A pioneer remembered: Krishna V. Srinivasa (June 27, 1944- November 18, 2024)

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An Indian American leader in business and community affairs, as well as a man devoted to strengthening US-India relations, Krishna V. Srinivasa, passed away November 18, 2024, in Florida.

The Executive Director of the advocacy organization, US India Security Council, Krishna, as he was familiarly referred to, was a pioneer in many ways, especially in Software Development/IT Staffing. He was one of the first entrepreneurs to bring Indian programmers into USA in the 1980s. His company – Professional Consulting Services – was a pioneer in software development, data processing and staffing. He mentored many IT companies that flourished into huge companies, including the US operations of TCS (Tata Consultancy Services).

He was one of the first advocates for strengthening US-India relations. He worked closely with high profile Americans, including US Presidents, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill, to shape relations between the two democracies. Among them were President Ronald Reagan, President H.W Bush, President G.W. Bush, and on Capitol Hill, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Senator McCain, Congressmen Gary Ackerman, Benjamin Gillman, Joseph Crowley, Bob Menendez and others. He also worked closely with many former Indian Prime Ministers – Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

He worked on many landmark initiatives that helped shape US- India relations. In the late 1980s, he helped negotiate with the Indian Government to allow refueling of American planes during the Iraq conflict during the H.W. Bush administration. He was also very actively involved and helped in the US India Civil Nuclear deal, working with late Senator John McCain in getting the US-India strategic defense agreement signed.

He mentored many Indian American community leaders, especially those who were involved with the Indian American Forum for Political Education which was very active on Capitol Hil in the mid-1980s and into the 1990s. Krishna was Past President of IAFPE.

He was a Delegate to the National White House Conference on Small Business under President Reagan.

Krishna was born in Chandavaram, Andhra Pradesh, on June 27, 1944, to Rama Bhupala Sarma and Lakshmi Narasamma Chaturvedula.

He earned his BA in Economics from Narasarao Peta College, his MA in Economics from Andhra University (Vizag), where he graduated with the Golden Award.

He came to the United States in 1969, where he earned an MBA from Emory University.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his elder brother, Mallikarjuna Sarma and his sister Rajyalakshmi.

Krishna is survived by two brothers: Koteswar Krishna (his wife, Vijaya) and Narishmha Murthy Krishnavajhala, (his wife, Lakshmi) his daughter, Srilaxmi Krishnavajhala Hall and her husband, Charles Hall and four grandchildren – Lakshana Hall, Lalitha Hall, Teja Hall, and Koty Hall; nephews: Rama Bhupala Sarma, Mahabala Koteswar Sastry; Nieces: Sreedevi, Aparna, Swathi, Swapna, Sirisha, Bhargavi and Ramya and many grand nieces and nephews.

Krishna V. Srinivasa will be remembered for his soft-spoken manner, witty nature and good heart and also the many lives he touched and many people he helped. We pray to God to keep his Soul in Peace.

(Family Obituary)