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.
Cambridge University Home club of Sir Arthur Eggar
RBC (Rangoon Boat Club) Exclusive for Europeans and Anglo-Burmese
RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club) Founded in 1923 by Sir Arthur Eggar (Law Professor, RU) Sir Arthur pledged one-third of his salary for the Clubs operation Sir Arthur donated a Challenge Cup (Pewter and brooches) for the Senior Novices U Nyo’ s donation to RU Estate helped build the RUBC Club House U Nyo donated a Challenge Cup (for the Inter-Club Eights)
RUBC
Defense Services Rowing Club Initially from Burma Navy
Marine Youth (Ye Gyaung Lu Nge)
Regattas
Rag Regatta One day event Finalists for the Novices race are seeded for Monsoon Regatta
Monsoon Regatta
Annual Regatta
Inter-Varsity e.g. CURC
ARAE e.g. Calcutta, Colombo
FEARA e.g. Hong Kong, Singapore
Challenge Cups
President’s Challenge Cup For Inter-Club Coxed Eights
Prime Minister’s Challenge Cup For Inter-Club Coxed Fours
Commemorative Publications
40th Anniversary Issue (in 1963) Sithu U Tin U Po Zon U Tin Htoon
90th Anniversary Issue (in 2013) U Tin Htoon (Chair) U Myo Myint (Vice Chair) U Htaik San (Henry Kao, Secretary) U Hla Min (Contributing Editor) …
Sir Arthur Eggar’s Autobiography Reprint funded by selected Old Members
Old Members
Old members of RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club) are fondly known as Old Crocs (or Crocodiles).
When RUBC was destroyed due to the ravages of war, the Old Crocs rebuilt the Club and provided physical, financial and spiritual support to the members to compete against the best from neighboring countries.
During our younger days, there is an “Old Members Race” at the Monsoon and Annual Regattas. The contestants range from young Old Members to the iconic Past Champions.
The Old Crocs have their mini-reunions where ever possible. They also share memories of the precious photos (e.g. of U Chan Tha, Jimmy Saw Lwin, …)
U San Maung(GBNF)
U San Maung (Gerald Sein, GBNF) is a Past Secretary and RUBC Gold. He is the elder brother of U Yan Shin (Hardy). He would find time from his work as Production Manager of “Amotha Yoke Shin”, and come down to RUBC to mentor the members (especially the aspiring Golds). He would mandate “fixed tub” practice for the members.
Dr. Htut Saing (Harry, GBNF)
Dr. Htut Saing (Harry Saing, GBNF) is Past Captain and Gold of RUBC. He was ARAE Champion twice :
the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta with U Tin Htoon (A60)
the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours in the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo with U Tin Htoon (A60), Sunny Teng (relocated to Canada), Victor Htun Shein (GBNF) and U Sein Htoon (M63, Cox)
He usually rowed as Box on the RUBC crews. As an exception, he served as Timing Stroke and Coach for the RUBC Eights in 1962. U Win Kyi (RUBC Gold, son of Miss Hong Kong (Ms. Amelia Kyi) rowed as No. (7). There were seven new Golds in that crew : Myo Tin (William Hone), Htain Linn and Mehm Myo Thaung (Maurice) for the Stroke side, Myo Myint (EC67), Oung Kyaing and Thein Aung (Micky Tan) for the Bow side and Tin Aung (Victor Wu, Cox).
Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) and Dr. Htut Saing (Harry) are Pediatric surgeons at the Rangoon Children Hospital. They are known for operating on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San.
Dr. Htut Saing continued working and teaching in Hong Kong. He became Patron of the Hong Kong Rowing and Sailing Club. He would fully support the RUBC crews competing in the FEARA Regatta in Hong Kong.
Dr. Thein Toe and Dr. Htut Saing
Reunion
U Tin U, U Maung Maung Than Tun, Saya U Tin Htut, Saya Dr. Than Nyunt (George), U Tin Htoon, Dr. Donald Chan, U Tun Shein (Willie), U Tun Aung (George), U Sein Htoon, Dr. Tin Wa, U Myo Myint, U Thura Thant Zin, U Htaik San (Henry), and several Old Crocs attended Regattas (especially the 90th Anniversary of the founding of RUBC).
Most of them contributed articles, photos and financial support for printing the commemorative issue, and for reprinting Sir Aurthur Eggar’s biography.
Sad to note that there was some disjoint between the really young members (who are busy with the competitions) and the really Old Members (especially who travel from abroad to attend the events).
My Journey
Senior Novices Runner-up (in 1963) Myint Soe (Willie Soe Maung, Stroke, GBNF) Kyaw Wynn (3) Hla Min (2) Maung Maung Kyi (Bow) Myint Thein (Cox)
Honorary Treasurer (1964 – 65)
Vice Captain (1965 – 66)
Contributing Editor for 90th Anniversary Issue (in 2013) Prelude for each section Three articles
Donated for reprint of Sir Arthur’s Autobiography
Memories of RUBC Series in YUBC Old Members Facebook Group
Named after a place called Badminton, where the game flourished
Players
Rudy Hartono (Indonesia)
Competitive players from Malaysia (especially Doubles)
Saya U Yu Khin (Dean, Chair, RU Sports Council)
Saya U Thein Lwin (EE, President, RIT Badminton)
Maung Hla (RU, 2nd SEAP Games)
Sagaing Kyi Nyunt (Burma, SEAP, Bronze in Asian Games)
Sai Kham Pan (2nd in Singles, 1st in Doubles, Burma Selected) Star of RIT team that won Inter-Institute Trophy
U Myint Kyi (RIT)
Bishnu Shahi (RIT)
U Aye (M62) wrote :
Myint Tun from Prome Hall ( 1958-59) was a third year B. Arch student. He was runners up in the National Championship, was a Burma selected player in Badminton. He later joined GE. He was one of my senior colleagues at Prome Hall. He was in room 94, while I was in room 108.
“Raw data” is processed to transform it into information.
The processes typically include
validation / verification
collection
organization
analysis
summary
presentation
Technical papers are subject to reviews.
On the contrary, there are
misinformation
disinformation
fake news
deep fake videos
unreliable reports
rumors which can spread like viruses on the Internet and the Social Media.
Red Ribbon Campaigns are not effective against authorities who do not treasure Metta (Unbounded love), Karuna (Compassion) and Mudita (Altruistic Joy).
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) is much more effective, but it requires the participants not to get distracted by fake news and false hopes.
Posts include those by children and grandchildren of Sayas
Dr. Maung Maung Kha
U Ba Toke
U Hla Shwe
U Kyaw
U Aung Khin
Dr. Chit Swe
U Wun (Minthuwun)
Dr. Kyaw Thein
U San to name a few
Photos
In the early days, there were a handful of professional photographers. They had busy days and lots of income at the Graduation Ceremonies. Some (e.g Mg Mg Hnyutt) employed relatives and friends for the ad hoc assignments (shooting and developing films).
The graduates and their families could only take photos with their own cameras outside the Convocation Hall.
Some who forgot to buy (or chose not to buy) their graduation photos found them on Boards / Posters with “teasing” captions.
Now, even children can take photos and videos with smart devices (phones, pads, …).
They would smile when we talk about using Box Cameras, Yashica Mat and black and white film rolls (typically 12 and 24 prints). Many could not afford professional cameras with high quality lens and filters.
Thet Shay Sayama Daw Khin Kyi Kyi (Physics) passed away at the age of 100.
She is the beloved spouse of U Thein Pe Myint (Author, Politician).
Her son U Han Tha Myint (EC70) was a Senior Engineer at PTC. He was a victim of 8-8-88.
Her daughter Daw Kyi Tha Myint is a Physics sayama.
There are several posts / condolence pages for Sayama.
Alumni News
Thamankyar Ko Myint (Aung Myint, Mining 70)
has shared his old songs (e.g Pei Byote) for his friends on the Internet.
Per request, he provided three songs for use in the Yar Pyie broadcasts.
He is busy with assignments (e.g dubbing) without the help of some members his recording team.
VIDEOS
In time for the Tekkatho Yar Pyay, I managed to make 100+ Daily Educational Broadcasts.
The latest i a video on SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Broadcast : #103 November 27, 2020
RU Soccer
Saya Nyein (Coach)
Many played for Burma
U Than Win Captain Director, SPED
U Chan Tha Captain, Prome Hall Soccer Burma Selected Also RUBC Captain and Gold
Collegian Nay Win Won Best Player award Academy winner
U Tun Kyi and U Kenneth Shein Teams mates of Collegian Nay Win Played for Railways and Burma
Posts on RU and Burma Soccer
U Aung Khin Scored winning goal for Burma in Asian Games
U Ba Maung Sports Officer Played for RU amd Burma
U Gary Maung Maung Played for Customs and Burma
RUBC Gold
U Thet Toe (C H Chan) Advocate Most Senior Past Captain (before his demise)
James Barrington (ICS) Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador
Dr. Ronald Lwin (San Lwin) Physician
Balwant Singh Commissioner of Pegu Division U.N. Security
U Tin U Part-time Lecturer, Civil Engineering Director of several companies Most Senior Past Captain
U Mg Mg Than Tun Navy Commander Ambassador Oldest Past Captain (a few months older than U Tin U)
Dr. Pe Nyun Pediatric Surgeon Leader of team that operated on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San (conjoined twins)
Dr. Pe Thein Professor Minister of Health and Education
Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing) Pediatric Surgeon Deputy Leader of team that operated on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San ARAE Champion in 1958 and 1960 Burma Selected in Hockey and Cricket rack and Field, Soccer and Rowing selection for Faculty of Medicine
U Tin Htoon Architect ARAE Champion in 1958 and 1960 Silver medalist for Yachting in SEAP Games Compiler for 40th and Chair of 90th Anniversary of RUBC Magazines
Tin Htoon and Harry Saing won the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta
Tin Htoon, Harry Saing, Victor Htun Shein, Sunny Teng and Sein Htoon won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo.
Miscellaneous
I served as Contributing Editor for the 90th Anniversary of RUBC.
I wrote articles and broadcast videos on various sports.
I did not cherish going to school at an early age. It was not fun to use slate. All that changed when a caring Karen Christian Teacher named “Teacher Kywe” magically transformed me into a dutiful student with an inquiring mind. I later did well in academics. I won the Collegiate Scholarship in 1963. I was selected Luyechun (Outstanding Student) from the Rangoon Institute of Technology in the Summer of 1965.
Kha Lay Ah Thinn
Some time back, my cousin sister said, “I still have the paper with the song that you wrote for Kha Lay Ah Thinn.” When we were young, there was no Internet or TV. The Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS) would broadcast for specified hours in the morning, afternoon, evening and night. We spend a lot of time outdoors. One hangout was the corner in our uncle’s compound. Someone came up with the idea that we should form a “Kha Lay Ah Thinn”. I was chosen to be the “Okkahta” (President). I am not a composer, but that did not prevent me from trying out a “Theme Song”. The music and lyrics were not spectacular, but I would have earned a nod for moving out of my comfort zone. We did not have fund. Our uncles, aunts and elder cousins decided to help with the fund raiser. There was the renowned “Bu Thee Gyaw & Ah Chin”. It may be a sign that I would become an organizer.
Myees
With Myees
The elder Myee is in Fourth Grade. Her hobbies include Reading, Writing, Swimming, Gymnastics and Music. The younger Myee is in First Grade. His hobbies include Video Games, Kung Fu, Soccer, Swimming and Music. They have lots of books, educational kits and toys. They enjoy their weekends by visiting libraries, zoos, play grounds, gyms, and children museums. They like TV, You Tube and taking photos.
U Tun Shwe (ChE72) volunteered as the videographer for the Northern California RIT Alumni Association Gathering held at Mudita Shwe Kyaung in Hayward, California
Saya U Maung Maung (ChE66), U Win Maung (T 70), and several other alums took pictures. Saya KC Chiu (Dr. Tin Aung, ChE63) could not attend because of slight fever, but he sent Sayagadaw to the Reunion to accompany U L. Shark Moon (C 67).
Saya U San Tun (M59, former Head of Auto Engg) was the “senior” among the attendees followed by U Myint Lwin (Henry, C63), U King Wong (Victor, C66) and several from the mid-60s.
U Zaw Lwin (M87) was among the youngest attendees. He recalled that the final exams were suspended after two subjects. They had to take the remaining subjects a month or so later.
U Tun Shwe took the video of almost all attendees twice, and made sure they say their name, discipline, and graduation date (if applicable]). Some attendees completed their studies elsewhere (e.g. in the US).
21 sayas and alums agreed to be members of the Steering and Working Committees.
The Executive Committee members (e.g. President, VPs, Secretaries, Treasurers, Auditors) will be elected at the meeting (to be held in a few weeks).
Saya U Maung Maung told the attendees that 2012 SPZP and Grand Reunion will be held on the weekend of December 29 (Saturday) and December 30 (Sunday) and to watch out for details from the Organizing Committee.
U Maurice Chee (M75) talked briefly about the “old” RIT Alumni International that was founded to organize SPZP 2000. He said that he would cook “Danbauk” for the Steering/Working Committee meeting, and others could bring desserts.
U Stanislau Liou (M67, RIT Table Tennis ) mentioned that he had been the President of his [High School] Alumni Association for 6 years. The members like to have 3 or 4 gatherings (such as picnic and dinner) a year.
At the General meeting Saya U Maung Maung was elected President of NorCal RITAA. U Stan Liou was elected Chair of the BOD (Board of Directors).
Some updates
Subsequent Presidents include U Kaung Kaung Oo (Gordon Kaung, M83) and U Aung Myint Oo (EC84)
Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) is the current Chair of BOD.
NorCal RITAA Dinner was held in 2016 and 2019.
NorCal RITAA Summer Picnic was held in 2017 and 2018.
NorCal RITAA has funded scholarships for (a) children of alumni in the US (b) eligible YTU students For details, visit the web site and FB pages.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, there are no major activities in 2020.
Dr. Nyunt Wai commented that Message should be more important than Messenger (e.g. media, format).
Keynote speakers also emphasize on the importance of Message. What is the key take away from the Keynote Speech? Videos, slides, humor … are entertaining, but without a memorable idea to act upon, a speech is usually not memorable.
Story Telling is powerful, informative, aspiring, educational, entertaining …
Books, movies, music, arts, history, archaeology, … leverage the art of Story Telling.
Thanks to my Thin Sayas, Myin Sayas and Kyar Sayas for helping me learn and develop the art of Story Telling.
Worked for Hewlett Packard, Agilent and several US companies before moving to Taiwan to work there.
After retirement, Saya is spending time in California and Taiwan.
Past President, BAPS
Founding Member, RIT Alumni International
Co-chair, Steering Committee for SPZP-2000
Proposed “U Nyo Win Act“. If there are less than the guaranteed number of attendees at SPZP-2000, the core organizers will chip in the costs. Thanks in part to the five Golden Sponsors of SPZP-2000, the Act did not need to be enforced.
Wrote about SPZP-2000 in the Post Reunion series.
Founding Member, NorCal RITAA
Served as BOD (Board of Director).
BAPS
Past President, BAPS
Editor, BAPS Newsletter
Honoring U Nyo Win, Ko Benny and Ko Henry
On November 9, 2000, there was a special dinner at Ming’s seafood restaurant in Sunset, San Francisco to honor Saya U Nyo Win (M65), out-going president of BAPS and to welcome Ko Benny Tan (M70), the in-coming president. There were 30+ attendees. Saya U Nyo Win was presented a plaque in recognition of his leadership and services to BAPS.
A plaque was also awarded to Henry Lim (RIT Alumni) for his services as Editor of the BAPS newsletter. It grew from a 4 pager to a 20 pager.
BEA to BAPS
The first ever RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP did not happen out of the blue. One of the first seeds was sown with the founding of Burmese Engineers Association (BEA). The presidents Saya U Htin Paw (EE58), Saya U San Tun (M59) and Saya U KC Chiu (ChE63) — with the able support of Daw Khin Hta Yee (Lily Win, T72) — organized mini-reunions and reunions in the Bay Area. At the welcome party for Saya U Aung Khin, the idea of merging BEA with a younger association BASTS to become BAPS (Burmese American Professional Society) was proposed and overwhelmingly approved.
BAPS Picnic to RIT Alumni International
At one of the BAPS picnics, several EC members — Saya Allen Htay, Saya U Nyo Win, Saya KC Chiu, Saya U Maung Maung, Ko Benny Tan, Ko Maurice Chee, — held an impromptu meeting with me and asked how they could support Ko Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ) and me regarding the ex-rit web site in general and other activities [such as Grand Reunion] in general.
Later, at Ko Benny’s house, the Bay Area Alumni Group was formed. The rest is history.
U Nyo Win
According to the bye-laws of BAPS, a President can serve for at most two terms. Saya U Nyo Win served two terms. Saya also chaired the meetings by the Organizing Committee of the RIT Reunion and SPZP. His colorful meeting minutes are enjoyable to read.
He is an outstanding writer and an excellent speech giver. Saya wears two hats: BAPS for the Bay Area activities and RIT Alumni International for activities related to his alma mater world-wide. Our kudos to you, Saya.
After Dinner
We went to Ko Aye Tun (Anthony Ng, M76)’s house, which is within walking distance from the restaurant. A preview of the raw / semi-edited copy of the video taken at the RIT Reunion dinner and SPZP took place. The 2+ hour footage caught several viewers by surprise. The “Waing gyi putt putt du way way” dance — started by Diana (Myint Myint Sein, M70) and Richard Chao (Htin Aung, M70) — was joined by Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Min Wun, and several alums.
It was close to two o’clock in the morning when I got back home.
RIT Alumni International __________________________________________________
Founding Member
Core Organizer, SPZP-2000
Wrote “Appreciation of SPZP-2000” for Post Reunion
Article for Post Reunion (SPZP-2000)
After the Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pu (SPZP), I feel like most of us still excited but completely deflated. I just have enough energy left to think about it and talk about it, but not enough to write about it. But with Ko Hla Min’s call for the end of the post reunion article at number 36, I want to catch this last chance to write a few words before the close of the book, so to say.
First, as the one of the co-chairmen of the Steering Committee, I’d like to add a few words to U Myat Htoo’s article on the apology and thanks to the all the sayagyis, sayas, and fellow alumni. We’d planned and tried to make the Reunion and SPZP a success. I agree with U Myat Htoo that there were areas of deficiencies that we overlooked and were unable to cover. Let me mention a few that we could have done better to run the program more smoothly. It may also be helpful hindsight to pass on to 2002 reunion team.
The reception area was too crowded. We expected 300 plus people would be converging on to the narrow aisle at about 5 O’clock. We tried to arrange two tables in parallel to allow more people to check-in, sign the book, receive the gifts and be directed to the appropriate tables. The crowd was larger than expected. Our seating plan didn’t help. It was designed to group people according to their requests of having close friends together. Unfortunately, the attendees’ names were not listed in alphabetical order with table number assigned. It was very time consuming to locate the table number for the guest. This resulted in people congregating in the check-in area in spite of the ushers’ effort to help.
We under estimated the time for picture taking. It turned out it was the most exciting event. We had group photos of every combination one could imagine. Getting everyone to follow the program for the number of pictures taken was not possible. It ended up a half hour photo session was three times longer. The good thing was, everyone liked it and everyone wanted it. In order to keep the program moving in a reasonable time, our MC U Myat Htoo had to exercise some crowd control. I hope everyone share U Myat Htoo’s difficulty for so doing.
The program was overloaded. Our program called for speeches from sayagyis, sayas, and the alums; opportunity for the audience to contribute to fun, entertainments, singing and jokes. Everyone appeared to be so happy and excited. All of us had so much to talk about, so much fun to have and so much joy to share that hardly anyone could concentrate and follow the program allocated time. But, isn’t that the expectation everyone had of the reunion and SPZP?
We did not allocate sufficient time to meet and thank everybody. Of course, it was not easy to walk around and talk to everybody throughout the event. Again, in hindsight, one possibility would have been to have Organizing Committee representatives go around the tables during dinner time to meet and thank everybody.
I want to reiterate, like everyone else, that this great event was a resounding success in spite of a few glitches. The success was due to the support given to the event from all those who attended and from those who were unable to attend but whole-heartedly supporting and encouraging us. The success was due to those who generously donated to the SPZP Fund so that we could make the best use of it for the event. The success was due to those who helped out with the event, and most of all, due to the hard working Executive Committee members under the leadership of Co-chairmen Benny Tan and Maurice Chee.
I would like to give a couple of examples of how dedicated the two co-chairs, Benny and Maurice, were. In the morning on the day of the Reunion, I was at Benny’s house. Benny showed me the 25-foot RIT Reunion and SPZP banner undergoing the final touch. I learned from Benny that the contractor was unable to deliver the banner on time as promised. But we must have it for the great event! Benny, with the help of his nephew, decided to make one themselves just the night before the Grand Reunion. They bought the canvas, the paint, and the brush; they designed the RIT logo and the characters; they rolled up their sleeves and succeeded in finishing the banner in time for the great event.
In the afternoon when I was at the Embassy Suite making the final arrangement for the arrival of the guests, I got a call from Maurice. He told me that he would be a little late coming to the hotel. I learned from him that, not being able to get a print shop to do the job on time and as desired, he was printing the name tags for the guests with his own computer.
This very special event brought us excitement and great emotion. We shared the joy and the happy moment. But I would think that the feelings of each of us must be different and unique. For me, at time I felt that I was back in the good old days of teaching at RIT. I saw Rector Dr. Aung Gyi, Mechanical Engineering Department Head Saya U Aung Khin, Chemical Engineering Department Head [and Rector] U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Nam Kock, other sayas, colleagues and students. At time I felt that I was still one of the students attending the classes.
My most memorable year at RIT was actually the first and the only BIT year, 1962. We had very few students in First Year. In fact, there weren’t that many engineering students altogether at BIT that year. Among my contemporaries were U Kyaw Aye (Shakoor), who is still in Burma and U Hla Myint (Charlie), who is now in Australia. We were the lucky ones who survived First Year Heat Engine taught by Saya U Aung Khin. I can assure you for those who’d never taken Heat Engine from Saya U Aung Khin how low the yield was from that class. Decades later, in the mid of this great reunion, seeing all the sayagyis, former colleagues, former students and new RIT graduates whom I had never met, I felt like I was in a dream.
Now that the great event is over, we are looking forward to meeting again in Singapore, Year 2002. I agree with Saya U Aung Khin, and let me quote from his article, that “we keep up with the changing situation in our home country regarding secondary technical education and decide on how inclusive we should be so that continuity can be maintained by embracing an expanding fraternity of engineers.” We all witnessed the group with exceptional talent gathering at the night of the reunion. Benny Tan in his article suggested the idea of harnessing the brainpower and energy of the group. I would think that the Year 2000 reunion was reminiscing of the past and sharing of the present, the Year 2002 reunion should in large part be the bridging of the present and the future. As to how, let’s start tapping on our talent pool now.
HlaMin 