User talk:Marshan

Tan Sri Dato Athinahappan

Tan Sri Dato'Athinahappan was a Minister of Law in Malaysia. He played a fundamental role for the government of Malaysia and who also helped Indian community in prospering. He died of heart attack in 1976 while giving a speech in the Federal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur leaving behind wife Puan Sri Janaki Athinahappan, a son Ishwar Nahappan and two daughters, Gowri Nahappan and Jayasri Nahappan.

When Tan Sri Athi Nahappan died 32 years ago on April 4th 1976 and one month before he died he made a speech at a dinner in his honor by the Penang State MIC at Wisma Perseketuan. Let me read you a paragraph from his speech.

“The Government is now concerned with the eradication of poverty of all the races. This will be emphasized in our 3rd Malaysia Plan.

“Poverty is to be found in every community. In solving poverty we should not think of Malay poverty, Chinese poverty or Indian poverty. There can only be one poverty and that is NATIONAL POVERTY which must be solved regardless of race. I am aware that the Prime Minister (Tun Hussein Onn) is determined to eliminate the poverty of the nation as a whole. The answer to poverty is the equal distribution of opportunities, income and wealth. The MIC is determined to work with the govt to ensure that this will happen.”

Tan Sri Dato Athi Nahappan and Puan Sri Datin Janaki Athinahappan, were not only founder-members of MIC, their contributions to freedom, justice and integrity are written in gold in MIC and Malaysian history. Puan Sri Janaki joined the Indian National Army (INA) at the age of 17 and rose to Captain and Second-in-Command of Rhani of Jhansi Regiment, the only woman’s regiment in the INA. Tan Sri Athi Nahappan will forever be remembered for his life-long commitment to democracy immortalized by the Athi Nahappan Report on Local Government calling for restoration of local government elections.