Devan Nair

Chengara Veetil Devan Nair (August 5, 1923–December 7, 2005) was the third President of Singapore and was elected by Parliament on October 23, 1981. He served as President until 1985.

He was born in Malacca, Malaysia, but migrated to Singapore when he was 10 years old where he was educated in Rangoon Road Primary School and subsequently in Victoria School where he passed his Senior Cambridge examination in 1940.

Initially, a member of the Communist Anti-British League, he joined Lee Kuan Yew's People's Action Party in 1954. He was the only PAP member to win in the Malaysian general election, 1964, winning the Bangsar constituency, near Kuala Lumpur. He stayed in Malaysia after the Separation, forming the Democratic Action Party, but returned to Singapore to lead the labour union movement and found the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). He won the Anson seat in the 1979 elections, and accepted the largely ceremonial post of president in 1981.

On March 28, 1985, Devan Nair resigned. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated in parliament that Nair resigned to get treatment for alcoholism, a charge Nair denied. According to Nair's counterclaim, he resigned under pressure when their political views came into conflict and also alleged that he was fed drugs to make him appear disoriented, and rumours were spread about his personal life in an attempt to discredit him.

Nair moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1995 where he passed away on December 7, 2005. He will always be remembered for his contributions especially for leading the labour movement.