Blog

  • Deans & Rectors

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Deans

    • Rangoon University had Deans for the Faculties.
    • U Ba Hli was the first native Dean of Engineering

    U Ba Hli

    U Ba Hli
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    U Ba Hli 2
    • First native Dean to head the Faculty of Engineering of Rangoon University
    • Transferred to the Faculty of Engineering, RU from GTI (Government Technical Institute) where he was Principal and Professor of Civil Engineering
    • Credited for the “Twinning Program” between the Faculty of Engineering, RU and the prestigious universities in the USA
    • Per request from U Aung Khin (retired Professor & Head of Mechanical Engineering), Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (EE) — the only son — wrote about his beloved father for the commemorative issue of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” for SPZP-2000. It has been re-posted in the newsletter updates and in the RIT Alumni Facebook Pages. Sayagyi passed away in his house on U Wisara Road in Rangoon.
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    Tribute to U Ba Hli
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    Tribute

    Interim Deans

    • Dr. Htin Aung
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha
    • Dr. Tha Hla
    • U Po Tha

    Dr. Htin Aung

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    Dr. Htin Aung
    • Principal, Rangoon College
    • Rector, Rangoon University
    • Vice Chancellor, Rangoon University
    • Interim Dean, Faculty of Engineering
    • Burmese Ambassador to Ceylon
    • Folklorist / Historian

    Dr. Maung Maung Kha

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    Saya Kha 1
    Saya Kha 2
    Saya Kha 3
    Saya Kha 4
    Saya Kha 5
    Saya Kha 6
    Saya Kha 7
    Saya Kha 8
    Saya Kha 9
    Saya Kha 10
    Saya Kha 11
    • Doctorate in Meteorological Physics from Imperial College, London University
    • Professor & Head of Physics Department at Rangoon University
    • Interim Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University
    • Longest tenured Rector
    • Rector of Rangoon University
    • Rector of RASU
    • Rector of University of Distance Learning
    • Plays the violin well
    • Accompanied U Ba Kyi (Artist, translator/composer of songs”) singing “Hne Yauk Hte Nay Chin De” in Burmese and English
    • Passed away in Yangon in 2005.
    • Centennial celebrations for his birthday were held in 2015.

    Early Rectors

    • Dr. Htin Aung (RU)
    • Dr. Hla Myint (RU)
    • Dr. Tha Hla (RU)
    • U Kar (RU)
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha (RU, RASU)
    • U Yone Mo (RIT)
    • Dr. Aung Gyi (RIT)
    • U Khin Aung Kyi (RIT)
    • U Maung Maung Than (RIT)

    U Yone Mo

    U Yone Mo
    • Retired Chief Engineer, Burma Railways
    • In 1961, the Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University moved to Gyogone and had a new name Burma Institute of Technology (BIT).
    • Appointed Dean of Engineering at the BIT Gyogone Campus
    • Under the new Education System, BIT became an autonomous Institute with the name Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). He became the Rector.
    • Proponent of taking power naps
    • U Wynn Htain Oo (M72) remembers how his friends were having fun with the “Ye Punn ရေပန်း” (Water Foundation). Saya saw them, but did not scold them. He said with a smile, “Young men, you can go to the University Swimming Pool or to the Inya Kan ကန် (Lake)”.
    • Established the weekly “Yoke Shin ရုပ်ရှင်” at the Assembly Hall.
    • Dr. Aung Gyi (Professor of Civil Engineering) remembered seeing a letter from U Yone Mo (Rector) sent to U Yone Mo (Parent of a son who happened to visit his gambling friends at the hostel). Dr. Aung Gyi told the Admin to stow away the letter.
    • Ko Zaw Min Nawaday knows Sayagyi & his spouse (Daw Elizabeth Yone Mo, High Ranking Nurse at RGH and a close friend of Daw Khin May Than) very well. Sayagyi and Dr. Aung Gyi were in May Myo during one summer. Sayagyi asked Dr. Aung Gyi and Ko Zaw Min to accompany him.
      They ate Khauk Swe. Sayagyi reminded them not to tell about his “Khauk Swe” appetite to Sayagadaw.

    Dr. Aung Gyi

    Dr. Aung Gyi
    • Succeeded U Yone Mo as Rector
    • Rector (1971 – 1977)
    • See Posts
    • Memories of Dr. Aung Gyi
    • Speech at SPZP-2000
    • Coconut Episode

    U Khin Aung Kyi

    U Khin Aung Kyi
    • Stood 7th in Burma in the Matriculation of 1949
    • He did his B S and M S at MIT
    • Professor of Chemical Engineering at RIT
    • Succeeded Dr. Aung Gyi as Rector
    • Taught at Rengsit University in Bangkok, Thailand
    • Provided interview for HMEE-2012 Project

    U Maung Maung Than

    U Maung Maung Than
    • BS in Textile Engineering from Clemson University and MS from Lowell University
    • Professor & Head of Textile Engineering Department, RIT
    • Rector, YIT
    • DG, DHE
    • Chair, RIT Sports Council
    • Hobbies : Chinlon, Music
    • Helped establish Engineering at Defense Services Academy

    Dr. Henry Cho Tun (Myint Tun) wrote:

    I’m going to add a few things about Saya U Mg Mg Than. I’m very close to him and the family and the son is my student. We are all golfers and both of them are very good. Saya MM Than is as good as Saya Soe Paing and plays with clubs that are custom made for him. Hope the following would be useful additions. Thank you

    • He did his B S at Clemson and M S at Lowell.
    • He joined BIT in 1957 as lecturer -Head of Textile Engineering Department at BOC college
    • 1964 was appointed Professor at RIT
    • Served as Rector, 1990-1992
    • Director General of The Department of Higher Education 1992-1994 and retired
    • Served as Director of Studies at DSTA (Defense Services Technical Academy)

    Posts

    • Administrators
    • Convocation
    • From BIT to YTU
    • Rangoon University
    • Three Events in December 1920
  • A Short and Sad Clip : EE Sayas

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Saya

    • I have not prefixed some names with “Saya”.
    • Saya is implied. Please read “U” as “ Saya U”.
    • Several sayas in the Group Photo are GBNF.
    EE Sayas

    Article

    • I wrote an article for the Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” for SPZP-2010 held in Singapore.
    • Tekkatho Moe War (Saya U Moe Aung) was Chief Editor & Publisher of the Sar Saung. He suggested the title “A Short and Sad Clip : EE Sayas”.

    GBNF

    • In 2010, seven sayas — U Kyaw Tun, U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe, U Sein Win, U San Tint, U Soe Min & U Chin Way in the EE Group photo — had passed away.
    • Two more — U Thein Lwin & U Nyi Nyi — are now GBNF.

    Not in picture

    • U Myo Kyi, U Ba Lwin & U Tin Maung Thein were on Deputation
    • U Khine Oo missed the photo shoot
    • U Kyaw Tun graduated in 1948-49 and joined the EE Department. He is the most senior among the EE Sayas.
    • U Kyaw Tun recruited C Ping Lee, father of Dr. Win Aung (M62), to join the EE Department. Per request from H.E. U Than Aung, father of Saya U Aung, C Ping Lee transferred to head the Directorate of Technical Education and Vocational Training.
    • U Sein Hlaing matriculated in 1946 and finished Top in his class of 52. He joined the EE Department as Assistant Lecturer. He studied MS at MIT. Upon his return, he was promoted to Lecturer & Head of the EE Department. He served as Professor until his retirement.
    • U Tin Swe matriculated in 1947. He was a member of the Prome Hall Soccer team which won the Inter-Hall Trophy for three consecutive years. He joined the EE Department in 1953 as Assistant Lecturer. He studied MS at the University of Michigan. Upon his return, he was promoted to Lecturer. He played good tennis. He was an early Power User at the Universities’ Computer Center (UCC).
    • U Sein Win studied his BSEE and MSEE at the University of Michigan. He served as President of RIT Swimming Club, President of RIT Rowing Club, Line Judge at RUBC Regattas, and Technical Advisor for UCC. He retired as Professor of EP Department at YTU.
    • Dr. San Tint joined the EE Faculty in 1961. He played soccer for the RIT Saya team. He served as External Examiner for UCC. Hevretired as Professor of EC Department at YTU. His former students performed Pyinnya Dana in Saya’s memory.
    • U Chin Way was active in SPARK. He migrated to the USA.
    • U Soe Min transferred to DCA.
    • U Thein Lwin retired from Singapore Polytechnic, but he was active helping students desiring to study in Singapore. He was President of the RIT Badminton Club. He managed the RIT team comprising of Sai Kham Pan (EP69), which won the Inter-Institute Trophy. He and Sayagadaw Daw May Than Nwe (RIT Physics) are now GBNF.
    • U Soe Paing was my mentor at RIT & UCC. He retired from UN after managing IT projects at various countries. He wrote about his experiences as a States Scholar, as Systems Manager at UCC and as UN Technical Advisor. He spends his retirement visiting UK and USA, playing golf and practicing vipassana meditation at Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung where his younger brother U Wara (U Win Paing, ChE70) is the Sayadaw. Saya had some operations for his heart and his back problems, but he is still active.
    • Dr. Win Tin was active in SPARK and as entrepreneur. He served as Associate Dean of Engineering at Assumption University.
    • Note: Scan of Page 23 is missing in the post.
    • U Ba Myint retired as Pro-Rector of YTU.
    • U Sein Maung taught at Assumption University. He attended SPZP-2000 at the invitation of Daw Lily Win (T72, spouse of Saya Dr. Tin Win M62).
    • U Myo Kyi (EE59) & Dr. Ba Lwin (EE59) are the two most seniors among the EE sayas. I met U Myo Kyi at the meetings (Alumni Association, SPZP, MES). I met Dr. Ba Lwin during his visit to the USA to see his daughter Thiri Lwin.
    • U Moe Aung chaired SPZP-2002 and SPZP-2010. He and his team published the commemorative issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 and SPZP-2010. After retirement, hevmoved back to Yangon. He is Patron of SDYF and several RIT-related activities. He is a Laureate Poet. He is active writing poems (often “Let Tann”) and articles (mostly on EE). Hevpublished two books and co-authored several books.
    • U Khine Oo was absent in the group photo taken around mid-1966. He took some computer courses before going abroad as states scholar.
    • U Nyi Nyi moved to UK. He is now GBNF.
    • U Tin Maung Thein was studying in the UK. He later taught in Thailand.
    • U Tin Shwe (EP66) joined EE Department after graduation. He taught and RIT and ABAC. He wrote an article about his final year days in the commemorative issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” for SPZP-2010. He became a monk, and served as Dhamma Librarian. Sady, he passed away.
    • U Moe Aung wrote “To the Shwe Duo” in the memory of U Tin Shwe and U Hla Shwe (T69). I translated the poem and published in my RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates.
    • During one of visits to Yangon, U Myo Kyi provided two lists of EE sayas. One lists the senior sayas and the other lists the junior sayas.

    EE 68 – 74

    • Daw Mya Mya Than (EP68) is now GBNF.
    • U Than Lwin (Henry, EC69) was my classmate. He became an EE saya.
    • U Kyaw Naing (EC70, GBNF), U Tin Win (EC71), U Ko Ko Kyi (EC72), Daw Nyunt Nyunt Yee (EP72, GBNF) & Daw Khin Swe Oo (EC74) are some of my juniors. They became EE sayas.

    Posts

    • EE Association
    • EE Sayas
    • Electrical Engineering
    • GBNF
  • February

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Background

    • 2nd month of Gregorian Calendar
    • Shortest month. It has 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year.

    Burma/Myanmar

    February 12

    • Pyidaungsu Nay (ပြည်ထောင်စုနေ့ Union Day) is a public holiday in the Union of Burma. It commemorates the signing of the Pinlong Sar Choke (ပင်လုံစာချုပ် Panglong Agreement) on February 12, 1947.
    Poem
    • Wrote a poem “Our Unity” with the pen name Maung Hlaing Phyo for publication in the Working People’s Daily. Received K15 for the poem.

    February 13

    • Bogyoke Aung San was born on February 13, 1915.
    • Zartar name : Htain Lin
    • Changed name to rhyme with that of Aung Than (his elder brother).
    • Centennial celebrations for Bogyoke were held in 2015.
    • February 13 is also as Khalay Myar Nay (Children’s Day).

    Tabodwe Festival

    The Full Moon of Tabodwe often falls in February.
    Two celebrations are held.

    • Htamane Pwe (ထမနဲပွဲ Sticky Rice Festival)
    • Ovada Partimauk Day (ဩဝါဒပါတိမောက်Exhortation)

    USA

    February 14

    • Valentine’s Day (Chit Thu Myar Nay ချစ်သူများနေ့) is not a public holiday
    • Many people send greeting cards and presents.

    Presidents’ Day

    • In the early days, there were two holidays. One to celebrate George Washington’s birthday.
      Another to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
    • Later a single holiday in February to honor all US Presidents was proposed.
    • Some states continue to celebrate the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln.

    Canada

    • “Family Day” (holiday) is observed on the 2nd Monday of February in Ontario.
    • Family Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of February in British Columbia.

    Lunar New Year

    • Some countries (including China and Vietnam) observe the Lunar Year.
    • Lunar Calendar is based on the Chinese Zodiac consisting of Twelve signs staring with Rat and ending with Pig.
    • Lunar New Year occurs at the end of January or the beginning of February. The date is not fixed in the Gregorian Calendar.

    Our Unity (Poem)

    • My poem was published in WPD (Working People’s Daily)
    • I composed the poem for “Union Day”
    • Mg Hlaing Phyo is one of my pen names
    Poem
  • RUBC

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    40th Anniversary Dinner
    FEARA Regatta
    Thein Htut
    Sao Hso Hom
    Myo Myint

  • UCC

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Sending off Saya U Soe Paing
    U Myo Min
    Stonehenge 1972
    Mg Mg Gyi, KMZ, AM
    At Rafiul’s house
    At MICT Park
    MICT 2

  • SPHS Alumni

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    SPHS56

    Richard Than Se & Soe Paing (56)
    Soe Paing (56)

    SPHS57

    Mostly SPHS57 and some MEHS57

    SPHS61

    Nay Oke

    SPHS63

    Harry Kyaw, Dicky Taw
    Harry Kyaw, Atom Hla, Dicky Taw

    SPHS64

    Min Lwin / Morris & Aung Win Chiong / C L Peng

    SPHS65

    Myint Swe, Kyaw Min

    SPHS66

    Ba Han

    SPHS69

    KMM & RA 1
    KMM & RA 2
    KMM & RA 3

    Boy Scouts

    Chit Ko Ko
    Austin Sein Maung

    Class Photos

    Class 1
    Class 2
    Class 3
    Class 4
    Class 5
    Class 6
    Class 7
    Class 8
    Class 9
  • Group Photos

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    SF Bay Area Retirees

    SF 1
    SF 2

    New Jersey

    NJ

    Lyn Swe Aye

    Hosted by Lyn

    Win Latt

    Win Latt 1
    Win Latt 2

    RIT

    With U & Mrs. Sein Myint
    Meeting 1
    Meeting 2
    SPZP
    69er
    Intake of 1966
    Intake of 64 and 65

    Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay

    With Sayadaw U Osadha & Dr. Lyn Swe Aye
    With Uzin Chan Min & Dr. Lyn Swe Aye

    RIT Elec Engg

    EC / EP 68

    Singapore

    Reception for Andrew Khoo

    Reading, UK

    Win Mar’s Birthday

    SPHS63

    Kyaw Win’s Birthday
    Victor Nyunt Wai

    Paulian Mountaineers

    Sydney Kyant & Aung Thwin are GBNF

    Old Paulians’ Association

    OPA

    RIT69ers

    69er A
    69er B
  • GBNF

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Benefactors

    CMP & DAM
    CCL & SSS

    U Tin U, Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein, U Khin Maung Wint

    1948 RUBC Gold

    U Ba Than

    U Ba Than

    Daw Myint Thwe / Betty

    Daw Myint Thwe (Left)
    DMT 1
    DMT 2

    Dr. Chit Swe

    Dr. Chit Swe

    Dr. Peter Tun

    Peter

    Saya Allen Htay

    Saya Allen (Seated 5th from Left)
    Saya Allen (Standing 2nd from Right)

    Dr. Ohn Myint (Civil)

    DAG & DOM
    Dr. Ohn Myint

    UCC

    Maung Maung Gyi, Aung Myint

    U Kin Maung Yin (A60)

    KMY 1
    KMY 2
    KMY 3
    KMY 4

    U Tun Aung / Jeffrey

    Jeff 1
    Jeff 2

    Saya Dawson, Bro Felix & Saya Sein

    Sayas (Seated)

    U Pe Tin & Ms Hong Kong

    Saya U Pe Tin

    Steeve Kay / U Thaung Sein

    Steeve (Seated 2nd from Right)

    Htay Lwin Nyo

    Htay Lwin Nyo (Standing)

    RUBC

    Sonny San Aung, Micky Tan, Win Kyi, Gerald San Maung, Michael Hla Myint, Eddie Tha Win, Maung Maung Kyi

    Dat Pon San Aung

    San Aung

    Daw Mar Mar Aye

    Daw Mar Mar Aye (Middle)

    Aung Myint Thwin

    AMT

    U Win Mra

    Win Mra

    U Ba Than

    U Ba Than

    Dr. Chan Nyein

    DCN

    U Aye Kyaw

    AK
  • Geology Professors

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    • Dr. Maung Thin
    • U C Thet Paw
    • Dr. Tha Hla — First native Geology Professor at RU; Former RU Rector
    • U Ba Than Haq — Pro-Rector, RASU
    • Dr. U Thein
    Geology Professors
  • Doctors

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Dr. Mya Tu & Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint

    MT & TOKM

    Dr. Thein Toe & Dr. Harry Saing

    TT & HS

    Dr. Ruby B, Dr. Peter Khin Tun & Dr. Ye Myint

    YM, RB & PKT

    Dr. Marie Kyaw Myint & Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint

    MKM & TOKM

    Dr. Henry Saw Naing

    HSN

    Dr. Than Toe, Dr. Wilbert Hoe, Dr. Min Lwin, Dr. George Hlaing Mya

    SPHS60