Senior alumni and sayas

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Class of 48 and 49

For HMEE-2012 project, U Myo Myint (EC67, RUBC Gold) submitted several photos including the “Reunion of the Class of 48 and 49” photo. The class included

• U Boon Pin
  Graduated with Mech/Elect combined major
  Retired Deputy Chief Engineer, Burma Railways
  Father of Ko “Robert” San Lin, EC 73)
• U Soe Aung
  Chief Engineer, PWD
  Father of Daw “Janet” Thynn Thynn Khaing, EP 70)
• U Po Han
  Deputy Minister
  Father of Saya U Khin Aung Han
• U Min Han
  Father of U Nyein Min (C79)
• U Gym Kho
  Uncle of U Myo Myint, EC 67)

Early Sayas

Many are GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten)

• U Kyaw Tun is a saya of our sayas.
  He started teaching Electrical Engineering at BOC College.
  Father of Dr. Elizabeth Kyaw Tun (Daw Tin Nu, English) and Daw Dorothy Kyaw Tun
  Saya jokingly said that his son-in-laws must be doctors. Ko Tin Aung Win recounted in one of the “Countdown to the Reunion” how he became known as Dr. Tin Aung Win.
  
• C. Ping Lee taught EE at BOC College.
  He transferred as Director of Technical and Vocational Training.
  Dr. Win Aung (M62) wrote an article in memory of his father.
  
• H Num Kok taught Civil Engineering at BOC College.
  President of RIT Track and Field Association
  Line Judge at RUBC Regattas
  Elder brother of H Num Fatt (EE60) and H Num Pon (Myint Lwin, C61)
  
• U Soe Khaw was Head and Part-time Lecturer of Mining at BOC College.
  Moved to Thailand and USA.
  
• U Soon Sein took over as full-time saya and Head of Mining department.
  Moved to USA

• U Ba Hli
  First native Dean of Engineering
  Proposed the “Twinning Program” between RU and prestigious universities in the USA
  Dr. Freddie Ba Hli wrote an article in memory of his father.
  
• U Yone Mo
  First Rector of RIT
  Father of Kyaw Moe (M72, GBNF)
  
• Dr. Aung Gyi
  Rector
  Moved to Canada
  Gave a key note speech at SPZP-2000
  
• U Khin Aung Kyi
  Rector
  At SPZP-2000, he paid physical respect to his sayas: Saya H Num Kok and Saya U Ba Toke.
  
• U Maung Maung Than
  Rector
  Chair, RIT Sports Council

• U Tin U attended Rangoon University in 1946. He is a Past Captain and Gold of Rangoon University Boat Club. He studied BSCE at Oregon State University and MSCE at Yale University. He taught part-time at the Civil Engineering Department, U Tin U (C) gave an interview to Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC) and U Htin Myaing (A66) for the HMEE-2012 project.

• Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (retired Adviser of National Planning, retired Director General of UBARI) taught part-time at EE department and also served as external examiner at UCC. He wrote an article about his father in the commemorative issue of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” for SPZP 2000.

• U Min Wun did his BSCE at MIT along with Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi. He thanked Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (ScD) for helping and encouraging them during their stay at MIT. He did his MS at Cornell University and specialized in Photogrammetry. His interests also included Western and Eastern astronomy and astrology. He served as Adviser on the “Myanmar Pyeikkadein Ah Phwe”. He was an early contributor to the newsletter updates.

• Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Tekkatho Maung Thin Char) published a book on the life/journey of Sayagyi U Ba Toke (retired Rector of MASU, retired Professor of Mathematics at RIT). It has a section about Sayagyi missing the March exam due to his participation in a student strike camp and passing all the subjects in the supplementary/compartmental examination in June/July. Since the stipends/scholarships were considered only for those who passed the March exam, Sayagyi decided to forgo his dream of becoming an engineer and instead pursue an Honors program in Mathematics. Sayagyi is a “Phwa Bet Taw” of Rangoon University Act (1920) and the first RU Student Strike (1920).

• U Aung Hla (Maths), his spouse (Daw May Than), and his son (Ko Mya Than) are all talented musicians. Sayagyi also annotated Burmese music.

• U Kar (Maths), father of Saya Dr. Tin Maung (Maths, UCC/ICST, GBNF), served as Minister of Education in the Caretaker Government.

• U Hla Maung (Burmese) taught Abhidhamma in his spare time. Several of the courses were held at the premises of Daw Khin Than Nwe’s parents. Saya served as member of the “Myanmar Sar Commission” and as “Naing gan daw kaung si win”.

Notes

• Several pioneer engineers (e.g. Saygyi U Kyaw Tun, EE) studied at UK for associate and full membership of the organizations (e.g. AMIEE). Some did their B.Sc. and/or Special Honors (which is a requisite for entering the Masters program).
  
• Dr. Yan Naing Lwin (WIU) had a copy of the Burmese/Myanmar state scholars studying in the US universities and institutes around ’54 – ’55. The list was published in a very early update and includes Saya U Sein Hlaing (EE) and Saya U Tin Swe (EE).