He had been unwell for more than a month with complications from a lung infection and died at Singapore General Hospital in the afternoon, said his son-in-law Ramadas Naidu, 53.

President S R Nathan, who was an old friend, joined leaders of the Hindu community and other religious groups here in paying tribute yesterday to Mr Nathan's contributions to the HEB and to fostering inter-religious harmony.

In a condolence letter to the family, President Nathan said he was 'deeply saddened' to learn of Mr Nathan's passing and noted his many accomplishments.

The late Mr Nathan retired from a career in banking in the 1980s and devoted his retirement years to volunteer work.

This included being an active member of the HEB for more than 20 years. He chaired it from 1991 to 2005 and stayed on as an adviser after that.

President Nathan noted that Mr Nathan, through his hands-on supervision, 'put in place a system of budgetary monitoring of the earnings of each of the board's four Hindu temples - two of which are national monuments'.

These are the Sri Mariamman Temple in South Bridge Road and the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road.

'He built up the finances of the board and it was able to acquire assets and a financial reserve,' added the President.

He noted that together with community leaders Sat Pal Khattar, Chandra Das and Gopinath Pillai, the late Mr Nathan spearheaded the redevelopment of the board's properties in the Serangoon Road, Campbell Road and Hastings Road quadrangle into today's Little India.

During the late Mr Nathan's tenure, the Sri Sivan Temple in Geylang was also built and the other three temples rebuilt and refurbished.

'The present state of the board's temples is the legacy he leaves behind,' said President Nathan.

Noted Mr Chandra Das, a former MP: 'The HEB benefited greatly from his leadership. I have worked very closely with him over the years and benefited greatly from his advice.'

Lawyer and board member Mohan Das Naidu, 58, said the late Mr Nathan was 'primarily responsible for uplifting the image of the board' and that his death was a big loss.

Son-in-law Ramadas Naidu described him as 'a very forthright person who devoted his life to the community. The community came first'.

President Nathan said in his condolence letter that Mr Nathan, an active advocate of inter-racial harmony, helped revitalise the Inter-Religious Organisation.

He also worked closely with Muslim welfare group Jamiyah, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge and church bodies to promote multi-religious charitable causes and community projects, and served on the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony from 1992 to 2004.

Singapore Buddhist Lodge president Lee Bock Guan - who was in talks with Mr Nathan recently on ways to help needy dialysis patients during the downturn - described him as 'a very, very kind man'.

Inter-Religious Organisation president Rustom Ghadiali, who is president of the Parsi Zoroastrian Association of Singapore, said representatives of 10 religions here plan to hold inter-faith prayers for Mr Nathan in the coming days.

As President Nathan noted in his letter: 'There were many accomplishments of Mr Nathan. But his signal contribution has been to the HEB and the Hindu community and later on inter-racial affairs.

'Under his hands-on leadership, orderly conduct of the Thaipusam festival and the fire-walking event was also achieved. He also took the lead to involve the HEB in projects like the Ashram 'halfway house' and the Deepavali light-up, which is now an annual event.'

He added: 'He was a simple man, whose needs were simple as was his manners. He was strong and devoted in his faith. By example, he inspired many to volunteer their services to various temple and welfare causes. It is indeed difficult to sum up what Indian Singaporeans and Hindus in particular owe him.'

Mr Nathan leaves behind his wife, four daughters and nine grandchildren.

His body will be cremated at the Mandai Crematorium on Sunday afternoon.