Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Law Receives Monumental Donation of Over 30,000 Legal Books, Journals, and Reports Valued at RM9 Million

On 23 January 2024,  The Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya, is thrilled to share the exciting news of a generous donation from the family of the late Justice Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram. A remarkable collection of over 30,000 books, journals, and law reports, valued at close to RM9 million, has been graciously bestowed upon us.

Datin Seri Chandra Sri Ram, the widow of the late Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, and Professor Dr. Jason Chuah, the Dean of Law, have mutually agreed that this invaluable collection will find its permanent residence at the Tan Sri Professor Ahmad Ibrahim Law Library, Universiti Malaya. Datin Seri Chandra's enthusiasm for placing the collection in UM’s Faculty of Law, renowned as one of the country’s most highly regarded law faculties, underscores the international and national importance of these materials.

The significance of this gift extends beyond its legal relevance; it's a heartfelt commemoration of the late Justice Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram's profound relationship with the law faculty at UM. Additionally, the donation is made in memory of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, Datin Seri’s granduncle, a trailblazer in library science who developed the first major faceted library classification system—the colon classification. This system, fundamental in library science, has left an indelible mark on modern classification systems worldwide.

Professor Dr. Jason Chuah emphasizes that this extensive collection isn't just a resource for law students and practitioners; it beckons anyone interested in legal and archival research, particularly rare law and legal science books from all corners of the Commonwealth. Notably, the collection houses one of the largest compilations of Indian law reports and books outside India, in Asia. Given Datuk Seri’s keen interest in administrative law, the collection boasts one of the most comprehensive catalogs on judicial review in the region.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Datin Seri Chandra for this significant contribution, enriching the intellectual presence of Universiti Malaya in Law for generations to come.