Colonel Min Sein : Commissioned by the British; Dean of Medical College
Dr. Daw Yin May : Three Fellowships; MS of Dufferin Hospital
Major (later Lt. Col) Shwe Zan : Commissioned by the British
Dr. Ko Gyi : Warden of Medical College; Medical Superintendent of EENT hospital
Dr. Daw Myint Myint Khin : “Mummy Gyi”
Dr. Mohan
Dr. Mohan & Daw Hnin Yi
Dr. Mya Tu : Founder Director of BMRI; Compiled “Who’s who in Medicine in Burma” & “Who’s who in Health Industry in Burma”
Dr. Mya Tu
Dr. Ba Than refused the British to evacuate and then headed the RGH during the Occupation. After the war, he had to appear before the British Officers and tell about his “commitment to the country and its citizens”. The Officers dropped the case. He later served as Rector of Institute of Medicine (1).
U Thant 1Stamp honoring U ThantAutograph signed by U Thant
Early Days
Won essay and translation competitions in his youth.
Had excellent communication skills (reading, writing, speaking).
Was requested by his mother to study only for two years at the University of Rangoon and then return and work.
Became a Saya at the Pantanaw National School. For accreditation requirements of the school, he requested help from U Nu (who was a Principal)
Later, U Nu (leader of AFPFL and Prime Minister) asked U Thant to help the party and the government in various capacities.
United Nations
U Thant succeeded Mr. James Barrington (ICS, RUBC Gold) as the Permanent Secretary of the Burmese Delegation to the United Nations. Later, the post would be called “Myanmar Ambassador to the United Nations”.
UNSG
Daj Hammerjold, the second United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) perished in an air crash during a UN mission.
In trying to find a successor to Hammerjold, the two super powers USA and USSR could not agree. USSR refused to accept USA’s candidate. USA refused to accept USSR’s proposal of Troika (a three member committee from each of the Three Blocs). They agreed to have U Thant (who hailed from Burma, a co-founder of the Non-Aligned Movement) as the Interim UNSG.
The General Assembly later ratified him as the third UNSG.
U Thant became the first Asian UNSG.
He retired after serving two terms as UNSG.
Post retirement
After retirement, U Thant started writing his memoirs but was interrupted by failing health.
His younger brother U Thaung was by his side in the final days, and helped bring U Thant’s body home.
Last Journey
The higher authorities were told explicitly or implicitly not to pay respect to U Thant’s body. The Deputy Minister of Education who paid respect to U Thant was dismissed effective immediately.
Most people expected a decent ceremony (if not a State Funeral befitting the Head of the World Organization), but they learned that U Thant’s body was to be placed at the Kyandaw Cemetery.
This led students to take U Thant’s body to the Main Campus and and make it a temporary (may be final) resting place for U Thant.
There were three dissenting votes by the student representatives for the higher authorities’ proposal to have U Thant buried in the Mausoleum (in Cantonment Park), and they lost by 8-3 margin.
The dark moments resulted in students being jailed or debarred, and some having to wait more months for their graduation ceremony. A few never had a chance to graduate. One participant had already distributed invitation for the wedding, but ended with the loss of his freedom for a few years and his love.
Book
Htein Win Sar Pay published a book about the “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin”.
Contains rare photos (most of them recovered from an archive overseas). Many photos (that were in Burma) were destroyed “out of fear” for harassment / punishment.
Met Ko Htein Win at the 5th ILF (Irrawaddy Literary Festival) in Mandalay in November, 2019. He was promoting another book 8-8-88.
U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) wrote :
The sad thing I discovered at my last visit to Myanmar in Nov/Dec 2018 was that the tomb of U Thant has been closed and in disrepair. The entrance was padlocked, the compound was unkempt.
Centennial Birthday
At the Centennial Birthday Celebration for U Thant held in the San Francisco Bay Area several years back, I was a Speaker.
Ko Tin Maung Thant
Ko Tin Maung Thant (“Ah Pho Gyi”, U Thant’s son) was my sister’s classmate at the Private Primary Boundary Road School (PPBRS).
He left the school to join his father (then Permanent Secretary of the Burmese Delegation to the United Nations).
Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly during his visit to Burma in 1962.
His funeral service was grander than that of Commodore Than Pe (Minister of Health and Education), the first member of the 17-man Revolutionary Council to pass away.
The list is partly based on a special broadcast by BBC, which covered the early Burmese female scholars that studied for their Masters and Doctorates (mostly in the UK and the US). Additional details are provided by friends and relatives (including Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint, Dr. Yan Naing Lwin, Dr. Kyaw Tint, Dr. Richard Yu Khin and Uncle U Thein Han).
Masters
Daw Mya Sein (History)
Daw Ma Ma Khin (Nutrition)
Daw Khin Khin Gyi (Education)
Arts
Dr. Thinn Kyi (Geography) — aunt of Ko Theikdi
Dr. Thaung Blackmore (History) — aunt of Dr. Richard Yu Khin
Dr. Yi Yi (History)
Dr. Khin Hla Han (History) — daughter of Saya U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
Education
Dr. Khin Mya (Education)
Dr. Saw Yi (Education)
Dr. K Mya Yi (Education)
Social Science
Dr. Khin Nyo Nyo (Eco/Commerce)
Dr. Khin Ohn Thant (Eco/Commerce)
Dr. Yi Yi Chit Maung (Commerce) — sister of Saya U Tin Htut
Dr. Kyi May Kaung (Political Economics) — daughter of Sithu U Kaung
Dr. Khin San Yi (Eco/Commerce)
Political Science, Literature, Library Science and Journalism
Dr. Emma Ba Yoke Nyunt Han (Political Science)
Dr. Khin Mya Kyu (Literature)
Dr. Khin Lay Myint (Literature, French) — daughter of Journal Gyaw Ma Ma Lay
Dr. Khin Thet Htar (Library Science) — compiled magnum opus of Health Professionals in Burma (with her spouse Saya Dr. Mya Tu)
Dr. Marjarie Tin Nyo (Journalism) — daughter of Nation U Law Yone
Science
Dr. Linsday (Zoology)
Dr. Lynsdale
Dr. Yi Yi (Botany)
Dr. Yi Yi
Dr. Mya Mya Nu (Zoology, Ornithology)
Dr. Yin Yin Nwe (Geology, Earth Science)
Dr. Hla Hla Sein (Mathematics)
Dr. Mya Mya Than (Botany)
Dr. Khin Mya Mya (Physics)
Dr. Khin Sein (Botany)
Medicine
Dr. Khin Khin Kyi (1) (Pharmacology)
Dr. Khin Khin Kyi (2) (Microbiology)
Dr. Khin Ma Gyi (Pharmacology)
Dr. San Yi (Physiology)
Dr. Marlar Maung (Microbiology)
Some countries offer C.Sc. (Candidate of Science).
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint added :
Although not doctorates, first in their fields:
Dr. Daw Saw Hsa, FRCS, surgery Dr. Daw Yin May, FRCS, FRCOG, FRCP (only Burmese Doctor to be conferred fellowships from three different colleges).
Fields of study of medicine:
Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Kyi (pharmacology) Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Kyi 2 (microbiology) Dr. Khin Ma Gyi (pharmacology)
Dr. Daw San Yi (physiology)
Dr. Daw Marlar Maung (microbiology) younger sister of Alumnus Khin Maung Maung (Burma Navy) (SPHS 1960)
Prof. Daw Phae (Mrs. Yu Khin) microbiology
Prof. Daw Myint Myint Khin, BA English, FRCP Edin: Professor of Medicine writer and poet, Medical educationalist
Prof. Daw Hla Kyi, FRCOG, MMSA. She was the only OB-GYN with Master of Midwifery of the Society of Apothecaries.
Dr. Yan Naing Lwin wrote :
Daw Hla Hla Sein — who taught Mathematics at RIT and is a sister of Daw Myint Myint Sein (M70) — received M.A in math from University of Indiana, Bloomington, Ind . and Ph.D. in mathematics from University of Illinois , U-C. She passed away about 2 years ago in Pasadena, Ca.
Mimi Aung – received her BS & MS degrees in EE from University of Illinois, U-C. She has been the program manager for NASA Mars helicopter project at JPL – Pasadena.
Doris Chan – received her BS , MS & Ph.D. degrees in EE from University of Illinois, U-C. Currently at BAE systems.
Angel Chan – received her BS in Chemistry & Biology from Western Illinois University Ph.D. in Material Science & MD degrees from University of Illinois, U-C Currently at John Hopkins University
Dr. Kyaw Tint wrote :
Daw May Su, received Master of Science in Nuclear Physics. Based on my conversation with her, I noticed her University was in London, but could not recall the name. She passed away in Northern California several years ago.
There is also another lady named Dr. Khin Mya Mya, PhD in Physics, I think from Australia in 1970s.
Dr. Daw Khin Sein of Botany was my English teacher of proficiency course at IFL. Her high school was in Darjeeling and the PhD was most likely from Britain.
U Thein Han wrote :
Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, MBBS, MRCOG, Mandalay Medical College (spouse of Professor Dr. Pe Thein).
“K” is the pen name of BBS U Khin Zaw (Founder and Director of Burma Broadcasting Service / Myanmar Ah Than). He was assisted by his cousin U Pe Thaw. His mentees include “Aba” U Than Myint.
U Khin Zaw & U Than Myint
He served as Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Central Library. Saya Zaw Gyi (U Thein Han, Laureate Poet) succeeded him as Chief Librarian.
Librarian & Author
He wrote about Burmese Music. He listened to Burmese Classical Songs and wrote international notation for them.
Writing notes for Burmese songs
He explained to visiting musicians (Duke Ellington, Count Bassie …) about Burmese Musical Instruments.
He translated poems by Saya Minthuwun and Saya Zaw Gyi.
“K”, Zawgyi & Minthuwun
Several years back, U Wint Khin Zaw mailed me a book authored by his father. The book’s title unfortunately had to be changed from Burma to Myanmar (in my time) per order of the Censorship Board for Publications. Due to absence of Grandfather’s Clause, books with Burma in the title could not be reprinted without changing it to Myanmar. (e.g books by Maurice Collis and Daw Khin Myo Chit).
U Wun (Minthuwun), U Khin Zaw (“K”) and U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
Three Authors
U Khin Zaw
U Khin Zaw
Chief Librarian of Rangoon University
He founded BBS (Burma Broadcasting Service, Myanmar Ah Than) and served as its Director.
Wrote “Burma in My Life-time”.
Compiled notes for Burmese Classical songs.
Collaborated with Minthuwun for “Burmese Nursery Rhymes”.
U Thein Han
U Thein Han
He studied Burmese and Library Science. For many years, he served as Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Library and Rangoon University Central Library (RUCL).
National Literary Award winner
Sar Pay Beik Mun Award winner
U Wun
U WunU Wun & Htin KyawBook about Minthuwun by his son U Htin Kyaw
U Wun headed the Translation Department at Rangoon University.
He served as Professor of Burmese at RU, and as Visiting Professor at Osaka University.
He is a Lexicographer. He compiled the Myanmar Abhidan. He worked with Professor Harada (Chit Man Nwe) and team on the Japanese-Burmese Dictionary.
Khit San Sar Pay
Zawgyi and Minthuwun are Laureate Poets. They co-founded Khit San Sar Pay with Theikpan Maung Wa (ICS U Sein Tin). The three were the early students of Saya U Pe Maung Tin (Pali and Burmese Scholar, first native Principal of Rangoon College).
Libraries
In the early days, some Faculties of RU had libraries.
Under the then new Education System, most Universities and Institutes had their libraries.
The main library was known as RUCL (RU Central Library).
Saya Zawgyi has a bust honoring him as the Librarian of RU Library and RUCL.
Daw Myint Myint Khin and U Thaw Kaung were Assistant Librarians for the Faculty of Social Science.
Daw Myint Myint became RIT Librarian.
U Thaw Kaung became RUCL Librarian.
Broadcasting
U Khin Zaw was assisted by his cousin U Pe Thaw and his wife.
U Than Myint was his mentee.
U Kyaw Nyein, U Hla Bu & Daw Olive, Alison Tun Ngwe, Daw Than Hnit and others produced high quality programs.
Several BBS members were offered assignments and permanent positions at BBC and VOA.
“K”
U Khin Zaw
“K” wrote a semi-autobiography in “Burma In My Time”. The title had to be changed “Myanmar In My Time” for the reprint. Ko Wint Khin Zaw mailed me a copy of his father’s book.
He transcribed Burmese Classical songs.
U Khin Zaw transcribing Burmese song
“K” provided the music and some translations for “Maung Khway Boh” nursery songs. The work is based on kabyars by Minthuwun.
For Maung Khway
He hosted visiting musicians.
U Khin Zaw and Duke EllingtonU Khin Zaw explaining about Saing WaingU Khin Zaw and Count Basie
Minthuwun’s works
Dalaban (U Htin Kyaw) wrote several articles about his father Minthuwun (e.g Burmese terms for RU, Departments and Disciplines).
Book about Minthuwun by his son U Htin Kyaw
Minthuwun compiled the Burmese Dictionary.
He collaborated with Chit Mann Nwe & team at Osaka University on the Japanese-Burmese Dictionary.
Minthuwun compiled a list of Outstanding Burmans (in their fields).
Aspiring poets studied “Su Tu Pyu” and other books by Minthuwun.
He collaborated with U Khin Zaw on Burmese Nursery Songs.
For Maung KhwaySample Song
Zawgyi’s Kabyars
Zawgyi’s kabyars are recited around the world not only by renowned speakers but also children (e.g contest for reciting kabyars).
There is a PBS documentary about Saya’s famous kabyar (Bedar Lann) with the translation by Dr. Lyn Swe Aye.
Still So Young (Translation) “Nge Thay Loh” — Short story by Thu Kha (Author, Director, Actor) I received fifty kyats for the translation. U Thu Kha was given fifty kyats.
Men on the Moon (Poem) Honoring the Apollo 11 Mission in July 1969 Mr. Hall (USIA) forwarded my poem to NASA.
Phaungdaw-uFestival (Poem) Thadinkyut Festival at Inlay Lake, Shan State Inlay is known for the floating islands and leg rowers. Inlay Khaung Daing Camp hosted Luyechuns.
The Great Gandhiji (Poem) Centennial of the Apostle of Non-violence Born Mohandas Gandhi, he was also called “Mahatma”
To The Fallen Warrior (Poem) Honoring the writers who fought for Burma’s Independence
Calendars (Concept) There are various Calendars. The Burmese Calendar is luni-solar, socio-religious calendar.
Sea Burial for Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo (Event) Part-time Professor of Electrical Engineering, San Jose State University passed away alone at his home. Per request from the Professor and Head of EE Department, the Burmese Community in the San Francisco Bay Area helped with the Final Journey. I had the honor to push the incinerator and also to join Dr. Swe Aye and Dr. Khin Nyo Thet to scatter the ashes in the waters off Santa Cruz.
Still So Young (Translation)
Still So Young
Short story : “Nge Thay Loh” by Thu Kha
Translation : “Still So Young” by Maung Hlaing Phyo (Hla Min)
Publication : Modern Burmese Writings, Working People’s Daily
Men On The Moon (Poem)
Author : Hla Min
Honoring the Apollo 11 Mission in July 1969
Astronauts : Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot)
Landing : Tranquility Bay (on the Moon)
Publication : Guardian Daily Newspaper
Men on the Moon
Phaungdaw-uFestival (Poem)
Author : Hla Min
Thadinkyut Festival at Inlay Lake, Shan State
Publication : Thadinkyut Supplement Working Peoples’ Daily
Phaungdaw-u Poem about Phaungdaw-u Festival
The Great Gandhiji (Poem)
Author : Hla Min
Centennial of the Apostle of Non-violence
Publication : Working Peoples’ Daily October 1, 1969
Gandhi
To The Fallen Warrior (Poem)
Auhor : Hla Min
In honor of the Sarsodaes / Writers who fought for Burma’s Independence
Publication : Forward Magazine
To the Fallen Warrior
Calendars (Concept)
Article by Hla Min
Publication : BAPS Newsletter
Article on Calendars
Sea Burial for Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo (Event)
Author : Hla Min
Publications :
BAPS Newsletter and RIT Alumni International Newsletter
HlaMin 