Indian Boys Hostel Temerloh
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Indian Boys Hostel of Temerloh in Malaysia (1961-1971) was created by R. Subramaniam. Almost 35 years later, on February 24, 2007, the former hostel boys and their respective family members together with Mr and Mrs Subramaniam met at a get together organised in Klang and recounted the good old days.
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[edit] Creation
The hostel was a voluntary effort mooted by the Temerloh Tamils Association who realised an unfulfilled need for Indian students coming from the outskirts of Temerloh. At that time Abu Bakar School ("ABS")was the only English Secondary School in the district. The available hostel facilities in ABS built by the government confined admission to Malays and were not open to Indian students. As a result, most of the Indian students from the outskirts of Temerloh were then becoming drop-outs from schools.
The hostel came into life in 1961 due to the creative efforts of a team of young men, the most significant of whom was Mr.R.Subramaniam, a new teacher at ABS. He had just completed two years of service as a trained teacher in Bentong after his training at the Malayan Teachers College in England's Brinsford Lodge, when he was posted in 1961 to ABS in Temerloh. Mr. Subramaniam stayed at the hostel itself initially taking direct chargely. Even when he married later, he stayed at close quarters continuing to take care of the hostel
The hostel was operated from a rented wooden house in a rubber smallholding with emphasis on DIY on solving problems.
[edit] Major achievements
- The hostel provided accommodation on an average of about 15 secondary school students per year over a period of 10 years in the 1960's. Most of these students studied in Abu Bakar Secondary School in Temerloh. Many of them went on to complete their tertiary education.
- Despite the absence of the much needed government assistance, the hostel was sustained by the fees paid by the students, funds raised by Subramaniam and from his personal contributions.
- The hostel created a healthy environment for excelling in the school games and in athletics. Practically every year in the 1960's the Cross Country Race was won by the hostelites. A High Jump Post and a saw dust pit made by Subramaniam personally helped in the training to produce champion jumpers. Hostel students also excelled in football, softball and in hockey.
- Subraminam promoted DIY by example. The beds in the hostel, study tables, cabinets, wells, toilets, painting and repairs to the hostel building and even cooking were carried out by the students themselves under the leadership of Subramaniam. Students did their own washing and ironing and upkeep of cleanliness.
[edit] Famous quotations
- "You are free to fall in love, but not to abandon your loved one"
- "Never dump shoddy purchases when you can get a refund"
- "It is not enough having your brain in your feet, but you should also have it in your heads", This was said after witnessing the multitude of sports trophies won by the students.
- "Never say I cannot"
[edit] Principle based leadership
Apart from providing accommodation, the Indian Boys Hostel was also a training ground for leadership qualities amongst the students who stayed there. Some of the inspiring statements by Subramaniam are:
- It is a great strength when one strives forward even in the face of adversity.
- Being not helpful can be forgiven at times, but never harming anyone.
- Count and recount when dealing with money.
- Never throw away when you can fix it.
- Consistent and persistent work always pays off.
[edit] End of the Hostel
With more secondary schools coming up in the nearby towns of Bentung, Mentakab, Triang and Temerloh itself, the need for accommodation at the hostel began to decline. In the few months after the great flood in 1971 that affected the hostel premises, the hostel was no more.
[edit] Hostel Mates
| Name | Period | Latest Known Status . | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achu Naidu Letchumanan | 1961 - 1966 | Technical Advisor, Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, Jakarta | |
| Arimuthu | 1964 - 1966 | Lawyer, Kuala Lumpur | |
| Chennakrishnan | 1961 - 1966 | Regional Manager for Johor, Baba's | |
| Govindarajoo A | 1961 - 1966 | .....Ampang | |
| Govindarajoo | 1961 - 1966 | ....... | |
| Govindasamay | 1961 - 1966 | Palani Restaurant, Temerloh | |
| Govindasamy | 1961 - 1966 | ......, Lanchang | |
| Krishanan RV | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Mentakab | |
| Muniandy S | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Bee Yong | |
| Muniandy Letchumanan | 1962 - 1966 | ....., Businessman, Seremban/Bentong | |
| Munusamy | 1961 - 1966 | ....., FELDA | |
| Murugiah | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Bee Yong | |
| Muthu | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Mentakab | |
| Nadarajah | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Jengka | |
| Nallaian | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Karak | |
| Narayanasamy R | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Karmen | |
| Pachiappan | 1961 - 1966 | ......, Triang | |
| Palaniappan | 1961 - 1966 | Retired Accountant, Rawang | |
| Papaiah | 1961 - 1966 | Contractor, Klang | |
| Periasamy D | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Bali | |
| Periathamby | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Bentong | |
| Perumal B | 1961 - 1966 | Unit Trust and Insurance Advisor, Klang | |
| Perumal R | 1961 - 1966 | Retired Headmaster, Bahau | |
| Perumal V | 1961 - 1966 | ....... | |
| Perumal S | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Mentakab | |
| Raja Manickam (Deceased in 1991) | 1961 - 1966 | Former Headmaster SRJKT Ladang Menteri, Triang | (updated by Suresh Raja Manickam, 012-2603602) |
| Rajendaran | 1961 - 1966 | Businessman, Ipoh
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| Raju R | 1961 - 1966 | Insurance Unit Manager, Kuala Lumpur | |
| Ramachandran R | 1961 - 1966 | Trainer, Carigali, Kemaman | |
| Raman | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Karmen | |
| Rama Naidoo Letchumanan | 1962 - 1966 | Database Specialist, IBM, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9764 3695 Mobile: +61 434 562 499 Email: rnaidoo@tpg.com.au
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| Ratnam R | 1961 - 1966 | Retired Headmaster, Kemayan | |
| Renugopal | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Temerloh | |
| Sami Kannu ( Samsul Khairill) | 1961 - 1965 | ....., Putra Jaya
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| Santhirahasan Thavasy | 1961 - 1966 | Retired Headmaster, Kuala Lumpur | |
| Sathiaseelan Thavasy | 1961 - 1966 | Business and Financial Consultant, Kuala Lumpur | |
| Sengodan | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Germany | |
| Subramaniam Major | 1961 - 1964 | ....., Klang | |
| Subrananiam A | 1961 - 1966 | ....., ... | |
| Subramaniam K | 1961 - 1966 | ....., ..... | |
| Subramaniam KK | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Kluang | |
| Subramaniam L | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Triang | |
| Subramaniam (Labour) | 1962 - 1966 | ....., ...
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| Subramaniam R | 1961 - 1966 | Lawyer, Kuantan | |
| Suppiah R | 1961 - 1966 | ....., | |
| Tharmalingam | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Sg Kekal | |
| Veerasamy R | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Karmen | |
| Vengadasamy | 1961 - 1966 | ....., Triang | |
| Vengataramana | 1961 - 1966 | ....., UK[edit] References
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