HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • U Shwe Hlaing

    U Shwe Hlaing
    • Studied Chemical Engineering and Mathematics in the USA.
    • Taught Engineering Mechanics in our 2nd BE class. The students love the free-body diagrams with half arrows.
    • Wore jeans and smoked quite a lot. Quit smoking and wore taik pone. A dramatic change.
    • Taught ALGOL and some computer subjects in the planning phase of the UCC Project.
    • Served as External Examiner at UCC.
    • After retirement, Saya spent some time in UK.
    • Gave a short speech at SPZP-2016

  • Daw Khin Saw Tint

    Daw Khin Saw Tint
    • Taught English at RIT
    • Bilingual author
      Wrote numerous books in Burmese and English.
    • Sayama is a happy mother, grand mother and great grand mother.
    • Mother : Daw Khin Saw Mu wrote poems and articles in Burmese.
      Her work was featured in a TEDx talk by U Nay Oke Tint (St. Paul’s), younger brother of Sayama.
    TEDx Inya Lake
    • Sayama comes from a lineage of scholars and statesmen.

    Her uncles

    • U Tin Tut
      First Burmese ICS by invitation, …
    U Tin Tut
    • U Kyaw Myint
      Head of the Tribunal to try Galon U Saw, former Dean of Law at the University of Rangoon, …
    U Kyaw Myint
    • U Myint Thein
      “MMT”, author, translator, former Chief Justice and Ambassador, Victim of the Revolutionary Council
    • Dr. Htin Aung
      Former Rector and Vice Chancellor of RU, Distinguished writer, Historian, Folklorist
    Dr. Htin Aung

    Her aunts

    • Daw Khin Mya Mu
      Translator of Kyauk Sar, Thamadi Myowun, …
    • Daw Tin Saw Mu
      Lecturer in English

    Mai Khin Nyunt (Rosie, ChE71) added :

    Congratulations Mama

    Ah Ko Hla Min,

    I always have been in touch with Sayama as I take responsibility regarding 64-65 Intake RIT Students activity. Due to her Dhamma and kind heart, though she had some operations she is in good health.

  • Dr. Aung Gyi — Memories

    Dr. Aung Gyi 1
    Dr. Aung Gyi 2
    Dr. Aung Gyi 3
    Dr. Aung Gyi 4
    Dr. Aung Gyi 5
    Dr. Aung Gyi 6
    Dr. Aung Gyi 7

  • Meeting at YTU

    YTU Meeting to discuss Hardware upgrade

    The discussions include the “hardware” upgrade of YTU.

    HW upgrade 1
    Upgrade 2

  • October 2008

    U Ba Than 1
    U Ba Than 2

    Sayagyi U Ba Than was born on October 2, 1930 (Thursday).

    He usually celebrates his birthday by offering soon at a monastery and inviting his former colleagues and students to the soon kyway.

    There was a “special” gathering for Sayagyi’s 78th birthday in 2008. October 2, 2008 falls on a Thursday.

    Maung Sein Win (Padeegone) wrote a poem for Sayagyi.

    Sayagyi handed out his “memoirs” to the attendees and a hand-written “message” to his former students.

  • NorCal RITAA — Memories

  • KMZ

    KMZ

    St. Paul’s High School

    KMZ (Khin Maung Zaw) attended SPHS. After nationalization, SPHS was renamed as No. 6 Botathaung State High School. He matriculated in 1960.

    Old Paulians

    Rangoon Institute of Technology

    He graduated with B.E (EC) from RIT. He was from the Class of 76, but due to school closure, the Convocation took place in March 1977.

    RIT

    UCC

    He worked for the Systems Division at UCC before going to Singapore and the USA.

    UCC Old Timers

    Singapore

    KMZ in Singapore

    USA

    • He moved to Seattle, Washington.
    • He worked for Technology & Architecture Group at Nordstrom. He worked four days for 10 hours and had a three-day weekend.
    • He worked for Microsoft until retirement.
    • He visited the SF Bay Area to attend gatherings and meetings.
    With Sayas & Rafiul

    RIT Alumni International

    • He is a founding member and the lone member from outside the SF Bay Area.
    • He designed and implemented the ex-rit.org website.
    • He set up Special Pages for SPZP-2000.
    • He hosted us and took us to Oregon and Vancouver. The photo was taken at The Seattle Space Needle.
    Hosted us
    • He and U Min Maung (EP68) hosted Saya Dr. San Tint (GBNF).
    With Dr. San Tint in Seattle (2000)

    Friends

    Two Dudes
    With RIT classmates

    Gathering to welcome KMZ

    U Khin Zaw (UCC) and Daw Wai Wai Tun hosted a party to welcome KMZ and family.

    Attendees include

    • Saya U Myo Min (co-founder of UCC)
    • U Myint Swe (EP74) & Daw San San (EC74)
    • Maurice Chee (M75) and family
    • U Hla Kyi (EC77)
    • U Aung Myint Oo (EC84, UCC)
    • Dr. Rafiul Ahad (SPHS69, UCC) &spouse
    • Dr. Kyaw Tint
    • U Thein Naing (Patrick) & Daw Khin Myo Aung
    • U Hla Min (EC69, SPHS63, UCC) & spouse.

    U Thein Maung

    • He is a Literary Award Winner with the pen name Htin Lin.
    • He also gave private tuition for English with Saya U Khin Maung Latt.
    • He has four sons and a daughter.
    • The eldest U Soe Myint (GBNF) worked as Editor for WPD and later as Chief Editor at Guardian. His spouse Ada is the daughter of U Than Saw (Chief Editor of PWD). KMZ’s spouse is their daughter.
    • The younger brothers are U Soe Win (EC70, UCC, PTC), U Kyaw Zaw (EC72, DCA, GBNF) and U Khin Zaw (UCC).
    • KMZ’s son is named Htin Lin.
  • Kha Lay

    Kha Lay

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Kha Lay means child.

    Kha Lay Ba Wa means childhood. The days of the innocent childhood became a theme of the song composed by Sai Kham Leik and sung by Sai Htee Saing.

    Young Sons

    Kha Lay Ah Thinn

    • Some time back, my cousin sister said, “I still have the paper with the song that you wrote for Kha Lay Ah Thinn.”
    • When we were young, there was no Internet or TV.
    • The Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS) would broadcast for specified hours in the morning, afternoon, evening and night.
    • We spend a lot of time outdoors.
    • One hangout was the corner in our uncle’s compound.
    • Someone came up with the idea that we should form a “Kha Lay Ah Thinn”. I was chosen to be the “Okkahta” (President). I am not a composer, but that did not prevent from trying out a “Theme Song”. The music and lyrics were not spectacular, but I would have earned a nod for moving out of my comfort zone.
    • We did not have fund. Our uncles, aunts and elder cousins decided to help with the fund raiser. There was the renowned “Bu Thee Gyaw & Ah Chin”. It may be a sign that I would become an organizer.

    KG

    • I did not cherish going to school at an early age. It was not fun to get up early.
    • It was not easy to use slate.
    • All that changed when a caring Karen Christian Teacher named “Teacher Kywe” magically transformed me into a dutiful student with an inquiring mind.

    Myees (Grand children)

    Young Myees
    • The elder Myee is 11 years old. The younger Myee is 8 years old. They are excellent in studies, sports and social relations.
    • They have lots of books, educational kits and toys. They enjoy visiting zoos, play grounds, gyms, and museums. They like TV, You Tube and taking photos.

  • Heroes

    Food Donors

    • For SPZP-2016, free breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided to registered attendees.
    • It was partly due to the cetana of the food donors.
    Buffet Ticket

    Stage and Equipment

    There were two stages nicknamed as

    • Lugyi Sin (for formal performances)
    • Khalay Sin (for informal performances).

    They were made possible by the sponsors and donors.

    Heroes for SPZP-2016

    • Event Committee
    • Entertainment Committee
    • Food Committee
    • Providers for Transportation
    • Providers of the Sound Systems
    • Providers of the Lightning System

    Special thanks

    Thanks go to Saya Dr. Aye Myint (former Rector of YTU) and Saya Dr. Myint Thein (current Rector of YTU) for the activities held at our beloved alma mater.

  • Living Proof

    Several sayas wondered what happened to the Swel Daw Bins, which provided Swel Daw Yeik to the engineering students. How did they perish?

    Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) was sad to see the demise of Swel Daw Bins, but he is convinced that virtual Swel Daw Yeik lie deep in the heart of the engineering sayas and students and will live on forever.

    • Ko Saw Linn (C71, GBNF) had a kidney transplant, and had been to ICU at least thrice.
    Saya U Moe Aung & U Saw Lin
    • Ko Wynn Htain Oo (M72) has a hip replacement surgery several years ago.
    WHO 1
    WHO 2
    • Ko Myint Pe (M72) had a Stage-3 cancer.
    Myint Pe 1

    I met them on RIT Alumni Facebook Pages before I met them face to face at the SPZP-2012 Main Organizing Committee meetings.

    Their health problems did not prevent them from working feverishly to repay their metta and cetana to their mentors, and to ensure that their former classmates and school mates will have wonderful reunions and flash backs to the good old days.

    Cartoonists & Supporter

    The three alumni are living proof that Swel Daw Yeik (RIT) Spirit is alive and well.