Conventional wisdom says, “Pyauk thor thu shar hlyin tway. Thay thor thu kyar hlyin mae.” ပျောက်သောသူ ရှာလျှင်တွေ့။ သေသောသူ ကြာလျှင်မေ့။ One may find a lost person. One tends to forget those who have passed away.
Unconventional wisdom says, “We should maintain GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) lists as part of the Written History of our beloved alma mater, our mentors and colleagues.”
We use GBNF in the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” and in my Posts. Other posts may provide additional information for the entries in the GBNF (by period or year) posts.
Others use RIP (Rest in Peace), and BFHA (Bound For Higher Abode)
First RIT Website
U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) set up three GBNF pages on ex-RIT.org web site :
GBNF for sayas and sayamas
U Ba Hli
GBNF for alumni
GBNF for spouses
I used GBNF in the last stanza of my poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE” for SPZP-2000. The poem was reprinted as the Back Cover of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2000. It was only reprinted by the Class of 69 and Combined 1st BE intake of 64 and 65.
Poem for SPZP-2000
GBNF for RIT Class of 69
The GBNF list is maintained by U Aung Min (M69) and team.
There are 138 entries in the GBNF list. About 20 succumbed to Covid.
About 320 students entered the first ever 2nd BE in 1964. The list includes a few seniors who took sabbatical in their study and ended up as our classmates. Over 40% of our former classmates have passed away.
69ers GBNF
EE69ers
There were 13 EC69ers. The following have passed away :
U Kyaw Soe (DCA)
U Aung Thu Yein (Brownie, Schlumberger)
U Aung Thu Yein
U Chit Tin (MOGE)
U Chit Tin & Maung Kabar
U Oo Kyaw Hla (Canada)
Sai Aik Yee
Several EPers are also GBNF. They include
Khin Maung Win (Sargalay)
Khin Maung Win (Sargalay)
Thein Swe (3rd BE Luyechun)
Aung Gyi Shwe (Track & Field)
Soe Win (Basketball)
Khin Win (Weightlifting)
Abdul Rauf
Golden Jubileees
Due to the decline of health of 69ers, the group chose to have two Golden Jubilees : the first in 2014 to celebrate the admission to RIT, and the second in December 2019 to celebrate the graduation of most members in 1969.
GBNF for RIT Class of 70
U Ohn Khine (M70) reported close to 130 entries in the GBNF list of the Class of 70.
Tommy Shwe, Cho Aye, Peter Pe and Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay) were among the Top Ten students from the class. They are now GBNF.
Tommy ShweSteeve Kay (Thaung Sein)Cho Aye
Over 450 students entered the first ever 1st BE.
GBNF from PPBRS
Most of my sayas and sayamas from PPBRS have passed away.
U Kyaw Zaw & Daw Khin Khin Aye
Among my PPBRS classmates, Myo Set (son of actor Tha Gaung Gyi) was the first to pass away. He perished in a car accident. Myint Sein (Veda) and Myat Hla Sein (Movie Tech) are among the recent GBNF from PPBRS.
Myat Hla Sein
GBNF from SPHS
Most of my sayas and sayamas from SPHS have passed away. Sayadaw Beatson (Physics, Boy Scouts) is still active and strong.
SPHS Sayas
Among my SPHS classmates, Min Thaw (Gilbert, SPHS63) is among the early ones to pass away. Dr. Myo San (Freddie), Aung Thu Yein (Brownie), Tin Tun, Maung Maung Kyi, Aung Kyi (Arthur Kyi), Khin Maung Bo (Alan Saw Maung), Aung Chaw (Victor) are among the GBNF from SPHS63.
Myo San (Freddie)Maung Maung Kyi Soon Kyaw by Kyaw Wynn
GBNF from UCC & ICST
Several of my sayas, colleagues and former students have passed away.
CO Hla Min (Pauk Si) is an early GBNF from UCC. U Aung Zaw, Daw Nge Ma Ma Than, U Maung Maung Lay (Ah Ba), U Aung Myint and U Maung Maung Gyi are among the recent GBNF from UCC.
Dr. Chit Swe & U Aung ZawDr. Tin Maung & Daw Nge Ma Ma ThanU Maung Maung Lay & U Maung Maung GyiCO U Hla Min, U Aung Myint, U Aung Zaw
Relatives
Dr. “Cherry” Khin Kyi Nyunt
U Tin U, Dr. Cherry, Peter
Dr. “Peter” Khin Tun
U Tin Tun
Daw “Peggy” Than Than Yee
Dr. Khin Yi Than
Daw Aye May
Daw Hla Hla Myint
Dr. Myo Tint
Dr. Myo Tint
Saya U Ba Than
U Ba Than
Daw “Betty” Myint Thwe
Daw Myint Thwe
Saya U Tin U
U Tin U
U “Charlie” Thein Han
U Thein Han
Tone Kyaw တုံးကျော်
One should have Samvegha (sense of urgency) after hearing the sad news. When my namesake Hla Min (Pauk Si, SPHS64, EP70) passed away in his mid-thirties, we were shocked since he seemed strong and did not wear jackets (mandated for UCC employees entering the Computer Room). He would often be seen in sport shirts. He passed away with a few months of being diagnosed with liver problem. The consultant doctor was Dr. Min Lwin (Maurice Hla Kyi, SPHS64, IM71). Ko Pauk Si was not a drinker, but other causes inflicted his liver. I became a Tone Kyaw when two government departments where I had given Guest Lectures on Computers and Applications tried to send me “Lwan Thu Pan Khwe” လွမ်းသူ့ပန်းခွေ
U Han Sein (C69) became a Tone Kyaw when the Organizers of the 30th Anniversary of Graduation inadvertently listed him in the GBNF list of the Class of 69. The organizers were unaware that U Han Sein was detained by the authorities after the 8-8-88 event. He resurfaced two decades later with the declaration of Amnesty.
Han Sein
Saya Dr. Tin Hlaing (M63) became a Tone Kyaw when his namesake Saya Dr, Tin Hlaing (formerly of Maritime Studies) passed away. Some alumni had to revoke the wrong announcement.
U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) commented on my post on “Disaster“.
No matter if there is a somewhat connection with the ‘climate change‘ concept, the natural disasters, storms/earthquakes/tsunamis are getting as often and more powerful in the past several years. These has caused severe damaged to many lives, killed, injured, livelihood wiped out among others.
In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which covers these emergencies have discovered that they alone albeit budget crunch could not handle each and every aspect of the damages, They are now encouraging, and working with local authorities, city/county/state on many aspects of the disaster preparedness and recovery process and procedures.
First, there is a FEMA App on all mobile platforms, where one can go through subscribing Alerts, Anticipate/Prepare for any disasters, Disaster Resources et al. In US, various regions have differing disaster, for example Washington State where I live, we have to be prepared for major earthquakes but not for Hurricanes etc. The local authorities have classes, training sessions, drills on where/how/what/who, the usual five ‘W’s on many possible disasters. My city, Kirkland has multiple levels of CERT, Community Emergency Response Team, classes, trainings, intensive training/classes for leadership levels, regular sync ups/meetings etc.
They are also aware that not all local/state/federal could communicate well in the cases of disasters due to proliferation of different communication equipment and trying to alleviate the issue.
One very interesting discovery they learned from the mega-disasters past couple of years is that the previous assumptions that they had for the preparedness were no longer adequate. The old assumption was that you need to have at least three day supply of food/water/first-aid – basic essentials. In the recent mega-disasters, they discovered that there are many instances no rescuers could get to you for more than a week or so, the new thinking/suggestion is that you need to have at least 2 weeks stock of live essentials. food/water/waste management/radios/batteries etc. There is also a movement where rather than you do it for yourself and/or your family, your neighborhood would pool resources in a commonly accessible area, like one’s spare space in a garage, you could store beds/cots/water tanks/medical supplies for multiple family etc. We live in a place where rain is given so tents/ponchos are a must. Dehydrated food, which could last 25+ years or so could be stored there.The city have all these info, with maps, co-ordinate with all authorities in the case a disaster,
I could go on and on as I went through the very basic level of CERT, and am thinking of week long class/training.
There is a consensus assessment that rescuers could not reached to many victims in major disaster where roads, telecommunication might be devastated. Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond and many other cities in and around Puget Sound, Western Washington where life is way overdue for major earthquake.
For a certain period, the Mingun Bell weighing 55555 viss was the largest functioning ringing bell in the world.
Young Burmese remember the weight of the bell with the mnemonic “Min Phyu Hman Hman Pyaw”.
One viss equals 3.6 pounds.
Mingun Jetavana SayadawU Narada (1868 – 1955)
Credited as for the revival of Vipassana (Insight) Meditation in Burma
Went to one Mingun Sayadaw, who presumably had studied meditation under Thee Gon Sayadaw, and asked for guidance.
Was told to study Sattipattha (from the Scriptures) deeply and then practice meditation
Prominent disciples : Mahasi Sayadaw and Taung Pulu Sayadaw
TMC (Tathagata Meditation Center) has published a book about Sayadaw.
Mingun Tipitaka Sayadaw Ashin Vicittasarabhivamsa
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. Vinaya : Monastic rules of conduct Sutta : Discourses Abhidhamma : Ultimate Reality
Sayadaw could recall all and provide exposition.
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.
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.
First Sayadaw to be conferred “Guardian / Bearer of the Tipitaka & Treasurer of the Dhamma“.
When Sayadaw received requisites, he gave them to the monks (in the town where he received them).
To support the monks studying for the later Tipitaka examinations, Sayadaw set up a monastery in Mingun and accepted monks who had finished Dhammacariya.
Kaya Bala (ကာယဗလ Physical Strength). In our younger days, there were Kaya Bala Ah Thin (Clubs) for developing Physical Strength. Some instructors have their names prefixed with “Kaya Bala”.
Nyana Bala (ဥာဏဗလ Mental Strength).
Bawga Bala (ဘောဂဗလ Economic Prowess). There used to be an Oil Mill (Vendor) named “Bawga Bala”.
Meikta Bala (မိတ္တဗလ Skill for making friends). U Nu’s translation of “How to win friends and influence people” was named “Meikta Bala Tika”. It’s earlier title was “Lu Paw Lu Zaw Loke Nee” (which did not seem diplomatic).
HlaMin 