Avadai Dhanalakshmi

Avadai Dhanam Lakshimi, widely known as Dhanam (1925-2005), holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman to serve as a member of parliament, as well as the first Indian ‘First Lady’ of Singapore. Born in Singapore, a fourth-generation Singaporean, Dhanam studied at the Ramakrishna Mission School. She married C V Devan Nair in 1953. Nair was sent to prison in 1956 on charges of pro-Communist involvement and was released when the People's Action Party (PAP) won the elections in 1959. During these three years, Dhanam managed the family with her part-time sewing income and a monthly stipend of $300 provided by the Singapore Traction Company (STC), where Nair served as a union leader. 

In the 1963 general elections, as Nair was residing in Malaysia, Dhanam contested the Moulmein constituency as a PAP candidate and won, becoming a member of the then legislative assembly. She also became the first Indian woman Member of Parliament (MP) when the Singapore Legislative Assembly was transformed into a Parliament in 1965. She served a full term until 1968. During these five years, she actively participated in debates and spoke of her concerns for women and the economically disadvantaged. She raised questions on abortion, citizenship, national service, hospital conditions and the Tamil language, among other things. On several occasions during the debates, she spoke in Tamil. In 1981, when Nair was called to take over as the third President of Singapore, she became the first Indian ‘First Lady’ of Singapore. Nair resigned in 1985, during his fourth year as President, after it was announced in Parliament that he was stepping down to seek treatment for alcoholism, as stated by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Denying the allegations, Nair later migrated to Canada. Dhanam also moved with him and lived there for about 20 years before passing away in 2005.



For more information
“Life with Devan Through Thick and Thin,” New Nation, 25 October 1981, 10. https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19811025-1.2.28
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 24 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 17 December 1965, cols 285
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 23 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 16 November 1964, cols 512
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 24 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 17 December 1965, cols 272
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 25 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 19 December 1966, cols 888
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 25 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 14 March 1967, cols 1191
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 25 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 14 March 1967, cols 1197
Parliament of Singapore, Obituary Speeches, vol. 26 of Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 2 November 1967, cols 312 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.