1963 – Present

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Events

Many events are covered in my posts & Newsletter Updates.

The following are some highlights for 1963 – 2025.

• Spent five years studying at RIT.
• Have spent 26 years paying back to my alma mater and my mentors.
• Thanks to my family members for their support.

1963

Matric Exam

• Took Matric Only exam in May
• Stood 7th in the whole of Burma. Honored at a ceremony at St. Paul’s High School.

• Won the Collegiate Scholarship of 75 kyats a month

• OPA invited us to the Annual Dinner on June 30.

• A newspaper clipping describing the Dinner is shown below. From R to L : Khin Maung U, Min Oo, Myo San, Nyunt Wai, Thein Wai, me & Maung Maung Kyi

• SPHS had five in the Top Five, seven in the Top Ten and ten in the Top Twenty in the Matric exam of 1963. Myo San (Freddie, 3rd), Maung Maung Kyi (11th) and Aung Thu Yein (13th) are now GBNF.
• All our SPHS teachers except Saya Beatson (Physics, Boy Scout) are GBNF. Saya became a monk.

Inter A

• Attended the last ever I.Sc.(A) classes at Leik Khone.

Rowing

• Joined Rangoon University Boat Club with fellow Paulians Maung Maung Kyi (GBNF), Kyaw Wynn and Willie Soe Maung (GBNF). Our crew was Runners up for the Senior Novices. We were awarded Full Green.
• Citing Security Concerns, the RUBC 40th Anniversary Regatta was canceled. Following the 7th July Anniversary protests, the University courses except Medicine & Engineering were suspended. The hostel students were ordered to return to their homes.
• Sithu U Tin (President, GBNF) decided not to cancel the RUBC 40th Anniversary Dinner at Orient Hotel in Kandawgyi. Several members are now GBNF.

1964 – 1969

• The I.Sc(A) exam was held at the High Schools.

RIT

• Attended first ever 2nd BE class at Rangoon Institute of Technology in November 1964.
• I was admitted as the Top student based on the I.Sc(A) exam marks.

Luyechun

• Selected Luyechun in 2nd BE. Attended the Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the summer of 1965 along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ma Khin Than Myint Tin and Ko Zaw Min.
• The Luyechun program was started in the summer of 1964 with students from 7th to 10th Standards. In 1965, the program also included students from Universities & Institutes.
• Some Luyechuns — Kyaw Sein Koe (IM1), Khin Aye Than (Chemistry), Tun Naung (Dental), Than Sit (Sagaing) and Aung Kyaw Nyunt (Myingyan) — are now GBNF.

Associations

• Served as Joint Secretary, Secretary & Magazine Committee member of the RIT EE Association

• Served as the last ever officially elected Treasurer and Vice Captain of Rangoon University Boat Club. The higher authorities abolished the Bye laws and prevented me from becoming RUBC Captain.

Writing

• Started free lance writing (article, poem, translation …)
• Published the poem “Men on the Moon” in Guardian newspaper in July 1969. USIA sent a copy of the poem to NASA and the astronauts.

Graduation

• Graduated with B.E (EC).
• Of the 13 classmates, 12 graduated. Kyaw Soe, Aung Thu Yein, Chit Tin & Oo Kyaw Hla are now GBNF.

1970 – 1998

Work

• Universities’ Computer Center (UCC) : Computer Engineer, Sr. Systems Programmer, Business Application Manager

• Department of Computer Science (DCS) : Senior Lecturer
• Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST) : Associate Professor
• Tech Companies in the Silicon Valley : Member, Senior Member & Principal Member of Technical Staff

Publications & Projects

• Articles & translations in Guardian, Working Peoples’ Daily (WPD), Forward Magazine, Veda ဝေဒ Magazine, and Pan ပန် Magazine.
• Assisted Saya Dr. Chit Swe’s projects including High School Mathematics, Children’s Treasury of Knowledge (CTK), Team of System Specialists (TOSS)
• Wrote Computer Science, Programming & Lecture guides and UCC manuals with Saya U Soe Paing and Saya U Aung Zaw (GBNF).

• Per request from U Myint Sein (Principal, BARB), I assigned Ko Win Latt and Ko Zaw Tun Veda projects and supervised them. Their programs are used by Veda sayas, students & practitioners.

1999

Newsletter

• Started “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”
• It started with the news and photos of some gatherings back in Burma. (a) 30th Anniversary of the Graduation of the Class of 69 — reported by Ko Daniel Tint Lwin and Ma Saw Yu Tint (Alice)
  (b) Mini-gathering with Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and other sayas and senior alumni — reported by Saya U Soe Paing

2000

SPZP-2000

• First RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in San Francisco, USA in October 2000
• Commemorative web pages (thanks to KMZ)
• Commemorative Issue of the RIT Alumni International Newsletter by me and team

• 64 Countdown to the Reunion posts
• 36 Post-Reunion posts

2002

SPZP-2002

• Second RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung”
• by Saya U Moe Aung and team
• Reprinted my “SAYA PUZAW PWE” poem as Back Cover

2004

SPZP-2004

• Third RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
• Mild earthquake did not rattle the attendees

2006

Three Gatherings in Sydney

• Visited Sydney, Australia to attend three gatherings
• RIT Alumni Dinner organized by Saya U Hla Myint, Saya U Myo Win (GBNF) & team

• UCC Alumni Gathering hosted by Saya U Aung Zaw (GBNF) and Daw Kyawt

• BOB Gathering at Olympic Park organized by Dr. Thann Naing (Bonnie Kywe)

2007

SPZP-2007

• Fourth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” by Saya U Moe Aung and team
• Contributed a poem “SWE DAW YEIK”

UCC Gathering

• UCC gathering in Yangon hosted by Saya U Soe Paing & Daw Saw Yu Tint
• Ko Soe Myint & Ma Nge are now GBNF.

2010

SPZP-2010

• Fifth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” by Saya U Moe Aung and team

• Contributed an article : Sad and short clip — EE sayas

2012

SPZP-2012

• Sixth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
• True “Home Coming” in the Gyogone Campus
• Special publication : History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar by Saya U Aung Hla Tun & team (Ko Ohn Khine & I compiled the CD supplement for the book)
• Publication: Selected RIT Cartoons
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” by U Saw Lin & team
• Limited reprints of 23 RIT Annual Magazines

2013

SDYF

• Swel Daw Yeik Foundation
• Contributions for various projects
• Health care for the sayas and sayamas

Soon Kyway

• For Golden Jubilee
• Gifts from KMZ, Zaw Tun & Kyu Kyu

2014

RIT Shwe YaDu

• 50th Anniversary of the opening of RIT in 1964
• Planted 50 Swel Daw Bins
• Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” by Saya U Moe Aung & team (Contributed an article : “Recollections of a 69er”)

• Paved Shwe YaDu lane and set up Swel Daw Yeik benches
• Translated Saya U Moe Aung’s Shwe YaDu poem

2016

SPZP-2016

• RIT/YIT/YTU Alumni Association
• Seventh RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
• 10000+ attendees
• Free food and fun (all day and all night long)
• Platinum Jubilee for the Class of 69
• Hosted by some 69ers for their friends (in their sunset)

Appreciation Awards

• Soonkway at Half Moon Bay Monastery (organized by U Maurice Chee)

• Received Alumni Appreciation Award from alumni worldwide

• Annual Dinner by Northern California RIT Alumni Association

• Received plaque signed by Saya U Myat Htoo (Chair, BOD), U Kaung Kaung Oo (Gordon, President), and U Thaung Nyunt (Secretary)

Gatherings

• Attended SPZP-2016 and Platinum Jubilee of the Class of 69

2017

Post-SPZP

• Attended Post-SPZP2016 Gatherings

DTM

• Awards : Distinguished Toastmaster

2018

UCC & ICST

• Attended 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of ICST/UCSY
• Memories of UCC : 40+ posts
• Trivia : 2000+ posts
• Archived and revised posts in hlamin.com

2019

69er GJ

• Golden Jubilee of Graduation of the Class of 69

ILF

• Panelist, 5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival

2020

• PSA Tour in Jan 2020
• After announcement of pandemic in Feb 2020, many social activities were paused.

2021 – 2023

Visits

• Short visits (e.g Singapore, Malaysia)

NorCal RITAA

• Some social activities were resumed.

2024

Visits

• Short visits to Thailand and Laos
• Attended EE85 Reunion as Guest of Edward Saw (Yu Ket).

Celebrations

• NorCal RITAA celebrated Centennial of Engineering Education in Burma & 60th Anniversary of RIT
• Saya U Nyunt Htay, Mg Mar Ga & team organized the recording of video messages of some sayas & sayamas. They can be accessed from YouTube channel & website of NorCal RITAA.

2025

• Still have good physical & mental health.
• Updating posts in my website

Thanks

• My ancestors

• Family members
• သင်ဆရာ၊ မြင်ဆရာ၊ ကြားဆရာ
• Benefactors