Former External Affairs Minister and a towering figure in Indian politics Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna passed away in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 92. Krishna, who served as India’s External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012, was a key architect in shaping modern Karnataka and Bengaluru’s transformation into the “Silicon Valley of India”.
Born in 1932, Krishna’s illustrious political career spanned six decades. He was awarded the country’s second-highest civilian honor Padma Vibhushan in 2023 for his significant contributions to Indian politics. Krishna’s journey in public service began after his return from the United States when he participated in Karnataka’s first elections and soon emerged as a pivotal leader in state politics.
As the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, Krishna played a transformative role in developing Bengaluru’s IT sector, laying the foundation for its emergence as a global technology hub. Krishna had been unwell in recent months and passed away after multiple hospitalisations.