Photo taken at the Diamond Jubilee

[Sayama Daw May Saw Lwin] :

• All under one roof then, on Campus at No 4, Short Road; even though the four of us were involved in four institutes of higher learning.
• My two sons were still students [at RIT/YIT/YTU and IM(1)] and I was pleasantly occupied teaching at the Dept of Chemistry at RU while their father was at the IFL [Institute of Foreign Languages], later to become the University of Foreign Languages.

Myoma, Dance and Music

• [Nyunt Nyunt Tin] : I was in the 7th standard at Myoma National High School (Rangoon) and participated Kabyaluk dance. The team of 400 high school girl students danced Kabyaluk at the opening ceremony. Never forget ,ever.
• [Nyunt Nyunt Tin] : Daw May Than taught us basic Burmese Classical songs at Myoma National High School like ” Thidar..thidar.. mya-tharr…, kyarr..kyarr… ngaa..paa”. I was 2nd standard at Myoma National High School at that time. We continued to learn until 4th standard.

Censorship

• Readers of the RASU Annual Magazine for 1975 -76 came up with several hidden messages (probably much more than intended by the artist.
• [In July 1963] There were several pamphlets and protests (denouncing the Adhamma Acts) especially on 7th July 1962 (in which several students were killed) and again on 8th July 1962 (when the RU Students Union was demolished).
• In late 1963, most schools except the Faculty of Medicine and the Faulty of Engineering were closed.
• A new Education system — with the use of controversial Intelligence Level Aggregate (ILA) for direct admission to the Universities and Institues — was implemented in November 1964.
• The censorship intensified in the later years.
• My articles had to be approved by three Chief Editors of the newspapers (two Burmese and one English).
  There were four Burmese and two English newspapers; so, there were two groups of three Chief Editors to review and self-censor the articles.
• My poem for the Sar So Daw Nay was accepted by the Assistant Editor in charge of the Supplement. She showed me the preview (block ready to be printed). The higher authorities refused to give the green light since my poem referenced Ananda Thuriya’s epic work “Dhammata”.

Centennial

• At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school.
• The members could propose a list of items about their alma mater.
• I was a Speaker for the Centennial Celebration of UNSG U Thant (held in the San Francisco Bay Area).
• Mi Mi Win (Junior Win, daughter of Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win) compiled two books (one in English and one in Burmese) for the Centennial Celebration of her grand parents U Khin Maung Latt and Daw Khin Myo Chit.
• Sayama Daw Thida suggested Dr. Nyi Thet Lwin (Group Admin) to publish a book for the forthcoming Centennial Celebrations in 2020.

Philosophy

• Philosophy means love of wisdom.
• Ph.D stands for Doctorate in Philosophy in a specialized field.
• M.Phil stands for Master of Philosophy
• U Win Myint (UCC) was a High School Lu Ye Chun from Myeik (Mergui). He was caught off guard when he was forced to major in Philosophy by the new Education System using the controversial ILA system. On the other hand, some who matriculated with Arts subjects were admitted to the Institutes (e.g. RIT).

Mathematicians

• Some mathematicians served as Pyinnya Mingyi.
• Some wrote Mathematics textbooks for middle and high schools.

Value of Currency

• [In the 1960s] The scholarship and stipend holders received 75 kyats a month (60 kyats after paying the school fees).
• Those who stayed at hostels had to pay about 57 kyats a month.
• One kyat could get long bus rides, decent food, snacks, drinks, comics, and cartoons (to name a few).

Early Principals, Rectors and Registrars

• U Pe Maung Tin was the first native Principal of Rangoon College.
• Dr. Htin Aung also served as Principal.
• Dr. Htin Aung was the first native Rector.
  Other early Rectors include Dr. Hla Myint, U Kar, Dr. Tha Hla and Dr. Maung Maung Kha.
• The early Registrars include Saya U Htin Si, Saya U Yu Khin and Sayama Daw Sein Sein.

Books

• Shwe Ku May Hnin gave me an autographed copy of her book “Nga Doh Khit Ka Tekkatho“.
• Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) gave me autographed copy of his books (one on Kabayars and one on articles). I translated some of them.

Sayas in charge of Sports

• During my visits, Saya U Ba Toke shared his memories, and also gave me an autographed copy of the book written by Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char).
  He was active in his 80s, but his health declined after turning 90.
  He was born in December 1920 and is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University and the first RU Student strike.
  He was an excellent soccer player.
  Saya was in charge in RU Sports (including soccer).
  Saya led the Burma team to Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
• Dr. Hla Thwin was Professor of Psychology.
  Son : Mya Thwin (Phillip, EP75).
• Dr. Maung Shein was Lecturer of Economics before becoming Deputy Minister.
  Saya also worked for World Bank.
• U Yu Khin was in charge of the RU athletes that represented Burma in the 2nd SEAP Games in December 1961.
  After retirement from RU, he chose to work on the design and implementation of Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL). He declined higher paying jobs to work overseas.

Campus

• Some are blessed to be born or brought up on the campus.
• Some are honored to call the campus their home.
• I only had the chance to visit the houses of some sayas.

RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes

• They were held in USA in 2000, Singapore in 2002, 2007 and 2010, Yangon in 2004, 2012 and 2016.
• I am honored to be an organizer for SPZP-2000 and to be a coordinator for other SPZPs.

Saya Kha and Saya U Ba Kyi

• [Alvin Oke Soe Kha] : I experienced first hand when Uncle U Ba Kyi sang ”ႏွစ္ ေယာက္ ထဲ ေန ျခင္တယ္” and my father Dr. Maung Maung Kha accompanied uncle on violin.
• There were fund raisers to hold Centennial celebrations for Saya Kha. Saya U Oo Khin Maung and Sayama Daw Thida were volunteer organizers along with several others.

U Thet Lwin

• Maung Ngwe Hlinne is the pen name of Saya U Thet Lwin, who taught Burmese at the Institute of Economics and later transferred to RIT as Registrar.
  He composed “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo“.
• [Saya Dr. Soe Win] : My father Saya Sein was U Thet Lwin‘s Burmese teacher at St. Paul’s High School.

H.E. U Than Aung

• Saya U Than Aung (father of Ko Dwe, Alphonso and Charlie) taught Burmese in at St. Paul’s.
• Served as Minister of Education in the AFPFL government.
• Requested his former SPHS student C. Ping Lee (EE saya, Faculty of Engineering) to head the Technical Education and Vocational Training Department.

RUBC

• In 1923, Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) was founded by Sir Arthur Eggar (Professor of Law), who pledged a third of his salary for the operation of the Club.
• U Nyo (Philanthropist) sponsored RUBC Club as part of his donations to the RU Estate.
• The 40th Anniversary was celebrated in 1963 with a souvenir program containing the history of RUBC, list of Captains and EC members, list of RUBC Golds (compiled by Sithu U Tin, U Po Zon and U Tin Htoon). The photo of the Anniversary Dinner appears in another post.
• There were other celebrations such as 50th, 60th, …
• For the 90th Anniversary, there were two publications. The souvenir program displayed in the post, and a reprint of the Autobiography of Sir Arthur Eggar.

Multi-sports Athlete

• In the early days, University students excel at academic and sports.
• Dr. Harry Saing represented Burma in Rowing, Hockey and Cricket and represented the Faculty of Medicine in Track and Field, and Football. He is Past Captain and Gold of RUBC, and is two time Champion of ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East).
• He and Saya Dr. Pe Nyun (Past Secretary and Gold of RUBC) operated Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San (the first set of conjoined twins) at the Rangoon Children Hospital.
• Dr. Harry served as Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Hong Kong University. He also served as Patron of the Hong Kong Rowing and Sailing Club, which hosted FEARA (Far East Amateur Rowing Association) Regattas. According to Ko Htaik San (Henry Kao), Dr. Harry provided physical and moral support to the RUBC crews competing at FEARA regattas.
• Sadly, he is GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten). I wrote about his in the Souvenir Magazine.
• Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered into the waters near his second favorite Rowing Club (after his favorite RUBC).

Grandpa’s footsteps

[Sayama Daw May Saw Lwin] :

• I think you would be happy (but not surprised ) to learn that our granddaughter Ei Lwin, Dr. Nyi Thet Lwin’s daughter achieved [the highest possible] grade 9 in all of the nine subjects that she sat in the recent, 2019, GCSE [General Certificate for Secondary Examination] exams.
• Following grandpa’s footsteps almost sixty years later!

Tun Naung

• Tekkatho Tun Naung would often play with the mandolin on his back.
• He was selected Tekkatho Lu Ye Chun from Dental College in the Summer of 1965.
• He is a co-founder of Stereo Khit.

Some Outstanding athletes

• U Than Win
  Captain of the RU Soccer team
  Later Director of Sports and Physical Education (SPED)
• U Chan Tha
  Captain of the Prome Hall Soccer team
  University and Burma Selected in Soccer
  Past Captain and Gold of RUBC
• Collegian Nay Win, Kenneth Shein, Tun Kyi and Dr. Tint Lwin played soccer for RU First Eleven under coach Saya Nyein.
  Played at BAA (Aung San Stadium) for the First Division League and Knock-out.
• [Per Than Htut Aung] ; RU Eleven was victorious for three consecutive years in the mid 30s.
• Saya Joe Ba Maung taught English at RIT before transferring to Burma Railways. Saya was Burma Tennis Champion in Singles and Doubles (with Than Lwin). Saya also won the Mixed Doubles with Sayama Daw Ruby Kha (spouse of Saya Kha).
• Several Burma Selected and University Selected became Sports Officers.
• The RASU Sports Officer U Ba Maung is a football selection.

University Prizes

• The program for RU Convocation in 1958 lists about 30 University Prizes (including the Matthew Hunter Gold Medal).

Matriculation and Tekkatho

• In the early days, less than 10 percent passed the Matriculation examination. It was an honor to prefix one’s name with Tekkatho or University.
• Khin Nyo wrote : absolutely right. i think in 1957 only 2% Passed and the total is 20000 . Even dancer Amar Sein was conferred with the title Thekkatho Amar Sein by the Rector Dr. Tha Hla.