K. Subrahmanyam

In this Indian name, the name Krishnaswamy is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Subrahmanyam.
K. Subrahmanyam
An image of a grey-haired Indian man with glasses
K Subrahmanyam
Director, IDSA
In office
10 October 1968 – 30 September 1975
In office
1 April 1980 – 31 July 1987
Personal details
Born19 January 1929
Tiruchirapalli, Madras Presidency, British India
Died2 February 2011
(aged 82)
New Delhi, India
SpouseSulochana Jayasankar
Children4, including Jaishankar and Sanjay
EducationPresidency College, Chennai
London School of Economics
OccupationStrategic affairs analyst, India

Krishnaswamy Subrahmanyam (19 January 1929 – 2 February 2011) was a prominent international strategic affairs analyst, journalist and former Indian civil servant. Considered a proponent of Realpolitik, Subrahmanyam was an influential voice in Indian security affairs for a long time. He was most often referred to as the doyen of India's strategic affairs community, and as the premier ideological champion of India's nuclear deterrent.[1][2][3] His son S Jaishankar was appointed India's External Affairs Minister in 2019.

Subrahmanyam was a key figure in framing and influencing Indian security, nuclear policy and in advocating Indian nuclear positions on the global stage, both as a policy work and as a journalist.[4] He was the second director of the New Delhi–based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. He is also noted for having steered several Indian government committees and commissions of inquiry, including the Kargil Review Committee after the Kargil War. Subrahmanyam was a major advocate of the 2007 Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, adding some heft to the Manmohan Singh government's championing of the deal in the face of much opposition.[5][6]

He was afflicted by cancer in his final years, and died of a cardiac arrest at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2011, where he had been hospitalised for lung and cardiac problems.[7]

  1. ^ Bhaskar, C. Uday (19 July 2008). "A legend in uniform". Frontline.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Karnad, Bharat (6 May 2007). "Minimum deterrence and the India-US nuclear deal". Seminar India.
  3. ^ Ram, N (10 September 1999). "Dreaming India's nuclear future". Frontline. Archived from the original on 24 November 2002. Retrieved 25 May 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ Mattoo, Amitabh; Cortright, David (10 May 1996). "India and Pakistan: A Post-Election Status Report". Boston University. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  5. ^ Sengupta, Somini (10 December 2006). "Interests Drive U.S. to Back a Nuclear India". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  6. ^ "India in Overdrive to Conclude Nuclear Deal". The Seoul Times. 10 January 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Strategic expert K Subrahmanyam dead". Times of India. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2021.