Ninety-two-year-old Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna (S.M. Krishna), who passed away on December 10, was a charismatic leader with a modern outlook, who created a niche for himself in the country’s political landscape with his administrative skills and a unique vision of development.
He held several prominent positions throughout his career as External Affairs Minister, Maharashtra Governor, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Minister in the Karnataka government.
‘Brand Bengaluru’
He not only laid a strong foundation for the growth of IT and BT industries in Karnataka but also managed to get them onboard with the government to build “Brand Bengaluru” at the international level. He earned the reputation of being a reformist icon with a focus on development at a time when populism and caste politics dominated the scene.
Born in a farming family in Somanahalli of Mandya district, Mr. Krishna went onto study post-graduation in law in the U.S. by obtaining Fulbright Scholarship. This turned out to be a platform for launching his political career as he entered the Legislative Assembly from Maddur in 1962 by trouncing a veteran and influential politician H. K. Veeranna Gowda soon after his return from the U.S.
In his nearly five-decade political career, Mr. Krishna has served as member of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council besides holding organizational responsibilities like Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President.
Series of challenges
As Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, he faced a series of challenges and crisis including kidnapping of Kannada matinee idol Dr. Raj Kumar by forest brigand Veerappan, the serious drought that gripped the State for three consecutive years and the row over sharing of Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu that snowballed into a legal challenge. But Mr. Krishna is credited with managing to tackle all the challenges and also taking up various developmental initiatives that put Karnataka in general and Bengaluru in particular on a global map.
Yet his party lost the Assembly polls held amidst a drought in 2004 resulting in the Congress high command shifting him to Maharashtra as Governor and later making him the External Affairs Minister. A section of political leaders feel that Mr. Krishna would have been in the race for the Prime Minister’s post if his party had managed to win 2004 Assembly elections. This is acknowledged by Krishna in his biography titled Smrithivaahini.
With his suave personality and focus on building ‘Brand Bengaluru’ Mr. Krishna endeared himself particularly to the aspiring class, especially the upwardly mobile city dwellers. But he also took up several important schemes for rural areas including rejuvenation of tanks under Jalasamvardhane project to replenish groundwater, Yashaswini health insurance scheme for members of co-operative bodies, mid-day meal scheme for government school students, digitization of land records and housing schemes for poor. But they were overshadowed by the thrust given for Bengaluru during his regime. He also brought the Karnataka Lokayukta institution into limelight by appointing N. Venkatachala as Lokayukta who went aggressively against “corrupt” officials.
Joining BJP
Years after he was removed from the post as External Affairs Minister, Mr. Krishna severed his nearly five-decade ties with the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) almost at the fag end of his political career.
He had to witness a personal tragedy too at the twilight of his life as his son in-law and founder of Café Coffee Day V.G. Siddarth ended his life after his firm was caught in financial crisis. But Mr. Krishna took this in his stride. His grandson is married to the daughter of KPCC President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who was his protege. Mr. Krishna maintained dignity by retiring from active politics in the last few years.
Long Association with The Hindu
Mr. Krishna had an association with The Hindu right from his childhood. “Ours was the only house (in Somanahalli of Maddur taluk in Mandya district) to get The Hindu in those days,” Mr. Krishna has stated in his autobiography Smrutivaahini. Though his father S.C. Mallaiah never had college education, he was able to read and understand The Hindu, he says in the book.
He had recalled it in an interview in 2023: ‘’Way back in the early and mid 1940’s, The Hindu, the Madras newspaper, was brought daily to my village home in Somanahalli. I was so glued to its sports pages that come with elaborate coverage of Tennis. I became a big fan of Tennis stars such as Frank Sedgman, Roy Emerson, Dick Savitt (Richard Savitt) and others.”
Influence of Ramakrishna Ashrama
Mr. Krishna’s personality had an influence of Ramakrishna Ashrama particularly the discipline for which he was known for as he came in contact with the Ashrama at an young age. He was a student of the Ashrama’s Students Home in Mysuru from 6th standard to Second PU.
Kennedy was his political idol
Mr. Krishna, who studied LLM in the U.S. by obtaining Fulbright Scholarship when John F. Kennedy was its President, always considered him as his political ideal. He was particularly influenced by Mr. Kennedy’s style of building an emotional bond with people and political focus on ensuring equality that was based on democratic principles. In fact, Mr. Krishna worked for Mr. Kennedy in 1962 U.S. presidential polls by campaigning in the areas where Indians were residing. He had even sent a letter to Kennedy then informing about his campaign. Mr. Kennedy had personally replied to him thanking him profusely for his gesture.
Love for tennis and music
Mr. S. M. Krishna had a love for tennis. Even when he was Chief Minister, he used to visit tennis court to play the game two to three times a week. He considered tennis not just as a sport that gave exercise to his body, but a means to relieve political tension. The hobby of playing tennis had kept him in good shape.
Similarly, music was one of the favourite pastimes for Mr. Krishna and often he used to find solace in music during times of political tension. Such was his love for music that he had travelled all the way to Chennai, Pune, Bhopal and Jaipur to attend the concerts of legendary musicians like M. S. Subbulakshmi, Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hanagal, Mallikarjun Mansur, T. Chowdaiah, Lalgudi Jayaraman and M. Balamurali Krishna.
Immaculate dressing sense
The suave Mr. Krishna was a rare politician who was known for his impressive dressing sense. In fact, he had penchant for designing men’s clothes. Whether it is the traditional panche and jubba, informal kurta or the formal suite, Mr. Krishna could carry them on with grace and ease in public life. His dressing sense was hard to miss as he was known to dress immaculately for the occasion.
Similarly, he was a soft-spoken gentleman who never used harsh words even while criticising his political opponents. At the same time, he was a good orator with mastery over both Kannada and English and sound knowledge of history.
Taught law even after becoming MLA
Mr. Krishna, who had obtained the LLM degree from the U.S., taught law in a law college even after he was as MLA. Mr. Krishna taught international law at the Renukacharya Law College in Bengaluru though he was MLA.
Published – December 10, 2024 08:15 am IST