He was a sort of twin to DMK supremo M Karunanidhi: born on the same day 93 years ago. In common with MK, he had an indomitable spirit. He focused on promoting relations with Japan.
N Krishnaswamy was popular teaching Economics at the A M Jain College and Vivekananda College. He joined the Japanese Consulate and over the next few decades promoted economic and cultural relations with Japan. He founded the Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and has had the satisfaction of seeing the investment funds and trade relations with Japan expanding manifold. The Japan Investment and Consultancy Agency (JICA) has catalysed massive investments in several infrastructure projects in the state, most notably, the Chennai Metro Rail. Over the last decade over 300 Japanese firms have set up businesses in Tamil Nadu, and the expat population has increased manifold.
In his demise we have lost a suave expert and an indefatigable promoter of bilateral relations.