Physics

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Dr. Maung Maung Kha (GBNF)

• Received his doctorate in Meteorological Physics from Imperial College, London University.
• Worked briefly at the Directorate of Meteorology before transferring to the Department of Physics at the Rangoon University.
• Early native Professor of Physics at Rangoon University.
• Interim Dean at the Faculty of Engineering
• Rector of the Rangoon University, RASU & University of Distance Learning

U San Tha Aung (GBNF)

• He is an alumnus of Harvard University.
• Co-authored High School Physics texts (in Burmese and English)
• Director General of Higher Education.

Early doctorates from USA

• Dr. Hla Shwe (Boon Chiong, first in Burma in 1953), Dr. Tin Maung and Dr. Tin Aung received their doctorates from the USA.
• Dr. Hla Shwe and Dr. Tin Maung moved to the USA.

Dr. Tin Aung

• Professor and Head of the Physics Department, RASU
• He was on an educational tour in the USA when his colleagues elected him as Patron of the All Universities’ Teachers Association for the 8-8-88 movement.
• After his return, he was forced to resign immediately.
• He recently had a replacement pace maker.

Some Sayas and Sayamas

• Daw Nyein (GBNF) : Retired as Head of the RIT Physics; Lived to 101 years
• Daw May Than Nwe (Joyce, GBNF)
  First in Physics Honors in 1962
  Spouse : Saya U Thein Lwin
  Classmates : Dr. Sein Tun (GBNF), Robert Sein, Daw Khin Than Nwe, Daw Khin Swe Aye (Emily)
  She and her spouse passed away within a few months of each other in Singapore.
• U Hlwan Moe (GBNF)
  Succeeded Daw Nyein as Head of RIT Physics
  Spouse : Daw Khin Swe Aye
  Son : Dr. Moe Aye (UK)
• Daw Khin Swe Aye (Emily)
  Spouse : U Hlwan Moe
• U Tha Hlaing
  Taught at RIT for two decades
  Gave Ovada at SPZP-2007 in Singapore along with Sayagyi U Ba Toke.
• U Kyaw Myint (GBNF)
  Retired as Director General of Higher Education; We spent some time together as Guest Speakers for the Ngapali Luyechun Camp in 1988. Has a Foundation named after him

• U Kyaw Mya Thein (GBNF)
  Retired as Pro-Rector of ICST/UCSY; Coined the word “Kar Ku La Thin Char” for Calculus; Passed away in Singapore.
• U Tin Oo Hlaing (Principal)
  Interpreter for Saddhammaransi Sayadaw’s Dhamma Duta to USA
• U Kaung Nyunt (GBNF)
  Principal of RC2
  Spouse : PPBRS alumni
  Daughter : Khaing Khaing Nyunt (UCC)
• U Thein Aung (Micky, SPHS59, GBNF) : RUBC Gold in 1962; Met him during his visit to California.
• Dr. Htin Aung (Japan, GBNF)
  Sacred Heart; Sixth in Burma in the Matric of 1957; Twin brother : Dr. Htin Kyaw
• Dr. Htin Kyaw : Sacred Heart;
  First in Burma in the Matric of 1957
• U Thein Htut : Saya Micky asked him to be athletic trainer for RUBC selected
• U Saw Hlaing (Principal, Director, GBNF): First met him as organizer of Thu Ka Kari သုကကာရီ association on Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Last met him at the Ministry of Education.
• U Kin Sein (Director) : He was at the Ministry in charge of vetting state scholarships
• Mehm Than Thoung : First in Physics Honors in 1961; RUBC Gold in 1961; Retired Rector of Distance Learning; Currently spending time at a meditation center
• Dr. Soe Myint Win (Electronics / Engineering, GBNF) : Gawpaka at a monastery in Northern California; Helped found the Northern California Physics Association
• Daw May Su (GBNF) : She and her spouse Saya U Ba Nyunt (EE, MOGE) visited their daughter and grand children in Northern California.
• Dr. Maung Maung Gyi (Canada) : Taught at RIT. Worked in Singapore & Canada
• Dr. Aye Thein Kyaw (Canada, GBNF)
• Dr. Tin Maung Aye (USA)
• Dr. Soe Tint (USA)
• Dr. Myint Thein
• Dr. Myint Kyi (Pro-Rector, IMBTU) : Met him at the Final Journey of Sayadaw U Silananda
• U Kyaw Khin (USA)
• U Kyaw Win (USA, GBNF)
• U Ye Sint (USA)
• Dr. Kyaw Tint (USA)
• Dr. Win Naing (USA)
• Mr. Bharadwaja (wrote the Lab manuals)
• Daw Khin Mar Mar (daughter of Sayagyi U Net) studied Computer Science
• Dr. Khin Swe Myint hosted a Physics conference in Mandalay with the help of Dr. Khin Maung Maung (Professor and Chair of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Mississippi).

Miscellaneous

• Frankie Ohn (Dr. Hla Ngwe Tin) stood first in the Matric exam of 1959. He founded a company in Southern California & sold it.
• Harry Wang (Dr. Than Myint) stood Joint Third in the Matric exam of 1956.
• Dr. Yan Naing Lwin : Emeritus Professor & Chair of Physics at WIU, Macomb. He helped many Burmese to study at WIU
• Ko Soe Lwin (son of Dr. Maung Lwin) & Ko Myint Thein were selected Physics Luyechun in the Sunmer of 1965
• Chu Pu Thein (SPHS63) scored the highest marks for Physics in the first ever High School Final Only exam in 1962. Due to restrictions, he could not apply to the professional institutes and left to study in Italy.
• Dr. Khin Maung U received 99 marks for Physics in the first ever Matric exam in 1963. He scored a perfect 100, but the Chief Invigilator reluctantly subtracted a point.
• There was a Centennial Celebration for Saya Kha.
  Saya U Oo Khin Maung and Sayama Daw Thida were some of the volunteer organizers.

Sayama Daw Thida wrote :

Dear Sayar U Hla Min,
You have collected many facts regarding with Universities especially YU and RIT. I appreciate your nice memory.
I worked at YU Physics Department about twelve years (Early 1978 to mid 1989), at RIT Physics Department about six years (1971 to 1976) and YIT/YTU Engineering Physics Department about eight years (1993 to 2001).
I think the days of YU are very beautiful before 1963. I missed those days because I was high school student at that time.
My days at YU are very ordinary.
The posts written about early days of YU are very interesting.
That’s why I request “Nyi” (Nyi Thet Lwin) to collect those posts as a book.
I also thank you for your interesting posts.
I look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks again Sayar.