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| S.M. Krishna | |
|---|---|
| Name | S.M. Krishna |
| Birth date | 1 May 1932 |
| Birth place | Mandya, Kingdom of Mysore, British India |
| Death date | 24 August 2023 |
| Death place | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Politician, Diplomat |
| Office | 16th Governor of Maharashtra |
| Term | 2004–2008 |
S.M. Krishna was an Indian statesman and diplomat who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka, Governor of Maharashtra, and Union Minister of External Affairs under the Manmohan Singh ministry. A veteran of post-independence Indian National Congress politics, he was noted for urban development in Bengaluru and for strengthening India’s diplomatic ties with the United States and neighbouring SAARC countries. His career spanned state leadership, constitutional office, and international diplomacy during periods overlapping leaders such as Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P. V. Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh.
Born in Mandya in the former Kingdom of Mysore under British India, Krishna completed schooling in Mysore and earned a law degree from University Law College, Bengaluru at the University of Mysore. Influenced by regional leaders like Kengal Hanumanthaiah and national figures including Jawaharlal Nehru, he began public life in the milieu of Mysore State politics. Early associations connected him with institutions such as Indian National Congress state units, local bar associations, and civic bodies in Bengaluru and Mysore District.
Krishna’s electoral journey included terms in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha representing constituencies in Mysore and Bangalore South. He held ministerial portfolios in the state cabinet and later in the central cabinet during the P. V. Narasimha Rao ministry, working alongside figures like S. Rajiv Gandhi and P. Chidambaram. He was a senior leader in the Indian National Congress before switching allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party late in his career. Krishna’s contemporaries included S. Bangarappa, H. D. Deve Gowda, S. M. Banerjee and administrators from Karnataka and Maharashtra.
As Chief Minister of Karnataka (1999–2004), Krishna focused on urban infrastructure in Bengaluru, aligning with municipal bodies like the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and development agencies such as the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. His administration interacted with national schemes promulgated by ministries in the Union Government and collaborated with state institutions including the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bangalore Development Authority. He engaged with industry groups such as NASSCOM and corporations in the emerging software industry centered in Electronic City and Whitefield, and worked on initiatives affecting airports like Bengaluru International Airport planning, public utilities, and law-and-order agencies like the Karnataka Police.
Appointed Governor of Maharashtra in 2004, Krishna occupied Raj Bhavan in Mumbai during a politically sensitive period involving figures such as Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sharad Pawar, and Devendra Fadnavis. His gubernatorial role required interface with constitutional institutions including the Bombay High Court and administrative bodies in Pune and Nagpur. Controversies over gubernatorial decisions brought him into public debate involving legal luminaries and commentators from media institutions like The Hindu and Indian Express.
As Union Minister of External Affairs (2009–2012) in the Manmohan Singh ministry, Krishna engaged with diplomatic counterparts including Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, and foreign ministers from United States, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and members of SAARC. He promoted bilateral ties with the United States through outreach to think tanks such as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and academic institutions like Harvard University. His tenure addressed issues at multilateral fora like the United Nations General Assembly, G20, and BRICS meetings, and involved negotiations on energy, trade, and diaspora engagement with organizations like the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
Krishna championed urban policy and technology-driven growth in Bengaluru, facilitating partnerships with industry associations including NASSCOM and multinationals such as Infosys and Wipro. As External Affairs Minister he prioritized diaspora outreach to the Indian American community and strengthened strategic dialogues with United States Department of State and defence establishments. In state administration he advanced infrastructure projects via agencies like the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and sought investment from global bodies including World Bank and Asian Development Bank for urban projects. His initiatives intersected with legislative frameworks administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs and trade discussions involving the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Krishna was married to Vatsala and had children who participated in civic and business circles in Bengaluru. He received honors from academic institutions such as the University of Mysore and was eulogized by political figures across parties including leaders from Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. His legacy is associated with the transformation of Bengaluru into an information-technology hub, diplomatic outreach in the early 21st century, and a long career intersecting state politics, gubernatorial office, and international diplomacy. Prominent contemporaries who commented on his career included H. D. Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah, Pranab Mukherjee, and A. K. Antony.
Category:Indian politicians Category:Governors of Maharashtra Category:Chief Ministers of Karnataka