Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna (SM Krishna), the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away on December 10, 2024, at the age of 92 following a prolonged illness. He died at his residence in Bengaluru, and his family confirmed that his mortal remains would be taken to his hometown of Maddur.

Krishna is widely remembered for his key role in transforming Bengaluru into India’s Silicon Valley. As the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, he was instrumental in the state's growth, particularly in developing Bengaluru as a major hub for information technology. This transformation helped put India on the global tech map, with Bengaluru becoming a prime rival to the tech giants of Silicon Valley in the United States.

During the same period, N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, was also focusing on transforming Hyderabad into an IT powerhouse, making the two leaders fierce competitors in the race to lead India’s tech industry. While both cities flourished, Krishna’s vision and leadership helped Bengaluru become the country’s leading tech destination.

In addition to his regional contributions, Krishna gained national prominence, serving as India’s External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012 under the UPA government. He also served as the Governor of Maharashtra and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017. His legacy was recognized in 2023 when he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor.

A trained lawyer, Krishna earned his degrees from George Washington University and Southern Methodist University in the U.S. He was a prominent figure in both Indian politics and on the international stage, representing India at the United Nations and other global forums.