In November 1964, G-Hall was assigned to female engineering students.
There has been two Reunions of G-Hall Thu.
Poems and articles were compiled and published for the Second G-Hall Thu Reunion.
First GatheringPosterGathering
Photos
by Daw Tin Aye (C73)
G Hall Thu 1G Hall Thu 2G Hall Thu 3G Hall Thu 4G Hall Thu 5
Photos by Daw Pwint Than (EP71)
Daw Pwint Than (EP71) received a dhamma book as a gift prize from a younger alumni.
She thanks the young energetic “Nyi Ma Nge Myar” for helping organize the memorable get together with the old (former Hall Tutors, classmates) and the new.
Value of a number in positional notation depends upon the Base or Radix.
In the Decimal system (Base Ten), 1001 has a value of a thousand and one.
In the Binary system (Base Two), 1001 has a value of 9.
Folklore
“One Thousand and One Nights” (also known as Arabian Nights) is from the Arabic Folklore.
Scheherazade told 1001 stories to defer her death.
Numerical Palindrome
A palindrome reads the same forward and backward.
101, 1001 and 123454321 are numerical Palindromes.
Ramanujan and the Beauty of numbers
Ramanujan was highly interested in Mathematics and ignored other subjects in College.
Ended up as an employee in a post office. Bold enough to send his handwritten notes to Professor Hardy (Cambridge University), who sponsored him.
Ramanujan later fell gravely ill. Professor Hardy went to see him in a hospital. He supposedly told Ramanujan that he rode a taxi cab with 1729 on its license.
Ramanujan replied, “That is an interesting number. It is the smallest number that can be represented as the sum of two cubes in two ways.”
1729 = 729 + 1000 = 9*9*9 + 10*10*10
1729 = 1 + 1728 = 1*1*1 + 12*12*12
Ramanujan’s works are still being studied and refined by Mathematicians.
8th month of the old Roman calendar. Oct means Eight.
10th month of the Gregorian calendar.
It has 31 days.
October 1
Dr. Aung Gyi
Dr. Aung Gyi’s birthday
U Myo Myint Sein
U Myo Myint Sein’s birthday
October 2
U Ba Than
U Ba Than’s birthday. Says offered soon dana for his birthday on or around October 2 at Yaw Sayadaw’s Kyaung. Sayas, former students and friends were invited to the soon kway. 69ers usually offered Garawa at Sayagyi’s place on or around his birthday.
Mini-gathering put on hold due to pandemic in 2020 & 2021. Zoom meetings were held on sayas’s birthday.
In 2020, Saya received 90th Birthday Present. Photo Album Book was compiled by U Tin Htoon and U Htaik San (Henry Kao). DHL Delivery was paid by Saya U Tin Htut
In 2021, Saya received a Photo Card present by U Tin Htoon
October 5
International Teachers’ Day
Celebrated annually since October 5, 1994
Some countries have local Teachers’ Day
Halloween
October 31 (i.e. the day before “All Saint’s Day” which falls on November 1).
Celebrated with “Trick or Treat” by the children and optional “Halloween Costume Party” by young and old adults.
End of Buddhist Lent
Full Moon Day of Thadinkyut usually falls in October.
Phaung daw-u festival (in Inle Lake) is held on the Full Moon Day of Thadinkyut.
Deepavali / Diwali
Celebrated by the Hindus around October.
Known as the “Festival of Lights”.
October Revolution
Due to differences in Julian & Gregorian calendars, the Bolshevik Revolution is wrongly referred to as the “October Revolution”.
Festivals
Ocktoberfest is a festival held in October.
The Annual Pumpkin Festival with the bragging rights to the “heaviest” Pumpkin is held along Highway 92 in Half Moon Bay in Northern California. The traffic is really bad in the area for most of October. The 7-mile strip takes an hour or more during the Festival period.
October 2000
The First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (SPZP-2000) was held in October 2000.
I wrote 64 “Countdown to the Reunion” and 36 “Post Reunion” (news & articles) for SPZP-2000 in my Newsletter and the ex-rit.org website.
I wrote a poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE”. It was published in the Commemorative Issue of “RIT Alumni Newsletter”.
Newsletter
October 2021
In October 2021, Covid-19 vaccines were offered. Many had at least one dose. Some had two or three doses (including Booster). However, there were mutations & variations of Covid spreading around the globe.
Phaungdaw-u
Working People’s Daily (WPD) used to publish Supplements.
I wrote “Phaungdaw-u Festival” poem for the Thadinkyut Supplement.
Phaung Daw-u Festival (Poem by Hla Min)
Phaung Daw-u, oh Burma’s grandeur Can truly make our hearts sublime Its mystic charm and rhyme-less splendor Have firmly stood the test of time
It lies deep in the heart of people It gives them courage and inspiration No wonder this festival has no equal It promises joy and veneration
On board the r so scintillating Stood the four images of Lord Buddha For the Noble Truth are we vindicating? What lies deep under the completed tour?
But one statue was left behind Because in writings we do find That should it ever leave the shrine There will be thunder and storm Thus a happy reunion on the morn of the full moon of Thadinkyut
From floating islands the leg rowers came To take part in the race With their muscular frame, with might and main Their oars flashing at a rapid pace
Festivities last all night long Dances to the company of ozi and gong Oh, prayers that fill the cool evening air May loving kindness prevail everywhere
Shortest month. It has 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year.
Burma/Myanmar
February 12
Pyidaungsu Nay (ပြည်ထောင်စုနေ့ Union Day) is a public holiday in the Union of Burma. It commemorates the signing of the Pinlong Sar Choke (ပင်လုံစာချုပ် Panglong Agreement) on February 12, 1947.
Poem
Wrote a poem “Our Unity” with the pen name Maung Hlaing Phyo for publication in the Working People’s Daily. Received K15 for the poem.
February 13
Bogyoke Aung San was born on February 13, 1915.
Zartar name : Htain Lin
Changed name to rhyme with that of Aung Than (his elder brother).
Centennial celebrations for Bogyoke were held in 2015.
February 13 is also as Khalay Myar Nay (Children’s Day).
Tabodwe Festival
The Full Moon of Tabodwe often falls in February. Two celebrations are held.
Htamane Pwe (ထမနဲပွဲ Sticky Rice Festival)
Ovada Partimauk Day (ဩဝါဒပါတိမောက်Exhortation)
USA
February 14
Valentine’s Day (Chit Thu Myar Nay ချစ်သူများနေ့) is not a public holiday
Many people send greeting cards and presents.
Presidents’ Day
In the early days, there were two holidays. One to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Another to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Later a single holiday in February to honor all US Presidents was proposed.
Some states continue to celebrate the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln.
Canada
“Family Day” (holiday) is observed on the 2nd Monday of February in Ontario.
Family Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of February in British Columbia.
Lunar New Year
Some countries (including China and Vietnam) observe the Lunar Year.
Lunar Calendar is based on the Chinese Zodiac consisting of Twelve signs staring with Rat and ending with Pig.
Lunar New Year occurs at the end of January or the beginning of February. The date is not fixed in the Gregorian Calendar.
Our Unity (Poem)
My poem was published in WPD (Working People’s Daily)
Wanted her daughters — Hazel, Olive & May — to have experience like her at the Inya Hall.
Hazel & May spent a year at Inya Hall as room mates. Olive had to stay at the Hall for medical students.
Fund raiser
Danced three roles in the fund raiser for the Tekkatho Dhammayone. Her cousin Saya U Lu Pe Win (Pali and Kyauksar Scholar) directed the play. The rehearsal was assisted by U Nyi Pu (First male actor in a Burmese movie).
Play
Was honored at the Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwe (Paying homage to the elders) held at the Tekkatho Dhammayone.
Her account was published in the Golden Jubilee Sar Saung of Inya Hall.
A1 Film
Myanmar Ah Swe Film evolved into A1 Film.
A1 U Tin Nwe & his family are known as Producers, Directors & Actors.
U Nyi Pu founded Maha Weikzardo Film.
U Tin Pe (Maung Maung Soe) founded Maung Maung Soe Film.
A1 U Tin Maung acted alongside May Shin and other lead female actors before becoming a Director/Actor.
Daw Khin Myint’s son U Tin Yu & son-in-law U Mya Maung are Director & Producer.
Feedback
Thit Yine (alumnus of Yegyaw Methodist) wrote : Dr. Hla Shwe (Boon Chiong) stood First in the Matriculation examination of 1953 from Yegyaw Methodist, and that his class mate Ohn Khin stood Second. Yegyaw Methodist was well known before the Nationalization of schools.
Thit Yine and Ko Ko shared the names of sayas (e.g. U Aung Myint, U Khin Zaw, U Ko Lay) who taught in the late 50s and early 60s.
Po Shwe Kyu wrote : Credit to Saya Hla Min as being the most prolific writer in this group, and his archives and chronicles will be of greatest help to coming generations. Drs. Hla Shwe & Tin Maung returned to Burma around 1962-63. I don’t know Dr Hla Shwe but Dr. Tin Maung also resided at the Chummery during my short stay there. Chummery is a “Saya Lu Pyo Saung”.
Myo Thaik wrote : Sayama Daw Khin Aye passed away last year. His cousin uncle Dr. Myint Thein won a Gold Medal for scoring highest marks in Chemistry in the I.Sc. examination, and later became the first Myanmar to received Ph.D in Nuclear Chemistry in the USA. He is currently staying with his son in Texas. He also wrote about “A Che A Nay Kaung” and “Ma Khan Chin Seik” that led him and his uncle cousin Dr. Win Naing to pursue their dreams to have doctorates.
Myo Thaik wrote : Dr. Hla Shwe is Emeritus Professor, East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvannia, and then moved to California.
First in Burma
I knew that several SPHS students stood First in Burma in the Matric exam. They include
U Ba Khin (Vipassana teacher, first native Auditor General)
George Chapman (SPHS51)
Dr. Nyunt Tin (SPHS52)
Koon Yin Chu (Phillip, SPHS54)
Dr. Soe Win (SPHS58)
Dr. Frankie Ohn (SPHS59
Dr. Khin Maung U (SPHS63)
Bernard Khaw (SPHS65)
I was aware that students from other schools also scored Top in the some years.
St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay
Methodist English High School (MEHS)
St. John’s Convent
Yegyaw Mthodist
Sacred Heart
Thanks to those who provided additional info and/or corrections
GBNF & Tone Kyaw
I have to be very careful in specifying persons as GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten).
There are at least three Tone Kyaw (person believed to have died) including me.
When my name sake CO U Hla Min (Chief Operator at UCC, who appeared healthier than me) passed away in his mid-30s, two Training Departments (from Co-op and Trade) inquired UCC where they could send a “Lwan Thu Pann Kway” (wreath) for me. My former class mate Moe Hein (Ajala with an extremely loud voice) was surprised when he saw me at the Kyandaw Cemetery. He said, “I have taken a day off to come here. I wondered why your brother did not tell that you had passed away.” I became a Tone Kyaw.
U Han Sein (C69, Ah Pho Gyi) was sentenced to 20 years for his alleged involvement in 8-8-88. His classmates, who were organizing the 30th Reunion of Graduation, inadvertently listed him as GBNF. He became a Tone Kyaw. He was released after 16 years (with the Amnesty Proclamation), but sadly, his family had been broken. He recently celebrated his 10 years of regained freedom.
When Dr. Tin Hlaing (Marine Technology) passed away in Singapore, some RIT inadvertently sent condolences to Saya Dr. Tin Hlaing (M63), who became a Tone Kyaw.
Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo Kun Yeik Kho
The song was first recorded as a “Dat Pya” at Myanmar Ah Than (Burma Broadcasting Service). It was first sung by U Mya Thein and group. U Thet Lwin received 100 Kyats for his composition, and he treated his fellow Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins.
In a TV interview, Saya played the song.
The song has been sung in many events including the SPZPs (Saya Pu Zaw Pwe) of RIT Alumni.
The Singapore “Pon Chan Chan Group” led by Don Min U Yu Swan recorded the song.
The song was also sung at the Ceremony on December 1, 2019 to kick off the RU Centennial.
The various versions can be listened from the Facebook Posts and You Tube.
Land marks
Thit Pope Pinn is recognized by the Yangon Heritage Society.
The tree was there even before the founding of the University of Rangoon, and it survived Cyclone Nargis.
A few readers expressed displeasure to see the wired fences and the inexplicable disappearance of landmarks.
The Convocation Hall is another land mark.
Eons ago, the Prime Minister of the Union of Burma served as Chancellor of the University of Rangoon, and also delivered “Commencement Speech” at the graduation.
I posted the program of the 1958 Convocation which listed about 30 prize winners (Gold Medals, Silver Medals and Books).
U Soe Paing, my mentor at RIT and UCC, received two Gold medals (after paying 150 Kyats for each Gold Medal, because the original endowments no longer covered the “rising cost” of Gold for the Medals). He had the highest score for I.Sc. (A) and (B) combined. He had the joint highest Maths score for I.Sc. exams — with two other students.
In 1962, Dr. Myint Tun (Henry Cho Tun) won the Gold Medal for the highest score for I.Sc.(A) and (B) combined. U Myat Thwin (ChE66) beat him by one point for the highest score in Mathematics for I.Sc.(A) and (B) combined.
Autograph
Ma Chit Swe (Hazel Kyaw Zaw’s mother) was a Junior I.A. (Intermediate of Arts) student in 1936. Hazel has posted her mother’s autograph.
Daw Hla Myint, a close friend of Hazel’s mom, wrote a lovely poem. Many were unaware of her talent. She had to leave the University before graduation to get married to U Tu Maung. Saya U Tu Myint (Winston Tu Maung) was our saya at RIT and later taught at Singapore Polytechnic until retirement. Dr. Hla Maung (Ronald Tu Maung, MEHS65) moved to the UK. Her siblings include Dr. Pe Nyun (Pediatric Surgeon, who led the operation of conjoined twins Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San), Dr. Pe Thein (Professor and Retired Minister), Daw Ivy San Pe and Daw Flora San Pe.
Feb 13 : Children’s Day (Bogyoke Aung San’s birthday)
Feb 14 : Valentine’s Day
US Presidents’ Day
Occasionally : Lunar New Year
Occasionally : Full Moon Day of Tabodwe — Htamane Pwe & [Buddha’s] Exhortation Day
March
Mar 2 : Peasant’s Day was moved from Jan 1 in order to celebrate the Coup D’eat
Phone Maw Day
Burma’s Human Rights Day (celebrated by Berkeley)
Mar 27 : Resistance Day was renamed as Armed Forces Day
First Day of Spring : Persian New Year
April
Thingyan : Three or four days of Water Festival
Myanmar New Year
Thingyan Su Paung Ya Han Khan
May
May 1 : May Day in some countries
May 5 : Cinco de Mayo
Mother’s Day in the US
June
Jun 6 : D Day
Jun 6 : Ah Loke Thamar Ah Yay Ah Khinn
Father’s Day in the US
July
Jul 4 : Independence Day in the US
Jul 7 : Students’ protest that was brutally crushed
Jul 8 : Demolition of the Rangoon University Student’s Union
Jul 19 : Arzani Nay
Apollo 11 landed in Tranquility Bay on the Moon in July 1969
My poem “Men on the Moon” was sent to NASA via USIS. A copy was published in the Guardian.
August
8-8-88 : start of a long struggle to restore Democracy in Myanmar
Several birthdays in my extended family
September
Crushing the hopes of Multi-party Democracy
Occasionally : End of Burmese Buddhist Lent
October
Occasionally : End of Burmese Buddhist Lent (Thadinkyut)
“Deepavali” or “Diwali” celebrations are also celebrated around October. It is known as the “Festival of Lights”.
“Halloween” occurs every year on October 31 with “Trick or
Treat” by the children and [optional] “Halloween Costume Party” by young and old adults.
November
Elections in the US (Local races & Resolutions every year, House of Representatives every two years, One third of Senators every two years, President every four years)
Nov 22 : JFK assassinated (Conspiracy Theory survives)
Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the US
December
U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khinn : dark day in the history of Burma
Apollo 8 orbited the Moon in December 1968
Dec 25 : Christmas
Dec 31 : New Year’s Eve
Grapevine says that some holy days are preceded by some “fun events”.
Sayadaw U Silananda resided at TMC when Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay was undergoing construction.
U Silandabhivamsa
Beelin Sayadaw
Resident Sayadaw, TMC
Succeeded Panditarama Sayadaw at Shwe Taung Gone
He is now GBNF
Beelin Sayadaw
Activities
TMC conducted long-term meditation retreats and week-end retreats.
TMC held summer classes : one for children and the other for young adults.
TMC published several books (in English and Vietnamese) for Dhamma Dana distribution.
TMC also offered courses via Zoom.
Several activities were suspended during the pandemic.
Pali
Sayadaw Dhammika-bhivamsa (Tharmanay Kyaw) taught Pali courses using selected Suttas to interested yogis to have an appreciation of Buddha’s teachings without delving into the details of Pali grammar.
The course materials were prepared by Som Tu (Director of TMC, Retired Technology Executive) under the guidance of Thamanay Kyaw Sayadaw.
Reference Books
I volunteered as Translator/Interpreter for Meditation Retreats at TMC.
Myat Kyaw & San Lin
P M-E Dictionary
Beelin Sayadaw U Pannadipa (then Resident Sayadaw at TMC, later Padana Nayaka Sayadaw at Panditarama Shwe Taung Gone in Yangon) gave me the book “A Pali Myanmar-English Dictionary of the Noble Words of the Lord Buddha”.
The book was compiled by U Myat Kyaw (Myanmar Sar Ah Phwe) and translated into English by U San Lwin. U San Lwin is the older brother of Dr. Lyn Swe Aye, IM(2).
Buddhist Dictionary
Buddhist Dictionary
TMC gave me “Buddhist Dictionary” by Venerable Nyantiloka.
It is subtitled “Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines”.
The first edition was published in 1946. The third revised and enlarged edition was edited by [Venerable] Nyanaponika in 1970.
Intro to Pali
U Hla Myint (former Sayadaw who had passed several monastic exams) gave me a PDF version of his manuscript “An Introduction to Pali” for study and review.
The book is available as Dhamma Dana distribution from TMC.
He studied Pali under the guidance of Mahagandayone Sayadaw U Janakabhivamsa, U Vijayalankara & U Dhammikabhivamsa (“Thamanay Kyaw”).
He studied English under the guidance of Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa and with the eminent teachers such as U Aung Myat Thut, U Aye Maung and U Hla Maung.
He has written, translated and edited several books for TMC.
Updates
Sayadaw U Pandita, Sayadaw U Silandabhivamsa and Beelin Sayadaw have passed away.
St. Paul’s High School, Rangoon is the Second De La Salle School.
SPHS ran from 1860 – 1965.
It was nationalized on April 1, 1965. Non-native Brothers had to leave Burma.
It was renamed No. 6 State High School, Botathaung.
စိန့်ပေါလ် အထက်တန်းကျောင်း
1860
De La Salle Brothers ရန်ကုန် မှာ ကျောင်းဖွင့် Opened St. Paul’s English High School in Rangoon.
1885
ကျောင်း ကို နေရာသစ် ပြောင်းရွှေ့ Moved the school to a new location
1960
* ရာပြည့် Centennial
1965
ပြည်သူပိုင်သိမ်း Nationalized on April 1st; Non-native Brothers left Burma
အမည် ပြောင်း — SHS(6) ဗိုလ်တထောင် Renamed as No. 6 Botathaung State High School
2010
နှစ် 150 ပြည့် Sesquicentennial
မှတ်တမ်း များ
SPHS Badge နဲ့ Motto
Badge
SPHS ရှေ့ ကျောင်းကြို ဖို့ စောင့်နေကြ
Cars waiting to pick up students
Yangon Heritage Society — Blue Plaque
Blue Plaque
1959 Matriculates / Scholarship Winners
SPHS59
1960 Matriculates / Scholarship Winners
SPHS60
1951 – 1963 Top Matriculates Roll of Honor
Top Matriculates
1963 Scholarship Winners
SPHS63
SPHS Blazer Coat & Badge
SPHS Blazer Coat & Badge
De La Salle Brothers
De La Salle Brothers in Burma (1955)
OPA (Old Paulians’ Association) Pu Zaw Pwe Organizers
OPA
Gallery
Mao Toon Siong (SPHS55, Table Tennis)U Soe Paing (SPHS56, UCC cofounder)Ko Ko Lay (SPHS56, UCC cofounder)Myo Min (SPHS58, UCC cofounder)Dr. Soe Win (SPHS58) and Family Charlie Hla Myint (SPHS59, Swimming & Water Polo)Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60, Medical Institute Historian)SPHS60 GatheringThan Htut (SPHS60, Rowing)Nay Oke (SPHS61, OPA President)Htun Aung Kyaw & Aung Khin (SPHS61)Hla Min (SPHS63)SPHS63
Update
Old Paulians’ Association opened SPHS Museum on St. Paul’s Day (June 30) in 2025
Three of the 1963 Scholarship Winners — Myo San / Freddie Ba San, Aung Thu Yein / Brownie Way and Maung Maung Kyi — have passed away.
Victor Win (Nay Win Myint, ChE66) : Former President and Former Board Vice Chairman (2004 to 2006) of Burma American Democratic Alliance (BADA); Spouse : Daw Jean Gale (Former President of BAWA)
September 2018
Daw Khin Than Win (T70) : 3rd Sep 2018
U Kyaw Min Than — younger brother of Saya Dr. U Win (Geography, USA)
October 2018
U Aye Kyaw (nickname : U Thant) 12th Oct 2018
November 2018
U Hla Moe (U Kyin Sein, Phy) : 4th Nov 2018
December 2018
U Khin Kyaw (SPHS 70/EP 76/ex-YCDC) : 18th Dec 2018
Dr. Daw Kyin Yee, spouse of Saya U Kyaw Myint (M64) : Dec 2018
Mother of Ms. Yasmin Vanya, Secretary of Burmese American Women’s Alliance (BAWA)
Spouse of U Maung Maung Latt, President of Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA)
