HlaMin

Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

  • Number — Three

    Number — Three

    by Hla Min

    Update : 25th October 2026

    Three

    DTM
    • Hindu-Arablic numeral : 3
    • Roman numeral : III
    • Tri (e.g tripod, tricycle, trimester, trilogy)
    • Trio

    Triple Gems

    • Buddha : the Enlightened One
    • Dhamma : His Teachings
    • Sangha : Monastic Order

    Tipitaka (Three Baskets)

    • Vinaya : Monastic Rules of Conduct
    • Sutta : Discourses
    • Abhidhamma : Ultimate Reality

    Characteristics

    • Annica : Impermanence
    • Dukkha : Suffering, Unsatisfactoriness
    • Anatta : No Atta, No Self

    Trinity

    • Father
    • Son
    • Holy Spirit

    Most well-known Hindu Gods

    • Brahma : Creator
    • Vishnu : Preserver
    • Shiva : Destroyer

    Early NASA Projects

    • Mercury : single astronaut
    • Gemini : two astronauts
    • Apollo : three astronauts

    Apollo Crew

    • Mission Commander (e.g. Neil Armstrong for Apollo11)
    • Command Module Pilot (e.g. Michael Collins for Apollo11)
    • Lunar Module Pilot (e.g. Buzz Aldrin for Apollo11)

    Apollo Modules

    • Service Module
    • Command Module
    • Lunar Module

    Musical Envelope

    • Rise : attack
    • Sustain
    • Fall : decay

    Prime constituents of an atom

    • Electron
    • Proton
    • Neutron

    Persuasion Techniques

    • Ethos
    • Pathos
    • Logos

    Typical Toastmasters Meeting

    • Prepared Speeches
    • Table Topics : Impromptu Speeches
    • Evaluation

    Three-valued Logic

    • Yes
    • No
    • Do not care

    Essay (and most writings)

    • Introduction : Beginning
    • Body
    • Conclusion : Ending)

    Medal

    • Gold : first prize
    • Silver : second prize
    • Bronze : third prize

    Measurement of Time

    • Hour
    • Minute
    • Second

    Angular Measure

    • Degree
    • Minute
    • Second

    Academic Degrees

    • Bachelor
    • Master
    • Doctorate

    School Type (1)

    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • High School

    School Type (2)

    • English School
    • Venacular School
    • Anglo-Venacular School

    Traffic Light

    • Red
    • Amber
    • Green

    Guitar

    • Lead Guitar
    • Rhythm Guitar
    • Bass Guitar

    Professor

    • Assistant Professor
    • Associate Professor
    • (Full) Professor
  • U Sein Shan

    U Sein Shan

    by Hla Min

    Update : 25th October 2026

    U Sein Shan
    • Alumnus of UIUC
    • During our RIT days, he was Lecturer and Head of the RIT Mathematics Department.
    • Passed away in October 2006.
    • Son : U Thant Zin (M82, GBNF) volunteer of several RIT-related organizations and activities
    Condolences 1
    Condolences 2
    Condolences 3
    Condolences 4

    Feedback

    • Dr. Yan Naing Lwin wrote :
      Ko Sein Shan was at University of Illinois, U-C in 1959-60. His room mate was Ko Hla Tun (Peter, now in San Jose). He received his MS in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics (TAM) & returned to Burma.
    • Yan Gyi Aung wrote : –
      Saya U Sein Shan was my most familiar Maths Saya since BIT period 1961-62. At that time engineering students were only about over 100. Female students were only two, one each at Textile and Chemical Department. He was the President of Point 22-Rifle Club of BIT & I was the Secretary. We usually went to South Okkalapa Shooting Range and practiced. While he was suffering from heart disease at his home in about 1999 in Mayangone, I frequently went to his house and encouraged him. Also when taking treatment at RGH hospital, at Cardiac Hall No 19/20, I went to him carrying boiled rice and some eatables as breakfast.
      Very remarkable and historic event he did was while Major Subjects (Lines, such as Civil, Chemical, etc) performed paying respect ceremonies to the respective department Sayas, Maths Department had no such ceremony. Maths Department always had no ceremony at that time.
      So Saya invited all the engineering students in the Daily Newspaper that he would celebrate a friendship dinner to serve all engineering students with Danbauk rice at the Nawarat Hotel in 2000, I think.
      Very peculiar Saya was!
  • Anniversary

    Anniversary

    by Hla Min

    Update : 25th October 2026

    1970

    Rangoon University Golden Jubilee

    • Rangoon University ရန်ကုန်တက္ကသိုလ် celebrated the Golden Jubilee ရွှေရတု in 1970.
    • RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins အနုပညာရှင်များ debuted the “Swel Daw Yeik Troupe” with “Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint စွယ်တော်ရိပ်အငြိမ့်” , “Htee Yein ထီးယိမ်း” & “Ta Bin Daing Ah Ka တပင်တိုင်အက”.
    Htee Yein
    • The terms “Swel Daw”, “Swel Daw Bin” and “Swel Daw Yeik” became the official synonyms for RIT and its predecessors.
    • I had a minor role as Volunteer for the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yay Committee စျေးနေရာချထားရေးကော်မတီ”.
    • Dr. Aung Gyi (then, Professor of Civil Engineering) was Chair and U Thet Lwin (then at Eco) was Secretary of one of the main Committees. They reunited later as Rector and Registrar of RIT.
    Dr. Aung Gyi & Arch Students

    1999

    30th Anniversary of 69ers

    • The celebration took place in Yangon.
    • It led to the founding of the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” by me, ex-rit web site by KMZ, and SPZP-2000 in the USA by SF Bay Area RIT Alumni.
    Newsletter
    SPZP-2000 Organizers

    2009

    40th Anniversary of 69ers

    C69
    EE69
    M69
    T69 & ChE69

    Group photos from the event have been posted in the RIT 69ers, RIT Update pages, and hlamin.com

    2014

    Shwe YaDu

    Golden Jubilee of the Education System introduced in November 1964.

    Shwe YaDu

    Pseudo Golden Jubilee of 69ers

    • It was the Golden Jubilee for Admission to the first ever 2nd BE at RIT in November 1964.

    2019

    True Golden Jubilee of 69ers

    69er GJ
    • Dec 19 Morning : Reunion & PZP at Gyogone Campus
    • Dec 19 Evening : Dinner & entertainment at Ko Aung Min’s old office in PWD kCompound.
    • Close to ninety of our former classmates are GBNF.
    • Several seniors are 75+ years young but are physically and mentally strong as ever.

    2020

    U Ba Toke

    U Ba Toke
    • Sayagyi was a Phwa Bet Taw of “RU” and “First RU Student Strike” (honored as “Ah Myotha Aung Pwe Nay”) in December 1920.
    • Rangoon University was established on December 1, 1920 with Rangoon College and Judson College as the Constituent Colleges,
    • 13 Kyaung Tha Gyis led the first RU Students Strike on December 5, 1920. The Strike contributed to the reform of the RU Act of 1920.
    • Saya was born on Dec 26, 1920. He passed away on Dec 2, 2020.

    RU Centennial

    • RU kicked off the Pre-Centennial celebrations in Dec 2019.
    • There were commemorative publications and exhibitions leading to the Centennial celebrations in Dec 2020.
    • Due to pandemic, several events had limited attendance; they were broadcast on TV for the public.

    HMEE-2018

    • Saya U Aung Hla Tun headed the HMEE-2012 team which published the History book for SPZP-2012. Due to resource constraints, several topics and articles were deferred.
    • Saya is also head of the HMEE-2018 team, which is preparing to revise the HMEE-2012 book and compile books on Engineering & Industry in Myanmar.
    • Due to the pandemic and Saya’s demise, the project is in limbo.

    Miscellaneous

    Jubilees

    • RU Silver Jubilee was delayed due to the War.
    • RU Diamond Jubilee was held in 1995
    RU Diamond Jubilee

    Centennial Celebrations

    • St. Paul’s High School in 1960
    • Bogyoke Aung San in 2015
    Bogyoke Aung San
    • U Thant
    • U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
    • U Wun (Minthuwun)
    • U Khin Maung Latt
    • Daw Khin Myo Chit
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha
    • U San Tha Aung
    • Burmese / Myanmar Movies in 2020
    • RUBC in 2023
    RUBC
  • My Life Savers

    My Life Savers

    by Hla Min

    Update : 24th October 2026

    Care Givers

    My Life Savers
    • My family members provided physical, mental and spiritual support especially during my recent hospitalization and recovery.

    Supporters

    • They also supported my Volunteer work for five decades.
    • Since 1999, I have served as Messenger & Organizer for RIT Community.
    SPZP-2000
    • I volunteer for selected organizations and projects.
    HMEE Project
    HMEE Book
    HMEE CD Supplement

    Memories

    My Beloved Spouse

    • Medical doctor in Burma
    • Worked hard to raise two sons
    • Elder son is an Industrial Engineer
    • Younger son is a Software Engineer
    My beloved Spouse
    My Chief Supporter

    Paying respect to Sayas

    In Windsor, Canada

    Paying respect to Saya U Aung Khin

    In Napean, Canada

    Paying respect to Saya Dr. Aung Gyi

    Volunteers

    Dhammanda Vihara & TBSA

    Memorial for Sayadaw U Silananda
    Help for Culinary Team
    Volunteers

    Myees

    • Excel in academic, sports and social work
    With Granddaughter
    With Grandson

    Tin Aung Win (M69) wrote :

    Keep up the good work!

    Thanks a lot for your good support, Dr. Daw Sein Yie.

    —-

    Aung Min (M69) wrote :

    Be happy and healthy

    —-

  • July 2015

    July 2015

    by Hla Min

    Update : 24th October 2026

    Vacation

    • Trip to the East Coast of US and parts of Canada
    • Took United Airlines from San Francisco International airport
    • Flight was delayed for more than two hours because the computer system was down
    • Our plane was diverted to Syracuse airport in New York to refuel and to wait there until Newark (New Jersey) airport — which had experienced traffic congestion — could handle the incoming flights
    • Ivan Lee (M69) was aware of the flight delay. He picked us up at the airport.
    • He would be our host & trip coordinator.
    • Selected events from the trip are described below.

    July 10

    On the road to NYC
    • Ivan took us — Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi, Daw Emma, my spouse & me— on a New York tour.
    • We felt like “honored guests” because New York City was lined up with fans — young and old — of the US women’s soccer team which won the World Championship for the third time.

    July 11

    NJ Gathering
    Six 69ers & Two Sayas
    • Ivan hosted a gathering in honor of Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC).
    • Ivan had hosted the RIT-UCC gathering for several years.
    • Attendees include Richard Than Se (ChE62, classmate of U Soe Paing), Fred Thegyi (M69), U Tun Aung Gyaw (EC69), Daw Saw Yu Tint (Alice, T69), U Toung (Tom, EC69), U Sein Myint (EC76, UCC), Daw Sao Mon Sint (Cindy, UCC), U Mya Aung (UCC), U Soe Myint (UCC) and Ivan’s relatives (who displayed their culinary skills).
    • There were six 69ers at the gathering.

    July 13 (Windsor)

    Windsor
    Breakfast
    • Sayagyi U Aung Khin was delighted to see his former students — Ivan Lee & Fred Thetgyi — drive a long way to pay respect to him.
    • Ivan provided his Mercedes & gas for the trip.
    • Fred drove most of the way to let Ivan have a light load. Fred also took photos of the trip.
    • Sayagyi allowed my spouse & I to spend the night at his guest room.
    • Sayagyi prepared “pe kyaw ပဲကြော်” and “mohinga မုန့်ဟင်းခါး” for breakfast the next morning for the four of us. He also gave mementos.

    July 14 & 15 (Napean)

    Napean
    Thousand Islsnds
    • Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi hosted his former students for two days.
    • Showed us around Toronto
    • Took us to the Thousand Islands

    July 16 & 17 (Massachusetts)

    • Despite being busy working on two projects, U Tun Aung Gyaw took two days off to host his former classmates.
    • Took us to MIT and Harvard.
    • It has become a tradition to touch the “shining” shoe of Harvard’s statue (and make a wish).
    • Fred touched with one hand and made a wish on behalf of his grand kid.
    MIT
    • Ivan touched with both hands saying he needed to make a wish on behalf of his six grand children.
    Dinner

    July 18 & 19 (Connecticut)

    • U Toung (Tom) and Daw Khin Myint (Kim) were our hosts for the Connecticut leg of our trip.
    • A photo was taken by Fred in front of one of the 30+ libraries at Yale University.
    • Another photo was taken by a waitress (who has a “FRED” tattoo on her arm in honor of her father) at Table (10) of Frank Pepe’s pizza. Photos of the then young Bill Clinton, who frequented the pizza place, can be seen on the wall. She checked Fred’s ID & agreed to have a picture together.
    Yale
    Pizza

    Miscellaneous

    • On the way to Windsor, we stopped to see Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. On a previous trip, I had seen Niagara Falls from the US side. Many say that the view from the Canadian side is better.
    Niagara
    • The speed limit in Canada was lower than that of US. Ivan’s GPS had some hiccup inside Canada. We ended up late arriving at Sayagyi’s U Aung Khin house.
    • We just drove around Toronto on our way to Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi’s house. We prefer to be early than late.
    • U TAG lives in Shrewbury about 50 miles from Boston. He was working on multiple projects.
    • Tom lives in Trumbull, Connecticut. He is retired. He spends time in Hong Kong with his son & grandchild.
    • As a side trip, Fred took us to Pennsylvania & Maryland.
      He lives in Philadelphia. We visited Liberty Bell & selected places. U Thein Han is my sole remaining uncle. He lives in Maryland.
    • Ivan had two PEs (from New Jersey and New York). He owns some real estate. He loves to cook. He plays accordion and harmonica. He is a Life time Gold member of US Bridge Association. He is a Golden Sponsor of SPZP-2000 and SPZP-2007. He is a major donor to the 69er Health Care Fund.

    Update

    • Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi passed away peacefully in sleep recently.
  • “Doctor” Tin Aung Win

    “Doctor” Tin Aung Win

    by Tin Aung Win

    Update : 24th October 2026

    Saya U Kyaw Tun (President of RIT EE Association)

    Dear Ko Hla Min,

    I really do like reading your profile of past alumni. It is inspiring as well as very informative. I would like to suggest that you make it a regular feature, maybe in the future. I know you guys are really busy now and do admire for the time and energy you can give to the cause. You all have done a very good job and have my sincere best wishes. Thank you again to all of you.

    I’m in awe of many alumni with PhDs and so on. However, I earned my doctorate a very long time ago. In fact, I believe I’m the only one who first got a doctorate before the first degree. I’ll let you in on the secret. It was back in the late 60’s when I was dating Sanda (daughter of the late Saya U Kyaw Tun). Although I was never in Sayagyi’s class, when he was lecturing, he would tell his class that he has two daughters and that he would only marry them off to someone whom has a Ph.D. From then on, whenever we were together and walking along the corridors, someone would say, “here comes Dr. Tin Aung Win”.

    As I am leaving Sydney with my wife Sanda (Dorothy) on the 9th of October, 2000, I’m going to miss your countdown series. However, I have printed out most of them, which will enable me to read on the long flight to SF. I’ll be spending time in some countries before I hit SF on the 27th of Oct, and for the mega reunion on the 28th.

    Cheers
    Tin Aung Win

    Comments

    • Sayagyi is a saya of our sayas (including U Sein Hlaing and U Tin Swe).
    • His elder daughter Elizabeth was my primary school friend.
      She received her Ph.D. in English in 1994 and worked at Indiana University and/or Purdue University.
  • Supplementary Materials for HMEE-2012

    Supplementary Materials for HMEE-2012

    by Ohn Khine & Hla Min

    Update : 24th October 2026

    Ohn Khine
    Hla Min
    CD for HMEE

    Constraints

    Due to time & resource constraints, only a fraction of the materials could be described in the book “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar”

    CD Supplement

    U Ohn Khine (M70) and I compiled references, articles in English and photos that were not covered in the book into a CD.

    We attempted to cover as much historical data and articles as possible.

    Materials for non-Burmese readers

    • Part 1 of the HMEE book was translated by U Ohn Khine (M 70). Saya Des Rodgers corrected the contextual and usage errors.
    • Part 2 is not a complete translation of the Burmese text. To avoid duplication of some materials (e.g. lengthy tables), we have chosen to present a summary & overview.

    Archives

    • Archives from the RIT web sites: http://www.ex-rit.org and http://www.rit-alumni.info.
      Thanks to U Khin Maung Zaw and U Wunna Ko Ko for designing and maintaining the web sites.
    • Archives from the SPZPs: SPZP-2000 (San Francisco), SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 and SPZP-2010 (Singapore), and SPZP-2004 (Yangon)

    Photo Albums

    • From ex-RIT web sites, RIT Alumni Facebook Pages, Sayagyi U Ba Than, Saya U Soe Paing and U Myo Myint (EC67)

    History of the Engineering Departments

    • By Dr. Aung Gyi (Rector), U Min Wun (C), U Aung Khin (M), U Soe Khaw (Min), U Thit (Met), U Myo Myint Sein (A)

    Selected Posts

    • Excerpts from “RIT Alumni International Newsletter Updates” from 1999 – 2012 by U Hla Min (EC 69)

    Interviews

    • Saya U Tin U, Saya U Ba Than and Saya U Khin Aung Kyi gave interviews for HMEE-2012 project.

    Proofreaders

    • Saya U Soe Paing, U Ohn Khine and I proof read HMEE-2012 and provided corrections (e.g. RIT Luyechun list did not contain 1965), but they was not enough time to do all the corrections.

    HMEE projects

    • Saya U Aung Hla Tun is the leader for HMEE-2012 and HMEE-2018 Projects.
    • HMEE-2018 will cover revisions and extensions to HMEE-2012.
    • Due to the pandemic and Saya’s demise, HMEE-2018 is in limbo.
  • Dr. Htin Aung

    Dr. Htin Aung

    by Hla Min

    Update : 23rd October 2026

    Dr. Htin Aung 1
    Dr. Htin Aung
    • Principal of Rangoon College
    • First native Rector of the University of Rangoon
    • Per Dr. Yan Naing Lwin, Dr. Htin Aung accompanied Prime Minister U Nu to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1954
    • Vice Chancellor, RU
    • After retirement, Dr. Htin Aung became Ambassador to Ceylon. Per U Tin Htoon, Dr. Htin Aung greeted the RUBC team and also provided transportation to visit Kandy.
    • Per Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint, his Ba Dwe was recalled back to Burma by the Foreign Office. One day, the then Number One asked Saya what he was doing in Burma and that he did not ask the Foreign Office to recall him. Saya went to UK to continue his research and writing.
    • Old alumni may have studied Saya’s books such as “Thirty Burmese Tales” and “Burmese Drama”
    • Saya is a scholar, a prolific writer, a historian and a folklorist
    • Saya’s siblings —ICS U Tin Tut; Dean of Law U Kyaw Myint; Chief Justice U Myint Thein; Kyauksar expert Daw Khin Mya Mu; Khit San poet Daw Khin Saw Mu; English lecturer Daw Tin Saw Mu

    Feedback from Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint

    • [Ba Dwe] Dr Htin Aung did not get an ambassador post. He was Called a Minister (current title is Minister Counselor) and the office in Ceylon was under the Embassy in New Dehli.
    • Sometime later, on one occasion, Ne Win said, “Where is Saya Htin Aung?”
      Thi Han immediately called Dr Htin Aung to come back.
    • Ba Dwe could not find out why. It took nearly six months to see Ne Win. On meeting Ne Win, Ne Win asked why he had come back. Ba Dwe explained about being called back and that he could not go back as another person had been sent. Ne Win told him he did not call back [from Ceylon]. He was thinking of his teacher and was just asking where was. Wasn’t it like Shwe Pyin Nyi Naung?
    • He asked Ba Dwe what he could do for him. Ba Dwe asked to leave Burma for Oxford. He left to be Fellow of St Anthony’s College.
    • The other dignitaries to be awarded honorary degrees were Prince Souphanouvong of Cambodia and Emperor Haile Salasie of Ethiopia together with my father in 1958.
    • I had a photo of my father receiving the honorary LLD which he never used from PM U Ba Swe.
    U Kyaw Myint

  • UCC — Application Division

    by Hla Min

    Update : 23rd October 2026

    U Soe Than

    Soe Than
    • Graduated with Mathematics from RASU
    • M.Sc. from the University of Lancaster in the UK
    • Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, USA
    • Taught at Virginia Military Institute (VMI)
    • He is currently working in the Washington, D.C.
    • His friend Sayama Daw Swe Swe Than asked U Soe Than to tutor her sister Daw Wai Wai Than. The rest is history.

    U Mra Tun

    • Mra is a Rakkhine spelling for Mya
    • Mathematics major
    • Joined UCC as an applications programmer
    • There were some difficulties in finding a suitable university for Mra in the UK. He received an offer from the University of Belfast, but there was violence notably in connection with IRA (Irish Republican Army). He ended up migrating to the USA.
    • He owns a set of equipment (Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Audio) to form a band.
    • He was leader of TAMPS band (formed with the initials of the members): Tin Aung, Austin Xavier, Mra Tun, Pierpont Morgan and Sidney Sann Aung.
    • In the USA, he often jams with the local music bands.
    • He and Ricky Zaw (brother of Daw Nyunt Nyunt Zaw (T68)) performed a duet at the BASES Annual Dinner in Los Angeles.
    • He worked as an independent consultant and as a contractor for IBM. Most of his projects are related to COBOL.

    U Kyaw Nyein (GBNF)

    Kyaw Nyein
    • Taught Numeral Methods at the UCC courses
    • Studied in the UK
    • He was athletic and played Football and Volleyball
    • He had a kidney problem
    • His “Ah Nar Dei” attitude (to use the health fund provided by former colleagues) led to his demise.

    U Aung Hlaing

    • He is known as Japan Sayagyi. His wife worked for Foreign Ministry and was assigned to Japan. He accompanied her and worked as a COBOL programmer.
    • Saya U Soe Paing met him during his training (sponsored by Japan International Cooperating Agency and implemented by Fujitsu and other Japanese computer companies). Saya asked him if he would like to join UCC upon his return to Burma.
    • He became one of the COBOL teachers
    • He later moved to Australia

    U Soe Thein (GBNF)

    • Also known as Joe Thein
    • He had a disability, but that did not prevent him to have a good life and career. He completed training from ICL including COBOL programming.
    • He joined UCC as an “off-line” operator
    • He transferred to the Application Division
    • He became one of the COBOL teachers

    Transfers

    • Some Operations Division staff transferred to other divisions (e.g. Scientific Applications Division) and/or Teaching. They include U Myint Swe and U Soe Myint (GBNF).
    • Some transferred from other Government departments to UCC. They include U Win Myint (SLR) and U Tin Win.
    • Several student volunteers joined UCC after completing their M.Sc. and DAC courses. They include U Win Naing (GBNF), Daw Tin May Lwin and Daw Thin Thin Aung.
  • Mechanical Sayas

    Mechanical Sayas

    by Hla Min

    Update : 23rd October 2026

    Mech Sayas
    • The photo was probably taken in the late 1980s.
    • There were only two Sayamas among the 40 or so Mechanical Engineering Sayas & Sayamas.

    The following sayas are GBNF

    • U Maung Maung Than
    • U Ba Than
    • U Aung Than
    • S. Arya
    • U Khin Maung
    • U Soe Lwin
    • U Kyaw Sein
    • U Tin Maung Oo
    • Dr. Chan Nyein
    • U Thein Tun Aung
    • U Hla Thwin
    • S Kyaw Aye

    Comments

    • The photo does not include U Tin Myint, Dr. Lu Aye and U Zaw Hein Kyaw — all M80. They were doing postgraduate studies in Melbourne, Australia.
    • Dr. Jesse Htwe was in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2000, but she did not attend SPZP-2000.
    • I met several Mech sayas at the SPZPs and Mech Gatherings (as Guest) in Yangon.
    U Lay Aung
    • U Lay Aung passed away recently. He was Patron of RIT Buddhist Association.
    U Kyin Soe
    • Several sayas (including U Kyin Soe) could not attend Pu Zaw Pwes and gatherings.