Janaky Athi Nahappan

Puan Sri Datin Janaky Devar (25 February 1925 – 9 May 2014), better known as Janaky Athi Nahappan, was a founding member of the Malaysian Indian Congress and one of the earliest women involved in the fight for Malaysian (then Malaya) independence.

Yang Berbahagia Puan Sri Datin Janaky Athi Nahappan
Born	Janaky Devar 25 February 1925 Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died	9 May 2014(2014-05-09) (aged 89) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nationality	Tamil Malaysians
Known for	Figure of Indian independence movement And Malaysian independence movement, Co founder of Malaysian Indian Congress
Title	Notable commander of Rani of Jhansi Regiment Indian National Army, Puan Sri
Political party	Malaysian Indian Congress
Spouse(s)	Athi Nahappan
Children	Ishwar Nahappan, Gouri Nahappan, Jayashri Nahappan

Janaki grew up in a well-to-do Tamil family in Malaya and was only 16 when she heard Subhas Chandra Bose'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. 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 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.[1]

After World War II she emerged as a welfare activist.

Janaki found the Indian National Congress's fight for Indian independence inspiring and joined the Indian Congress Medical Mission in then Malaya. In 1946 Nahappan helped John Thivy to establish the Malayan Indian Congress, which was modelled after the Indian National Congress. The party saw Thivy as its first president. Later in life, she became a senator in the Dewan Negara of the Malaysian Parliament.

The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 2000.[2] She died at her house on 9 May 2014 due to pneumonia.[3]

See also

• Rasammah Bhupalan
• Lakshmi Sahgal

References

1. Women Against the Raj: The Rani of Jhansi Regiment By Joyce C. Lebra, p.xii
2. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
3. (in Malay) Pejuang kemerdekaan Janaky meninggal dunia

External links

• Mothers of substance, The Star, 20 August 2007.
• They dared to take up public office, The Star, 20 August 2007.
• Biographies of INA freedom Fighter National Archives of Singapore
• Times of India
• Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army. Asian Journal, Radio Singapore International.
• Biography of Janaky Athi Nahappan
• Puan Sri Janaky Athi Nahappan Passes Away At Age 89