John Thivy

John Aloysius Thivy (1904-1959) was a prominent Malayan Indian nationalist and the founding president of the Malayan Indian Congress. He was a lawyer by occupation.

Thivy finished schooling at St. Michael's Institution in Ipoh, Perak. He studied law in London, before returning to practice in Malaya. In London, Thivy had a chance to meet Mohandas Gandhi and came to be interested in the Indian independence movement. On his return to Malaya, after getting his law degree in 1932, he became actively involved in the Indian nationalist movements.

Later, after the fall of Malaya to the Japanese, Thivy's interest was rekindled by a speech given by Subhas Chandra Bose in one his rallies in 1943. Thivy joined the Indian National Army in 1943 and served in the Burma Front.

After the Japan's surrender, John Thivy was held at Changi prison for anti-colonial activities and was only released after India's independence.

In August 1946, Thivy became the Founder President of the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC), which represented Indian interests in Malaya. He was helped in the setting up of the party by other notable individuals such as Janaky Athi Nahappan. The MIC was modelled after the Indian National Congress. The party actively participated in the Malayan Independence movement.

In 1948, Thivy was appointed as an official to represent India in Southeast Asia by the Nehru Government.