President S R Nathan
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
Ministers and Members of Parliament
Fellow unionists and comrades
Mr Janadas Devan and family
Ladies and gentlemen
1 Today, we mourn the passing of Mr Devan Nair.
2 Many young unionists and staff in the NTUC may not fully appreciate just how much Devan has contributed to the labour movement.
3 Devan Nair was the very first Secretary-General of the NTUC. But his involvement in fighting for the common man began way before that. Almost as soon as he became a teacher after the second world war, he was involved in trade unions. It was the beginning of a long journey with the labour movement that was to last three decades. Three decades where he left a firm imprint of his personal values and vision which shaped a large part of what the NTUC is today.
4 Through many trials and tribulations, he has always held steadfast to his belief in fighting for the average man and worker. He was a firm believer in social justice, fairness and the responsibility everyone has to his fellow men. His sense of charity and compassion was obvious to all who knew him.
5 Throughout his involvement with the labour movement, he commanded great respect from workers and unionists. In 1961, the Public Daily-Rated Unions’ Federation of the then City Council had been on strike for some days, and the Government offered to take it to the Industrial Arbitration Court. When this proved futile, the Prime Minister then asked the Federation what other steps it wanted the government to take. The Daily-Rated Union Federation then said that it was prepared to negotiate a settlement in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Labour Minister, but only if Devan Nair was present.
6 I am sure that there are many more incidents which show his stature within the labour movement which may not be documented, but were firmly imprinted in the memories of all who knew and worked with him.
7 Devan Nair also had a distinct fair-mindedness and even-handedness in his trade union dealings. He was just as severe in his censuring of errant unionists as he was of errant employers. But many of those at the receiving end bore no ill-feeling but instead welcome him with open arms when they meet again. He gave due credit to his opponents and even his detractors when they were due. Such was his humility. I believe this further enhanced his standing in the eyes of supporters and opponents alike.
8 Some may not know that he was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the then University of Singapore in 1976, but has never used his doctorate degree because he felt that he did not earn it in the ‘academic way’.
9 In his response to the publisher of a book on his speeches and writings, he said this:
“It is with humility that one recognizes that nobody really makes himself in entirety. In truth, we all help, in incalculable ways, to make each other. So do the events and experiences we live through together. Not to be excluded are the political opponents we had to fight and overcome. They too were part of the same milieu.”
10 Much has been said of Devan Nair the visionary founder of the NTUC and charismatic speaker. I would like to pay tribute to Devan Nair, the humble and fair leader, who will always command a special place in the hearts of those who knew him.
11 I would end with a personal quote from him which I think sums this up well:
“ ‘A labourer must be worthy of his hire’ is only partial wisdom. A completor wisdom would also add the corollary that, at the same time, ‘The master must be worthy of his servant, and the leader of his followers.’ ”
