Nallammah "Nalla" Ruth Tan (née Navarednam 12 May 1923 – 27 March 2012) was a Singaporean physician, women's rights advocate and writer.
[2] Tan became a member of the faculty of Community Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians in 1978 and five years later, became a fellow.
[1] Tan wrote poetry as a young adult, but did not start writing seriously until she was on maternity leave in 1961.
[11] The collection of her short stories, Hearts and Crosses (1989), incorporate her own personal experiences and take place in Singapore.
"[13] Her non-fiction work included focus on family and social issues, as well as providing educational information about puberty and sexual health.
[2] Her health education books, You Need to Know (1976) and Beyond Your Navel (1977) are written in a "inimitable, chatty style" according to The Straits Times.
[8] Beyond Your Navel discusses both sexual and emotional health, breaking down ideas into clear and simple sections for better understanding.
[14] Tan wrote a weekly column in the Sunday Times called 'You' where she discussed issues many readers faced, politics and developing the community.