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| ==Career== | ==Career== | ||
| Initially, a member of the Communist ], he joined ]'s ] in ]. He was the only PAP member to win in the ], ], winning the ] constituency, near ]. He stayed in Malaysia after the ], forming the ], but returned to Singapore to lead the labor union movement and found the ]. He won the Anson seat in the ] |
Initially, a member of the Communist ], he joined ]'s ] in ]. He was the only PAP member to win in the ], ], winning the ] constituency, near ]. He stayed in Malaysia after the ], forming the ], but returned to Singapore to lead the labor union movement and found the ]. He won the Anson seat in the ]. He was nominated by the then prime minister ] to be the next president of ] in 1981. He accepted the largely ceremonial post. | ||
| ==Resignation== | ==Resignation== | ||
| During his presidency, Nair had become a severe critic of his former ally, ] | |||
| On ], ], Nair resigned in unclear |
On ], ], Nair resigned in unclear and controversial circumstances. Lee stated in parliament that Nair had been forced to resign because of his alleged ] and womanising, charges that Nair vehenmently denied. According to Nair's counterclaim, he resigned under pressure when their political views came into conflict and Lee threatened to seek a motion in parliament to oust him as president. Nair 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. In 1999, an article about the case in the Canadan newspaper '']'' resulted in a ] suit by Lee. The suit was thrown out of court after Nair's counterclaim. | ||
| ⚫ | Nair moved to ], ] in ]. Upon the death of his wife, Avadai Dhanam in ], ], it was noted that the then terminally-ill former president ] had sent condolences just two weeks before his own death. He passed away in Canada at around 12 noon ] on ], ]. He was buried on ], ] on Human Rights Day, in a cemetary in ], ]. No government official from ] was sent to attend the funeral. His family had said that Nair's body might be exhumed and reburied in ] in the future, but whether the government of ] agrees to this remains to be seen. | ||
| ⚫ | Nair moved to ], ] in ]. Upon the death of his wife, Avadai Dhanam in ], ], it was noted that the then terminally-ill former president ] had sent condolences just two weeks before his own death. He passed away in Canada at around 12 noon ] on ], ]. | ||
| ==Family== | ==Family== | ||
| Nair is survived by 4 sons and 5 grandchildren. His eldest son, Janadas Devan, is a senior editor with |
Nair is survived by 4 sons and 5 grandchildren. His eldest son, Janadas Devan, is a senior editor with Singapore's ]. | ||
| == Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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Revision as of 15:42, 22 April 2006
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| Presidency began | October 23 1981 |
|---|---|
| Presidency ended | March 28 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Malacca, Malaysia |
| Place of Death | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Wife | Avada Dhanam (born 1925, died 2005) |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew (1959–1990) |
Chengara Veetil Devan Nair, also known as C. V. Devan Nair, (August 5, 1923–December 6, 2005) was the third President of Singapore and was elected by Parliament on October 23, 1981. He served as President until 1985.
Youth
Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia, but he and his family migrated to Singapore when he was 10 years old. When he was young, he received his education first at Rangoon Road Primary School and then at Victoria School where he passed his Senior Cambridge examination in 1940.
Career
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 labor union movement and found the National Trades Union Congress. He won the Anson seat in the 1979 elections. He was nominated by the then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew to be the next president of Singapore in 1981. He accepted the largely ceremonial post.
Resignation
During his presidency, Nair had become a severe critic of his former ally, Lee Kuan Yew On March 28, 1985, Nair resigned in unclear and controversial circumstances. Lee stated in parliament that Nair had been forced to resign because of his alleged alcoholism and womanising, charges that Nair vehenmently denied. According to Nair's counterclaim, he resigned under pressure when their political views came into conflict and Lee threatened to seek a motion in parliament to oust him as president. Nair 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. In 1999, an article about the case in the Canadan newspaper Globe and Mail resulted in a libel suit by Lee. The suit was thrown out of court after Nair's counterclaim.
Nair moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1995. Upon the death of his wife, Avadai Dhanam in April 18, 2005, it was noted that the then terminally-ill former president Wee Kim Wee had sent condolences just two weeks before his own death. He passed away in Canada at around 12 noon SST on December 7, 2005. He was buried on December 10, 2005 on Human Rights Day, in a cemetary in Hamilton, Ontario. No government official from Singapore was sent to attend the funeral. His family had said that Nair's body might be exhumed and reburied in Singapore in the future, but whether the government of Singapore agrees to this remains to be seen.
Family
Nair is survived by 4 sons and 5 grandchildren. His eldest son, Janadas Devan, is a senior editor with Singapore's Straits Times.
Sources
- Former Singapore President Devan Nair dies
- Amnesty International 2005 round up on Singapore
- Dodsworth & Brown Funeral Home (Robinson Chapel)
- UPI - New York times Archive (Published March 29, 1985)
| Preceded byBenjamin Sheares | President of Singapore 1981-1985 |
Succeeded byWee Kim Wee |