HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Times have changed

    Early days

    • In the early days, most students know Burmese and English well.
      Many went on to become bi-lingual writers and outstanding translators.
    • Rangoon University had students from overseas (India, Nepal, Japan, Russia).
    • Some (e.g. one Russian, one Japanese) majored in Burmese.

    BRS

    • Several British scholars and/or teachers helped set up the Burma Research Society (BRS) and published the BRS Journal.
    • The journal contains transliteration of old Burmese/Myanmar inscriptions (kyauk sar). For example, use three English letters KOL => Ka gyi, Lone gyi tin, Ta chaung gin to transliterate the Burmese word “Ko”.
    • BRS also helped conduct “Research Congress”.
    • Saya U Win (Geography) was the last presenter at the Research Congress. Higher authorities came in and declared the immediate demise of BRS.

    Burmese Typewriter

    • The advent of Burmese typewriter (around Burma’s Independence) allowed reasonable typing of Burmese characters and words.
    • Olympia provided two models : Portable and Standard (which had more keys such as “Tha gyi” and “Pat sint” characters. Some tricks had to be employed to type Pali and less common Burmese words.

    Burmese Language Studies

    • There were exchange programs between the RU Burmese Department and some foreign Universities (e.g. in Osaka, Japan; School of Oriental and Asian Studies, UK; Northern Illinois University, US).
    • U Hla Nyunt (father of Mary Nicely) taught Burmese at the precursor of Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Northern California.
    • Professor Harada (“Chit Mann Nwe”, born in Mandalay) of Osaka University won the National Literary Prize for translating the novel “Thway” into Japanese. He invited Sayagyi U Wun (Minthuwun) to help compile the Japanese-Burmese Dictionary and to do research with Burmese Language Professors at Osaka University.
    • Sayagyi Dr. Hla Pe (author of “Burmese Proverbs”) a close friend of Sayagyi U Wun (Min Thu Wun) and Sayagyi U Thein Han (Zaw Gyi). He and his colleagues (notably John O’kell) advocated the need for Burmese word processing on Apple Mac, and also [co]published “Learning Burmese/Myanmar” and others. Software was developed to input Burmese characters into a Mac using transliteration.
    • A few years back, the National Language Center at the University of Maryland (College Park) had a project to develop listening and reading comprehension courses for Burmese and have it available on its network.
    • Daw Khin Htwe retired from The Library of Congress. She was in charge of Burmese manuscripts and books. During her days, the query system used a phonetic system.
    • Some monasteries and/or organizations in US have offered Burmese classes and “Sagar Waings”. But, there are some who do not want to invest their time to learn Burmese without a hefty ROI (Return on Investment).
    • Saya U Kyaw Hlaing taught Burmese at NIU (Northern Illinois University), which has an Asian Collection and Burmese Sub-collection. He later taught Burmese for a Summer course at the University of Hawaii.
    • Dr. Than Tun was a Research Scholar at NIU.
    • Saya U Saw Tun is current Head of the Burmese Department at NIU.
    • Daw May Kyi Win (GBNF) served as Librarian of the Burmese Sub-collection at NIU.
    • Cornell University, New York offers Burmese language and literature courses. The Burmese sayama also works for the French Department.

    Development

    • To please the then Number One, the Burmese spelling was revised twice by the Myanmar Sar Ah Phwe.
    • Despite the fact that the ancient pagoda was called “Botathaung” and not “Bo Tit Htaung”, the Burmese were forced to use “Tit” everywhere instead of “Ta”. Violators are fined ten pyas per occurrence.

    Word Processing

    • The initial Burmese Word Processing was done at UCC.
    • Without standardization, several Burmese Fonts and Keyboards were developed by the industry.
    • Zawgyi Font was used in most web sites.
      Met one of the authors in Mandalay, who explained the background of its development.
    • Unicode was proposed as a standard for information processing, but it took a long time for web sites and smart phones to comply.
      There are now Unicode sets for Myanmar and some languages used by the indigenous people.
    • There are some limitations in the Unicode-compliant systems. e.g. Saya U Moe Aung found it difficult if not impossible to type “Theikkha” and similar Myanmar words.
    • A compromise solution is offered by “ZawDecode”.
      One can read Unicode well, and 80 – 90% of Zawgyi.
    • Some use two devices (e.g. two phones, a phone and a lap top) with Zawgyi on one device and Unicode-compliant font (e.g. Pyidaungsu) on the other device.
    • Some switch the “Preferred Language” setting as needed
      May require a restart
    • Some save read-only documents as PDF.
      PDF readers are free.
      PDF writers are usually not free.
    • Some use converters / translators.

    Decline

    With the use of SMS, the spelling skills have deteriorated.
    “Kha Lay” (child) became “Khay”.

    False Pride

    One Burmese parent back in Yangon proudly claimed that her daughter is attending a prestigious “international school” to study overseas and she does not speak Burmese.

    How times have changed !



  • Centennial Celebrations

    • Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing
      Founder of Peace Movement
      Principal of National College
    U Thant
    • U Thant
      United Nations Secretary General
      Third UNSG
      First Asian UNSG
    • Bogyoke Aung San
      Architect of Burma’s Independence
    • U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
      Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Central Library
      Laureate Poet
      Co-founder, Khit San Sar Pay
    • U Wun (Minthuwun)
      Professor, Burmese Department, RU
      Head of RU Translation Department
      Lexicographer
      Visiting Professor at Osaka University
      Laureate Poet
      Co-founder, Khit San Sar Pay
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha
      First native Professor of Physics
      Rector of Rangoon University (with longest tenure)
    • Ludu Daw Ah Mar (Amar)
      1936 RU Students’ Strike
      Author and Publisher
      Spouse : Ludu U Hla
    • U Khin Maung Latt
      Taught English at RU and at his private school
      Chief Editor of Working People’s Daily
      Spouse : Daw Khin Myo Chit
    • Daw Khin Myo Chit
      Participant in the struggle for Burma’s Independence
      Award winning Author and Translator
      Spouse : U Khin Maung Latt

    Rangoon University

    • The University of Rangoon was established in December 1920.
    • Silver Jubilee (in 1945)
      Most of the schools were closed for three years. The University of Rangoon reopened in 1946.
      There were make-shift classes on Mogul (Shwe Bon Tha) Street during that period.
      Saya U Ba Toke was lucky to receive his Masters during the war (thanks to his supervisor).
    • Golden Jubilee (in 1970)
      I used to have a commemorative issue.
      I also had a small part as a volunteer of the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yay Ah Phwe”.
    • Diamond Jubilee (in 1995)
      Saya Dr. Soe Win has posted a picture.
    • Centennial (in 2020)
      “Yar Pyay Ah Kyo” celebrations kicked off in December, 2019

      EC Members of the “Tekkatho Kalaung Ah Thin (1958 – 1962)” published a Kabyar book and a commemorative issue.

    Miscellaneous

    • Centennial for “Amyotha Aung Bwe” in 2020
      uses Myanmar date
    • Centennial for “Myanmar Yoke Shin” in 2020
    • Centennial for “Engineering Education” in 2023
    • Centennial for “Rangoon University Boat Club” in 2023
      I was a Contributing Editor for the 90th Anniversary
    • At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school.
    • I am posting a preliminary list of 100 posts.

  • Phenomenal Memory

    • Mingun Sayadaw U Vicittasarabhivamsa (GBNF) was listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for his phenomenal memory.
    • When Burma hosted the Sixth Buddhist Council at Kaba Aye Pagoda in 1954 – 56 to commemorate the 2500th year of the “Sasana Calendar”, Sayadaw acted as the “Reciter” of the Tipitaka (Triple Basket : Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma) and the “selected” Commentaries. According to the Kaba Aye Edition, the Tipitaka covers 8000+ pages.
    • To prepare for the Buddhist Council, Sir U Thwin requested Mingun Sayadaw to take the Tipitaka examination.
    • Sayadaw passed the Oral and Written tests for the Three Baskets with Distinction.
    • Oral tests will fail a candidate if he needs five (or six) prompts. Sayadaw did not need a single prompt. The Written tests cover in-depth topics. During the recitation, Sayadaw amazed the examiners by pointing out the variations of the text and highlighted the preferred version.
    • He was the first Sayadaw to be conferred “Bearer of the Tipitaka & Treasurer of the Dhamma”.
    • Sayadaw received requisites. He distributed them to the monks (mostly in the town where he received them).
    • To help ease the monks trying to pass one or more Baskets in the later Tipitaka examinations, Sayadaw set up a monastery in Mingun and accepted monks who had finished their Dhammacariya.

    Types of Memory

    • We have a short term memory and a long term memory.
    • When people age, most retain their long term memory, but they often experience decline of their short term memory.
    • My young cousin approached us and then uttered, “I forgot what I was about to say”.
    • My high school classmate would abruptly stop in the middle of our walk and pondered, “Did I lock the door?”
    • U Tun Aung’s uncle (GBNF) could recall his primary classmates but could not recognize his beloved grand kid.
    • There are books and courses about memory.
    • According to some authors, we could use “chunking”, “association”, “reinforced (non-blind) repetition”, … to move important and worthwhile items in the short term memory into long term memory.
    • Memory is not static. It is “elastic”. There is restructuring (reorganizing, indexing, …) every time we use it.
    • There are techniques (“mnemonics”, “visualization”, …) to “train” and “improve” our memory.
    • Thanks to the sayas and colleagues who complimented for having a good memory.
    • I was a mini-dictionary, a micro-encyclopedia, and a reliable proof-reader & spelling checker.
    • May be it was partly because I was born before the pervasive use of Internet and on-line tools, and there was not too much diversion.
    • There are a few who want to down play the importance of memory.
    • They say, “I can Google”.

  • Pagodas in USA

    First Pagoda

    The first pagoda in the US was built on the Allegheny Mountains in New York by Dat Paung Zon Sayadaw U Thilawunta (also known fondly as “Mon Sayadaw”) in the 50’s.

    TKAM

    Following the Dhamma Duta Mission by Taung Pu Lu Sayadaw in the late 70’s, two pagodas were built at TKAM (Taung Pu Lu Kaba Aye Monastery) in Boulder Creek, Northern California. Pa yan sayas from Burma/Myanmar were brought in for the project.

    Subsequent Pagodas

    Pagodas were also built in

    • Sae Taw Win II Dhamma Center, Sebastapol, Northern California
    • Azusa Monastery in Los Angeles, Southern California
    • New Jersey
    • Sitagu Monastery in (a) Texas (b) Florida (c) Minneapolis
    • Chaitya Monastery in Nevada, Las Vegas

    Note :

    • Due to restrictions such as zoning laws, scenic routes, and historical buildings, it is not easy to build pagodas in the US.

  • So Ka Yay Tee

    “So Ka Yay Tee” is synonymous with “Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin”.

    Rangoon University has a “Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin”.

    Saya Dr. Maung Maung Kha and Saya U Ba Kyi are senior members. Saya Kha would play the violin and accompany U Ba Kyi singing “Only Two” (Hna Yauk Hte Nay Chin De).

    Under the then New Education System, Institutes (such as IM, RIT, Eco, Edu) were established. Most of them have “Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin”.

    RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin held musical evening extravaganza (“Geeta See Sar”).

    RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin had a powerful presence at the 1970 RU Golden Jubilee Celebrations. It featured Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint, Htee Yein, …

    Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War), Saya U Saw Tun (Saw Lu), Saya U Kyaw Sein (M65), Saya U Taing Oke (ChE69), and Saya U Khin Maung Tint (C69) are some of the driving forces for the outstanding performances by the Zat Sayas, Minthas, Minthamees, Lushwindaws, and the talented cast members.

    The Pon Chan Chan also helped find soul mates.

    Don Min U Yu Swan and Sayama Emma Tin Tin Myint

    U Tin Tun and Daw Mar Mar Yee

    Saya U Khin Maung Tint and Sayama Daw Khin Sandar Tun

  • Swel Daw Yeik

    According to Saya U Moe Aung (EE 63, Tekkatho Moe War), the term “Swel Daw Yeik” was first accepted as a synonym for RIT in 1970 (Golden Jubilee of the establishment of Rangoon University).

    Saya is an outstanding writer/poet, editor/publisher, “Ah Nu Pyinnyar Shin”, …

    “Swel Daw Yeik Bulletin” was published by Saya U Moe Aung and his team of editors.

    “Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint” is a premier feature of the RIT-related gatherings (e.g. Singapore Thingyan, World wide SPZPs).

    “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” was published for SPZP-2000, SPZP-2007, and SPZP-2010 held in Singapore.

    “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” was published for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2014 and SPZP-2016.

    “Swel Daw Yeik Foundation” evolved from brain storming sessions for helping past, present, and future Burmese/Myanmar engineers. The initial scope is to provide (some) health care to all sayas and sayamas (60+ years, 7+ years of service) using the interest money (only) of the Health Care Fund.

    For several years, Ma Khine Khine Win and friends) have provided funds to supplement (e.g. K50,000 per saya/sayama) the dana offering by SDYF.

    Later, Ko Aung Khine and friends (Swel Daw Thway Ah Phwe) supplemented K100000 for eligible saya/sayama.

  • Authors and Poets

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rit-authors.jpg

    RIT has produced Distinguished Authors and Laureate Poets.

    Tekkatho Moe War (Saya U Moe Aung)

    • Editor of RUESU (Rangoon University Engineering Students Union) Magazine
    • Chief Editor of “Hlyat Sit Sar Saung” (published the EE Association)
    • Chief Editor of RIT Annual Magazines (for a decade or so)
    • Chief Editor of commemorative “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” (for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007, and SPZP-2010)
    • Chief Editor of commemorative “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” (for Shwe YaDu and SPZP-2016)
    • “Swel Daw Yeik Foundation News/Updates”
    • Articles and Poems in newspapers, journals, magazines
    • Author and/or Co-author of Books (Poems, Articles)

    Ma Sandar (Daw Cho Cho Tin)

    • Won several National Literary Awards.
    • Donated several of her books to SPZP-2012, the Golden Jubilee, and selected “G Hall Thus”.
    • Her spouse, U San Maung served as an editor of the GJ issue for the combined 1st BE intake of ’64 and ’65.

    U Myint Pe (Cartoon, Seik Kyi)

    • Co-founder of “RIT Carto on Box” with Saya U Khin Maung Phone Ko (“Phone Ko”) and Saya U Aung Myint (“Kyant Ba Hone”).
    • He and fellow “Cartoon Box” alums (e,g, Aw Pi Kye) compiled a commemorative book for SPZP-2012 and a commemorative pamphlet for GJ.

    U Thiha Latt

    • Cartoon Box alum / maintainer
    • Coordinated the publishing of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine”, “Cartoon Selections”, and “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar”

    Other Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins

    • Saya U Thet Lwin : Maung Ngwe Hlinne
    • Saya U Saw Tun : Saw Lu
    • Saya U Taing Oke : Yin Maung
    • Saya U Aung Myaing : Okpo Maung Yin Maung
    • Saya U Nyunt Htay : Maung Nyunt Htay (Ah Htet Minhla)
    • U Win Myint : Kabyaung
    • U Sein Win : Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)
    • U Win Myint Maung (N. Jar Thaing, GBNF)
    • U Toe Aung : Ko Toe (Hmit Chay)
    • U Tin Htut : Mon Yu
    • U Than Po
    • Ko Ko : Hset Hmu
    • Daw Than Yi : Maubin Ma Shwe Than

  • Belles

    At Shwe Dagon

    Daw Tin Aye (C73) posted a picture taken at the Tazungdaing Lightning Festival at Shwe Dagon Pagoda on November 26, 1966.

    L to R :

    • Ma Moe Moe Yi (Margaret)
    • Khin Myo Win (Nellie, GBNF)
    • Ma Tin Aye
    • Ma Hla Hla Aye
    • Ma Tin Tin Myint (Emma)
    • Ma Aye Aye Than (Pauk Pauk)

    At Reunion and PZPs

    Belles 2
    Maubin Ma Shwe Than, Khin Mya Swe, Rosie Gyi, Rosie Tin Maung, Ma Sandar

  • SDYF Goals

    U Moe Aung
    • Thanks to Saya U Moe Aung (Patron) — for championing SDYF and also for disseminating the SDYF news — and to everyone who helped transform the SDYF vision into reality in a remarkably short time.
    • As Saya U Moe Aung often mentioned, there are short term and long term goals of SDYF.
    • Kudos to the countless volunteers organizers and supporters (including family members and friends).
    • Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu for the donors / donations
      single and repeated, large and small, in cash and kind.
    • Special mention to the Executive Committee members for not adding a single kyat as overhead for SDYF-related activities.
      Their dedication and desire to repay the metta and cetana of their mentors is transcendental.
    • Some sayas need physical, financial, and spiritual assistance.
    • Some sayas often give back the Garawa money and Financial Aid for Health Care
      to SDYF or donate to other (equally) worthy causes.
      They express their joy mingling with their former colleagues and mentees.
    • “Saya Ge Ha” is an excellent step forward to cater to the social needs of our aging and needy sayas.
    • “SDYF Bulletin” will reiterate and clarify the objectives, to record the SDYF activities, to solicit ideas for improving ways and means to help past, present, and future engineers.

  • Architecture

    By U Tin Htoon (A60)

    Congratulations to the members of the Organizing Committee of the “First RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP” for systematically and expeditiously planning, arranging and executing the forthcoming grand reunion of the millennium in San Francisco. It is a very good idea to build up the momentum while awaiting for October 28, 2000 by having write ups about the faculty members and the alumni as well as the up-dates for this occasion. If not for the dedication and concerted efforts of the Editor Hla Min and the webmaster Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ), we will not have the opportunity to read them even though people may be willing to contribute articles. The articles and up-dates inspired me and thus my decision to contribute about our class of 1960.

    Architecture was introduced for the very first time in 1954 at BOC, University of Rangoon. U Myo Myint Sein belongs to this first batch. One of his classmates, Ko Myint Thein retired as Chief Architect of Public Works Department in Yangon. We were the “third batch” and were fortunate to study at the brand new “Faculty of Engineering” campus, commonly known as “Leik-khone” at Pyay [Prome] Road.

    There were nine of us in the first year, (1956). One of them was Shajahan, an Indian lady who became the first female to join the male dominated Engineering campus. However, she was unfortunate to be the victim of the “2F” system of our days. She left for India and later graduated as an Architect from there.

    In our second year, three guys from the second batch joined us. One from the first batch joined us in the final year. Two of the old-timers became the victims of the “2F” system.

    One very unique and interesting aspect of being an architecture student is doing design work. We were trained to solve design problems within a stipulated time and because of that we use to spend most of our time in our studio class.
    Eventually, the studio became our second home. We practically eat and sleep there and we spent our break times in the studio as well.

    Only when attending related Engineering subjects, we join together with other Engineering students. Otherwise, we normally confined ourselves within the Department of Architecture block and among our own group. Thus, the reason that most of the Engineering students came to know us because we were like “caged animals” in the zoo; being watched by people from outside and in our case by our friends as they walked along the corridors.

    Although the majority of us were day students, we were better off than those staying in the hostels as we didn’t have to pay extra to live in the studios. It was fun spending our time in the studios and as we were able to come up with fantastic ideas and designs and draw them as and whenever desired and complete the project within the stipulated time. For us, we didn’t had “days” and “nights”. The nights were more peaceful and productive for us. Only the studios in the architecture block were lit up at night. Sometimes, we even walk over to Hledan, Kamayut to have our break and supper.


    When architecture was introduced at BOC in 1954, there were one British and two Indian architects as full time staff assisted by their Myanmar counterparts. They were still teaching us during our first year. Roger Johnson, also a British architect became head of Department when we got to the second year. He was assisted by Nagler, an American architect and Saya U Kyaw Min (GBNF) and Saya U Win Htain in the later years. Sayagyi U Tha Tun (GBNF), Saya U Maung Maung, Saya U Aung Myint, Saya U Khin Mg Thint and Saya U San Tun Aung were part time staff. All the architectural subjects and the studio design work were taught by them except the freehand drawing class which was taught by an artist. We were fortunate that there were no changes in the staff and they all taught us till we graduated in 1960.

    Apart from the architectural staff, our years at the University will not be complete without mentioning some of our Engineering Faculty staff who taught us some of the related Engineering subjects.

    The first person I wish to mention is Sayagyi Num Kok. He taught us structure and we sometimes didn’t attend his class due to our studio design assignments. Since the class was meant only for architectural students, and since he knew where to find us, he used to come straight to our studio and requested us to come and attend his class. He was very good natured, humble, and led a simple life carrying a shan bag instead of a leather brief case. We always saw him with a smiling face and was very soft spoken.

    Another Saya I remembered well was Saya U Kyit In (later known as U Min Wun). He taught us survey and he was just back from the United States at that time. Whenever I had problem with the survey readings, he came over and nudged me out and checked the readings himself. He used to wear khaki long pants with a single buckle at the rear, which was the fashion of those days.

    Then I remember my Strength of Materials saya, Saya U Ba Than, who happens to be my brother. He was very strict and didn’t give any special favors even to his own brother. He was famous in setting questions for the exam as he never repeated the same ones that were given and worked out in the class.

    The list won’t be complete without mentioning Saya U Kyaw Tun (GBNF) who taught us Electro Technology. Since his classes were immediately after the lunch break, we had a hard time to overcome sleepiness and be attentive to his lectures.

    Last, but not least, I wish to mention about Saya Solomon and Saya Wein Choung. Their metal and wood work classes were always enjoyable and plenty of fun. We were in a totally different environment, not like those of lecture theaters or studio rooms. It was in these classes that we learnt the practical aspect of transforming design drawings into finished products.

    My wonderful six years at the Rangoon University will not be complete without mentioning about my rowing activities. Since I came from a rowing family starting from my uncle Chan Cheng Hock who was Captain (1940-41) and the present oldest surviving Captain, I also became Captain (1959-60) after my two brothers U Tin U (ex-faculty member of BOC) and Dr. Myo Tint. I earned my “Gold” in 1956 by competing in the Inter-varsity regatta at Calcutta. I had the opportunity to represent RUBC seven times in regattas abroad and several times in Yangon.

    Although we started with nine students in the first year in 1956, ten of us graduated in 1960 due to the circumstances explained earlier. Philip Koon Ying Chu, who is now retired after being a very successful restaurant businessman in the Bay area, stood first. It was not the first time for him to have this academic achievement as he got first in the matriculation (in the whole of Burma) and was able to maintain the same position for the Intermediate of Science as well. Out of these ten graduates, six are now residing in the States. Among these six, Tan Teong Kiat (aka) Wai Lwin is the most successful professionally. He is doing consultancy work specializing in conceptual design. S. Hsiang Wu, Victor Pe Win and Jack Min continue to practice architecture in the private sector. Aung Kyee Myint became the Chief Architect of Public Works Department in Yangon and is now serving as an Advisor after his retirement. Kin Maung Yin excels in design and eventually became a well known artist in Myanmar. Later, he spent most of his time giving tuition to children. H. Hla Myint was unfortunate not to live long and passed away a few years ago.

    As for me, I had to be contented with being a Managing Partner of Architects Incorporated after graduating and running my own business. It was challenging, exciting and rewarding compared to being in the Government service. However, in 1962, we had to close down our business. I joined the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to open a new architectural division with my two partners Aung Kyee Myint and Bo Gyi in 1964. IDC, together with Housing Board and other Civil Engineering organizations were amalgamated to form Public Works Corporation. While working with Public Works, I had the opportunity to design Thiripyitsayar Hotel in Pagan (Bagan). Now, it is the only hotel complex left within the archaeological zone of Pagan and I am proud to be associated with it. I left Myanmar in 1980 and worked as Sr. Architect with one of the well known architectural firms in Singapore. I had a wonderful and memorable time for over ten years designing multi-story hotels, aerospace exhibition pavilions, commercial complexes, restoration projects and luxurious bungalows. In the beginning I had to work very hard to get acquainted with building codes, bye-laws and local regulations as we never had such standards and regulations to abide by at home. It was wonderful to discharge the duties of an architect properly as “Prime Consultant”. It was like a “Commander-in-Chief”, coordinating with other Engineering disciplines and the related fields like interior decorators and landscape architects, chairing site meetings etc.

    Now that I have settled down in Los Angeles and working for Design Division of L.A. County Dept. of Public works, I am devoting most of my time more in assisting those who are deeply involved in the propagation and perpetuation of Buddha Sasana.

    In conclusion, I wish to pay my tribute to all my Sayas and wish to thank them for educating and equipping us with proper tools in order to be able to face any type of situation in this world. And to my classmates, I salute all of you for your lifetime achievements and hope that this article will throw some light about our wonderful days at “Leik-khone”.

    Editor’s Note :

    • U Kin Maung Yin passed away.
    • U Tin Htoon and U Aung Kyee Myint are retired.
    • U Bo Gyi is a Sayadaw.