K. Jana Krishnamurthy, a former union minister, lawyer, journalist, and accomplished orator from Tamil Nadu, remains largely unrecognised after his death, joining the ranks of forgotten doyens and unsung heroes of Bharat’s freedom struggle. Born on May 24, 1928, in Madurai, Krishnamurthy pursued his education in Economics, History, and Politics before earning a law degree in Chennai.
He practiced law in Madurai for 12 years and was renowned for his eloquence in both Tamil and English, excelling in inter-collegiate debates and earning numerous accolades during his student years. Despite his contributions, his legacy has faded from public memory.
Jana Krishnamurthy joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1940, soon after its establishment in Madurai. By 1945, he had completed his three-year training and served as a Pracharak in Madurai until 1951, following the passing of his father. Active in the RSS, he rose to become the Pranth Baudhik Pramukh of Tamil Nadu.
During the Emergency period (1975-77) imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Krishnamurthy played a key role as the secretary of the Resistance movement in Tamil Nadu. Under the state of Emergency, civil liberties were suspended, press freedom was denied, censorship was enforced, and political leaders were arrested. Krishnamurthy was instrumental in coordinating efforts to resist the authoritarian measures in place during this critical period in Bharat’s history.
Krishnamurthy joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) in 1965, at the request of RSS Sarsanghchalak Guruji Golwalkar, serving as the party’s State Secretary in Tamil Nadu. In 1968, he left his successful law practice to become a full-time member of the BJS, responding to the call of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, following the 1953 murder of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Recognised for his oratory by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who took charge of the party in 1967, Krishnamurthy became a key figure in the BJS.
After the mysterious death of Deendayal Upadhyay in 1968, the momentum of the Jana Sangh slowed. To revive the party, RSS Sarsanghchalak MS Golwalkar called for patriots to join the Jana Sangh, a call that led Vajpayee to become its President. Under Golwalkar’s guidance, Krishnamurthy was tasked with expanding the BJS in Tamil Nadu, a state where Dravidian ideologies were on the rise and Congress had lost its influence due to widespread corruption.
In 1977, K. Jana Krishnamurthy became a regular member of the National Executive of the Janata Party and served as the General Secretary of its Tamil Nadu unit following the merger of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) into the Janata Party. When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was formed in 1980, he was among its founding secretaries. Krishnamurthy advanced within the party, becoming one of the General Secretaries in 1983 and later serving as Vice-President in 1985.
In 1993, at the request of L.K. Advani, he moved to Delhi to oversee the Intellectual Cell, focusing on economic, defense, and foreign affairs. From 1995 onwards, he managed the BJP’s headquarters and served as the party’s spokesperson. On March 14, 2001, Krishnamurthy was appointed President of the BJP, making him the first person from Tamil Nadu to hold this position, a role he fulfilled until June 2002.
An accomplished translator and writer, Krishnamurthy translated speeches of prominent RSS leaders and politicians, including Vajpayee and Advani, into Tamil. In 1998, he contested the Lok Sabha election from South Chennai, losing by a narrow margin, and also participated in Tamil Nadu state assembly elections.
Journalist Anantha Narayanan highlighted Krishnamurthy’s contributions on social media, stating that he, along with Khushabhau Thakre and Sunder Singh Bhandari, were legendary organisers who helped lay the foundation for the BJP, supported by countless dedicated workers.
It’s been 17 years since he left this planet, and we still miss Appa just as much as we did in 2007. There were many adorable things about him. Here are three anecdotes that offer a glimpse of who he was.
MR STAINLESS STEEL
I think it was around the late seventies or early… pic.twitter.com/v6KpAiz5f6— Anantha Narayan (@ThisIsAnantha) September 25, 2024
K. Jana Krishnamurthy served as the Union Minister of Law and Justice after a Cabinet reshuffle led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on July 1, 2002, at the age of 72. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. An avid reader with a keen interest in human nature, Krishnamurthy also enjoyed music. He is survived by his two sons and three daughters, all of whom are professionally settled.
Your correspondent had the opportunity to meet Krishnamurthy several times at his T Nagar residence during election campaigning, where I served as a booth agent and assisted in canvassing votes for him through various efforts.
Affectionately known as “Jana” by friends and associates due to his long-standing connection with the Jan Sangh, Krishnamurthy passed away on September 25, 2007, at a hospital in Chennai following a prolonged illness. He was 79 years old.
