Puan Sri Datin Janaky (25 February 1925 – 9 May 2014), better known as Janaky Athi Nahappan, was a founding member of the

Malaysian Indian Congress The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC; ta, மலேசிய இந்திய காங்கிரஸ், Malēciya Intiya Kāṅkiras; formerly known as Malayan Indian Congress) is a Malaysian political party. It is one of the founding membe ...

and one of the earliest women involved in the fight for Malaysian (then

Malaya Malaya refers to a number of historical and current political entities related to what is currently Peninsular Malaysia in Southeast Asia: Political entities * British Malaya (1826–1957), a loose collection of the British colony of the Straits ...

) independence. Janaki grew up in a privileged Tamil family in Malaya and was only 16 when she heard

Subhas Chandra Bose Subhas Chandra Bose ( ; 23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945 * * * * * * * * *) was an Indian nationalist whose defiance of British authority in India made him a hero among Indians, but his wartime alliances with Nazi Germany and Imperia ...

's appeal to Indians to give whatever they could for their fight for Indian independence. Immediately she took off her gold earrings and donated them. She was determined to join the women's wing, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the

Indian National Army The Indian National Army (INA; ''Azad Hind Fauj'' ; 'Free Indian Army') was a collaborationist armed force formed by Indian collaborators and Imperial Japan on 1 September 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Its aim was to secure In ...

. There was strong family objection especially from her father. But after much persuasion, her father finally agreed. She was among the first women to join the Indian National Army organised during the

Japanese occupation of Malaya The then British colony of Malaya was gradually occupied by the Japanese between 8 December 1941 and the Allied surrender at Singapore on 16 February 1942. The Japanese remained in occupation until their surrender to the Allies in 1945. The ...

to fight for Indian independence with the Japanese. Having been brought up in luxury, she initially could not adapt to the rigours of army life. However, she gradually got used to military life and her career in the regiment took off. She became second in command of the regiment. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

she emerged as a welfare activist. Janaki found the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...

's fight for Indian independence inspiring and joined the Indian Congress Medical Mission in then

. In 1946 Nahappan helped John Thivy to establish the

Malayan Indian Congress The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC; ta, மலேசிய இந்திய காங்கிரஸ், Malēciya Intiya Kāṅkiras; formerly known as Malayan Indian Congress) is a Malaysian political party. It is one of the founding membe ...

, which was modelled after the

. The party saw Thivy as its first president. Later in life, she became a senator in the

Dewan Negara The Dewan Negara (English language, English: Senate; Literal translation, lit. "State Council") is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia, consisting of 70 senators of whom 26 are elected by the State legislative assemblies of Malaysia, ...

of the

Malaysian Parliament The Parliament of Malaysia ( ms, Parlimen Malaysia) is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives, lit. "People's Assembly") and the D ...

. The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

in 2000. She died at her house on 9 May 2014 due to pneumonia.Pejuang kemerdekaan Janaky meninggal dunia
/ref>

References

External links

Mothers of substance
''The Star'', 20 August 2007.
They dared to take up public office
''The Star'', 20 August 2007.

* *
Biography of Janaky Athi Nahappan

Puan Sri Janaky Athi Nahappan Passes Away At Age 89
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athi Nahappan, Janaky 1925 births 2014 deaths Deaths from pneumonia in Malaysia Indian National Army personnel Indian revolutionaries Indian women in war Malaysian politicians of Tamil descent Malaysian people of Indian descent Women members of the Dewan Negara Women in Kuala Lumpur politics Malaysian Indian Congress politicians Members of the Dewan Negara Tamil military personnel Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work Women in war 1900–1945 Indian people of World War II Indian women of World War II 20th-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian politicians 20th-century Malaysian politicians

See also

References

External links