In appreciation of one woman’s great service

Remembered: Anjalai was gifted with a book holding her collection of INA-related photographs on her 101st birthday celebration last year. — Filepic/The Star

THE Malaysia-India Heritage Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Anjalai Ponnusamy, who breathed her last on June 1 at the ripe old age of 102.

Anjalai was a veteran soldier of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women’s wing of the Indian National Army (INA) formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during World War II. She is celebrated by the Malaysia-India Heritage Group for the historical link between Malaysia and India that she embodied in the common struggle for freedom from colonial rule and for human dignity.

Netaji himself had once acknowledged the role played by Malayans in India’s struggle for freedom. In his own words, “The contribution of Malayan Indians to India’s struggle for freedom ... has been great ... and India will remain grateful .... In particular, Malaya has contributed a large number of men who have fought bravely and died for India’s freedom, and Malaya has made the largest contribution to the ranks of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.”

It was a contribution not just for India, but also Malaysia. Thanks to the role played by the INA in Malaya and Singapore, a number of women leaders from other races were inspired by the women leaders of the regiment. They emerged from obscurity in large numbers during and after the war. The courage and freedom that they embodied was totally unimaginable in pre-war Malaya, and Anjalai – who had just one or two years of formal education – went on to become a respected community leader in this country.

It was in the INA that women enjoyed the same rights as men for the first time in the country, including equal pay.

Rasammah Bhupalan, who was a veteran alongside Anjalai, fought for women’s rights in post-war Malaya, and succeeded in getting equal pay for men and women in our country.

Let us honour Anjalai for her priceless service to the cause of freedom, for which we are ever grateful.

PRABHAKARAN NAIR

Founder

Malaysia-India Heritage Foundation