March 5, 2011

Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

Saya U Soe Paing scanned selected magazines from the University Central Library.

In 2010, Ko Thein Swe (GBNF) emailed an old and asked if people can recognize the names and faces in the photo.

From Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC)

I went to the Univ Central Library on Tuesday and managed to get scanned photos from the Eng Student Annual Magazines 51-52, 52-53, 56-57 and 60-61. Photos include photos of Sayas, students of that year. From these when can know about the Sayas at that year. We can also identify the students at that year.

• U Sein Hlaing (Prof EE) was a final year student in 1951-52 and became an A/L starting 1952-53.
• Saya U Tin Swe was a student in 1951-52 and 52-53. He was a member of the Eng Student Union and the victorious Prome Hall football team.
• Ex-Burma Selected Footballer U Chan Tha (Chief Engineer, Roads, Rangoon Municipal) was the Captain.
• U Khin Si husband of RIT Finance Officer Daw Yin Yin Htway and part time lecturer Textile; U Tin Si, U Khin Si’s brother and tennis doubles partnership that won RU as well as national championships were members of the Prome hall team.

The 1956-57 magazine contains photos when the new Leik Khone Engineering Buildings were inaugurated in 1956 Nov by the Prime Minister at that time U Ba Swe.

In the 1952-53 magazine I found out that Mr. Robert Hole (ex-EE, Highways, PWD,PWC,CC; uncle of Percy Maung Maung and uncle Bobby to me) was the English editor. I called Uncle Bobby and requested him to write something about his engineering student days, his teachers and fellow students. He agreed and asked for about three weeks time.

I need to go back and to the UCL to get more info from the RIT handbook 1966-67 and photos from the Hlyat Sit Sar Saung.

U Ba Than has donated some of his Engineering College photos to the MES library and I need to go there to check up on the photos.

Best wishes
SP

Editor’s notes

• An academic year usually spans two years. To save space and time, I had loosely used the end year (e.g. 69) instead of the start year and end year (e.g. 68 – 69).
• In the early days, there were no “Instructors” (but only “Assistant Lecturers”) for the Faculty of Engineering. They are Gazetted officers.
• Some of our sayas applied for States Scholarship before graduation. Some joined the faculty and were selected to do post-graduate studies.
• The Halls would aggressively seek outstanding athletes (footballers, tennis players, rowers, …).
• U Chan Tha is also RUBC Past Captain and Gold.
• Bohmu Percy Maung Maung and his younger brother Ko Hugh are old crocs. Ko Percy is a class mate of Saya U Soe Paing at SPHS and Stanford.
• Saya Dr. Yan Naing Lwin used to have a copy of the “Burmese state scholars in ’54”. The list includes Saya U Sein Hlaing, and Saya U Tin Swe.
• Ko Benny Tan (M 70) used to have a copy of the “RIT Handbook” for 6x. I published the list of permanent and part-time sayas and sayamas in one of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” updates.
• Saya U Moe Aung (EE) used to have old copies of “Hlyat Sit Sar Saung” and RIT Annual magazines. He served as Chief Editor for both publications.
• The late Saya Charlie Kaw (Tex) is believed to have brought along with him the projects of his final year students.
• Hope sayas, sayamas and alums might be able to contribute to the “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar” project.
• Mr. Robert Hole had memory loss and was not able to write for HMEE-2012. His daughters taught at UCC, ICST and UCSY.