Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

by Zaw Min & Ohn Khine

Edited by Hla Min

Updated : 5th October 2026

The first year students were divided into four sections : A, B, C and D. Most students of Sections A & B had passed Matriculation with Pure Science. Most from Sections C & D had passed with either Science & Arts Combination or Pure Arts. There were some late joiners to RIT.

Male students from districts and states were boarded in hostels, in the ground floor rooms of B, D and E Blocks and “Inlay Hall” in Thamaing.

A building named “G Hall” was assigned to board female students from districts and states. Local female students who applied were also allowed to board in G Hall.

Engineering was not considered appropriate livelihood for women. Hence, there were only a few female students studying Engineering before our intake. With the new system, there was an influx of girls. It was quite a pleasant feast to the seniors who were not used to seeing those many female students. So when our ‘64 intake started attending classes, it was a thrill for the senior students to watch a great number of female students strolling in the corridors, coming in and out of class rooms,in canteen, in the food shops, in the library and everywhere on the campus grounds. We were also thrilled to get in company with a lot of female classmates. (It was exciting for me to have female classmates as I [Ohn Khine] was sent to all boys school, St. Peter’s High School in Mandalay since Kindergarten till I matriculated in 1964.) It is fair to note that the girls were somewhat intimidated and somewhat amused by the loud remarks of a few rowdy students or even feeling stared at while having to move from one classroom to another. Girls spent time during breaks in an area of a corridor surrounded by shaded blinds which was known as LCR (Ladies’ Common Room) where the day students usually ate home-brought snacks and rest. Ladies residing at G Hall would have lunch at the canteen and were able to rest in their rooms. The first LCR was a little room on the third floor before a section of the corridor on the third floor was made as the LCR before the start of our 2nd year at RIT. When the bell rang for the next class, it was customary to peek through the blinds to check whether the boys had gone inside the theatre for the timid girls to come out of the LCR.

Outstanding athletes from our class

The list was compiled by Ko Ohn Khine. Comments were provided by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday. Organization / presentation (with corrections) was done by Ko Hla Min

Badminton

• Tommy Shwe (GBNF)
• Kyi Kyi Sein

Basketball

• Tin Aung (E)
• Tin Aye (M)
• Kevin Law
• Soe Aung (Auto)

Body Building / Weightlifting

• Than Htike (M)

Boxing

• Maung Maung Thaw (E)

Chinlon

• Soe Tint (C)
• Mya Daung (M, GBNF)

Football / Soccer

• Sai Thein Maung (C)
• Khin Maung Lay (Mutu, M)
• Win Zaw (A)
• Myint Sein (Ja Pu Sein, GBNF)
• Kenneth (Khin Maung Shwe, GBNF)
• Htun Myint (M)
• Hla Kyi
• Sai Aung San (Met)

Judo / Aikido

• Sein Myo (C)
• Kyaw Soe Win
• Soe Aung (Auto)
• Thaung Lwin (M)
• Soe Myint (Agri)
• Sai Loke Khan (Mn)

Rowing

• Htein Win (M)
• Aung Lwin (Jaspar Wu) (C)

Swimming / Water Polo

• Peter Pe (GNBF)
• Htein Win (M)
• Win Aung (M)
• Mg Mg Swe (M) (5)
• Ma Tin Tin Myint (Ch)

Tennis

• Aung Kyaw Soe (James Than) (Ep)
• Khin Mg Shwe (Ep)
• Wai Lwin (Agri)
• Rosie Tin Maung (Ch)

Track and Field

• Sai Thein Maung (C)
• Shein Kee Gae (GBNF)
• Saw Mg Mg Htwe
• Oo Myint (Mn)
• Win Naing
• Lei Lei Chit (Ch)
• Nan Kham Ing (A)
• Maung Maung Thaw (E)

UTC Marksman

• Tan Yu Beng (Benny) (M) Let Pyaunk Tat Thar, twice, both UTC 1st & 2nd yr.

Volleyball

• Kyaw Sein (M)
• Salai Myo Myint (C)

Additional Information by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday

Sai Thein Maung (C), was a great RIT goalkeeper for 6 years. He also won gold medals in 100 meters and Hop Step and Jump in the Inter Institute track and field competition almost every year.

Tin Tin Myint (Emma) (Ch) bravely competed in the inter-institute swimming meet. I believe she also practiced throwing the Javelin and played volleyball.

Khin Mg Shwe (Ep) won the “Novice” tennis competition at RIT. He represented RIT in the 2nd year and we cheered him as he played a nationally known played from RASU (at the courts across from the Universities football field) during our 2nd yr at RIT.

My good friend Tan Yu Beng (Benny, M) took the best marksman trophy at both 1st and 2nd yr UTC camps. He competed against not only RIT but UTC students from RASU, Institute of Medicine, and Institute of Economics.

Hla Kyi (nickname Sut Kaw) played center right back for RIT selected football team. Most RIT students that watched the game between RIT and Loke Thar during our first year will remember the flying kick he took at the head of the left winger of Loke Thar when Myint Sein (M) GBNF and that left winger got into a fracas. The Universities team coach Saya Nyein, who was the referee for this game, promptly told Hla Kyi to leave the field.

There were also unsung heroes (e.g. The RIT B football team). I did not know about them until the third year, when Sai Aung San, my room mate for that year, told me about it. He was the goalkeeper, Yan Shin played in the back line and Kyaw Min Aung was the reserve goalkeeper.

Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins from our class

• Ko Myint Swe Win (M): Mandolin virtuoso, vocalist. Participated in every concert and pwe
• Ma Mo Mo Yi (E) : Announcer
• Ma Tin Tin Myint (Emma Myint) (Ch) : Myanmar Dance
• Ma Tin Myint Oo (Rosie Tin Maung) (Ch) acted as “Tha Gyar Min သိကြားမင်း in the musical performance of the song “Sanda Kein Na Yi”. Vocalist and instrument (Don Minn) by Ko Yu Swan (M 68).
• George Ko Ko Gyi (Ch) played the part of Ten Headed Ogre (Dat Tha Gi Ri) in the short opera of Chasing the Deer (Rammayana play)
• Ko Win (Milton Win Pe) (M) Myanmar Drum (Chauk Lone Putt)
• Ko Than Myint (M) : Vocalist & All-round instrument player
• Ko Soe Aung (Auto) : Clarinet
• Ko Tin Win (Texile) : Burmese Harp (Don Minn)
• Ko Aung Myint (a) “Thaman Kyar Ko Myint” (Mn) starred in the “Thaman Kyar သမန်းကျား” movie
• Ko Than Win (Tex), spouse of Ko Myint’s cousin, wrote the story of “Thaman Kyar”.

UTC (Universities’ Training Corps)

• Some of us entered the UTC.
• We had two camps the first year we were at RIT : Summer camp at KyeDaw, Toungoo; October camp at Meikthila.

First UTC Camp

At the Toungoo camp, our platoon was the only RIT platoon stationed with RASU students. So we were 30 or so RIT students among 500 plus RASU students at the 10th Buregt. The main body of RIT students were at a little school. They were the lucky ones. They had the instructors from UTC in charge while we at the 10th Buregt. were assigned a grouchy sadistic corporal from the regular infantry to drive us. He has a mustache so we nicknamed him “Nga Khu”. Ko Win Htut (C), Ko Khin Mg Lay (M), Ahmed Soorma (Ch), Ko Kyaw Min Aung, John Krasu, Ko Htwe Myint (C), Ko Htain Win (M, Chauk Pe) were among those in this platoon.

It was here that Ko Htwe Myint got his nickname “Bo Hmu” because of the military bags he had on him.

We slept on a long bamboo platform, next to each other. We had to stand guard duty at night, one hour each and sign off on the duty sheet. If our duty hour fell on 8pm-9pm, it was great. If it were from 1pm to 2pm, it was the graveyard hour. One time, my duty was from 1pm to 2pm, Ko Khin Mg Lay (M), who slept next to me was from 12-1pm. He tried to wake me up to give the duty sheet but I refused to get up since I was so sleepy. He finally said “Min Tar Wun You Mea So Yin Ngar Ate Pi”. I finally got up and took over the duty sheet. Standing guard duty during graveyard hours had its benefits. I saw the Big Dipper, Khun Na Sin Kyea, turn and point its tail upwards. (Khun Na Sin Kyea Pyong ah mee thoung, than goun chain tho youk.)

We had to get up at 5pm and run PT, guzzle a cup of tea and swallow down bein moun at 6.30am. At 7am, we were on the parade ground doing marching drills. One time, our sadistic corporal made us run for 45 minutes with our rifles in our hands because he was unhappy with our performance. That event also brought out the best in the RASU students. When the whistle blew for a 10 minute break, in a rare display of camaraderie, some RASU students came over with water for us to drink.

Lunch was a little meat dish and great Pe Hin.

In the afternoons, we had to go to a Phone Gyi Kyaung about half a mile away so that we can sit in the shade while we were taught small arms. We were not allowed to use the water in the well at the Kyaung, so four persons from each platoon had to take 2 Ye Oes full of water. Although it meant carrying the heavy Ye Oe, in addition to my rifle, I always volunteered for that duty since we got to leave about 20 minutes earlier for the Phone Gyi Kyaung. That way, we got to rest and enjoy the tranquility of the Kyaung Win before the rest of the students arrived and the lessons started. I remember laying under the trees while waiting for the rest to come over, looking at the Toddy (Htan) trees and wondering if King Tabinshwethi had one time spent his days near this place drinking Htan Ye .

I remember the incident about Ko Win Htut being punished harshly one time. I don’t remember exactly what it was about. We all know that Ko Win Htut liked to have fun and his happy go lucky come attitude got him into trouble with our party pooper instructor Nga Khu. He was ordered to jump from a squatting position while having his rifle held above his head until he fell exhausted. After 3 weeks, training was ending and we decided to give the Corporal a longyi as present and all of us Ka Daw to him. For the first time, tears rolled down this tough Corporal’s cheeks.

The next day was the graduation parade. It was a proud moment for all RIT students when Tan Yu Beng (Benny) (M), stepped up to receive the award for Let Pyaunt Tat Thar, standing first in marksmanship among 800 UTC students from all Institutes and RASU.

Second UTC Camp

To attend the second UTC camp, we left for Meikthila on the 3rd week of September. The train travel ed at night, but we had trouble sleeping on the train. We were sent to the 3rd BATD. Beautiful barracks with wood flooring. But horror of horrors. Hundreds of bed bugs came out from between the wooden planks. That night, there was no way I could sleep with the bugs biting me. so, even though there was a slight drizzle of rain falling, I decided to sleep on the ground outside. Since I did not get any sleep the night before, I slept through the morning PT before waking up. Ko Khin Mg Lay told me that the instructor came to kick me while I was sleeping in the morning, but I just kept on sleeping. The instructor was overheard saying something like “Mway Pauk Tay Mae” before walking away. My official place in the barracks was next to Ko Sein Win (EC). Ko Sein Win was very neat and had the best prepped bed for daily inspection. Next to him, mine looked like crap. Points were given daily for how good you had prepared your bed. Ko Sein Win always got the best comments and mine was in the pits. Actually I did not sleep a single night in my bed place. I used my blanket as a cot by tying it to two posts out in the veranda and slept there.

Life at Meikthila camp was more pleasant than Toungoo camp. For one thing, all of us RIT 1st year students were in one company. We had our share of funny incidents. One day, the RSM of UTC chided all of us for soiling the side of the toilet holes in the outhouses. His words were, “Nya Kya Ah Pauk Te Te Ko Min Doe Win Aung Htet Naing Dae. De Louk Ah Pauk Gyi Kya Win Aung Ma Par Naing Bu.”

As it happened, that evening, the RSM was kicking the ball to the goal and it went wide. Bohmu Htwe Myint shouted “De Louk Gyi Dae Ah Pouk Win Aung Ma Kan Naing Bu Lar?” The RSM walked away with his head bowed.

Sometimes, we drove the instructors hopping mad. One time the instructor told us “Ngar So Dar Lite So”. In one voice, we all shouted “Ngar So Dar Lite So”.

After two weeks, we were told to give our kit bags to be taken by truck to Taung Pulu, while we would have to march 18 miles to that place the next day. Without a kit bag, no blanket to make my cot, I spent the night just walking around in the veranda since it was raining outside and there was no way I could sleep inside with the bed bugs. The next day we marched to Taung Pulu, carrying our rifles. It was tough for me since I did not sleep a wink the night before. The sun was beating down on us the whole day. Where was the rain when we needed it? Worse was the rocky road made of Gawoon rocks. It made the nails in my boots hurt my feet. I must have pulled out over half a dozen nails from each boot.

We finally made it to Taung Pulu in the evening. We were given rice to cook for ourselves and were assigned 4 persons to a tent. That night, there was a tremendous storm. Water gushed into the tents. The next day, someone told me that everyone was sitting in their tents except me. He said I was asleep with my head in the mud. I did remember waking up during the storm, looking up at my tent mates who were sitting, and going back to sleep.The next day, we were told to move into a Zayat on a hill. It was so crowded in the Zayat, I refused to sleep there. Instead, I went up the Phaya Yin Pyin and slept alone on the brickwork with a blanket tucked around my body to prevent the winds from blowing it away.

Time came for graduation and our Tan Yu Beng (Benny, M) again got the Let Pyaunk Tat Tar award.

Ko Win Htut, I and others that I don’t remember, took a bus to Mandalay from Meikthila. We arrived in Mandalay, near 33rd and Zeygyo (84th) around 6 pm. Ko Win Htut was home since his house was around the corner. For myself and a couple of others, we just kept on walking towards the direction of the clock tower, hoping we would run into something. It was seeming more and more likely we might have to sleep on someone else’S doorstep.

Then, we saw a jeep come down 84th street and stop. It was a MMTA taxi with Saw Mg Mg Htwe sitting in the front seat! (MMTA stood for Maymyo-Mandalay Taxi Association).

He told us that he figured there might still be some UTC students that wanted to go to Maymyo coming this way and had asked the taxi driver to drive along 84th street before turning towards “A” road to take the car out of Mandalay to the Maymyo road.

by Zaw Min and Ohn Khine

Edited by Hla Min

Updated : 5th October 2026

The academic year started around October 9th for our final year. Ko Aye Win Hlaing (“La La”, Abel, EP 65 intake), picked me up at the central train station, and took me to his home for dinner. Afterwards, he drove me to the RIT hostels. I had again applied for hostel accommodation paired with Ko Cho Aye (M). We got lucky and were assigned single rooms at F Block, which had bathrooms attached. That was great. No more going to the common bathrooms or showers. I was in F-10 and Ko Cho Aye was in F-9. Sai Aung San (Met) my room mate from 3rd year and Sai Maung Lin (Ag) were in F-1 and F-2.

Rowing

At the Boat Club, Ko Aung Lwin (Jasper, C) got me to be accepted as a “Half Green”. No more rowing wooden tubs for me. I had now advanced to the “Shells”, after doing the required Clinker outings. Ko Aung Lwin told me he was putting me on the RIT Eights crew. We set out to do a practice run, I was assigned position number 6, on the stroke side. George Htoon Pay (Aung Tun Oo, M, 65 intake), was the Cox that guided the boat and shouted out commands. The distance for the Eights competition was 2000 meters, the distance from the University Boat club to Dubern beach. We rowed out to Dubern Beach and from there, rowed back as if we were in competition with another boat. Half way back, I began to tire and did not put enough power into my strokes. The Cox, who was watching, yelled out “Number 6”. I tried to put power into my strokes but soon slacked off again. “Number 6” the Cox yelled again.

The next day, we were to compete against RASU as part of the Inter-Institute competition. Ko Aung Lwin (C) told me he was putting me into reserves. That was the closest thing at RIT that I came to achieving something in sports. Unfortunately, due to my own fault, I did not get the chance to represent RIT.

In rowing, you were supposed to put the oar into the water at right angles to the water surface. If you put the oar at another angle with the water surface, the oar would slice into the water, unbalancing the boat. We called it “Dip Yike”(or “Catch Crab”). Normally, it could happen if you get very tired and could not control your oar, or if for some reason you were not paying attention. If somebody did a “Dip Yike” during competition, the boat would become temporarily unbalanced and lose momentum. In most cases, your boat was almost sure to lose the race if that happened.

Ko Aung Lwin (C) was right to replace me. I did not have the stamina to go the distance. The irony was that my replacement, an experienced “Full Green”, did a “Dip Yike” at the very start of the race against RASU. The RIT boat was left standing at the starting place while the RASU crew rowed away to victory. For a “Dip Yike” to happen at the very first stroke, that person, my replacement, must not have been paying any attention.

In the second half of the year, I teamed up with 65 intake students on a “Fours”. I was in the number 2 position, stroke side. The distance for the “Fours” competition was 1000 meters. We were in competition against a “Fours” crew from RASU for the Monsoon regatta. It was not an Inter-Institute competition. It just happened that all of us were from RIT and the other crew from RASU. We were leading by a boat length when we were about 150 meters from the finish line. We heard clapping and shouts of “RIT” “RIT”. It was a female “Eights” crew from the Inst of Economics, sitting in their boat and cheering us. Suddenly, our boat shook and shuddered as one of us had a “Dip Yike”. We lost the race. After the race, our Number 3, on the bow side, told me he turned to look to see who were clapping and cheering and dipped his oar improperly, causing the “Dip Yike”.

Saya U Thein Aung (Micky Tan, SPHS59, Physics, RASU), who was running the Boat club, brought a Laung Hle. The Laung Hle had a leak and he had it repaired. Ko Myo Khin (C, one yr senior in 64), asked for permission to take the Laung Hle out for a trial. He recruited me, Ko Yit Moe (C65 intake) and two others from RIT and the five of us rowed the Laung Hle out to the center of the lake. A Laung Hle is difficult to keep in balance, but probably due to the fact that there were only 5 of us, it glided in the water smoothly and in perfect balance. Unfortunately, the leak had not been repaired properly and the Laung Hle started to sink. We could here a big “Wah Ha Ha Ha” from the people looking at us from the Boat club, jeering at us when the Laung Hle sank. Luckily, a rescue row boat came out from the nearby Yacht club and threw us a line. They towed the Laung Hle to the Yatch club side, across the water from the University boat club while we swam along beside the towed Laung Hle. It was dark when we reached land and had to walk around to get back to the Boat club.

Track and Field & Some Rum

I also had another Kauk Yoe Mee project. I tried to compete in the 400 meters race at RIT. In the heats, I ran for 300 meters looking at the heels of the great RIT athlete Ko Mg Mg Thaw (EP). After 300 meters, my stamina gave out. Sayagyi U Mg Mg Than (T, President of RIT Track and Field association) commented that I was able to run only 300 meters since I had only trained to run 300 meters during practice. I was supposed to run 500 meters in practice if I wanted to compete in the 400 meters.

Although my efforts came to nought, Sayagyi U Mg Mg Than invited me to a cocktail party that he was giving for the RIT Track and Field athletes at his house. Ko Yit Moe (C 65 intake), Ko Oo Myint (Mn), Ko Zaw Win (M or Mn) were there. Female athletes, Ma Nang Kam Ing (A), Ma Lei Lei Chit (Ch) were probably there together with Ma Nyunt Nyunt Shwe (E, from Moulmein, about 3 years junior).

For the first time in my life, I had a hard drink (Rum). I had drunk only beer before. After the party, I was walking back to the hostels with Ko Yit Moe when he started to stagger. I put my left arm around his waist, put his right arm around my neck and grasped it with my right hand. We walked like that until we reached D Block, Ko Yit Moe’s home Block. He could not climb up the stairs so I lifted him up in my arms and carried him all the way up to the 3rd floor and put him on his bed. Coming back to my room in F Block, someone told me Ko Oo Myint (Mn) was getting loud and boisterous in front of the main RIT building. Since we had drank together, I somehow felt responsible and went there, but found that Ko Zaw Win (?) had used reverse psychology to calm Ko Oo Myint (Mn) down without incident.

Study Hard

During our final year, all of us studied hard. We knew that we must learn as much as possible about the subjects that were taught in our final year so that we may be able to work without any problem after we graduated. In addition, Ko Win Thein (EP, GBNF) and I would go to “Ava House” bookstore on Sule Pagoda road and scrounged around for good technical books. I managed to get my hands on a good book. It was about industrial controls, which I found to be very helpful when I started working.

Doing these extra studies also created a disappointment for me. I had bought a book from the central book shop titled, “Principles of Automatic Controls” and had gone through all the problems in it. There was, however, one problem that I could not solve. It was about a Motor- Generator Control set up. We had been taught the “Ward – Leonard Motor Generator Control System” by Sayagyi U Tin Swe in RIT. This set up was different. I passed over it thinking it was not relevant since we were not taught that type of system. Got an unpleasant surprise at the finals when this exact problem was asked. That turned out to be the only problem I could not solve for that subject. I felt like a person that had a winning lottery ticket and did not know about it.

No time for relaxation

After the last day of the finals, I thought of relaxing with my friends for a few days before leaving. That was not to be.

My eldest brother Saya U Myo Min (Geology Dept. ,RASU) showed up that very evening and told me to pack up and leave immediately. Perhaps he was afraid that I might again be falsely accused of stirring up trouble, like at the time of the unexpected school closing in December 1969 when someone made a false report to the school authorities that I was going around the hostels stirring up the students. He gave me money to rent a Bo Bo Aung (higher priced taxi). Ko Cho Aye (M) helped put all my belongings on it. So it was with great sadness that I bade my final good bye to the RIT Hostels that had been my home away from home for the past 5 plus years.

Conclusion

I have no regrets for the way I had spent my time at RIT. Not studying much during my first two-three years, getting involved in one activity after another, being a “Jack of all trades and Master of none” in sports. The only thing I regretted doing was that incident where I got physical with the student from the 66 intake, which I wished I had never done.

I had entered RIT as a wild eyed teenager, just becoming 17 years of age the month I entered, and now I was leaving as a mature grown man.

The life I had at RIT was very memorable. In my eyes, I can still see the Sayas, the Sayamas and our friends as they were then. The laughter that we had together is still echoing in my ears. It is a part of my memory that will remain with me until the sun sets on my life.