Most have Cataracts removed from one or both eyes. A few had Full or Partial transplant of the Cornea. Some had Retina Tear repaired. Glaucoma and several other factors can cause impaired Vision.
Saya U Ba Toke played soccer and was active in the RU Sports Council. In his 70s and early 80s, Saya took weekly walks from his house to the Shwe Dagon pagoda. Aging gradually restricted Saya’s mobility, hearing and eye sight. Saya passed away on December 2, 2020 (the day following the RU Centennial), but a few days short of his Centennial Birthday.
When Saya U Moe Aung encountered problem with his knee during a trip to Upper Burma to attend Ah Hlu of a Khamee Khamet, he composed a poem on “Stationary & Movement” with philosophical musings about Life, Illness and Death. A surgery relieved Saya from the use of wheel chair, but as a high school goalkeeper he values Mobility, Agility & Strength.
Sayagadaw appreciated Saya U Moe Aung’s “Poem Gift” on her birthday.
Bagyee Myat Myo Myint gave “Pon Tu” of the then Marla Hall Thu as a birthday present for his beloved spouse.
Ko Aung Min (M69) used the term Vitamin F in an invitation to the 69er Annual Dinner and Entertainment.
Saya U Moe Aungwrote :
Actually, before suffering from knee pain, I had cataract removed from my left eye some 30 or so years back (couldn’t recall which year) and then from my right eye after a lapse of about 10 years. But, I was lucky, so to speak, that up till the present, haven’t yet encountered any problem whatsoever except the need to change the power lens for a better viewing focus.
Aung Min
U Aung Min(M69) wrote :
I had right eye cornea transplant 19 years ago, but unsuccessful . Again cataract removal on left eye. Part is particularly happy she called her brother It’s OK up to now.
When the Group founded RIT Alumni International, he served as President.
SPZP-2000 Organizers
He was a Core Organizer of SPZP-2000. His article “Brother, can you afford $500 and more?” saved the organizers from U Nyo Win’s Act.
He took me to a BAPS picnic. He demonstrated “Burmese Goodbye” by taking an hour to greet alumni on the way back to his car.
To avoid monotony, he takes a different route going out and coming back. He did not mind missing an exit; he would simply make a turn at the next one.
He, Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt, U Ko Ko Aye (GBNF), Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) and me would meet monthly to have Coffee / Tea & Dosa တိုရှည် and chat.
Sometimes, Dr. San Lin would come down from Santa Rosa to see Saya U Soe Khaw (GBNF). Saya Allen & I would join them for lunch gathering, which extended until dinner.
Saya is interested in Comparative Religion & Culture. Saya U Aung’s anecdote mentioned Saya Allen’s visit to a mosque and Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore.
He supervised the C73 Final Year project, where his two students used the UCC computer.
Saya survived two Strokes, but succumbed to the one at the MEHS Reunion in Las Vegas. He joined his spouse Daw Mu Mu Kin (MEHS57) to the Reunion.
Saya did not live long enough to see his four grandsons.
May Saya rest in peace.
Two Sayas
Brief Bio
Saya Allen Htay and Daw Mu Mu Kin
Born in Mandalay, attended St. Joseph English Convent and St. Peter’s Boys’ School in Mandalay and the Methodist High School in Rangoon.
Graduated B Sc (Engg) in Civil Engineering in 1958 from Rangoon University and joined the Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer in the same year at the invitation of Prof T Ba Hli, then Dean of Engineering.
Awarded the Burmese Government State Scholarship for study in the United States from 1960 to 1963, and the US Government Fulbright Travel Grant.
Received the degree of Master of Engineering from Harvard University in 1963, specializing in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Returned to Burma and joined the newly formed Rangoon Institute of Technology in Gyogon.
Served as Lecturer in Civil Engineering from 1964 to 1975, except from 1966 to 1968 which was spent on advanced study in Hydraulics Engineering in the Netherlands at Delft Technical University under UNESCO assistance program for Burma.
Immigrated to USA in 1975. Currently working at the California Department of Transportation as Project Engineer.
Married to Mu Mu Kin in 1971 and have two surviving children, Myo Lynn and Thuzar Kin. Mu Mu works at TIBCO Software Inc in Palo Alto to supplement the family income.
Work Experience:
Soils Engineer: Mueser Rutledge Wentworth and Johnston, New York, NY, 1975-1978.
Washington DC Metro Subway Project. Civil Engineer: International Engineering Company, Inc, San Francisco, CA, 1978-1983.
USAID Bangladesh Fertilizer Warehouses Construction Project.
Senior Staff Engineer: Morrison Knudsen Corporation, San Francisco, CA, 1984-1996.
DOE Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project.
Principal Research Associate: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 1997.
DOE Yucca Mountain High Level Radioactive Materials Repository Project.
Transportation Engineer: California Department of Transportation, Oakland, CA, 1999-.
My dear parents gave me birth and brought me up to be a good son. My teachers taught me everything else I know. My land of birth, Myanmar, through the sweat and hard work of its citizens supported and paid for my engineering education and my studies abroad. To each and everyone I am obligated and I give my thanks. For it is narrated in Al-Hadith that one who does not thank one another in this life even for little favors is unworthy to thank the Lord for the big favor.
Updates
Saya retired twice.
He was coaxed by his former students to un-retire twice.
Saya U Thein Aung (Met72) requested Saya to work at the Lawrence Livermore Lab at UC Berkeley.
Later, Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) requested Saya to work as Consultant for CalTrans.
He passed away before his final retirement.
There are four grandchildren. One has Allen as the first name. Another has Allen as the middle name.
Founding member of RIT Alumni International and served as its President.
Best known for his article, “Brother, can you afford US$500?”
In memory of Saya, Daw Mu Mu Kin donated Sayas’ books to YTU Library. She also offered scholarship to eligible YTU students via NorCal RITAA.
His friends sometimes call him “Htay Bo Htay”
Enrolled at Harvard University, but also attended some courses at MIT (e.g. “SCHEME” / Lexically scoped Lisp)
Loves to program his calculator using Reverse Polish Notation
Per Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt, Saya Allen Htay is the eldest of five siblings (three brothers and two sisters). Youngest brother and youngest sister predeceased Younger brother is in Yangon. Younger sister in the US East Coast.
Civil 1958
Class photo was sent by Saya Allen Htay
Dr San Hla Aung helped to identify classmates
U Khin Maung Win (Sidney Chen, GBNF) supplied the photograph.
Class of Civil 58
Sitting: (1) U Pu (2) Dr. Aung Gyi (3) U Min Wun (4) U Ba Hli (5) Mr. Redpath (6) U Ngwe Thein (7) Mr. Eswara (8) Mr. Num Kock
1st Row: (1) Khin Maung (2) Than Aung (3) Htay Aung (4) Khin Maung Lwin (5) Kyaw Tin (6) Win Thein (7) Chit Pe (8) Shwe Tun Maung (9) Win Maung (10) Thein Lwin (11) Tun Yi (12) Than Pe
2nd Row: (1) V. Kumar (2) Kyaw Hoe (3) Allen Htay (4) Ba Hnin Chit (5) Kyaw Mya (6) Kyaw Din (7) Irwin Myaing (8) Chit Aye (9) Maung Maung (10) Nolan Wu (11) Morgan Singar
3rd Row: (1) Patrick George (2) Oscar Shirazee (3) Hla Shwe (4) Aung Par Thein (5) Saw Lwin (6) San Hla Aung (7) Shwe Win (8) Douglas Hoe (9) Sidney Chen
Notes
There was a mini-gathering at SPZP-2000. The attendees include
Mr. Num Kok (Portland, Oregon, GBNF)
Dr. Aung Gyi (Ottawa, Canada)
U Min Wun (Los Angeles, California, GBNF)
U Allen Htay (Mountain View, California, GBNF)
Dr. San Hla Aung (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Mr. Oscar Shirazee (Middle East)
When Sidney Chen’s health was failing, his daughter requested us to let his classmates and friends know that he was eager to regain contact with them. Sadly, he passed away.
Mr. Oscar and U Aye Win Hlaing used to work in Iran many years ago. Mr. Oscar’s spouse is the sister of U Ngwe Zoe (Peter, SPHS57, GBNF).
Due to schedule conflicts, Saya Dr. San Hla Aung could not attend some SPZPs. He retired at the age of 80. He is now free to attend many SPZPs.
Saya Dr. Win Thein (GBNF) succeeded Saya U Min Wun as Professor and Head of the Department. Except for a warning sign from an early Medical check up, Saya was healthy. He finally passed away in Yangon. His sister has donated Saya’s Garawa money to selected Charities.
Brother, can you afford Five Hundred Dollars?
And many weekends spent away from your family as well? If you can then you probably are a member of the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe organizing committee.
It all began one day several months ago when we met over lunch at Benny Tan’s home in Hillsborough. Ko Hla Min and Ko Khin Maung Zaw among the lunch party had started the RIT Alumni website and were receiving enthusiastic responses. Hearing that the duo were carrying on the project all by themselves we decided to throw in our moral and financial support to assure its survival, realizing that it was providing a needed service for the RIT alumni to locate and communicate with each other. Every one present, ten of us at that time, took out our checkbooks and wrote out one hundred dollars each, with promises of more as needed. We informally called ourselves the RIT Alumni Bay Area Group. I was asked to be the group leader.
After that fateful event we continue to have regular meetings, hosted in turn at the homes of some among group members: Ko Hla Min, Maurice Chee, Ko Myat Htoo, Ko Thein Aung, and most recently Dr Nyo Win. Did I leave out any one? Ah yes! Ko Myint Swe and San San Swe. All the while the membership continues to grow and our objective keeps on changing from support of the website to some vague dream of a future RIT alumni organization on a global scale and finally settled on a plan for RIT Alumni Grand Reunion at the beginning of the 21st Century. Ko Hla Min broached the idea to include Saya Pu Zaw Pwe as part of the Grand Reunion in keeping with the Myanmar custom of honoring one’s teachers. As our plan jelled we got carried away by our own excitement and started talking about holding the reunion before the end of the Year 2000. After all, ending one millennium successfully augers well for success in the next millennium.
Before we fully realized what we were up to we have found an ideal site, the Embassy Suites Hotel conference hall near the San Francisco International Airport, and found ourselves making a commitment for a definite date, 28 October 2000 and a attendance fee of fifty dollars, a modest amount to encourage maximum number of Alumni to participate. The minimum capacity of the conference hall is 200 seats and we were required to make down payment and sign a rental and service agreement based on 200 seats. Our most optimistic estimate at the time was 100 attendees. If the attendance is low that means the Bay Area Group, as the Organizing Committee was not in force at the time, will have to make up the short fall. Which could amount to as much as five thousand dollars, or five hundred dollar from each group member. We hesitated a moment to reflect on what that means to us individually in terms of diminished spending power. But, in the end our attachment to RIT and the engineering profession, our sincere desire to meet the Sayas and class mates from whom we were separated for long over came us. We will accept the risks.
Thus was born the preparations in full swing for the Grand RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Others must tell the rest of the story – of struggles, compromises, and elations along the way and from participants themselves what it means to be present at the defining moment in the history of RIT Alumni.
Allen Htay, RIT Alumni International – Bay Area Group RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe Organizing Committee
Appreciation of SPZP-2000
Hello All:
Thanks and Congratulations for a well organized and well executed event. I believe we all went to bed early Sunday night irrespective of the change back to Standard Time (from Daylight Savings Time according to the rule “Spring forward, Fall back”) , and no doubt slept soundly and very happy, knowing full well what happened during the past three days is more than what we dared to dream. I for one took the Monday off and forgot lunch because I woke up so late. But what is one missed lunch!
Allen Htay
____
Dear Ko Maung Maung Than (M79):
Thanks for your note of appreciation for the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Everybody chipped in: the sayas, organizers, committee members, helpers, supporters like you which we were very fortunate to have, the alumni and general guests and well-wishers. We won’t be able to host an event of this magnitude and importance if any of the components were missing.
Success belongs to everyone.
Thanks again for your generous support
Allen Htay
Remembering Saya Allen Htay
From Saya U Thit
Dear Colleagues and students
I am very sad to hear that Allen Htay passed away.
I have known Allen Htay since the early 1950s when we were both students at Methodist High School, Yegyaw, East Yangon. He was one year junior to me.
We were together again in the late 1950s when we were both Assistant Lecturers at B.O.C. Engineering College. During that time he and I together with Saya Num Kock and Saya U Aung Khin went for an excursion to visit Lawpita Hydroelectric Plant construction site near Loikaw, in Kayah State.
While I was living on the R.I.T. campus in the early 1960s he moved to a house just across the street from us.
I will always remember him coming to our house many times in the evenings for a chat with my family.
The last time I saw him was at the 2004 Saya Puzawpwe in Yangon.
He will be sadly missed by many of his friends and students.
May his soul rest in Peace.
Maung Thit (Metallurgy) Melbourne, Australia
From the alumni in Australia
By Ko “Henry” Thet Tun
Our sincere and deepest condolences to Saya U Allen Htay & family for the demise of Saya.
From the RIT Alumni Australia & Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia Inc.
From Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62) and Daw Lily (T72)
Dear Ko Hla Min,
We are very much saddened by the departure of Saya Allen Htay. Please convey our heartfelt condolences to Daw Mu Mu and family. His good nature and kind demeanor will always live in our memory and that of those who loved him.
While we will all miss Saya Allen very much, I hope all his loved ones can find some slight comfort in knowing that his suffering has ended.
Very Sincerely, Tin Win and Lily.
From Ko Kyaw Thu (Dennis Mackey)
Dear Ko Hla Min,
Without the RIT Alumnu Updates, I would not have known about the passing of our (me and George Peters) final year thesis supervisor Saya U Allen Htay.
Thank you for your regular as well as supplement updates.
Please convey our deepest condolences to Daw Mu Mu and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of great loss and sadness.
Best regards, Dennis (Kyaw Thu) (C73) and Alice U
Editor’s Notes: Dennis and Alice have relocated to Canada.
From Saya U Soe Paing and Daw Saw Yu Tint
My friend Allen Htay (GBNF)
Some years ago I wrote an article for the ex-RIT.org about my saya friends at RIT which included Allen Htay.
I met Allen Htay when I joined the 1st Year BSc (Engg) class at the Faculty of Engineering at Leikkhone in 1958 .Ko San Hla Aung was our drawing instructor for the main majors (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical), and Allen Htay was the instructor for the rest.
In December1958, I went on State Scholarship to Stanford University. When I returned home after completing my studies, I found myself on the same ship S S Warickshire from Liverpool to Yangon with Allen Htay, Ko Tin Maung Nyunt (Agri Eng) and Ko Ko Lay (UCC). There was also another Myanmar Ko Than Pe, a Chartered Accountant, on the ship. Those days it was customary for the Government to send the returning scholars by ship.
We normally had our meals together seated at the Chief engineer’s table. After dinner we would play bridge to spend the time. Ko Ko Lay partnered with Ko Tin Maung Nyunt and Allen Htay and Ko Than Pe took turns as my partner against them. We played almost every night after dinner and all of us became very good friends.
We got back to Yangon in October 1963. Allen Htay rejoined RIT. I was posted to RIT in January 1964 and Ko Tin Maung Nyunt in March 1964 and so we were together again. When I got married and moved into the RIT staff quarters I was at 16F, Allen Htay at 16E and Ko Tin Maung at 16D. We visited each others house very often. We also became friendly with Allen Htay’s brothers and sisters.
I have attached a photo taken during Thingyan 1966 with Allen Htay (2nd from left) and his youngest brother (extreme right).
I left RIT for UCC and the UN, and Allen Htay and Ko Tin Maung Nyunt went to the United States. All of us met gain in the Bay Area in 1985, 2001 and 2010. I saw Allen Htay at the RIT reunions in 2004 (Yangon), 2007 and 2010 (Singapore).
He could not make it to the 2012 reunion in Yangon because of his health. He was a mild mannered soft spoken gentleman and we will all miss him. May he rest in peace.
Daw Mu Mu Kin (Saya’s Spouse)
“Let me count the ways [to love]” by Elizabeth Browning is a poem present by Ma Ma Mu to Saya Allen.
Donations in Saya Allen’s Memory
In memory of Saya, Daw Mu Mu Kin
donated Saya’s books to YTU Library
provided cabinets for Saya’s books
sponsored scholarships for eligible YTU students
Ko Maurice Chee (M75) coordinated the donation of books.
NorCal RITAA and some volunteer alumni from Yangon coordinated the selection of scholarship recipients.
Burma Athletic Association (BAA) has a stadium to host
Soccer games
Track and Field
(Later) Indoor games
It was renamed Aung San Stadium to honor Bogyoke Aung San.
Games
League Championship (for First Division teams) : The lowest teams are relegated to the Second Division. They are replaced by the Top Finishers of the Second Division.
Dunlop KnockOut Tournament
Inter State and Division (ISD) Tournament : Shan States won the inaugural tournament in 1952. Suk Bahadur was a star player and later became Captain of the Burma Selected. He was also selected as an Asian All Star.
Stands
My uncle U Win Tin (GBNF) would take me to watch soccer matches.
U Win Tin (Left)
Watched selected matches (e.g. Dunlop Trophy) & some International matches (e.g. 2nd SEAP Games).
The Northern and Southern Stands cost about fifty pyas. Provided limited scope and vision, but have roofs.
Grand Stand costs about five kyats. Rare treat to watch from the Grand Stand (especially near the center line).
The Open Stand opposite the Grand Stand is a compromise for about K1.50. Had to carry umbrella or wear raincoat for matches during the Rainy Season.
Events
It was the main venue for the SEAP Games hosted by Burma in 1961 and 1969.
We had to march with the Marching Band from St. Paul’s High School (SPHS) to the Aung San stadium to perform Drill as part of the “Education Day” Celebrations. Dennis Stevens (brother of my classmate George Stevens) played the Big Drum. Twin brothers Bo Kyi and Bo Kyi were the drummers. Jerry Hin Hwa, Orlando Thein, Win Maung and Bernard Taylor played selected musical instruments.
(2) Badminton
Burma Selected
Kyi Nyunt : Burma Champion in Singles and Doubles; Won medals in SEAP and Asian Games
Sai Kham Pan : No. (2) in Singles; Doubles Champion with Kyi Nyunt; Led RIT to Inter-Institute Championship
Kham Pan
RIT Badminton
RIT Badminton
Myint Kyi (GBNF), Bishnu Shahi (GBNF), Khin Maung Nyo, Tommy Shwe (GBNF) represented RIT in Badminton
RIT Team
Saya U Thein Lwin (EE, GBNF) was President of RIT Badminton Association
RIT won the Inter-Institute Trophy. The team was led by Sai Kham Pan.
Kham Pan would bring back shuttle cocks, which were still good but discarded at the Burma Selected Training Camp, for his hostel mates.
Due to tight schedules for some tournaments overseas, Kham Pan had to take books along to study for the examinations. Had excellent foot work and strong wrists. Needed training partners at RIT. Myint Sein (M69) was his partner in training and competition. Khin Maung Win (Sargalay, EP69) was his reliable training partner; he would be given 10+ bonus points for the 15 point game.
(3) Basketball
RIT, RASU & Burma Selected
U Thein Han (RIT Maths, elder brother of Khin Khin Kyu (A67)) was Burma Selected in his student days.
U Soe Win (EP69, GBNF) was Captain of the RIT Basketball team. Tommy (69er, GBNF) was a member of the team.
Lyo Kyin Sein (Mabel Lee, T69) represented RIT in Basketball.
San San Myint (Helen, T69) rooted for the RASU Basketball team & Sam Wu, who played not only for RASU, but also for Black Cat and the Burma Selected. They live in Fremont, California.
Birth of Basketball
Basketball was invented by James Naismith (born in Canada) at YMCA in Massachusetts, USA in 1861.
He later wrote the rules for the game.
Basketball Championships
The Basketball championships include
NCAA Tournament (“March Madness”) : College teams are organized into Four Regions (each with Seeds 1 to 16); The Knock out tournament has First round, Second round, Third round (Sweet sixteen), Quarter finals, Semi finals (Final Four) and Finals.
NBA Post-season (late April to mid June) : Eight teams each from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference are seeded 1 to 8. The tournament consists of First round, Second round (Conference semi-finals), Conference Finals and NBA Finals. Boston Celtics had won the most NBA titles to date. In 2019, Toronto Raptors became the first Canadian team to win the NBA title.
Summer Olympics : 1992 Barcelona Olympics featured the “Dream Team” from US. The team comprised of Larry Bird (Boston Celtics) & Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers) as Captains; Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls; Karl Malone & John Stockton of Utah Jazz; Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks); David Robsinson (San Antonio Spurs); Charles Barkley (Philadelphia 76er); Chris Mullin (Golden State Warriors); Clyde Drexler (Portland Trailblazers) & Christian Laettner (Duke University). Chuck Daley (Detroit Pistons) was the Head Coach. Mike K (Duke University) was an Assistant Coach.
World Championship.
Players
The five-on-five (with five players on each team) is the most common.
The five players are usually called Point Guard (PG), Shooting Guard (SG), Small Forward (SF), Power Forward (PF) and Center (C).
There are variations such as the “Small Ball Lineup” which substitutes a Center with another Guard or Forward.
Back Court
The Back Court is made up of a Point Guard & a Shooting Guard.
Point Guard handles the ball and usually distributes it to open players. Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Steph Curry are some of the well-known Point Guards who helped their teams win multiple NBA titles.
Shooting Guard is an excellent scorer. Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships (with two 3-repeats). Klay Thompson, “Splash Brother” of Steph Curry, is a Shooting Guard and an excellent defender.
Front Court
The Front Court is made up of a Small Forward, a Power Forward & a Center Forward.
Scottie Pippen, as Small Forward, helped Michael Jordan win six Championships.
Kevin Durant, as Small Forward, helped Golden State Warriors win back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. He won Finals MVP award for both years.
Dennis Rodman, rebounding Champion, was Power Forward on three Chicago Bulls Championship teams. He also won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons.
Draymond Green, as Power Forward, helped Golden State Warriors win NBA Championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
Wilt Chamberlain, famed Center, scored 90+ points in a single game.
Bill Russell (Center, Boston Celtics) won 11 NBA titles as player and coach. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Trophy is named after him.
Techniques
The techniques evolve over the years.
The “Triangle Offense” of the Chicago Bulls gave over to the “Small Line-up” without a “true” center.
3-point shooting from beyond the arc now make or break games.
Some teams play two Centers. Some use three or even four guards at a time.
2025 NBA Finals is being played with two teams, which had not won a Title. Oklahoma City Thunder’s old team was Seattle Supersonics. OKC would not acknowledge the Supersonics Title as its own. Indiana Pacers made to the Finals 25 years ago.
(4) Body Building
Kaya Bala ကာယဗလ Members
Commander Maung Maung : First Mr. Burma (Maung Bama မောင်ဗမာ)
U Ba Kun (Maung Bama) : became a movie actor
Dr. Kyaw Sein (M65) managed the RIT Weightlifting & Body Building Team.
Thein Aung (Met72) won Mr. RIT in 1968.
Thein Aung
(5) Boxing
Rangoon University Boxing Club
The club was founded (or re-established) by
Myint Khine (Norman, SPHS57, C63)
Tin Wa (SPHS57)
San Aung (Sonny, St. Albert’s 58, formerly SPHS)
Hla Ngwe Tin (Frankie, SPHS59)
and their friends.
Boxing Champions
Myint Khine (Norman, Civil)
Tin Wa (Chemistry)
San Aung (Sonny) — became UBA Senior Pilot
Hla Ngwe Tin (Frankie, Physics Hons)
Myint Thein (RASU Chemistry)
Maung Maung Thaw (RIT Class of 70)
Burma
Kyar Ba Nyein, Thein Myint, Tin Tun and Stanley Majid are some boxers who represented Burma in international competitions (SEAP, Asian Games, Olympics).
“Kyar ကျား” stands for “Tiger” as well as “Checkers”. Per his request, Ludu Daw Ah Mar wrote about Kyar Ba Nyein in her book “Mandalay Thar and Mandalay Thu” but only after Kyar Ba Nyein’s death. Kyar Ba Nyein competed in International competitions and was a certified referee and judge. He founded a club and coached young boxers (which later became champions). He also sponsored Myanmar Let Hway matches.
World
Rocky Marciano is the only undefeated Heavyweight Champion. He inspired Sylvester Stallone to make “Rocky Balboa” movies.
Muhammad Ali won the 1960 Olympics Light Heavyweight title as Cassius Clay Junior. He became “Louisville Lip” for predicting the round in which his opponent will be knocked out. He beat Sonny Liston to become the World Heavyweight Champion. He was stripped off his title for refusing to join the Draft. He was Champion thrice. He had Parkinsonism and ailments attributed to having taken many blows to his head. There are books about “I am the Greatest”. He is known for “Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee” and for lighting the Olympic Torch in 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
(6) Gymnastics
U Myint Aung Won several Golds in SEAP
Competition
Men : Individual & Team
Women : Individual & Team
Highlights
Men : Japan, China …
Women : Soviet, USA …
Olga Kolbert
Nadia Commenchi
Simon Biles
(7) Hockey
here are two kinds of Hockey :
Field Hockey
Ice Hockey
Field Hockey
In our younger days, TheinbyuGround was used for Field Hockey.
Suk Bahadur (Captain of the Burma Soccer Team) and Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC, Pediatric Surgeon of “Ma Nan Soe – Ma Nan San” fame as Chief Assistant to Dr. Pe Nyun) also excelled at hockey.
Rangoon University and later the All Universities and Institutes had hockey teams.
For some time, India and Pakistan were power houses in hockey. Several nations have overtaken them.
RIT Hockey
According to Ko Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76), he was the last defender of the RIT Hockey team. Ko Thura Thant Zin (RUBC Gold, Past President of BASES, M76) was the goalkeeper.
The photo of some RIT Hockey players in the 70s was provided by KMZ.
Standing L-R: Thein Lwin (EP77-CA/USA), Tin Myint (), Pyo Win (M76), Htay Aung (M76-Aus??), Saya U Tin Hlaing (M), Tin Oo Thein (C7x-Australia), Khin Maung Zaw (EC76-WA/USA), Thein Htun Aung (EC76-CA/USA), ??, Ebrahim Mehta (Met76-NY/USA)
Sitting L-R: Thein Zaw (??), Moe Zaw, Soe Aung (M75-CA/USA), Moosa Mehta (EC73-WA/USA), Win Bo (EC76-TX/USA), Nay Win (EP7?-??), Dudley Moore, Win Aung Nyunt @ Cho Pi (EP76-GBNF)
Ice Hockey
NHL (National Hockey League) is made up of ice hockey teams from US and Canada.
A game is played over three periods of 20 minutes each. A tied game will go into overtime.
At any given time, six players from a team are on the ice. Typically, there is a goalkeeper, two backs, two wings and a center forward. Power plays occur when a player is penalized for a specified period.
The teams vie for Stanley Cup.
(8) Judo
Myint Lwin (Charles) : University, Burma
Tin Maung Aye : University, Burma
Most Champions are from the Army
(9) Rowing
Tin Htoon (S) and Harry Saing (B) won Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta
Tin Htoon (S), Harry Saing (B), Victor Htun Shein (2), Sunny Teng (3) and Sein Htoon (Cox) won Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo
Phyu Lin, Htaik San & younger generation won medals in FEARA
(10) Sailing
Rangoon Sailing Club
The Club was located in Inya Lakes.
Some members represented Burma in SEAP Games.
Some RUBC Old Members also joined the Sailing Club.
Gold medal winners
U Maung Maung Lwin : Commodore of the Sailing Club; former Weightlifting Champion
Dr. Richard Yu Khin : Also excelled in Swimming
Dr. Khin Thein (Victor Thein Maung)
Dr. Tun Thein (George Thein Maung)
Silver medal winners
U Tin Htoon (Past Captain and Gold of RUBC)
U Hla Khin (Navy)
Leading females
Shirley Thein Maung
Rosie Thein Maung
Editor’s Notes :
Dr. Richard Yu Khin has two Facebook pages. One is exclusively for Sailing.
(11) Soccer
Introduction
Shwe Yoe (Scott, author and teacher) introduced soccer to Diocesan Boys High School.
Some not so young people abroad remember “U Thant (UN Secretary General), and the once “Soccer Power House in South East Asia (and beyond)” when they hear the name “Burma”. Burma won the Asian Games soccer.
Outstanding Footballers
Suk Bahadhur (Asian Selected) : Forward turned Midfielder; Played for Shan States, Army and Burma
MaungMaung (Asian Selected) : Midfielder
Khin Maung Tun (Asian Selected) : Goalkeeper
Tin Aung (Asian Selected) : Goalkeeper
Auro (Customs)
Aung Khin (RU)
Aye Maung (BAF)
Aye Maung (PWD)
Ba Pu (Mandalay)
Chan Tha (RU)
Collegian Nay Win (RU)
Gale (Railways)
Gwan Shein (Army)
Hla Htay (Irrawaddy, Customs)
Hla Tin (Kee)
Htoo War
John Tint (RIT)
Kenneth Shein (RU, Railways)
Ko Ko Gyi (Tenessaarim, Customs)
Kyaw Htin (RIT, PWD)
Kyaw Min (Navy)
Maung Maung (RU)
Pe Khin
Soe Myint (RU)
Soe Myint Lwin (RIT, EPC)
Than Soe (Suttee, Municipal)
Tin Aung Moe
Tin Han (Railways)
Toe Aung (Dio)
Tun Kyi (RU, Railways)
Tun Wain (Tenessarim, Customs)
Vernon Stiles (Tin Tun, Army)
First Division
The First Division matches are played at Aung San Stadium. The teams include Rangoon University, Burma Railways, Customs, Army, Navy and several others. The bottom teams in the League get relegated to Second Division the following year.
Inter State and Division
The Inter State and Division (ISD) Soccer tournament was established in 1952. Shan States with Suk Bahadhur won the inaugural tournament.
Mandalay (with Ba Pu), Tennessarim (with Ko Ko Gyi), Irrawaddy (with Hla Htay) became Contenders and/or Champions. Many players were recruited by the First Division teams and some became Burma Selected.
RU Soccer
For several years, Rangoon University First Eleven competed as a First Division team at the Aung San Stadium.
Saya Nyein (Diocesan Alumni) was RU Coach. He gave an interview to the BERB team for the Diamond Julibee of Rangoon University.
Than Win (Captain of RU football) studied in the US and served as a Director of SPED (Sports and Physical Education Department) or equivalent. His spouse retired as Professor of Botany Department, RU.
Some early players include
Chan Tha : Engineer, Past Captain of RUBC & Captain of the Prome Hall team [mostly engineers]
Tun Kyi (Engineer)
Nay Win, Collegian (Academy winner)
Kenneth Shein : Father of Pale / Pearl
Tint Lwin
U Chan Tha’s team won the Inter-Hall Soccer Trophy for three consecutive years. U Tin Swe (EE53, GBNF) was a star player.
RIT soccer
U Myo Myint Sein (A58) was a well-known soccer player.
Kyaw Sint (Edward, T70) was among the preliminary members for Burma Selected, when his career was cut short by a “vicious tackle” by Tin Han.
Kyaw Htin (C67), Soe Myint Lwin (EP68, GBNF), John Tint, and James Tint played for [youth and/or senior] National Soccer Teams.
Khin Maung Lay (T68), Myo Nyunt (C69), Myint Sein (Jabu), pKhin Maung Lay (Mutu, M70), and Sai Thein Maung (C70) are some who represented RIT in soccer.
Maung Maung (Burma) was RIT Sports Officer.
RIT Saya Soccer Team
by Saya U Soe Paing
Reading about the communications from Richard Khoo (Dr. Aung Soe, C61) and seeing the list of Sayas in the 1966-67 handbook brings back memories of our soccer team.
As I remember it was from 1964 to 1968 or 1969. We played against
the senior students of different majors Civil, Mechanical, Electrical etc.
the sayas at GTI and Natmauk Technical Institute
the Burma Air Force officers.
We also played in the annual tournament for RIT Staff. The staff teams are
the Sayas
Workshop staff
Lab staff
Hostel staff and
the youth team from the RIT compound.
As I remember these were the people in the team.
1. Goalkeepers: Richard Khoo (Civil), Maurice Kyaw Zaw (Chemistry), & Sein Myint/Ah Sein (Petroleum)
2. Defenders: Ko Maung Maung Than (Textile), Ko Aung Soe (Math), Ko Aung Hla Tun (Met), Ko Sann Tint (Elect), Christopher Maung (Civil), U Tin Swe (Elect), Ko Tin Win (Mech).
3. Midfielders: Ko Tin Maung Nyunt (Agri), Desmond Rogers (English), Ko Khine Oo (Elect), Ko Maung Maung Win (Mech), Ko Tin Hlaing II (Mech).
4. Forwards: Ko Pike Htwe (Chemistry), Ko Aung (Math), Ko Tin Hlaing I (Agri), Ko Soe Min (Elect), Ko Kyin Soe (Auto) & myself (Elect).
We rarely practiced but we enjoyed playing the games. We split games with the GTI sayas & the Air Force officers. We beat the Natmauk sayas and we won more than we lost in the RIT staff tournament. But I am sure we lost more than we won against the final year students. Would appreciate comments on this; especially on the names I missed in the team.
Soccer Tournaments
Many people in Myanmar follow the World Cup, Premium League, European Cup … in addition to the soccer tournaments (Asian Games, SEA Games, …) in which Myanmar compete.
(12) Swimming
Burma Selected Swimmers / Divers
Aung Khine Cho (Attended UCC)
Aung Than (Freestyle)
Aye Kyaw (Joined Navy)
Chit Soe (became Diplomat)
Derek Lynsdale (Backstroke)
Htay Aung (Swimming, Water Polo)
Maung Kyi (Breaststroke)
Mya Thee (Free style; became Coach)
Nanda Kyaw Zwar (Butterfly)
Nyunt Soe (became Coach)
Oscar Thwin
Philip Smythe (Diving; Moved to Australia)
Richard Yu Khin (excelled in Yachting)
Thet Win (Diving; Became Sports Officer)
Tin Maung Ni (SEAP & Asian Games Gold Medalist; Competed in Olympics)
Willie Huie (Breaststoke)
William Smythe (Diving; Moved to Australia)
Elizabeth Smythe
Marlar Swe
Mary Soe
Polly Ba San
Sally Soe
Sylvia Thwin
Dr. Richard Yu Khin wrote :
I was on the swim team with Tin Maung Ni who is a gentleman. Ten of us were trained by Mr. Matsuda who was on the Japanese national swim team. Mr. Matsuda was manager of a Japanese company in Rangoon. He made us swim six 50 metres sprints, with one minute interval. The time difference for the 1st and 6th sprints — the decline curve should be limited. This was the first time we had scientific training in swimming. Tin Maung Ni was the only Asian, other than Japanese, to win a gold medal in swimming at the Asian Games. The US Embassy provided a goodwill tour of USA for Tin Maung Ni. He is from the Kachin State.
Dr. Richard Yu Khin wrote :
Swimmers trained by Mr. Matsuda in 1959 include Derek Lynsdale (backstroke), Aye Kyaw (Hla Yee Yee’s cousin) and Willie Huie (breast-stroke). A few years ago saw photo of Thet Win at Kokine Swimming Club, and Aung Than who is working as swim coach in Bangkok. Derek Lynsdale’s mother was a Lecturer at Rangoon University who moved to a university in East Africa subsequent to military coup in 1962. Aye Kyaw was Tin Maung Ni’s deputy in the Burma Navy.
Ba Than Nyunt wrote :
(U) Tin Maung Ni won Gold medals not only in SEAP games but also in two successive Asian Games. If my recall is right, he is from Bhan Maw, Kachin State.
(13) Table Tennis
Terms
Table Tennis is also known as “Ping Pong”.
The term “Ping Pong Diplomacy” is used for jump starting the “strained relations” between China and US. The friendly Ping Pong matches preceded the diplomatic talks.
Saya Mao Toon Siong
Saya Mao
Saya Mao Toon Siong (M62) was Burma Champion in both Singles and Doubles.
Competed in the Table Table World Championship held in Beijing in 1961.
Served as Coach of the Burma National Team.
Managed the RIT Table Tennis teams, which won the Inter-Institute Trophy. The Inter-Institute Trophy winners include U Maung Maung (67, Sin Gyi, good Chess player), U Win Myint (EE67), and U Stanislau Lou (M67, see photo).
Taught us Thermodynamics.
Attended SPZP-2016 in Yangon, and also paid respect to Sayagyi U Ba Than. Saya U Tin Htut, Saya U Tin Win (Bago) … also visited Sayagyi that day. Saya said that he would send me a “good” copy of the group photo.
After moving to the US, Saya continued playing Table Tennis.
Ba Wai
Champion in the next generation
Stan Liou
Stan was a member of the Inter-Institute Trophy winning team.
Founding member of NorCal RITAA and served as Chair, BOD (Board of Directors).
Changes
Changes in the equipment (e.g. size of bat, texture [using pimples]) and the rules.
In the early days, most players used the “handshake” grip. Later, players used the “pen holder” grip.
There used to be games of 21 points.The winner is decided over the best of three (or five).
In recent tournaments, the game is shorted to 11 (or so) points. The winner is decided over the best of seven.
Stan Liou
(14) Tennis
Tennis Court
Tennis courts are provided by RU, RIT & Organizations (e.g. at Theinbyu Court).
Some homes have Tennis Courts and often produce good Tennis players at the University and National level.
Outstanding Tennis Players
Joe Ba Maung : National Champion in Singles; National Champion in Mens’s Doubles with Than Lwin; National Champion in Mixed Doubles with Ruby Kha; Taught English at RIT; Transferred to Railways & oversaw the Burma Railways Sports programs
Than Lwin : Succeeded Joe Ba Maung as National Champion
Tin Si & Khin Si
Pe Than Maung
Thein Tun (Robert)
Biak Cin
Maung Maung Lay (Ah Pu Lay)
Than Htut
Aung Htay
Khin Maung Aye
Tin Aung Cho
Mu Mu Khin (Daphne Tha Doke)
Joy Hla Pe
Jacqueline Tun Shwe
Daw Ruby Kha (Mixed Doubles)
RIT Tennis
RIT Tennis
Kyaw Sint (E Tai, T70, GBNF) National Junior Champion in high school. University First Eleven in soccer.
Soe Tha (EC67)
Tun Kyi (M67, GBNF)
Kyaw Nyunt (M69, GBNF)
James Than (70)
Htin Myaing (A66)
Several sayas (Dr. Aung Gyi, U Tin Hlaing, U Tu Myint) played Tennis.
International
The US Tennis Federation sent some players (Stan Smith, Bob Lutz) to Burma to hold Tennis Clinics and Exhibition Matches (with selected Burmese Tennis stars).
Rod Laver (“Rocket”) won two “True” Grand Slams: First time as an Amateur Second time as a Professiona Won all four Grand Slam Tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in the same Calendar year.
Some (e.g. Andre Agassi) won Career Grand Slam.Won the four Tournaments at different times in their career, but not in the same Calendar year.
Pete Sampras has many Wimbledon titles (played on the Grass Court). He has more Grand Slam titles than Andre Agassi, but he never won the French Open (played on the Clay Court).
Novak Djokovic currently holds the World Record for the most Grand Slam titles. He beat the records set by Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal.
“Who is the Greatest Of All Times (GOAT)?” varies with the sports writers and players spanning several generations.
(15) Thaing
It is a generic name for Burmese/Myanmar Martial Arts.
It comprises of
Bando (unarmed combat Thaing)
Banshay (armed combat Thaing).
There are various schools of Thaing.
One famous school was started by Saya U Pyi Thein. He is familiar with the other martial arts. He translated/adapted a book on selected martial arts around the world. An unconventional one is called “Naga Ngway Thaing” where the practitioner “emits” a “horrible” smell that can knock out people.
U Chit Than succeeded U Pyi Thein as head of their Thaing movement.
Some Thaing sayas are experts in other disciplines.
U Po Kyaw Myint was a University Lecturer in Burmese. His pen name is Myan Sar Gon Kyaw Myint.
U Mya Thein is a lawyer. He also starred in the movie “Thadin Kyut Tat Myee” along side Jolly Swe.
U San Maung taught Academy Nyunt Win for “Bando Lugalay Hnit Thuzar”. He also performed stunt in several movies.
U Min Din was a high school Luyechun. He volunteered for the Thaing demos at YTU and other schools.
Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60) served as President of the RIT Thaing Association. Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw (EC69) served as Joint Secretary.
There is also a school called “Thaing Byaung Byan” (literally meaning “Reverse Thaing”).
Dr. Khin Maung U (SPHS63) wrote :
Had a chance to treat “Thaing Byaung Byan” U Maung Lay in Wards 19&20, Yangon Hospital, in the 1970s. Can’t recall his illness. His school of martial arts handle and weapons (e.g., sticks, spears, etc.) in an eccentric manner (i.e., not in a balanced manner, holding one side longer than the other), and by so doing, confuses the usual martial arts fighters.
(16) Track and Field
Once upon a time, Burma was known as a power house of athletics in SEAP games.
Burma placed first in the 2nd SEAP Games held in December 1961 at Rangoon, Burma.
Burma also dominated in the 1969 SEAP Games.
Some competed in the Asian Games and in the Olympics.
Male Track and Field stars
1969 SEAP Games
Kyaw Mra and Kyaw Khin (Hurdles)
Soe Mra and Maung Maung Mra (Pole vault)
Myee Tun Naw : Burma & SEAP Champion for Marathon
Shin Bwe Gan : Burma & SEAP Champion for 5000 and 10000 meters; Runner up in the early Marathons, and eventually ended as a Champion
Jimmy Crampton (SPHS) : Burma & SEAP Champion for 800 m & 1500 m
Soe Win : Won 100m and anchored 4 x 100m relay in 2nd SEAP Games
Sai Thein Maung (RIT) : Sprint (RIT, Inter-Institute)
Female Track and Field stars
Gracie Carr (100m & long jump)
Tin Pu
Khin Htay
Jennifer Tin Lay (Javelin and shot put)
Than Than
Weik Pan (Marathon)
Inter-school Tournaments
In the early days, there were T&F competitions as part of the Annual Sports (e.g. in SPHS), Inter-school Tournaments and Inter-Institute Tournaments. Some (e.g. Jimmy Crampton) went on to shine as Burma Selected. A few (e.g. Kyaw Mra, Kyaw Khin) later chose to become National Coach.
It is sad to learn that many students would not (or could not) give some time to train and excel in sports in addition to being good in their studies.
KMZ wrote :
Jimmy Crampton is an OP, Old Paulian. If my memory serves me one of his running partners was non other than our own Dr. Rafiul Ahad, ex-UCC.
Rafiul was chosen for the preliminary team for Burma. He placed third in the hurdles. His coach was Kyaw Khin (Old Paulian, and Burma Champion in hurdles and 1500m).
(17) Volleyball
Kyaw Nyunt, Tin Maung Swe, Kyaw Han, Than Soe, Tha Din, Ohn Shein : Burma Selected
Ko Aye, Shwe Kyaw : RU & BIT
Orson, Edison, Khin Kyaw Nyein : RIT
Aye Thein, Maung Maung, Myint Maung : RIT EE
(18) Weightlifting
U Zaw Weik : Competed in the Olympics; Co-founded Burma Olympic Committee
U Aung Gyi : World Record in Snatch for Flyweight Division in the early 1970s; Competed in World Championship & Munich Olympics
Dr. Kyaw Sein, Khin Win, Jimmy Kyin, Thein Aung, Ohn Khin : RIT Weightlifting and Body Building
(19) Yachting
U Maung Maung Lwin (SEAP Gold)
Dr. Richard Yu Khin (SEAP Gold)
Dr. Khin Thein / Victor (SEAP Gold)
Dr. Tun Thein / George (SEAP Gold)
Htoo Aung Gyi (SEAP Gold)
U Tin Htoon (SEAP Silver)
U Hla Khin (SEAP Silver)
Dr. Shirley Thein Maung (Burma)
Dr. Rosie Thein Maung (Burma)
(20) All-round Athlete
Memories of Ko Aung Khin
by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70)
Ko Aung Khin was in his second half of his 5th year class (either Mech or Agri, not sure) when we entered RIT in Nov 1964. One good thing about Hostel life in those days is, your dining table mates were selected for you at random.
I was blessed to be at the same dining table with Ko Aung Khin in the May ‘ 65 semester, when he was starting his final year and I got to know him. Ko Aung Khin played on the RIT B soccer team that year, and in the basketball finals against A&S, at the RC center, we cheered for him.
Again in Nov ’65, I remember cheering him play on the RIT volleyball team against A& S.
Best of all, I was among the few RIT fans sitting in front of the high jump pit at the Universities Sports day January 1966, and we cheered as he out jumped Mg Mg Mra of A & S to take the gold.
Years late, 1975, I saw him again when I went to the tractor repair shop at 9th mile for help in repairing our tractors in our factory. He was the second in command at that place then. Last time I saw him was at the bus stop in Kamayut late 1975. I was rushing to get on the No 8 bus and I heard ” Pyai Pyai Pou “. Turned around and there he was, standing and smiling at me.
I really like to know where Ko Aung Khin is now. Maybe Emma Myint may know. She and Tin May Soe were among the RIT girls taught how to play volleyball by Ko Aung Khin back in 1964/65.
Editor’s Notes :
During our RIT days, Saya U Maung Maung Than (Tex) was Chair of the RIT Sports Council.
RIT Selected were awarded certificates.
I received a certificate for representing RIT in Rowing.
I remember Ko Aung Khin receiving five (or more) certificates. He represented RIT in Track and Field, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and hiking.
(21) Sports & Studies
In the early days, there were several people who were excellent in their studies and in their hobby sports.
For example, Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing, Pediatric Surgeon, GBNF) served as Captain of RUBC. He won with U Tin Htoon (A60) the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs in 1958 ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East) Regatta in Calcutta. He won with U Victor Htun Shein, U Sunny Teng, U Tin Htoon (A60) and U Sein Htoon (M63) the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours in the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo. He was Burma Selected in Hockey and Cricket, and represented the Faculty of Medicine in T&F and soccer. He assisted Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick San Pe, Pediatric Surgeon, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) for the first ever operation in Burma to separate conjoined twins (Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San). He later taught at the University of Hong Kong, and also served as Patron for the Hong Kong Rowing Club. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered in the waters near the Hong Kong Rowing Club.
Even in our days, there were several people who were good in sports and studies. Htay Aung (M69), Sai Kham Pan (EP69), Wunna Sithu (EC71), and Victor Aung Myin (M72) are some examples.
Class of 69
Aung Gyi Shwe & Khin Than Myint Tin competed in Track and Field.
Soe Win was Captain of RIT Basketball. Han Sein & Tommy are team members.
Sai Kham Pan was Burma Selected in Badminton. He also led the RIT team to Inter-Institute Championship. Myint Sein & Bishnu are team members.
Htay Aung was Burma Selected in Water Polo. He also led the RIT Swimming & Water Polo teams. Sein Myint, Jimmy Kyin, Win Maung, Hla Kyaing, Swan Kong & Han Sein are team members.
Class of 70
The Class of 70 was represented in RIT and/or Inter-Institute by the following :
Source : Ohn Khine (M70) and Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70)
Sai Thein Maung (100m, Triple Jump, RIT Goalkeeper, organizer of Intake of 64 & 65)
Shein Kee Gae GBNF Track & Field (Long Distance runner)
Saw Mg Mg Htwe Track & Field (still running long distance races)
Oo Myint (Mn) Track & Field
Win Naing Track & Field
Lei Lei Chit (Ch) Track & Field
Nan Khaming (A) Track & Field
Maung Maung Thaw (E) Track & Field, and Boxing
RIT Sports Stars
Aung Khin (M66) is a multiple-sports athlete. He won the Inter-Institute High Jump by beating the Burma selected from RASU. He also represented RIT in soccer, volley ball, basketball and hiking.
Khin Maung Lay (Henry, T68) and Victor Aung Myin (M72) are also star athletes.
Sports Coverage
Before the advent of TV and the Internet, one has to follow sports via radio and newspapers.
Won a ticket from my “Morals and Manners” class teacher to see 1960 Rome Olympics Documentary at Thamada (President) Cinema. Armin Harry (Germany) won the 100m and 200m. Rafer Johnson (US) won the Decathlon. Abebe Bikila (Ethiopia) won the Marathon while running bare foot. He would successfully defend his title in 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
I was able to watch the 1972 Munich Olympics on a color TV.
Fast forward. … Usain Bolt retired as the “fastest man”.
Hope we will see well-rounded student athletes in Myanmar again.
Aung Win (C87) wrote :
Jennifer Tin Lay is still working as sport instructor in International School Myanmar near my home. Teachers of Myanmar (mostly female teachers) cannot guide students to do sports activities. Hardly expect again for well-rounded student athletes.No block selected.
(23) Olympics
Origin
Modern Olympics was a revival of the ancient games held every four years at Olympia.
The four year interval is called an Olympiad. The ancient Greeks use Olympiad instead of years when describing dates.
Pierre de Coubertin created the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894.
IOC selects a city or cities to hold the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics. The two Olympics are interlaced.
There were no Olympics in 1940 and 1944. Berlin Olympics was held in 1936. London Olympics was held in 1948.
2020 Olympics scheduled for Tokyo was postponed to July 2021 due to COVID-19.
2024 Olympics was held in Rio de Janerio.
2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles
Drama in the Olympics
Summer Olympics has its share of drama.
Berlin Olympics (1936)
The 1936 Summer Olympics was held in Berlin and was attended by Adolf Hitler (who promoted the supremacy of the Aryan race). Jesse Owens, a black athlete from the USA, won four Gold medals : 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m relay, and Long Jump.
The drama occurred in the Long Jump event. Jesse Owens was having some problems in the Long Jump when the German competitor Lang advised him to leave about six inches gap behind the broad to prevent overstepping and getting disqualified. Jesse took the advice, regained his poise and went on to win the Long Jump Gold. It was a mark of true sportsmanship.
Note : Jesse Owens later “took back” the story. Since there was not much media coverage, there is no proof or disproof.
Munich Olympics (1972)
Mark Spitz (USA) won seven Gold medals in record time in swimming : 100m & 200m Freestyle, 100m & 200m Butterfly, 4 x 100m Freestyle relay, 4 x 200m Freestyle relay, and 4 x 100 Medley relay. Saved energy by skipping the trials of selected relay events.
Olga Kolburt (USSR) was awarded a couple of Perfect Ten in Gymnastics.
Eleven Israeli athletes were kidnapped (shown live on TV) and murdered by Black September. Mossad took several years to track down & decimate Black September.
Boycotts
USA boycotted the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow.
USSR retaliated with a boycott of the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles.
Olympians
Some Olympians went on to have illustrious careers.
Johnny Weissmuller, swimming champion, gained fame as Tarzan in the movies.
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion, went on to become Mohammad Ali, three time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
Media Coverage
During my SPHS days, there was no television in Burma.
I received a ticket from Brother Austin as a prize to see the “1960 Rome Olympics” documentary at Thamada (President) cinema.
I was in the UK and was fortunate to see the 1972 Munich Olympics on a Color television.
(24) RU Sports
Sports Council
Rangoon University used to have a Sports Council. It awards Varsity Blue and Half Blue to the selected athletes.
In our days, U Maung Maung Than (T, GBNF) chaired the RIT Sports Committee. Certificates were presented to the RIT sportsmen and sportswomen at the Annual gathering.
(25)!RIT Sports
Sports Committee
Chaired by U Maung Maung Than (Tex, GBNF); Later became Rector of YTU
Committee would organize an Annual Dinner where Certificates were awarded to the students who had represented RIT in the various sports.
Received a certificate for Rowing.
Ko Aung Khin (M66) received six certificates.
Inter-Institute Championships
Over the years, RIT won several Inter-Institute Championships. They include
Badminton
Chinlon
Rowing
Soccer
Swimming and Water Polo
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track and Field (Cross Country)
Weight lifting & Body building
News and photos are covered in several of my posts.
(26) World Cup
Started as a challenge between selected European soccer clubs and South American soccer clubs.
Several boycotts in the early years.
Number of entries for World Cup was expanded initially to 16 teams, and later 24 and 32 teams.
There will be 48 teams on or before 2026 World Cup to ensure a larger participation from all continents.
Jules Rimet Trophy
The trophy (named after the founding President) was won outright by Brazil, after winning the World Cup three times in
Sweden (1958) with a youngster named Pele
Chile (1962) with Garrincha — born with deformed feet — joining Pele
Mexico (1970) with Pele as the Best Player
FIFA World Cup Trophy
Trophy which succeeded the Jules Rimet Trophy is handed over to the winner during the presentation. Winner only takes home a replica.
Brazil won the Trophy twice, making it the only nation with five World Cup Titles.
Germany is second with four titles, but got knocked off in World Cup 2018.
Won the World Cup as a player and as a manager
Mario Zagallo (Brazil) : 1958 and 1962 as a player, 1970 as Manager
Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) : 1974 as Captain, 1990 as Manager
Didier Deschamps (France) : 1998 as Captain, 2018 as Manager
Youngest Teenager to score in a Final
Pele (Brazil, 1958) is the youngest teenager to score in a World Cup Final. He was 17 years old.
Youngest Team to win World Cup
Brazil (1970) is the youngest team to win the World Cup
World Cup 2018
France (2018) is the second youngest team to win the World Cup. Mbappe (France, 2018) is the second youngest teenager to score in a World Cup Final. He was 19 years old.
50 players in World Cup 2018 were born or raised in France.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was employed in World Cup 2018.
Team Sports
Soccer is a team sports
Many star players fail to win the World Cup. Puskas (Hungary, 1954) Johan Kruff (Netherlands, 1970) Ronaldo (Portugal) has not won yet
Transformation
Soccer has transformed from a highly offensive game — with Just Fontaine (France) scoring 13 goals to win the Golden Boot — to a mostly defensive game albeit with smart counter-attack game. Henry Kane scored 6 goals in 2018 World Cup. His closest challengers scored 4 goals, and the number of assists was used for the tie-breaker.
In our younger days, most soccer teams used 2-3-5 (two backs, three mid-fielders & five forwards). Then came 3-4-3, 4-2-4, 4-3-3, 4-3-2-1 (with lone striker) and 5-3-2.
Viewing games
We once tried to join a crowd on or near the German Embassy compound showing a movie of the then World Cup match. It is now common to join “watch parties” for interesting matches if one does not want to see on the smart devices and the large screen TVs alone.
U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76, UCC) wrote :
In many sports, the street smart is one of ingredients if you will in addition to the skills and talent, practice and experience to become a successful.
There was an interesting article on the current crops of successful young footballers coming out of Paris suburbs. Many of these suburbs are economically challenge, inhabited by immigrants especially from African nations. Quite a few of these players could not even find their place in the French National Team and ended up playing for one of their parents’ nations.
It is also interested to note that as the many European countries transformed from somewhat monolithic to multi-culture societies their National teams started to reflect this trend.
There are now 280+ confirmed attendees (of which 250+ have paid and the rest saying that the “check is on the way”). The list is growing. Although we posted the invitations on the web, e-mailed to alumni that we know, and even sent invitation packages to several alumni by snail mail, almost every day, I get a message saying “I’ve just learnt that there is an ex-rit web site” or “I just got a fax from a friend about the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe and I’d like to know if there are any tickets left”.
There are some people who do not have Internet access. There are several who switch their ISPs and their e-mail addresses. There are a few people who do have computers but rarely open their e-mail box; if you send e-mail to them you’ll get “Mail Box Quota Exceeded”. For whatever reason, there are still people who are unaware that alumni from five decades will meet at the Embassy Suites hotel in Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco on the evening of October 28, 2000. The family members will join the alumni in a picnic on October 29, 2000.
Our webmaster, KMZ, will come to the Bay Area on October 27, 2000. There will probably be lots of pre- and post- Reunion gatherings.
Will I be able to remember the 400 – 500 names (some alumni have 2 or even 3 names) of the attendees? Or as Myint Myint Sein (a) Diana (M70) says, “Will we be able to recognize our friends?” Our teachers used to say that they first recognize the best and the restless/energetic in the class. Then, gradually they focus on the quiet and the timid students.
It’s easier to remember people as a group. So, here we go:
CLASS OF 68
Ko Aung Khin (EP 68), formerly of EPC [spent most of his time at the Lawpita Hydro-electric Power Station], recently became a PE and a proud grandfather. He was known as the “LA Tha-gyee” (village head) since he knew a lot of people in the Los Angeles area. He was an EC member of the RIT Electrical Engineering Association, and a past Vice-President of BAPS.
His seating preference: We (Ko Aung Khin and Ma Win May) would like to sit together with our 1968 batch, Ko Tun Aung (a) Jeffrey (EC68) and his wife from LA, Ko Min Maung (EP68) and his wife from Seattle, and Saya U San Tint if it is possible.
Ko Tun Aung was EC1 [the roll numbers then were given in honor of merit]. His wife Ma Thuza was a well known movie actor.
When Saya U Chin Way (EE) first came to the US, Ko Tun Aung asked him to apply for a job at his department. As the story goes, the interviewer(s) asked if Saya knew anyone there. Saya said that he only knew Ko Tun Aung, who used to be student back home. The interview ended there and then.
Congratulations, Ko Tun Aung for paying back the metta and cetana of his saya(s). Sad to say, Saya U Chin Way had passed away.
Ko Myat Htoo (C68), co-chair, Steering Committee, wrote:
Thank you so much for sending me Krishna Rao’s phone no. I spoke with him in length yesterday and gave him my other classmates’ phone nos. He left Burma right after graduation in ’68. My last night’s phone call to him was our first contact in 32 years. I found out that he got divorced from his wife of 18 years recently and just had a heart bypass surgery a month ago and he is still recuperating.
Ko Myat Htoo (Civ 68) joined the Civil department upon graduation. He is now a Branch Chief with CalTrans (California Transportation). He is serving his second term as President of TBSA. He will be hosting Saya Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58).
CLASS OF 70
Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP 70) writes: Will it be possible to seat Ko Ye Myint (EP72) and spouse, Ko Myo Khin (C70) and spouse, with me and my wife?
Ko Zaw Min was Roll No. 1 for the ’64 intake of the first ever 1st BE and was a “Luyechun” (Outstanding Student). The “Luyechun” project started the year before for middle school and high school. It was extended to the University students in the Inlay Khaung Daing summer camp in 1965.
Ko Zaw Min was a top student in EP. Ko Thaung Sein (a) Steeve Kay and Charlie Tseng were the top of the EC class.
After relocating to the US, Ko Zaw Min switched to Electronics specializing in Component Design. He has relocated from New York to the Bay Area.
Ko Ye Myint is Saya U Ba Toke’s son. One of Ko Ye Myint’s sons is an EE working in Singapore. Another is expected to graduate from AU [formerly ABAC] also with a degree in EE.
Saya U Ba Toke retired from AU last year. He will be attending the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. His sponsors include Ko Zaw Min, Ko Maung Maung Than (M79), Ko Mya Thwin (Philip, EE75), Saya Allen Htay (C58) and Saya U Tin Htut (M60).
Ko Myo Khin (C70) and Ma Mya Mya Nwe (C73) will attend. They will be staying at the Embassy Suites. Ko Myo Khin, along with the late Ko Win Thein (M67), were among the top organizers at RIT. Ko Myo Khin joined the Civil department upon graduation. He later taught at the Japanese universities.
The following is a message forwarded by Ko Zaw Win (C70) who will not be able to attend the Reunion:
Dear Ko Myo Khin
How are you and your family? I think both of you must be counting your days for the trip to US for the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. It’s a rare and a great occasion for all the graduates of RIT who were out of the mother country for different reasons to meet at this ‘Pwe” and for a reunion.
Unfortunately circumstances do not allow me to participate in the grand occasion. Please send my greetings to all our friends when you meet them.
At present in Sydney, Australia the whole town is bubbling with Olympic activities while I am trying to finish the three project reports which were due last month. Sometimes I really long for those old times where we can simply lay on our backs and enjoy the slow flow of events with ample of free time. I really now understand that “Life is a struggle” everywhere. Life is also short and enjoy it while you can, with metta towards others.
CLASS OF 74
Ma San San Swe (San San Nwe, EC 74) wrote:
Would there be any seating arrangements? Is it possible to ask for seating with a few of our friends in one table? They are :-
1. Yee Yee Win; San Francisco 2. Ko Tin Aung Win & Dorothy; Sydney, Australia 3. Suzie, husband [Saya U Myat Thwin] & son [Raymond]; Houston, Texas 4. Ko Myint Swe & San San; Cupertino
Thanks, Sansan
For the 1st BE intake of ’68 (mostly graduated in ’74), Ko Htay Lwin Nyo was No. 1 followed by Ma San San, Ko Ne Win Maw, Ko Myint Swe, Sai Aung Thurein in the top of the class.
An ode to Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo (part-time Professor, SJSU) can be found in the “HLN Memorial Pages”.
Ko Myint Swe (EP74) and Ma San San moved last Thanksgiving to the Bay Area. They have both volunteered for the Organizing Committee of the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. They hosted a lunch meeting some time back. Ko Myint Swe works for AMD and has to travel frequently to Austin, Texas, and elsewhere. He enjoys playing golf and tennis.
Ko Tin Aung Win is a brother-in-law of Saya U Myo Win (M65). He will be bringing a letter and photos from Saya U Myo Win. Dorothy is an RIT associate. She is the younger daughter of the late Sayagyi U Kyaw Tun (EE).
Daw Yee Yee Win was shocked when he learned about HLN’s untimely death. She was one of the donors to the HLN Memorial Fund along with the Swe(s) and Ma Suzie.
Ma Suzie Lin (formerly Suzie Yea) wrote that she could hear the laughing and talking in the RIT corridors as she browsed the ex-rit web site pages. Her letter to the Editor and Web Master is straight from the heart. Saya U Myat Thwin (Kuesan Lin, ChE66) won several scholastic awards from the US even when he was studying at RIT. Not wishing to miss the big Reunion — thanks in part to the phone call by Saya U Maung Maung7 (George, ChE66) — the Lin(s) decided to buy three tickets to bring along Raymond.
With metta, Hla Min
_____________________________________________ Countdown to the Reunion (2) _____________________________________________
Note : I posted 64 “Countdown to the Reunion” and 36 “Post-Reunion” for SPZP-2000. Countdown (2) was posted on September 19, 2000
Dear Sayas and Colleagues,
Since the alumni attending the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw span five decades, we need help from representative(s) of each decade to highlight that era and to introduce the alumni. I’ll try my best to give an overall demographics of the alumni attending the first ever Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.
Saya H Num Kok
Saya H. Num Kok (Civil) and Saya U Ba Toke (Maths) are the most senior sayas [by age] among those attending the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. They also taught most of the sayas and senior alumni. Two brothers of Saya U Num Kok are also alumni. H. Num Fatt has not registered for the Reunion, but H. Num Pon (a) Saya U Myint Lwin (C61) will be at the Reunion. For many years, Saya U Num Kok acted as line judge at the RUBC8 regattas. Saya U Myint Lwin rowed for the Faculty of Engineering.
Saya U Ba Toke
Saya U Ba Toke taught mathematics to the engineering students. Saya later served as Professor of Mathematics at the Rangoon University, Rector at MASU, and as Professor of Mathematics at RIT. He retired last year from Assumption University (formerly ABAC), Bangkok, Thailand. While at RIT, Saya U Ba Toke chaired numerous organizations including “Thu-khu-ma a-nu-pyin-nya” (Fine arts) and sports.
The sponsors of Saya U Ba Toke include Saya U Tin Htut (M60), Saya Allen Htay (C58), Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70), Ko Maung Maung Than (M79), and Ko Mya Thwin (Philip, EE75).
E-mail I received earlier from Saya U Myint Lwin
Dear Hla Min:
Thank you for your e-mail and the invitation to the RIT Reunion. It should be a memorable event. I will put the date in my calendar. I taught at RIT as Assistant Lecturer in CE from June 1961 to October 1962.
I visited RIT and the Rangoon University Boat Club in March 1999. RIT was closed at that time, but I was able to visit with Rector of RIT and Head of Civil Engineering Department. I look forward to the event. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Have a great day!
Myint Lwin Structural Design Engineer FHWA
Engineer Athletes
The engineering students are known for their athletic prowess. Here is a sampling from the attendees of the Reunion:
Saya U Tin Htut (M60, Past RUBC Captain and Gold)
U Tin Htoon (A60, Past RUBC Captain and Gold) won numerous trophies at the RUBC regattas, the National Championships, FEARA (Far East Amateur Rowing Association) and ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East) regattas — Venables Bowls for Coxless Pairs in Calcutta 1958, and Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours in Colombo 1960. He won a silver medal for sailing in the SEAP games.
Ko Htein Win (Richard Taw, “Chauk Pay”, M70) tended the shallow end goal for the RIT water polo team. He also represented RIT in rowing.
Ko Htaik San (Henry Kao, M81) and Ko Thura Thant Zin (M76) are RUBC Golds. They won gold medals at FEARA regattas.
Among those who represented RIT include Saya U Myint Lwin (C61), U Than Soe (RUBC Gold, M63), Ko Khin Maung Lay (T 68), Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76), …
Saya Dr. San Hla Aung served as timekeeper and/or starter at the RUBC regattas.
Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) and Ko Thura Thant Zin (M76) played as last defender and goalie of the RIT Hockey team. KMZ served as TTZ’s coach in hockey. TTZ served as KMZ’s coach in rowing.
Ko Kyaw Sint (Edward Tai, T70) is a multi-discipline sportsman. He was the Junior National Champion in tennis, a Full Green in rowing, and University First Eleven in soccer.
Ko Jimmy Kyin (GBNF, T69), Ko Thein Aung (Met 72) and Ko Than Htike (M71) represented RIT in the weightlifting and bodybuilding contests. A picture of the youthful “Mr. University” can be seen in the “Photo Gallery”.
Ko Khin Maung Lay (T68) represented RIT in track and field, soccer and rowing. He was a member of the University [Second] Eleven.
Count down to SPZP-2012 (15) __________________________________________________
Saya U Moe Aung wrote :
Dear U Hla Min
This is with reference (Update Sept 5, 2012) to your emotional feelings about not being a Saya at RIT and people being not aware of you as a Post Master and an Editor.
It is very natural that with the generation gap growing wider and wider with each passing decade, the middle-aged or the younger people will definitely not- or not wish to- know who their preceding generations are and how they fared or are faring.
Only with the exception of a few who possess strong desires to master some language (e.g. English, Burmese) and to acquire in-depth knowledge and writing skills to become a writer or poet, I believe that not many wish to take up interest in these fields.
Please correct me if my viewpoint is wrong. Since we are living in a modern hi-tech world, especially in capitalist countries, most people tend to chase after monetary gains first and place others last.
But, people who know you will not hesitate to shower their praise on you, because they acknowledge that you have sacrificed a vast portion of your time and energy throughout the years to get RITians connected and feel at home. If I were sitting near or at the same dinner table as you, I am sure I would have done the same thing like Saya Dr Myo Khin and Saya Dr Soe Thein did.
Since I did not see you at the SPZP 2007 dinner night, I thought that it was my duty to call on you the next day and that was why I saw you off at the Airport with Ko Tin Aung Win at the wheel. I remembered that day because it was raining heavily and I was soaked.
For me, U Hla Min, you deserve to be deemed a writer and a poet, because you don’t need to write hundreds to become one. There were some instances of some famous poets who wrote only a few poems in their lifetime.
My memory doesn’t permit me to recall distinctly but only vaguely the ones you wrote. During that period I myself wrote some poems in English and they got published in “The Guardian” Magazine.
We all know you were a Saya at UCC, DCS and ICST. I would like to take this opportunity to mention that my brother-in-law Ko Hla Min (same name) was your former pupil. The last time when you visited Singapore, I heard Ko Hla Min went to meet you.
Well, U Hla Min, this is Life! and whatever will be, will be (Que Sera Sera).
But as you mentioned, let us share our memories of our beloved Swel Daw Yeik with never ending love and passion.
Let us embrace SPZP 2012 Yangon together!
Regards [Saya U] Moe Aung
Editor’s notes:
Thanks Saya for your kind words.
Saya’s mentors include the famed Sayagyi Daung Nwe Swe. In his student days and later as a faculty member, Saya not only served as the [Chief] Editor, but also supervised the printing of the Sar Saungs and Magazines. Saya has published poems in both Burmese and English. Saya’s recent contributions include Chair of SPZP-2002 and SPZP-2010, and the Chief Editor and/or Publisher of the commemorative issues of the “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” and “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine”.
Sayagyi U Kyaw Tun, Saya U Myo Kyi, and Saya U Moe Aung are some EE sayas, who taught “Principles of Electrical Engineering” to non-EE students.
Countdown to SPZP-2012 (81) ____________________________________________
Attended the SPZP-2012 Main Committee Meeting presided by U Win Khaing.
To minimize traffic congestion and parking problems, attendees to SPZP-2012 are requested to car-pool, take buses or taxis.
3000 – 4000 attendees are expected for the morning event.
There will be four groups of sayas and sayamas for the “paying respect” ceremony.
2500 or more attendees are expected to attend the evening event. Tickets are available at K15000 per person. Dinner buffet and entertainment (by the famed Swel Daw Yeik Troupe) are provided.
Review of the Final Draft for the “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar” has begun. The printing is scheduled on or around December 16, 2012.
Two Cartoon Boxes will be on display at SPZP-2012. Commemorative “RIT Cartoon Collection” will be on sale at K2000. Several RIT Cartoon Sayas have volunteered to demo their expertise.
The Swel Daw Yeik Magazine committee will have a meeting on or around December 16, 2012. The team is headed by U Saw Linn (C 71) and includes distinguished writers such as Ma Sandar, N. Jar Thaing, and Maung Sein Win (Padeegone).
Copies of 23 vintage “RIT Annual Magazines” will also be on sale. Each magazine costs K3000. The whole set is available at K65000.
Countdown to SPZP-2012 (82) ____________________________________________
Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66, President, NorCal RITAA)
Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, Vice President)
Saya Dr. Tin Aung (K. C. Chiu, ChE 63)
U Hla Min (EC69)
U Benny Tan (M70)
Saya U Thein Aung (James, Met72)
U Robert Hla Thein (M72)
Daw San San Nyunt (Sandra, M76)
U Nyunt Than (M86)
Saya U Maung Maung has requested U Win Khaing (M 75, Chair, SPZP-2012; President, MES) to have a meeting at 3:30 p on December 29, 2012.
U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70)
He is a Multiple SPZP Sponsor at the highest level).
He will give a 5-minute presentation/announcement at SPZP-2012.
He provided the “seed money” (US$3000+) for SPZP-2000.
He has pledged US$5000 for SPZP-2012.
His other charitable donations include “Relief for Cyclone Nargis victims” (via CABA), “Helen and Steeve Kay Health Care Fund for RIT Sayas and Sayamas”, Golden (and above) sponsorship for all the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes,
U Yu Beng (Benny Tan, M70)
He is a Multiple SPZP Sponsor)
He will also attend SPZP-2012
He co-chaired the Working Committee with U Hla Myint Thein (Maurice Chee, M 75) for SPZP-2000.
He designed the SPZP Banner, and the commemorative T-shirt, mug for SPZP-2000.
He is currently enjoying his third career as a proud grandfather taking care of the grand kids.
Sayas and Sayamas
Most sayas and sayamas from overseas and out of town will converge to Yangon around December 26 – 28.
Some have accepted the two-night stay (for December 29 and 30) provided by the SPZP-2012 organizers/committees/sponsors.
Sayagyi U Aung Khin (M) and Saya U Tin Htut (M 60) will stay at Winner Inn. Sayagyi U Ba Than (M) will welcome them personally at the air port before taking them to Winner Inn
Main events
Main events for SPZP-2012 will be held on December 30, 2012.
Morning: Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (paying respect to four tiers/groups of sayas and sayamas) in the RIT/YIT/YTU Gyogone Campus
Lunch (probably Birayani/Danbauk and refreshments) will be provided to all attendees
Some souvenirs will be provided to the “registered” attendees
Exhibition booths: photos, cartoon boxes, vintage RIT magazines, list of sponsors/volunteers, ….
Items on sale:
“History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar” by Saya U Aung Hla Tun and Ah Phwe,
Commemorative issue of “SWEL DAW YEIK MAGAZINE” by U Saw Linn (C 71) and Ah Phwe,
RIT Cartoons by U Myint Pe (M 72) and Ah Phwe
Souvenirs (ball pens, key chains, calendars, …)
Evening:
Reunion Dinner at Convention Center on Min Dhamma Road
Ticket: K15000 per person
Buffet dinner
Group of 10 sayas/alums may request to be seated at the same table
Entertainment (include the famed SWEL DAW YEIK AH NYEINT, …)
Special request: Please “car-pool” or take public transportation to minimize traffic congestion and parking problems.
Volumes 1 – 3 of the RIT Annual Magazine were published during Sayagyi U Yone Moe’s tenure; Volumes 4 – 7 were published during Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi’s tenure; and Volumes 8 – 16 were published during Sayagyi U Khin Aung Kyi’s tenure.
Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi served as Chief Editor for the first three volumes. Saya U Aung Hla Tun served as Chief Editor for the next four volumes. Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) served as Chief Editor for nine volumes.
Seven years would pass without the publication of RIT Magazine.
The name “SWEL DAW YEIK” first came into prominent use in 1970 as a synonym for RIT and the Engineering Colleges and Institutes. Rangoon University was established in 1920 and the Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1970. I had a minor role as a volunteer on the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Ye Committee”. Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi (then Professor of Civil Engineering) and Saya U Thet Lwin (then teaching Burmese at the Institute of Economics) had major roles on the Main/Preparation Committee. Later, they would rejoin forces as Rector and Registrar of RIT.
I was Editor of the Commemorative RIT Alumni International Newsletter for SPZP-2000. Saya U Moe Aung was Editor/Publisher of the Commemorative SWEL DAW YEIK SAR SAUNG for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007, and SPZP-2010. Saya printed my poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” as the back cover for the 2002 Sar Saung and another poem “SWE DAW YEIK” for the 2007 Sar Saung. Saya also renamed my article about “A Short and Sad Clip : EE Sayas” and printed in the 2010 Sar Saung.
Saya suggested the name SWEL DAW YEIK MAGAZINE for SPZP-2012. The 400-page magazine should quench the literary thirst of the sayas, sayamas, and alums. Autographed copies of the magazines will be available on or before SPZP-2012.
Mark your calendars for December 30, 2012 for the grandest SPZP ever.
Countdown to SPZP-2012 (88) _________________________________________________
Volumes 1 – 3 of the RIT Annual Magazine were published during Sayagyi U Yone Moe’s tenure; Volumes 4 – 7 were published during Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi’s tenure; and Volumes 8 – 16 were published during Sayagyi U Khin Aung Kyi’s tenure.
Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi served as Chief Editor for the first three volumes. Saya U Aung Hla Tun served as Chief Editor for the next four volumes. Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) served as Chief Editor for nine volumes.
Seven years would pass without the publication of RIT Magazine.
The name “SWEL DAW YEIK” first came into prominent use in 1970 as a synonym for RIT and the Engineering Colleges and Institutes. Rangoon University was established in 1920 and the Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1970. I had a minor role as a volunteer on the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Ye Committee”. Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi (then Professor of Civil Engineering) and Saya U Thet Lwin (then teaching Burmese at the Institute of Economics) had major roles on the Main/Preparation Committee. Later, they would rejoin forces as Rector and Registrar of RIT.
I was Editor of the Commemorative RIT Alumni International Newsletter for SPZP-2000. Saya U Moe Aung was Editor/Publisher of the Commemorative SWEL DAW YEIK SAR SAUNG for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007, and SPZP-2010. Saya printed my poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” as the back cover for the 2002 Sar Saung and another poem “SWE DAW YEIK” for the 2007 Sar Saung. Saya also renamed my article about “A Short and Sad Clip : EE Sayas” and printed in the 2010 Sar Saung.
Saya suggested the name SWEL DAW YEIK MAGAZINE for SPZP-2012. The 400-page magazine should quench the literary thirst of the sayas, sayamas, and alums. Autographed copies of the magazines will be available on or before SPZP-2012.
Mark your calendars for December 30, 2012 for the grandest SPZP ever.
Collection of Pali verses (that refer to Buddha’s teachings).
Translated by several Pal Scholars.
Some Dhammapada books also cover short stories related to the verses.
Narada Thera
The Dhammapada
Subtitle: Pali text & translation with stories & notes
Author : Narada Thera
Preface
Chapters
The Twin Verses
Heedfulness
Mind
Flowers
Fools
The Wise
The Worthy
Thousands
Evil
The Rod or Punishment
Old Age
The Self
The World
The Buddha
Happiness
Affection
Anger
Impurities or Taints
The Just or Righteous
The Way or the Path
Miscellaneous
Woeful State
The Elephant
Craving
The Bhikkhu or the Mendicant
The Brahmana
Venerable Buddharakhitta
The following verses are from the book by Venerable Buddharakkhita.
Verse 182
Hard it is to be born a man; hard is the life of mortals. Hard is it to gain the opportunity of hearing the Sublime Truth, and hard to encounter is the arising of the Buddhas.
Verse 183
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one’s mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
Verse 184
Enduring patience is the highest austerity. “Nibbana is supreme,” says the Buddhas. He is not a true monk who harms another, nor a true renunciate who oppresses others.
Myanmar & English
U Thittila’s Translation (in Burmese)
Venerable Buddharakkhita’s Translation (in English)
Frequently Quoted Verse
The following Dhammapada verse is frequently quoted by Sayadaws and writers.
“Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, – this is the Teaching of the Buddhas.”
It seems simple (at the basic level), but it also has a deeper meaning (at the metaphysical level).
The explanations may refer to Abhidhamma to expound what “kusala” (wholesome deeds) and “akusula” (unwholesome deeds) are.
References may also be made to the three “Seikhas” : sila (morality), sammadhi (concentration), and panna (wisdom).
Bhavana practices such as samatha (tranquility meditation) and vipassana (insight meditation) are needed to calm and purify the mind.
U Lokanatha – Italian Buddhist Monk (1897-1966)
U Lokanatha
Chemical Analyst in the US
Received a book from his supervisor as Christmas present. The book had a chapter on Dhammapada. After reading the verses, a deep impulse (which resonated with his scientific inquiring mind) led him to pursue Buddhism & become a Buddhist monk.
He was from a devout Catholic family. His elder brother was a Priest.
Sayadaw spent considerable time at the Bawdigone monastery (donated by my paternal grandmother) on Windermere Road, Rangoon, Burma.
He practiced Dhutanga.
He also preached. Sunlun U Vinaya was interpreter for some of the talks.
Dhamma Dhuta missions to India and Ceylon
His booklet, “Why I became a Buddhist”, had considerable influence on the leader of the “Untouchables” in India.
His dhamma duta work can be found in the articles in Wikipedia and some Buddhist web sites.
According to “Ripley’s Believe it or not”, a graveyard inscription had February 30th.
Julius Caesar’s followers took a day from February to make July (named in his honor) have 31 days instead of 30.
Augustus Caesar’s followers took a day from February to make August (named in his honor) to have 31 days instead of 30.
February became the shortest month of the calendar year with 28 days. It was given back an extra day on a leap year.
The earth takes about 365.2422 days to revolve round the sun, so the discrepancy between a solar year and the calendar year became 0.9688 day every four years (or 97 days in 4 centuries). The first correction was to designate a year divisible by 4 as a Leap Year.
In Gregorian calendar, a leap year is defined as a non-century year that is divisible by 4, and a century year that is divisible by 400. This is more accurate than the first correction.
Grandma
My mother-in-law & my sons
Latin terms for student
Alumnus : male student
Almuna : female student
Alumni : male students
Alumnae : female students
In modern usage, “alumni” applies to all students.
We sometimes use alum as a short form for alumni.
Synonym
Synonyms are words which have almost the same meaning for the given context.
Since some words have multiple meanings, one must specify the meaning associated with a synonym.
For example, Dictionary, Thesaurus, Lexicon and Vocabulary are synonyms. Their usage depends on the context. In general, Lexicon is a body of knowledge (or dictionary) of Latin and Greek. At one time, Lexicon is a card game where players create words and score points. It was superseded by Scrabble.
Antonym
Antonyms are words which have almost the opposite meaning for the given context.
Since some words have multiple meanings, one must specify the meaning associated with an antonym.
For example, Love and Hate are antonyms.
In Pali, the antonyms of Lobha (Greed), Dosa (Anger or Hatred) and Moha (Ignorance of Delusion) are Alobha (Non-greed), Adosa (Non-hatred) and Amoha (Non-ignorance or Wisdom).
A puzzle based on homonyms : “What is the difference between the Prince of Wales and a cricket ball?” The Prince of Wales is HEIR to the THRONE. A cricket ball is THROWN to the AIR.
Publications – Cartoons Comics Journals Magazines Newspapers Novels Sar Saungs
Calendar
Old Roman Calendar Ten “working” months (from March to December)
Later Roman Calendars Twelve months (from January to December)
Julian Calendar
Gregorian Calendar
Child
Khalay
Khalay Ah Thinn (Association)
Child Psychology
Piaget
Fun
Fun with Learning Facebook group
Fun with English Definitions Palindrome Tongue Twister Word Games (Crossword puzzle, Lexicon, Scrabble, Anagram, Jumbled phrase)
Fun with Mathematics Paradox Puzzles
Fun with Physics Online course
Maths
Saya U Aung Hla In 1950 – 52, Saya U Aung Hla was Dean of Arts. He was also Professor of Maths. He is an expert in music, and wrote notes for selected Burmese songs. His spouse Daw May Than is a vocalist. His son U Mya Than is a Guitarist and Pianist.
Maths Department In the early days, the Maths Department was under the Faculty of Arts. Later, Maths Department was under the Faculty of Science.
Options (offered in different periods) at Rangoon University Pure Maths Applied Maths Double Maths : Pure & Applied Triple Maths : Pure, Applied & Statistics
My Contributions
Five decades as Volunteer of various organizations and projects
26 years as Founder & Chief Editor of RIT Alumni International Newsletter Silver Jubilee in 2024
Member, HMEE (History of Myanmar Engineering Education). U Ohn Khine and I compiled the CD Supplement for the HMEE Book in 2012
220+ Videos (on selected topics) : Broadcast in 2019 and 2020
3000+ Articles in my web site hlamin.com
Former Moderator of RU Centennial Facebook Group Overview of RU Centennial Group (Posts) Countdown to RU Centennial (Posts) Photo Essays and Photo Albums
Memories Memories of PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School) Memories of SPHS (St. Paul’s High School) Memories of RIT (Rangoon Institute of Technology) Memories of UCC (Universities’ Computer Center)
Contributor Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife
Language Expert Burmese Language Project, NFLC, University of Maryland at College Park
Contributing Editor, Dhammanda Newsletter
Contributing Editor, “Homage to U Silananda”
Contributing Editor, Souvenir Magazine for RUBC 90th Anniversary
Contributing Editor, BAPS Newsletter
Bilingual Author
Wrote and translated Poems and Articles
Interpreter, Meditation Retreats
Edited books of Sayadaws and colleagues
New Year
Gregorian Calendar January 1st
Lunar New Year aka “Chinese New Year” and “Tet” January or February
Persian New Year aka “First day of Spring” around March 21
Myanmar New Year aka “Thingyan” Mid April cf : Songkran in Thailand
Karen New Year
Bringing in the New Year Celebrations of New Year’s Eve (December 31) e.g. Dropping the ball at Times Square in New York
Olympics
Ancient Games Mount Olympus, Greece
Modern Olympic Games proposed by Pierre de Coubertin Early period : amateurs only Later : commercialized (sponsors, hosts, professional athletes …)
Summer Olympics Breaks during the World War Postponed during the Pandemic
1936 Berlin
1948 London
1952 Helsinki
1956 Melbourne
1960 Rome
1964 Tokyo
1968 Montreal
1972 Munich
1976 Montreal
1980 Moscow
1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
2008 Beijing
2012 London
2016 Rio de Janerio
2020 Scheduled for Tokyo Postponed to 2021 due to pandemic
2024 Paris
Winter Olympics
Sleep
Conventional 8 hours (for adults) more (for infants)
Could/ should vary with person e.g. my uncle slept 4 hours, but he had power naps in the day
Rationale for sleep Rest “Clean up garbage” in the brain Activities by the Subconscious (e.g. problem solving)
Sleep studies Dream Sleep Apnea (Breathing difficulties) Monitor brain (for a specified period) Effect of duration (too little, too much) Effect of rhythm (specified time to go to sleep)
Miscellaneous Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise The story of Pauk Kyaing
Thet Kyee Sayas and Alumni
Sayagyi U Ba Toke Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University in December 1920 Book about his life and achievements by Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char, GBNF) Saya of our sayas Passed away on December 2, 2020 (the day after the RU Centennial Celebrations) but a few days short of his Centennial on December 26.
U Ba Toke
U Thein Han (96 years) Worked as Systems Engineer for IBM Burma Active doing exercises and sharing memories / posts
U Thein Han
U Tin U (96 years) Joined Rangoon University in 1946 along with Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein and U Sein Hlaing. Former part time Lecturer at Civil Engineering Department; Oldest and Most senior among Past Captains of Rangoon University Boat Club that are still alive; Opened the RUBC Centennial Ceremony in December 2023, Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club; Lost his beloved spouse Dr. Daw Khin Nyunt, his eldest son Dr. Khin Tun (Peter, MRCP, Former Associate Dean of Oxford University) and his son-in-law U Tin Tun within a few months (late 2019 to May 2020)
U Tin U
U Ba Than (94 years) Won Collegiate Scholarship in 1947; Gold Medalist for highest score in Intermediate Examinations for 1948 and 1949; Retired as Professor and Head of Mechanical Engineering; Early supporter of HMEE-2012 (History of Myanmar Engineering Education) Now GBNF
U Ba Than
Other Thet Kyees Several of my sayas, sayamas, relatives and friends are 90+ years young.
Time and Motion Study Kenneth and Lillian Gilbraith
Time Management
Five minute biographies
One minute manager
Early responder within 4 or 5 minutes
Gettysburg Address less than 2 minutes
TED Talk less than 18 minutes
Toastmaster Speech typically 5 to 7 minutes
Sports Timing Records
To Err Is Human
“To err is human, but to make blunders use a computer indiscriminately.”
Some software “auto-corrects” words incorrectly.
In our younger days, there was a good Scrabble player named James Thet Wai (Proof Reader for the Guardian newspaper).
Burmese publications have language experts (Burmese, English, Pali).
Before the Internet, the production of a good book requires the expertise of editors and reviewers. Even then, some typos and discrepancies can appear. e.g A reference book described Rajiv Gandhi as the “younger” son of Indira Gandhi.
Note that articles on the Internet / Social Media — with lax reviews — can have typos and errors. An entry on Dr. Ba Than lists Dr. Aung Than as his son. Another article claimed that Prof. U E Maung was “Bagyi Aung”. One author did not know the time line / order of Arzani Nay and the assassination of ICS U Tin Tut.
It is important to check facts (especially historical dates & events) and provide correction.
YMBA
Young Men’s Buddhist Association
Illustrated History of Buddhism Mahagandayone Sayadaw Ashin Janakabhivamsa (Author); Saya U Ba Kyi (Artist) First edition : Myanmar text Supplement : English text Reprint: Theravada Buddhist Society of America
YMCA
Young Men’s Christian Association
N. Smith — Invented Basketball
Dale Carnegie — How to win friends and influence people; How to stop worrying and start living; How to improve your diction
Dr. Ralph Smedley — Public Speaking and Leadership; Precursor to Toastmasters International
Zero
Numerals
Hindu-Arabic numeral : 0
No such Roman numeral
Miscellaneous
The Dawn of Nothing
Positional number system
0-based numbering
Nil; Null; Nothing
Often used to represent “False” in two-valued logic.
Absolute Zero (temperature)
Ground Zero
Zero in
Zoom
Lens
Photographers and Videographers often use Zoom lens for special effect.
The more we grow older the more we have to avoid “zoom camera” to our face.
Zoom In and Zoom Out
We zoom in when we want to see things in detail.
We zoom out when we need to see things in the bigger picture.
He matriculated from St. Albert’s High School, Maymyo.
He was admitted with Roll Number One to the first ever 1st BE in November 1964.
He graduated with Electrical Power in 1970.
He worked for HIC briefly and Ceramics Corporation.
He moved to USA, did his MS and worked in the Electronics Industry until retirement.
Activities and Achievements
He was selected as RIT Luyechun in the Summer of 1965 to attend Inlay Khaung Daing Camp.
He wrote a long article about “RIT Days 1964 – 1970”. U Ohn Khine (M70) added details and posted in the Google Group for the 1st BE Intake. I added the article and published it in RIT Alumni Newsletter.
He hosted Sayagyi U Ba Toke (who was invited to attend SPZP-2000 by his former students) at his new house in Hayward California.
He played Soccer for his Block, Class and EE department (mainly as Goalkeeper).
He was EC of Hostel Committe, Burmese Association, Maths Association, EE Association, English Association, Track & Field Association, RIT Magazine Committee.
Notes
He made waves when he complained about mismanagement at the Luyechun Camp. Later Camp Commandants were sayas (including Sayagyi U Ba Toke).
He added Nawaday to his name to minimize name conflicts (which are common for Burmese names).
Ko Ye Myint (son of Sayagyi U Ba Toke) and Ko Nyunt Maung San were Best Men at his wedding.
Ko Naing Win (GBNF) asked Ko Zaw Min to accompany him to a Cinema with his girlfriend and another (who became Ko ZM’s soul mate).
He had a short temper. He was given a stern warning for hitting a student (who instigated him). It appeared in a report requested by the father (DIG of Police) of his girlfriend, but …
He competed in the English Debate between 1st year and 2nd year classes. He won as a 1st year student. He lost as a 2nd year student.
He was a preliminary selection for the RIT crew at RUBC.
He hiked to Rakkhine with Ko Han Tha Myint and Ko Sein Win. It was reported in the newspapers.
He lived and worked in New York and California. After retirement, he moved to Las Vegas.
Attended regular and monastic schools while serving as an Assistant Teacher.
Completed a Teachers Training Certificate.
Worked as a Tally Clerk, but his intense desire to have higher education led him to become a “Kyaung Tha Gyi” at Judson College in his late 20s.
On November 30, 1920 there were two meetings. At one meeting, Mr. Matthew Hunter, Principal of Rangoon College, announced that the Rangoon University Act of 1920 will be implemented the following day (on December 1, 1920). At another meeting at the Jubilee Hall, College students proposed to protest the Act. The “Kyaung Tha Gyis” tried to soften the stand of their young energetic colleagues, but they finally gave in and lead the protests. The Strike was scheduled for December 7, 1920, but the news leaked out to the higher authorities. So, the Strike was rescheduled for December 5, 1920. U Po Kya was not only a member of the strike, but he went on to support the National Schools and serve as “Amyotha Pyinnya Wun“.
During his College days, he studied under the outstanding Burmese and Pali Scholars. Received his BA degree in 1922. Wrote several books including “Myanmar Gon Yi” and a collection of short stories (e.g. Volunteer Coolie for a Kyaung Tha). Some were prescribed as text book for schools.
Sad to learn that he passed away at the tender age of 51 due to malaria.
Many years ago, I met U Zaw Win Kya (son of U Po Kya) at Ava House where he was in charge of text books and publications.
Amyotha Aung Pwe Nay (National Day) uses the Burmese date (10th waning day of Tazaungmon).
A marble stone on Shwe Dagon Pagoda has the names of the 11 students who led the First RU Students’ Strike.
1920s and 1930s
Dr. Saw Mra Aung’s account of “Rangoon University in the 1920s” can be Googled on the Internet.
The early hostels were not inside the Campus. Took time and money to transform the “Nar Nat Taw” and its vicinity into hostels and additional class rooms. Hostel students had to guard themselves against mosquitoes and intruders (from nearby quarters).
Students in the early days include “Chit Dukkha” U Ba Nyunt (later Professor of History, father of Win Oo), U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and U Wun (Minthuwun).
U Nyo (Chauk Htutt Kyee Phaya Daga) was a philanthropist. His donations funded the Rangoon University Student Union Building and several buildings in the RU Estate. He also helped build the Club House for RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club, which was founded by Law Professor Sir Arthur Eggar).
Chan Mah Phee and Daw Aye Mya were philanthropists. Their donations include a hospital (Chan Mah Phee Say Yone in Ahlone), Hwa Kyone school, and a Tazaung in Shwe Dagon. Their second son, Chan Chor Khine served as a member of the RU Council, and helped build the RU Gymnasium in memory of his beloved parents.
In 1936, U Nu was elected as President of Ta Ka Ta (Tekkatho Kyaung Tha Thumagga), M.A. Raschid (father of Saya Bilal) as Vice President and Bogyoke Aung San as Secretary.
Bogyoke Aung SanBoygyoke’s Translation of “Invictus”
In 1936, the Second RU Student Strike took place. The post has a photo showing U Saw Ba Hein (father of Dr. Daisy and Dr. Edwin), Ludu Daw Amar (Ah Mar), MA Daw Ohn and several more carrying the Banner.
In 1937, M.A. Raschid became President of Ta Ka Tha and also Ba Ka Tha. He would later serve as Minister in the Cabinets led by Prime Minister U Nu.
In 1938, Bogyoke Aung San (Editor of Oway) was expelled, because he refused to disclose the identity of the author of “Hell Hound at large”. The Third RU Student Strike took place. Ko Aung Kyaw was struck by a baton and perished. He was named Bo Aung Kyaw and the Sparks Street was renamed as Bo Aung Kyaw Street.
The Student Union nurtured many students to lead the Independence Movement and to run the democratic Union of Burma.
Dark Moments
There were many Dark Moments during the Adhamma regime starting with indiscriminate shooting on July 7, 1962 and the demolition of the RU Student Union Building on July 8, 1962.
The anniversary of July 7 (in 1963) saw posters and publications condemning the atrocities.
The authorities decided to close the universities (with the exception of Medicine and Engineering).
A new Education System was established in November 1964.
The Universities and Institutes were closed several times citing Security Concerns. Several students lost their lives in U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin and 8-8-88
It took only a few years (if not a few months) to transform the “Rice Bowl of Asia” into LDC (Least Developed Country) and a highly revered Education System into one that promotes rote learning instead of rational and creative thinking (as implied by the term Tekkatho (Tekkathila or Tekka Sila).
Students were dispersed (some to remote places without proper facilities). Some teachers and students had to commute daily for two hours (or so). Many have to arrange for their transportation.
Resilience
RU and its children are resilient.
They survived to usher in the “Pwint Linn” Era.
Untold stories and hitherto unseen photos can now be seen in the posts.
Many can forgive but not forget the dark moments in history.
Khun Sai (founding member of the RU Centennial Group) was a medical student during the “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin”. For his involvement, he was debarred. He has posted memories of the Ah Yay Ah Khin.
For three years (1988 – 1990), RU and the Institutes were closed. There were no Convocations after 1987 and before 1991.
Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (SPZP) is a noble tradition.
In October 2000, I was honored to be an organizer for a SPZP (in a land far away).
I wrote “SAYA PUZAW PWE”.
Each line starts with corresponding letter from “SAYA PUZAW PWE”.
HlaMin 