and earned a master’s degree in law from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., where he was a Fulbright Scholar.
After returning to India, he entered politics and was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1962. Krishna was married to Prema and had two daughters. One of his daughters Malavika Krishna was married to Cafe Coffee Day founder and businessman late V.G. Siddhartha.
He also had a younger brother Shankar, who died in 2019 and was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council. Krishna died at his home in Bengaluru on December 10, 2024, at the age of 92 after a prolonged illness.
His last rites will be performed on December 11, 2024, in his hometown Mandya, as per Vokkaliga traditions and with full state honors. The Karnataka government has announced a three-day mourning in his honor.
| Full Name |
Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna
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| Date of Birth | May 1, 1932 |
| Place of Birth |
Somanahalli village, Maddur Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka
|
| Father | C. Mallaiah |
| Wife | Prema Krishna |
| Children | 2 daughters |
| Education |
– High School: Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala, Mysore
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– Bachelor of Arts: Maharaja’s College, Mysore
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|
|
– Law Degree: University Law College, Bangalore
|
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– Master of Laws: Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
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– Master of Laws: George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (Fulbright Scholar)
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| Legacy |
Known as the leader who turned Bengaluru into the “Silicon Valley of India”
|
| Death |
December 10, 2024, at age 92, in Bengaluru
|
Career Timeline Of SM Krishna
1962
- Krishna began his political career by winning the Maddur Vidhana Sabha seat as an independent candidate, defeating K. V. Shankar Gowda from the Congress Party, despite Jawaharlal Nehru campaigning for Gowda.
1967
- He joined the Praja Socialist Party but lost the Maddur seat in the elections to Congress candidate M. M. Gowda.
1968
- Krishna won the Mandya Lok Sabha by-election as a Socialist after the sitting MP passed away. He defeated the Congress candidate.
- He helped bring together members of the Congress Party and the Praja Socialist Party.
1971 & 1980
- He won two terms as an MP from Mandya under the Congress Party ticket.
1972
- Krishna resigned from the Lok Sabha and joined the Karnataka Legislative Council, becoming a minister under Chief Minister Devaraj Urs.
1980–1984
- Returned to the Lok Sabha and served as a minister under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1983 to 1984.
1984
- Lost the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in the general elections.
1985
- He was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly again.
1989–1993
- Served as Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
1993–1994
- Became Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.
1996–1999
- He was a Rajya Sabha member.
1999–2004
- As Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, he led the Congress Party to victory in the assembly elections and became Chief Minister of Karnataka.
- He introduced key reforms, such as power sector changes, digitizing land records (BHOOMI), and promoting public-private partnerships.
2004
- Appointed Governor of Maharashtra in December.
2008
- Resigned as Governor to return to active politics in Karnataka.
2009–2012
- Entered the Rajya Sabha and became Union Minister of External Affairs under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
- As External Affairs Minister, he worked to strengthen India’s economic and energy ties with various countries, including a visit to Tajikistan in 2012.
2012
- Resigned as External Affairs Minister, aiming to return to Karnataka politics.
2017
- Resigned from the Congress Party, criticizing its leadership and management.
- Joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in March.
2023
- Announced his retirement from politics due to age-related reasons.
Achievement and Legacy
S. M. Krishna is widely known for transforming Bengaluru into a global IT hub during his tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004. He introduced progressive policies and initiatives that established the city as a leading hub for technology and innovation.
Krishna fostered the growth of IT companies, creating an environment that earned Bengaluru the nickname “Silicon Valley of India.” He encouraged collaboration between the government and the private sector, which improved infrastructure and increased the city’s competitiveness.
To modernize Bengaluru, he established the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) to focus on better governance and infrastructure. Krishna prioritized infrastructure development, enhancing roads, power supply, and communication systems to attract multinational companies.
He also launched the Bhoomi project, which digitized land records, making administrative processes more efficient. His investor-friendly policies helped global tech giants like Infosys and Wipro expand their presence in the city. These efforts transformed Bangalore into a global IT powerhouse, earning S. M. Krishna widespread acclaim.
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