In December 1920, there were three significant events.

Rangoon University

Rangoon University was established with Rangoon College and Judson College as its constituents.

• RU extended its offerings.
  The opening of engineering classes was planned around 1923 and executed in 1924.
• In 1927, the first batch of engineering students (who had Bachelors degree) graduated with the “accelerated courses” option.
• In 1928, the second batch of engineering students (who joined after finishing the I.Sc.) graduated.

• RU celebrated the Golden Jubilee (GJ) in 1970.
• Dr. Aung Gyi (Professor of Civil Engineering) and U Thet Lwin (Burmese saya at the Institute of Economics) were GJ organizers.
• The term “Swel Daw Yeik” became synonymous with RIT [its predecessors and its successors].
• Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint and “Htee Yein” were hits at the GJ celebration.

First RU Students’ Strike

• Several students led the Boycott of the Rangoon University Act of 1920.
  The boycott was responsible for the amendments to the RU Act.
• A pillar was set up on Shwe Dagon Pagoda in memory of the Boycott.
• The event is honored as National Day (“Amyotha Nay”).
• National Schools (Amyotha Kyaungs) were opened.
  U Po Kyar, Arzani U Razak, and U Thant are notable sayas from the National Schools.

U Ba Toke

• He is a “Phwa Bet Taw” with RU and the First RU Students’ Strike.
• He is one of the oldest and senior sayas associated with the engineering schools in Burma.
• Even though RU was closed during the Japanese Occupation, Saya completed his M.Sc. and taught at the make-shift classes on Mogul (Shwe Bon Tha) street.
• He served as Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer and Professor of Mathematics at RU and RASU.
• He was promoted to Rector, MASU.
• He volunteered to relocate to RIT as Professor of Mathematics.
• As a Saya of engineering sayas, he was invited to attend SPZP-2000 and give a speech.
• He attended all SPZPs except SPZP-2002 (which he had to forgo due to Sayagadaw’s health and demise).
• He was a star soccer player in his University days.
• He headed the Burmese delegation to a Summer Olympics.
• Until his 80s, Saya was active (e.g. walk to Shwe Dagon Pagoda with his dhamma friends).
  Saya now has physical limitations, but his mental faculty is strong as ever.
• Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Tekkatho Maung Thin Char) interviewed Saya and then wrote a book.