Bengaluru: With the passing away of Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, well known as S M Krishna or SMK in the early hours today the country has lost a gentleman to the core in Indian politics. Perhaps there was no position worth mentioning and for which everyone in politics craved, that S M Krishna didn't enjoy.
Member of all houses: Only a selected few have the privilege of being elected to all possible houses of people's representatives, and SM Krishna was one of such lucky persons. As a budding politician, he first got elected to the state Assembly from Maddur home constituency in Mandya district in 1962 as an independent candidate. Then he sprung a surprise shock to H K Verannagowda, a Congress stalwart of the times despite the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru campaigning. Later he joined the Praja Socialist Party (PSP) only to defect to the Congress and there was no looking back on the horizon of party and power politics. He was also elected to the Legislative Council, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as well.
A Minister, Chief Minister...: He also rose to become a minister in the state government, speaker of the state Assembly, Union Minister of State during the stint of Indira Gandhi as the prime minister, a cabinet minister in the Union government during the tenure of Dr Manmohan Singh as the prime minister. On receiving a drubbing in the 2004 Assembly elections he was elevated to the position of Governor of Maharashtra. After remaining in that position for four years, he returned to politics to become the Minister of External Affairs.
A man of rich tastes: In a way, he was an odd man out in the typical ruffian type Mandya and state politics due to his rich taste in enjoying life. He was always very formal and well-dressed for the occasion. Maybe, his schooling at the Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Mysuru and higher law education in the United States enabled him to mould his mannerisms in an aristocratic style despite being a public personality.
An uphill task all along as the CM: However, his tenure as chief minister of the state was a path full of hurdles. Thanks to the incessant drought conditions across the state accompanied by farmers' suicide the position of CM turned out to be more of a nightmare. As if this predicament wasn't enough J Jayalalitha, another Mandya resident turned Tamil Nadu chief minister ensured S M Krishna sweat in his air-conditioned chambers by demanding Cauvery Waters when there was hardly any storage worth mentioning the Krishna Raj Sagar (KRS) Dam. To cap all these issues was the kidnap of Dr Rajkumar, a Kannada matinee idol by Veerappan, a smuggler turned notorious bandit and poacher.
A visionary in reality: Although his coveted seat of power was no longer a chair of roses, such adverse situations all along never deterred him from envisaging what he dreamt of the state. Bhoomi, digitisation of land records commissioned during his stewardship. Likewise, the metering of domestic electric consumption digitally was another highlight. So was the implementation of several IT initiatives in several departments of the state government. Streamlining the Passport applications through the TCS software was also made possible when he took over as the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Bengaluru on the global map: H D Devegowda, as the prime minister laid the foundation stone for the first IT Park in Bengaluru, which many are not aware of. But it goes to the credit of S M Krishna as the chief minister in making Bengaluru blossom into the Silicon Valley of India. Along with the global giants in the field, hundreds and thousands of companies set their shops here to cater to clients worldwide, thus making Bengaluru a sought-after city for all those wishing to make a career in the digital world.
Thrust for specialization in education: It was the brain-child of S M Krishna to develop higher education centres of learning based on specialization and this very thought paved the way for the establishment of the Visvesveraya Technological University (VTU) in Belagavi, Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women's University in Vijayapura, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal And Fisheries Sciences University in Bidar, University of Horticultural Sciences in Bagalkot among many others.
Akshara Dasoha Mid-Day Meals Scheme: Even the ambitious mid-day meal scheme for government school children to curtail the dropouts percentage was introduced during the tenure of S M Krishna as the state chief minister.
A voracious reader, and lover of arts: S M Krishna, unlike run-of-the-mill type mediocre people in politics had developed a rich taste in enjoying every sphere of life. Not only was he a voracious reader of art and literature but also a connoisseur of arts. He was the President of Karnataka Chitra Kala Parishat Trust and donned that role for multiple decades.
A visitor to music conclaves: He enjoyed listening to classical music and had made it a habit to go to places just to be present at the conferences of stalwarts and found time to be present at the Kannada comedy shows. Some of the comedians had to enact their part just to reach out to the taste buds of the learned VIP guest.
A Lawn Tennis player: He had also developed a penchant for playing Lawn Tennis and was actively associated with the state Lawn Tennis Association whether in or out of power. Irrespective of his hectic schedule he always found time for his favourite sports. He also used to be a regular witness to many Wimbledon Championships.
A lapse that costs ministership: A lapse in reading out the Portugal minister's speech at the United Nations assembly instead of his own cost him the position of ministership. Perhaps that was the last straw in his political innings. He was upset, sad and worrisome but never expressed any displeasure against anyone in public and that was the stature of his personality in public life.
Why did he join the BJP? Perhaps the only intriguing puzzle he has left behind in his admirers is his resolve to join the saffron party at the fag end of his political career and after enjoying every position possible. Perhaps the query continues to remain unanswered for a long now!
-Manohar Yadavatti
Nice Sir
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