Stalwart who shaped Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Former external affairs minister Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, who rose through Karnataka politics to take national centre stage and helped transform Bengaluru into a global information technology hub, died after prolonged illness on Tuesday morning.

- Arun Dev

left behind a rich legacy of statesmanship and public service. Kharge hailed Krishna as a true champion of development who made significant contributions to the state and the nation. "His vision, dedication and exceptional public service played a pivotal role in Karnataka's progress, while his approach to balance welfare with development placed a global stamp on Bengaluru's transformative paradigm. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers," he said on X.

Born on May 1, 1932, in the Somanahalli village of Mandya district, Krishna's early life was defined by academic excellence. The son of SC Mallaiah, he earned a law degree from Bengaluru's Government Law College and went on to become a Fulbright Scholar at Southern Methodist University and George Washington University in the United States. Inspired by John F Kennedy's leadership during his time in the US, Krishna often cited Kennedy as his political ideal.

Upon returning to India, Krishna initially worked as a professor of international law at Renukacharya Law College in Bengaluru. However, his passion for public service led him to enter politics in 1962.

Krishna quickly rose through the political ranks, entering national politics in 1968 as a Lok Sabha member. Representing Mandya for two consecutive terms, he later returned to Karnataka politics in 1972. Over the years, he held key positions, including minister for commerce, industries, and parliamentary affairs, speaker of the Karnataka assembly, and Rajya Sabha member.

As chief minister from 1999 to 2004, Krishna spearheaded a period of transformation in Karnataka. Under his leadership, Bengaluru became synonymous with India's tech revolution. His governance emphasised public-private partnerships and corpoglobal recognition for "Brand Bengaluru". Visionary initiatives such as the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) exemplified his forward-thinking approach to urban development.