Several new EC members (Maung Maung Moe Zaw, Bo Ni) are young, enthusiastic alumni who have passion to keep the RIT Spirit alive and well.
The full list of EC and BOD, and details of forthcoming events are provided on the NorCal RITAA web site by the Communications Officer and the Secretaries.
Past Presidents: Saya U Maung Maung (George Chan, ChE66), U Kaung Kaung Oo (Gordon Kaung, M83) and U Aung Myint Oo (EC84)
Past Chair of BOD : Stan Liou (M67)
Photographer : Richard Khoo (Dhatu Kyaw Lin, ChE76)
Former EC and BOD
Sponsors and Donors
Volunteers and Helpers
Members— past and present
He was listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for his phenomenal memory. When Burma hosted the Sixth Buddhist Council in 1954 – 56 to commemorated the 2500th year of the “Sasana Calendar”, Sayadaw acted as the “Reciter” of the Tipitaka (Triple Basket : Vinaya (Monastic rules of conduct), Sutta (Discourses), and Abhidhamma (Ultimate Reality)) and selected Commentaries. According to the Kaba Aye Edition, the Tipitaka covers 8000+ pages.
To prepare for the Buddhist Council, Sir U Thwin requested Mingun Sayadaw to take the Tipitaka examination. Sayadaw passed the Oral and Written tests for the Three Baskets with Distinction. He was the first Sayadaw to be conferred “Bearer of the Tipitaka & Treasurer of the Dhamma”. The Oral tests will fail a candidate if he needs five (or six) prompts. Sayadaw did not need a single prompt. The Written tests cover in-depth topics. During the recitation, Sayadaw amazed the examiners by pointing out the variations of the text and highlighted the preferred version.
Sayadaw received requisites. He distributed them to the monks (in the town where he received them). To help ease the monks trying to pass one or more Baskets in the [later] Tipitaka examinations, Sayadaw set up a monastery in Mingun and accepted monks who had finished their Dhammacariya.
We have a short term memory and a long term memory.
When people age, most retain their long term memory, but they often experience decline of their short term memory.
My young cousin approached us and then uttered, “I forgot what I was about to say”.
My high school classmate would abruptly stop in the middle of our walk and pondered, “Did I lock the door?”
Ko Tun Aung’s uncle (GBNF) could recall his primary classmates but could not recognize his beloved grand kid.
There are books and courses about memory.
According to some authors, we could use “chunking”, “association”, “reinforced (non-blind) repetition”, … to move important and worthwhile items in the short term memory into long term memory.
Memory is not static. It is elastic. There is restructuring (reorganizing, indexing, …) every time we use it.
There are techniques (mnemonics, visualization, …) to train and improve our memory.
Thanks to the sayas and colleagues who complimented for having a good memory. I was a mini-dictionary, a micro-encyclopedia, and a reliable proof-reader & spelling checker. May be it was partly because I was born before the pervasive use of Internet and on-line tools, and there was not too much diversion.
There are a few who want to down play the importance of memory by saying, “I can Google …”
During our school days we had to learn World History (Feudal system, Renaissance) and Burmese History (called “Yazawin”and renamed as “Thamaing”).
Later, after hearing from the Thin sayas, Myin sayas, and Kyar sayas, I became interested in some aspects of history : History of computers and computing, History of Myanmar Engineering Education, “Truth or fiction?” about historical events, …
After the first Anglo-Burmese war (in 1824), the British annexed Rakkhine (Arakan) and Tennasserim (Taninthayee).
After the second war (in 1852), the British annexed Lower Burma.
After the third war (in 1885), the British annexed Upper Burma. Burma became a British Colony.
For some time, the British Governors would base their office in India and rule both India and Burma.
ICS (Indian Civil Service) examinations were held in India and UK. It was succeeded by BCS (Burma Civil Service).
Formal history of Burma has been written by British scholars (Harvey, Luce, …) and later by native scholars (Dr. Kyaw Thet, Dr. Than Tun, Bohmu Ba Shin …).
Informal accounts of Burma can be found in the works by Indians (Tagore, …), British (Maurice Collis, George Orwell, …) and Burmese (Dr. Htin Aung, U Po Kyar, …).
The conventional wisdom is that our neighbors entered the country in three phases.
Burmese archeologists and geologists found “ancient sites and quite old fossils and bones” to indicate that there were early inhabitants, but they could not completely counter the “migration theory” proposed by the British historians.
Pyu is an ancient civilization, and some Pyu sites are “preserved” as UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites.
History repeats itself.
We should learn history so that we may not be stupid or dumb.
There is usually no single correct history. Often there are parallel, competing histories.
“Pazat Yazawin” and “theories” should be evaluated with the help of kyauk sar (stone inscriptions).
Even in the peer-to-peer refereed papers, there are discrepancies and [unintentional] errors.
National Archive, Burmese History Commission, and Burma Research Society used to hold artifacts about Burmese History.
He was struck by a baton on December 20, 1938 during the third RU student boycott. He is an early casualty in the struggle for Burma’s independence. He was named “Bo Aung Kyaw”. Sparks Street was renamed as Bo Aung Kyaw Street. December 20 is known as “Bo Aung Kyaw Nay”.
He was a Seventh Student from SPHS. He was hit by a stray bullet. In 1956, there was a leakage of the Government Seventh Standard examination causing a protest close to Ko Harry’s house. All those who took the “Harry Tan Khun Hnit Tan” were declared to pass.
He was on his way back from RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club) to his house in Windermere Road when he was hit by a stray bullet. He was listed in the Government newspapers as the 17th casualty of 7th July 1962.
He was hit by a stray bullet on March 13, 1988. Ko Soe Naing and Ko Myint Oo were also hit and hospitalized in not-so-humane conditions. Ko Soe Naing succumbed to the gun shot wounds. Ko Myint Oo survived. The “Burma Human Rights Day” and “Phone Maw and Soe Naing Nay” became milestones in Burma’s history.
Sayas serve as Officers : 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major.
U Aung Than (Pali) and Dr. Chit Swe (Maths) served as Commanding Officer of UTC.
U Aung Khin (Mech) and U Khin Aung Kyi (ChE) were also active in UTC.
Students serve mostly as Privates. Some became Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant.
Get uniform (Many opt to replace them with higher quality uniform)
Discount for movies : With UTC card, 90 pyas for K1.50 class
Attend several 50-minute sessions (to qualify for training camp)
One camps — see article by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70)
Compete for “sharpshooter” (twice won by Ko Benny Tan (M70)
NCO (Non Commissioned Officers) are from the army (e.g Ba Htoo). Some instructors are experts in Judo, Jujitsu, and Karate.
UTC hosted Training for Burma Judo Team. RASU students Ko Tin Maung Aye (“Ma Chit Su”) and Ko Myint Lwin (Charlie) are Judo Champions.
Grapevine says that students who had UTC Training played a role in turning the tide of “Insein Taik Pwe”.
He served as Professor of Mathematics and Dean of Arts at Rangoon University. Saya wrote notes for Burmese songs. His spouse Daw May Than was a vocalist. His son Ko Mya Than played the guitar and the piano.
He served as Minister of Education in the Care Taker Government, and later as Rector of RU. His son Dr. Tin Maung served as Mathematics Lecturer, Director of UCC, and Rector of ICST.
He served as Professor (of RU and RIT), Rector, MASU. Saya taught mathematics to our sayas (then engineering students). As a saya of our sayas, Sayagyi was invited to the SPZP’s starting with SPZP-2000 held in California, US. His life and journey can be read in the book authored by Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char, GBNF).
He served as Professor of Mandalay University. His daughter (Daw Khin Mar Mar) studied Physics and Computer Science. His grandson (U Wunna Ko Ko) designed and implemented the second RIt web site. He is an expert on NLP (Natural Language Processing).
He served as Professor, Founder-Director of UCC, and Rector, RASU. Saya founded UCC with the help of Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min, and Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF, brother of U Than Htut (M67, RUBC Gold)). Saya U Soe Paing wrote “Computer Ah Sa UCC Ga” and several articles. I posted 40+ blogs on “Memories of UCC”.
There are several classifications of Mathematics:
As an assistant to Dr. Chit Swe in his projects (e.g. “High School Mathematics”, “Children’s Treasury of Knowledge”, “UCC”, … I worked with several Mathematics sayas and educators (Maths curriculum, …) They include U Tin Hlaing, U Sein Min (GBNF), Dr. Khin Maung Win (GBNF), Dr. Khin Maung Swe (GBNF), Dr. Pyke Tin, Dr. Kyaw Thein (GBNF), Dr. Saw Tin (GBNF), and Dr. Kyaw Nyunt.
Mathematics is central to several other disciplines (Engineering, Physics, Economics, and Computer Science).
The Lucasian Professorship and Chair of Mathematics at Cambridge University has been held by Sir Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawkings.
John Nash (Mathematician”, “A Beautiful Mind”) won the Nobel Prize for Economics.
RU had a Chancellor (Adipati) and a Vice Chancellor.
After independence, the Prime Minister of the Union of Burma served as the Chancellor. He would attend the Convocation and give a speech.
The road leading to the Convocation Hall is named Chancellor Road.
Justice U Bo Gyi served as Vice Chancellor for two terms.
A senior Saya (e.g. U Hla Aung, L. Htin Si) served as a Bursar or Registrar
RU had several Faculties :
Dr. Tha Hla, Dr. Maung Maung Kha, and Dr. Hla Myint were among the early scholars sent to UK to study for their doctorates. They later headed Geology, Physics and Economics Departments.
Saya U Ba Hli was the first native Dean of Engineering. He studied in India and UK. He served as Principal and Civil Professor at GTI before he transferred to RU.
Saya U Ba Hli is credited with the “Twinning Program” with prestigious universities in the US. Beneficiaries of the program include engineering students (Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun, U Maung Maung Than, U Aung Khin, U Khin Aung Kyi, U Thit, U Soe Paing, U Ko Ko Lay …), sayas (U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe, U Allen Htay, Dr. San Hla Aung, U Htin Paw, U San Tun, U Tin Hlaing … ), and eligible graduates (U Aw Taik Moh …).
U Yone Mo studied Honors at RU and engineering in UK. At that time, membership and associate membership of the engineering societies were valued for non-academic positions and jobs.
In contrast, a Masters Degree is usually needed to become a Lecturer.
Some sayas did a second round of studies to complete their Masters and get promoted to Lecturers.
In the early days, there was a Pali Department, but no Burmese Department.
Saya U Pe Maung Tin (Pali) proposed and succeeded in the founding of the Burmese Department at RU. His students : ICS U Sein Tin (Theikpan Maung Wa), U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and U Wun (Minthuwun) spearheaded the “Khit San Sar Pay”. We had to study the works of all four in high school (and beyond).
Minthuwun’s poems and his classic short story (Bagyi Aung Nyar De) were translated into English by U Ohn Pe (Tet Toe), U Khin Zaw (“K) and fellow scholars,
and the collection was published in both Burmese and English.
U Pe Maung Tin, U Aye Maung, and U Wun, served as Professor of Burmese Department.
U Myo Min (Nwe Soe, Professor of English) was also involved in the Khit San Sar Pay.
Details of the early departments and pioneer sayas can be found in the RU Golden Jubilee Magazine, the 90th Anniversary Issues and the RU Centennial publications.
Burma produced several distinguished economists.
Stanford University Economist; Chair
Author of “The Theory of Financial Management”
Advisor for President Nixon
Ph.D in Economics from LSE (London School of Economics)
Professor of Economics, RU
Rector, RU
Economic Adviser, National Planning
Taught Development Economics at LSE
Author of “South East Asia’s Development Policy …”
Ph.D. from Harvard University (won “Best Dissertation”)
Author of “Theory of Markets”
IMF
Taught Economics at RU (Mentor of Dr. Ronald Findlay)
Ph.D from Yale University
Chair, RU Economics Department
IMF (Deputy Director, IMF Institute)
Author of six books
Ph.D from MIT
Chair, Economics Department, Columbia University
Research Professor, Institute of Economics, Rangoon
Author of six (or more) books
Professor, Economics Department, RU
Rector, Institute of Economics
Chairman, Union of Burma Bank
Lecturer & later Professor
Deputy Minister
Economics Honors from RU.
Chief Secretary of the Burmese Government
It is unfortunate for Burma/Myanmar to lose the status “Rice Bowl of Asia” and descend into LDC.
Indiscriminate Nationalization and unwarranted Demonetization might have contributed to the decline of the Economy.
It took a long time to design and implement the UCC project. Details can be found in the article “Computer Ah Sa UCC Ga” by Saya U Soe Paing my mentor at RIT and UCC).
Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min and Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF) helped Saya Dr. Chit Swe (GBNF) found UCC (Universities’ Computer Center). At UCC, our four Sayagyis are addressed as Saya Chit, Saya Paing, Saya Myo and Saya Lay.
UCC Project was conceived in the mid-60s when Saya Chit headed the Mathematics Department at the Institute of Economics. The initial scope was to get a grant for a digital computer for IE, but the scope was expanded to cover selected Universities and Institutes.
The UCC Department was launched in 1970 with Saya Chit as Founder/Director and the three sayas as Managers of Computer Systems, Computer Operations and Computer Applications departments.
Computer courses (academic, training, orientation …) were given at UCC under the leadership of Saya Chit (who served a dual role as UCC Director and Mathematics Professor) and the help of visiting Professors (mostly Computer Scientists) from US, UK, Europe …
Saya Chit was the founder Director of UCC and Professor of Mathematics at RASU. He later became Rector of RASU.
Saya Chit was succeeded by Saya Dr. Tin Maung (GBNF), who continued and elaborated on Saya Chit’s Vision and Mission.
After retirement from RASU, Saya taught for some time in Bangkok, and migrated to Australia. Saya Chit continued to supervise Burmese/Myanmar doing graduate studies in Australia. He served as Visiting Professor at Macquarie University.
In 2006, we paid respect to Saya Chit and Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (former DG of UBARI, former Natjonal Advisor, UCC Board Member, GBNF) at Saya Zaw’s house with Mohinga and delicacies prepared by Ma Kyawt. Saya gave me his hat. Hope that hat can transfer Saya’s brain and work ethics to yours truly.
Saya Chit was a room mate of Saya U Ba Than during their study days in UK.
DCS was established with Saya Lay as Professor, U TAG (EC69) as Associate Professor, and I as Lecturer.
ICST was founded in 1988 with Saya DTM as Rector, Saya Lay as Professor, U TAG and I as Associate Professors, and several others as Lecturers.
The 30th Anniversary was celebrated in 2018.
I attended two ICST Reunion & Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe held at MICT Park.
ICST became UCSY.
UCSY had visiting Professors & Researchers.
One down side is the lack of residential dorms and a relatively long commute for several sayas, sayamas and students.
UCSY Teams competed the ACM Programming Contest.
HlaMin 