S.M. Krishna was the son of Mr. Mallaiah and was born in the village of Somanahalli in Maddur Taluk of the Mandya district. He did his Bachelor of Arts from Maharaja’s College in Mysore and eventually got a degree in law from the University Law College.
He graduated from the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, after having achieved a Fullbright Scholarship, and since then, things always seemed bright for this politician from Karnataka. After his return to India, Krishna made it into the legislative assembly of Karnataka in 1962.
SM Krishna’s Political Life and Career
As an independent candidate, S.M.Krishna made his electoral debut in the early 1960s and won the Maddur assembly seat. He has held the position of MP a lot of times, after contesting from Mandhya right since 1968, in various Lok Sabha terms. He served under Indira Gandhi in the year 1983 and under Rajiv Gandhi during 84 and 85, and Krishna played different roles in various capacities as the Minister for Industry as well as Finance.
The decade between 1996 and 2006 saw him become a Rajya Sabha member. He was the speaker in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and also the Chief Minister’s Deputy in Karnataka between 1989 and 1992, and all these point to the fact that this man needs no introduction to the Indian political scenario.
Finally, in the year 1999, Krishna powered the political party to triumph and became the Chief Minister of the state of Karnataka, a position that he cherished till the year 2004. He succeeded JH Patel. He encouraged private participation in the state during his tenure and also went on to serve as the Governor of Maharashtra.
SM Krishna held the position of Cabinet Minister in the Union for External Affairs under PM Manmohan Singh, a post for which he took oath on the 22nd of May, 2009.
SM Krishna’s Personality
Krishna enjoys the game of lawn tennis, and regularly practices Yoga and enjoys reading. He is associated with World University Sciences, and visited New Zealand as a member of the Indian delegation with regard to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in 1965.
In 1982, he was a part of the delegation sent from India to the U.N, for a meeting that was held in the United States. Krishna is married to Shrimati Prema and is blessed with two daughters.
SM Krishna breathed his last on 10th December, 2024, at the age of 92. He died at his residence owing to prolonged illness. His last rites are to be conducted in Maddur, his home town on Wednesday, 11th December 2024.