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“Computers and IT are my two key weapons to turn Karnataka into a modern state,” said SM Krishna in 1999, just months after becoming the Chief Minister. Those “weapons” have put the state and its capital, Bengaluru, on the global map of technology-driven innovations. And much of the credit for transforming Bengaluru into a global IT hub goes to SM Krishna.
Former Karnataka CM SM Krishna who passed away on Tuesday, is hailed by many as the man who helped Bengaluru turn into India’s Silicon Valley.
“The man who was instrumental in Bengaluru’s transformation into an IT capital,” wrote a Bengaluru resident on X.
“Sri SM Krishna took Bangalore to the future by envisioning it as India’s Silicon Valley and laid its foundation as the IT capital of India,” said movie producer Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, wife of late Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar.
The US-educated CM took the right turn towards the infotech highway at the right time, the dawn of the 21st century.
Not only the IT sector, SM Krishna also played a role in revolutionising public service delivery across the state by planting the seeds of tech-driven governance.
We’ll explore how the Mandya farmer’s son, first introduced to computers while studying law in the US, shaped today’s Bengaluru and Karnataka.
THE IT REVOLUTION IN KARNATAKA WITH SM KRISHNA AT HELM
Krishna’s foresight in recognising the potential of the IT sector at the dawn of the 21st century was crucial. He initiated policies that fostered the growth of the IT and biotechnology (BT) sectors, turning Bengaluru into an international hub.
His efforts led to the establishment of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) in 1999, a body comprising experts from various sectors aimed at preparing a blueprint for the city’s development with a futuristic vision.
He roped in infotech industry leaders like Wipro chief Azim Premji, Infosys Chairman Narayana Murthy and Microland boss Pradeep Kar to invest in Bengaluru.
At this point, it seemed Krishna was set to give his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, the computer-savvy CM, a run for his money, according to a report in India Today Magazine in 1999.
The Krishna government aimed to raise software exports from Rs 3,200 crore in 1999 to Rs 15,000 crore within five years, while positioning the state as a hub for hardware firms.
Not just in Bengaluru, Krishna also planned cyberparks in Mysore and Hubli too.
“SM Krishna was a visionary gentleman-politician who encouraged IT, new Bengaluru airport and several other foundational ideas to advance Karnataka,” Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy said on Tuesday, mourning Krishna’s passing.
The growth of the IT sector in Bengaluru, followed the real estate boom, and the establishment of the city as a global gateway.
In his condolence message, former Union IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar mentioned how Krishna was among his mentors. “He transformed Bengaluru into a global IT hub during his tenure. A gentleman politician who epitomised dignity in politics, he was one of my earliest mentors and supported my entry into public service.”
Bengaluru-based billionaire entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw remembered Krishna as a “visionary moderniser” and “one of the great CMs of the country”.
“SM Krishna was a visionary moderniser who transformed the way Karnataka developed into tech leadership. He created Vision Groups that are a unique model the world over. I consider him as one of the great CMs of the country,” Shaw wrote on X.
Today, IT exports from Karnataka are inching closer to the USD 100 billion (Rs 8,3 lakh crore) mark of Rs 7.55 lakh crore in 2022. Bengaluru alone accounts for around 30-40% of India’s total IT exports, employing 10 lakh people directly and 30 lakh indirectly.
SM KRISHNA PIONEERED TECH-ENABLED PUBLIC SERVICE, E-GOVERNENCE IN KARNATAKA
SM Krishna’s legacy is not limited to the IT sector. He implemented several tech-driven social and economic initiatives through the initiation of e-governance that had a profound impact on the state.
Two months into the office in 1999, SM Krishna launched a video-conferencing facility in Karnataka, wiring up nine districts at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. He would stay connected with District Collectors and the SPs through his computer.
“Soon we will be taking this facility to the taluk headquarters and the rural sectors so that the living conditions of the people there can be improved,” SM Krishna told India Today in 1999.
Krishna decided that priority application areas for IT would be agriculture, primary and reproductive healthcare, planning and administration at all levels and low-cost communication.
At the dawn of the new millennium, Krishna launched a bilingual portal site, www (dot)on-linebangalore(dot)com to communicate with his officials.
The Karnataka CM also planned to introduce IT in school curriculum across the state.
In 2004, when Krishna’s tenure ended as the Karnataka CM, he went on to play a part in national politics, eventually becoming India’s foreign minister. He never became the Karnata CM again.
While SM Krishna took Karnataka onto the infotech highway 25 years back, the joys of the ride continue to benefit Karnataka and the ever-growing Bengaluru. He will always be remembered as the person who turned Bengaluru into India’s Silicon Valley.
