Alladi Ramakrishnan, an Indian physicist and the founder of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences was his son.

Krishnaswamy Iyer was born in a Dravida Brahmin Alladi family[1][2][3] in 1883 in the small village of Pudur in Madras State (present day Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh).

Krishnaswamy passed his matriculation examination in 1899 and joined the Madras Christian College to study history.

"[7] When the Constituent Assembly adopted the principle of universal adult franchise, Iyer, a member, remarked that this was done, "with an abundant faith in the common man and the ultimate success of democratic rule, and in the full belief that the introduction of democratic government on the basis of adult suffrage will bring enlightenment and promote the well-being, the standard of life, the comfort, and the decent living of the common man".

Alladi Memorial Lectures are delivered every year on issues relating to the Indian Constitution.