Book preserves untold stories of PPN students' hostel

Free Malaysia Today

9 hours ago

Ravindran Raghavan says his aim in writing 'The Legacy of PPN Students' Hostel' is to preserve the legacy of the hostel. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)
SUBANG JAYA : Ravindran Raghavan's day usually started much earlier than his three roommates at the PP Narayanan (PPN) Students' Hostel in Petaling Jaya.
As a chemical engineering student, his classes often began at 8am – and if he wasn't in class, he was likely buried in books at the campus library.
'Hostel life wasn't fun, sadly. But maybe I was a bit of a misfit,' the 60-year-old told FMT Lifestyle with a chuckle.
'There weren't many engineering guys around, so they called me 'Engine Ravi' as a light-hearted jab.
'Still, I really cherished the unbreakable friendships I made there – especially with my roommates. We all came from different estates, and that really bonded us,' he said.
For children of estate workers like Ravindran – who grew up in Lambak Estate, Kluang – the hostel, supported by the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW), was a lifeline. It gave the children a chance to study at University Malaya or nearby colleges and build a better future.
The book is a mixture of history and personal recollections by former hostelites. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)
Though the hostel closed in 1996, Ravindran said its impact was deep and lasting. Fearing its legacy would fade with time, he set out to preserve it in 'The Legacy of PPN Students' Hostel' – a 264-page tribute packed with history and heartfelt memories, written as a labour of love.
'It was a great bridge,' the father of three said, when asked to sum up the hostel's legacy.
'It helped students from rural areas adjust to life in the city and reach that big dream … becoming a graduate. Without it, many of us would've had a much harder time finding our footing.'
Initially meant as a memoir, the book grew into a deeper project as Ravindran began uncovering old union records, alumni stories, and the long-forgotten hostel magazine 'Cermin'.
Photographs from yesteryears add a touch of nostalgia to the book's stories. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)
The result is a thoughtfully curated book that blends the hostel's founding history with personal stories from former residents – who make up the heart of the narrative.
The book also touches on past controversies, and highlights notable alumni like the late G Palanivel and S Subramaniam, both former deputy ministers and MIC leaders.
Interestingly, Ravindran did not intentionally set out to write a book about his former hostel. After graduation, he got busy with family and work. But once retired, he reconnected with former hostelites.
It was through these gatherings that Ravindran began hearing stories from those before him – stories of long walks to school, of struggling to find a Form 6 placement, of overcoming the odds most city kids never had to encounter.
Ravindran spent 15 months working on 'The Legacy of PPN Students' Hostel'. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)
'Their journeys were extraordinary,' he said. 'One became an ACP, another worked at Bank Negara, some went on to lead in Felda. What they achieved, despite what they came from – it blew me away,' he said.
That's when it hit him: if no one wrote this down, it would all disappear. The hostel was gone. The estates were changing. Fewer and fewer people even knew it had existed.
'So I decided to write it,' he said. With support from the senior hostelites and some careful planning, 'The Legacy of PPN Students' Hostel' came to life – not just as a book, but as a permanent archive of a place that shaped thousands of lives.
Hostel life itself also revealed surprises. Ravindran recalled meeting Ramachandran, nicknamed 'Rama Tambah'.
'Back then, they had junior committees working alongside the management. If the chicken was too small, Rama would shout, 'tambah satu lagi!' That spirit of advocacy – even over dinner – was something I'd never experienced in my time.'
No stones were left unturned in the book, with Ravindran writing about the controversies the hostel experienced. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)
Stories like these reminded Ravindran how the hostel shaped its residents – not just in studies, but in resilience. He said he hoped that through his book, young Malaysians will realise that many before them had to overcome real hardship to succeed, something today's more comfortable generation often forgets.
'Most of these hostelites didn't have detailed plans or powerful prayers. They just started making an effort. And when they did, somehow, the universe helped them. The right people showed up. Opportunities came.
'All of this – in an era with no Google, no WhatsApp. And still, they made it,' Ravindran concluded.
'The Legacy of PPN Students' Hostel' is available in major bookstores.