Harmony

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

In our younger days

Our grand parents & parents had workers who were non-Buddhists. They gave us sweets (for Diwali), dan bauk (for Id) and presents (for Christmas).

During our younger days, we had classmates who professed different religions. We lived in perfect harmony.

Christians

Saya U Pe Maung Tin

• He was a Christian, but he helped with the translation of Buddhist texts.
• Translated the two sermons (Dhammacakka and Anatta Lekkhana Sutta) into English at the request of U Tha Win (who published the two sermons in Pali, Burmese and English).

Teacher Kywe (PPBRS)

• Karen Christian teacher who transformed me into a “life long learner”
• My mother asked me to pay respect to her every year.

Rev. Bernard Taylor

• SPHS classmate
• Missionary to the Philippines
• After retirement, came back to Myanmar

Rev. Edwin David

• SPHS classmate
• GBNF
• Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral

Steeve Kay (EC70)

• Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs
• Donated $200000+ to RIT-related activities
• GBNF

Benny Tan

• Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs
• Co-chair, SPZP-2000

SPZP

• Several RIT alumni are Christians, who embrace SPZPs.
• The term Saya Pu Zaw Pwe was chosen over Saya Ga Daw Pwe (which had religious connotation) so that all students can pay back the metta and cetana of their mentors.

Sikhs

D. S. Saluja

• Classmate at SPHS, I.Sc(A) & 2nd BE
• Left RIT to form “Rama Enterprise” in Bangkok with his elder brother
• Had a mini-reunion twice : the last time in April 2024

A. S. Soni

• SPHS classmate

RIT alumni

• Surinder Singh (EE69er) — Australia
• Uttam Singh (M71) — NASA
• Meenu Singh (ChE72) — CS Prof
• Jagjit Singh (EE73) — UIUC

Muslims

Arzani U Razak

• Early Graduate of National College
• Principal of National School in Mandalay
• Was nominated by several Sayadaws to be Education Minister in Bogyoke Aung San’s Cabinet
• Sons : U Tin Myint (RUBC, MOC), U Hla Kyi (helped solve the foundation problem at Shwe Dagon)

U Raschid

• Student Leader for RUSU and Ba Ka Tha
• Minister

U Khin Maung Latt

• Minister
• Sons : Khin Maung Gyi (RIT English), Khin Maung Lay (Principal, ILO Training School)

U Pe Khin

• Diplomat
• Negotiator at Pin Lon Conference

Bohmu Ba Shin

• Burma Historical Commission

Paulians

• Edward Hla Shwe I and II

RIT Alumni

• Saya Allen Htay (C58) : President of RIT Alumni International; SPZP-2000 Organizer

• U Khin Maung Lay (T68) : Past President of BASES; Organizer & emcee for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

• U Thein Ngwe (Ko Thein Tokyo, ChE76) : Co-founder of RITAJsent
• RIT Muslim students in 1971

Men on the Moon

For the last stanza of my poem “Men on the Moon”, I wrote

“Are we not brothers here on earth?
So let us all unite.
There will be heaven here on earth
If we all cease to fight”.

Updates

• Several conflicts in the world due to extremists
• Discrimination in some places