Notes — RU, Celebrations

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

(1) Jubilees

Silver Jubilee (25 years)

• Due to the war, the celebrations for RU took place much later than 1945.
• RIT Newsletter was published in 1999 and the Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 2024.

Golden Jubilee (50 years)

• RU Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1970.
• RIT Golden Jubilee (Shwe YaDu) was celebrated in 2014.

Diamond Jubilee (75 years)

• RU Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1995.

Centennial (100 years)

• SPHS celebrated the Centennial in 1960.
• RU Centennial celebrations started in November 2020.
  Yah Pyay Ah Kyo celebrations kicked off on December 1, 2019 and continued throughout 2020

Sesquicentennial (150 years)

• SPHS celebrated the Sesquicentennial in 2010.

Miscellaneous

• Bicentennial (200 years)
• Tricentennial (300 years)
• Millennium (1000 years)

(2) Three Events in December 1920

Rangoon University

• Rangoon University Act of 1920 was enacted on December 1, 1920.
• The Act established Rangoon University with Rangoon College and Judson College as constituent colleges.

First RU Student Strike

• The Strikevto protest the Act took place of December 5, 1920 (two days earlier than planned because the news leaked to the higher authorities).
• The senior students requested the junior students not to strike. When their request was not complied, 11 senior students decided to the strike as leaders.
• The Burmese date — 10th Waning Day of Tazaungmon — is celebrated as Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay.
• The strike led to the establishment of Ah Myotha Kyaung (National School) and Ah Myotha Kaw Leik (National College).
• U Po Kya served as Ah Myotha Pyinnya Wun. He is a distinguished author.
• Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing served as Principal of Ah Myotha Kaw Leik.

Saya U Ba Toke

• He’s is a Phwa Bet Taw of RU and the first RU Students’ Strike.
• Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon University
• Rector of MASU
• Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon Institute of Technology
• Associate Dean, Assumption University, Bangkok

(3) Publications

• Former EC members of the RU Ka Laung Ah Thinn (1958 – 1962) including Daw Kyu Kyu Thin and Saya U Moe Aung (Tekaktho Moe War) published a “Collection of Kabyars” and a commemorative Magazine in February 2020.
• Several books, Sar Saungs and Magazines were published for the RU Centennial Celebrations.

(4) Some Early Sayas

Dr. Maung Maung Kha

• Doctorate in Meteorological Physics from UK
• Worked briefly at Meteorology Department
• Transferred to RU Physics Department
• Interim Dean of Engineering
• Longest tenure among Rectors of RU
• Hobby : Music / Violin
• Former students celebrated Saya’s Yar Pyi
• “Saya Kha Hall”

U San Tha Aung

• Studied Masters at Harvard University
• Senior Lecturer, Physics
• Co-authored High School Yupa Beda texts with Dr. Maung Maung Kha
• Director General of Higher Education
• Passed away after returning from an inspection tour

Dr. Nyi Nyi

• He was a mentee of Dr. Tha Hla.
• A Minister protested against Dr. Tha Hla’s nomination of Dr. Nyi Nyi’s scholarship citing his ideology. Dr. Tha Hla managed to push through the nomination during the Minister’s absence.
• Served as Deputy Minister.
  Instrumental in establishing the then new Education System
• Retired from UN
• Pen name : Oak Aw

(5) Rectors and Principals

U Hla Shwe

• Rector, Mandalay Arts and Science University (MASU)
• Senior Burmese Saya

U Yone Mo

• Retired Chief Engineer, Burma Railways
• Dean of Engineering, BIT
• Rector, Rangoon Institute of Technology

Medicine

• Dr. Ba Than (Institute of Medicine 1)
• Dr. U E (Institute of Medicine 2)
• Dr. Maung Maung Gyi (Institute of Medicine at Mandalay)

Economics

• Dr. Aye Hlaing
  Rector, Institute of Economics
  Professor of Economics, Faculty of Social Science

Education

• Lt. Col. San Myint
  Rector, Institute of Education

Dentistry

• Dr. Aung Than
  Rector, Institute of Dentistry / Dental Medicine

Vet

• U Mya Nyunt
  Rector, Institute of Veterinary Science

Agri

• U Than Tun
  Rector, Institute of Agriculture

Workers

• U Kyaw
  Principal, Workers’ College

Taunggyi

• U Khin Maung Tint (Tekkatho Phone Naing)
  Principal, Taungyi College
  Distinguished author / novelist