The Presidents of Singapore: Devan Nair

C.V. Devan Nair, the son of a rubber plantation clerk, rose from

humble beginnings to become an outstanding union leader, a

Member of Parliament, and eventually President of Singapore.

This book, which is targeted at upper primary and lower secondary

pupils, describes Nair’s childhood and his years growing up in an

anti-colonial household.


It also describes in detail how, during the tumultuous post-war

years, Nair came to the attention of the British authorities, who

were cracking down on anti-colonial activities, and ended up

spending a total of about five years in detention.

It gives an excellent overview of the exciting early years of Nair’s

life in the 1950s and 60s as a teacher, a unionist and an MP, and

highlights his dedication and contributions to the NTUC.