Luyechun (လူရည်ချွန်) for 9th & 10th standards. Present at the first Luyechun Camp was Thinchar Chun (သင်္ချာချွန်) Kyaw Myint (later T72 grad, MARB President)
Metallurgical Engineering
Nyunt Htay 2
Graduated from RIT in 1973 with Metallurgical Engineering
Taught Metallurgical Engineering
Retired as Associate Professor
Wrote articles about the Department, Sayas & Students
Passion
Poetry, writing & editing
Pen name : Maung Nyunt Htay (Ah Htet Min Hla) မောင်ညွန့်ဌေး (အထက်မင်းလှ)
Nyunt Htay 3
Editor, RIT Annual Magazine
Chief Editor, Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung
Myanmar Mudita
Contributor, Poetic Art Series
Co-author, Collection of Swel Daw Yeik Poems
Book of Poems
Family members
Two daughters
Several “Myee” cats.
Health
Had a brush with Covid-19 and received support from the alumni and/or SDYF.
Recovered fully
Some sayas, sayamas and 9 Metallurgy alumni (including Maung Tun, 69er) succumbed to Covid.
Memories
Book Presents
Gave me the Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung
Gave me an autographed copy of “Swel Daw Kabyar Collection” by him and four RIT Poets : Saya U Moe Aung, Saya U Aung Myaing, U Win Myint (M72) and U Toee Maung.
2015 RIT Alumni in Los Angeles
Attended the gathering with Metallurgy Saya U Win Kyaw (Met71),
Other Metallurgy attendees include Saya U Thein Aung (Met72), Sayama Dr. Naing Naing Aung (Met91) & Ko Thiri Nyunt (musician).
Gathering at iNapa Winery
At iNapa Winery
Metallurgy sayas and Ko Thiri Nyunt attended the Lunch, Dinner & Entertainment at iNapa winery hosted by Gordon Kaung (M83) and Lillian (EC83).
The attendees paid respect to Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi. On behalf of Bagyee Myat Myo Myint, U Nyunt Htay presented a Pon Tu to Sayagyi.
Micro-gathering in 2019
During my visit to Yangon in late 2019, U Nyunt Htay hosted a micro gathering at Shwe Bae.
U Win Kyaw picked me and Saya U Ye Myint (ChE70) to attend the gathering.
Daw Mya Mya Than ဒေါ်မြမြသန်း (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဆရာမ ငြိမ်း
Daw Mya Mya Than
U Soe Myint Lwin ဦးစိုးမြင့်လွင် (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဘော်လုံး
Soe Myint Lwin
U Tun Aung ဦးထွန်းအောင် (Jeffrey, ကွယ်လွန်) — BASES
Tun Aung
U Saw Win ဦးစောဝင်း (ကွယ်လွန်)
Saw Win
U Thein Zaw ဦးသိန်းဇော် (Joe, ကွယ်လွန်)
Thein Zaw
Dickey Paul (ကွယ်လွန်)
He passed away in Australia.
U Myo Myintဦးမျိုးမြင့် — လျှပ်စစ်စာဆောင်
Myo Myint
U Aung Khin ဦးအောင်ခင် — Gawpaka, BASES
Aung Khin
U Min Maung ဦးမင်းမောင် Gawpaka
Seattle Monastery
မြို့ပြ Civil
U Myat Htoo ဦးမြတ်ထူး — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း၊
Founding member, RIT Alumni International Organizer, SPZP-2000 Founding member, NorCal RITAA
Myat Htoo
U Myint Soe ဦးမြင့်စိုး (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း
He is SPHS 62.
C68 — Class Photo
C68
C68 — Status
15 ယောက် ခန့် — ကွယ်လွန် GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten)
GBNF
စက်မှု Mechanical
U Yu Swan ဦးယုစွမ် —ဒုံမင်း Don Min
Yu Swan
U Khin Maung Nyo ဦးခင်မောင်ညို — ကြက်တောင်
Member of the RIT Badminton Team which won the Inter-Institute Trophy
U Ngwe Tun ဦးငွေထွန်း — Dio
Provided comments for several posts
ချည်ထည် Textile
U Khin Maung Lay ဦးခင်မောင်လေး (Henry)
ပြေးခုန်ပစ်၊ Secretary, RIT Track and Field ဘော်လုံး၊ RIT Soccer လှေလှော်၊ RIT Rowing President, BASES Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
Khin Maung Lay
ဓာတု Chemical
ဦးအုန်းမောင် (Anthony) — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း
ပိသုကာ Architecture
Sai Yee Laik စိုင်းရီလိတ် (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း
Worked for the company that won the Burmese Buddhist Temple project in Singapore.
President of Swel Daw Yeik Foundation; Hosted lunch meetings
Major donor for SDYF
Donated to Alumni Association for YTU Library Modernization
Donated for the Entertainment Program of SPZPs & SDYF events
Provided Eye Care for eligible RIT sayas & sayamas
Sang SDYF theme song with Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War, Patron of SDYF). The song is not a transformation of Saya’s poem. It was a new composition. Ko Than Po (M75) helped with the music injection.
Attended the 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles.
Attended the Alumni Gathering in SF Bay Area.
Updates
Balance of the “Vision Care fund for RIT sayas & sayamas” was transferred to SDYF
When the Korean War erupted in 1950 with the USA and China as the main protagonists, I was a child [probably too young to comprehend the details], but the interest in the war and its impact intensified as I grew older. Imperial Japan ruled Korea from 1910 to 1945. At the end of the Second World War, USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) declared war on Japan [supposedly] with the aim of dividing Korea. With the approval of the US, the Soviet Union claimed North of the 38th Parallel. The USA took control of South Korea. Japan conceded defeat and left Korea.
The conflict between the Governments of North Korea and South Korea escalated into a full-scale war. With the backing of the Soviet Union and China, the North Korea army invaded South Korea in June, 1950. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the invasion and passed a resolution to defend South Korea. Twenty one nations (including US) sent forces to defend South Korea.
About two months – in the early phase of the war – South Korean forces suffered losses and had to retreat. Then, the counter attacks of the UN forces were able to “severe” the connections of the North Korean fighting units. In the middle of 1951, China sent forces to aid the North Korean army. UN forces retreated.
I am not trying to describe the Korean War in detail. I want to emphasize the intensive use of man power to engage in traditional combat. Note that there were occasional uses of bombers. During the three years (June 25th 1950 to July 27th 1953), there was a huge number of dead, wounded, POW (prisoners of war), and MIA (missing in action). The following statistics show the ghastly nature of the war. Note that only South Koreans are accounted for “South Korea & the 21 nations sent by UN”.
South Korea 178,426 Dead 566,434 Wounded & POW
North Korea 300,000 (estimate) Dead 303,000 Wounded; 120,000 POW
China 400,000+ (estimate) Dead 486,000 Wounded; 21,000 POW
Civilian Casualty 2.5 million South Koreans 1.5 million North Koreans
(2)
From the list of casualties, we can clearly see the striking amount of dead and wounded for both soldiers and civilians. In particular, China – the most populated nation in the world – is estimated to have 900 thousand dead and wounded. Imagine, how many soldiers China must have sent to help North Korea. The News Media of that time coined the phrase “Sea of men” to describe the Chinese army battling the Korean War. One can envision the mass of fighters as an vast open sea.
We have witnessed two “Sea of men” in our mother land. We saw the first Sea in 1988. We are seeing the second Sea now [in 2015]. The poem “Sea of men” was written in September 1988, but it was censored. One does not need to think twice to guess why I wrote the poem.
SEA OF MEN
Water – drop by drop
countless drops assemble
as a water flow
Water flows – collectively
rushing, hustling, bustling –
transforming into a stream
From streams
to twisting, turning and winding rivers
to the whorl of the sea
Very long and broad – vast expanse
waves – agitated by winds – rise high
with grudge and anger
to put down [intruders]
It’s SACCA (“Thitsar” – Truth of nature)
[Rower] holding an oar
thrusting into the water
hoping to harness the wave, but …
[Helmsman] on board a ship
with engine roaring
hoping to split the wave, but …
Only for a short while
the waves seem to loosen –
with sprinkles and sprouts
turn into vortex with immense power –
stronger than ever
One can never break up determined men
It’s SACCA (“Thitsar” – Truth of nature).
September 23rd, 1988
The current “Sea of men” is not for sending people to fight as in the Korean War. It is SACCA [“Thitsar” – Truth of nature] that people, who had to breathe for a long, long time polluted air and strive in an environment with degradation in economics, health, civics, ethics, and education, WOULD assemble VOLUNTARILY in the hope of breathing pure, clean air once again. Does not one like gentle breeze? Does not one want to enjoy fragrances that are carried by the breeze? Sad to note that some of the drains that are left uncleaned are making the air unfit to breathe. Worse still, the defamatory attacks by some have further degraded the air quality.
As the November, 2015 elections draw close, we see “Sea of men”. People truly want to understand and differentiate the ones who really care to upgrade the quality life of lay people, from those, who tend to ignore the people and care only for their own.
Updates
Saya Moe
Saya had medical problems, but he did not stop writing articles & kabyars.
Kabyar
Thanks Saya for your presents — books, magazines, sar saungs & pasoe
The Group photo shows the Staff and the 2nd, 3rd and Final Year students.
A60
Most of the 2nd Year students graduated in 1960.
U Tin Htoon (A60)
1960 ARAE Regatta
Past Captain & Gold, RUBC.
Won the Union of Burma President’s Challenge Cup for Inter-club Coxed Eights in 1956.
Won the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta with Dr. Harry Saing (GBNF).
Won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo, with Dr. Harry Saing (GBNF), Sunny Teng, Victor Htun Shein (GBNF) and Sein Htoon (M63)
Won Silver medal for Yachting at SEAP Games in Bangkok with Hla Khin.
Founded Architects Incorporated with U Bo Gyi (A59, GBNF) & U Aung Kyee Myint (A60). They later joined PWD.
Designed Thiri Pyit Saya hotel in Bagan
Designed Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore
Board Member of Pariyatti Association
Fundraiser & organizer for selected Goenka projects
In 1963, he compiled the Souvenir Magazine for the RUBC 40th Anniversary with Sithu U Tin (President) and U Po Zon (Vice President).
In 2013, he chaired the subcommittee to publish the Souvenir Magazine for the RUBC 90th Anniversary. U Myo Myint (EC67, RUBC Gold) was Vice Chair. U Htaik San (Henry Kao, M81, RUBC Gold) was Secretary. U Hla Min (EC69) was Contributing Editor, who wrote Prelude for every section and three feature articles.
Retired after working in Myanmar, Singapore and California (USA)
Co-founder, Triple Gems Publication
Compiled Photo Albums with Htaik San (Henry) for his parents, two elder brothers (U Tin U & U Ba Than) and a nephew (Dr. Peter Tun, who passed away with COVID-19 in UK).
U Aung Kyee Myint (A60)
Founded Architects Incorporated with U Bo Gyi (A59, GBNF) & U Tin Htoon (A60)
Retired Chief Architect of PWD.
U Kin Maung Yin (A60, GBNF)
Part-time saya
Proponent of Modern Art
Movie Director
Koon Yin Chu (Phillip Chu, A60)
First in Burma in Matric exam of 1954 from SPHS
First in the Class of A60
Attended SPZP-2000
Restaurant owner; Good dancer
Chemical
Seven ChE60 graduates
ChE
U Aung Zaw Win (Ch60)
Col. DI/HIC ( Retired)
U Tha Tun Aung (Ch60)
Maj. DI (Retired)
Director HIC (Retired)
Saya Dr. Maung Maung Win (ChE60, GBNF)
Dr. Maung Maung Win
Retired as Professor of Chemical Engineering
Masters from Kansas University and Doctorate from Purdue University
Civil
U Tun Aye (C60)
Amara Hall, volleyball player Captain
He was from Nyaungdon
U Tun Aung (C60)
Secretary of Prome Hall S&R (1958-59)
Prome Hall football team member
U Taik Lwin (C60)
Major, GE (Retired), GBNF
Director, HIC
U Lay Lwin (C60)
Major, GE (Retired)
Director, TSC
Ministry of Industry 2
U Khin Zaw (C60)
Major, GE (Retired)
U Soe Lin (C60)
Construction Corp. (Retired)
U Kan Aye (C60)
Director (Public Works) (Retired)
CC
He was from Moulmein
U Soe Kyaw (C60)
MOC (Retired)
He was from Thaton
U Than Ngwe (C60, GBNF)
CC (Retired)
He was from Mandalay and brother of the late U Than Shwe
U Ba Swe (C60)
Dy. Director ( Water/ Sanitation), Public Works
Per U Aye : Volleyball team mate Prome Hall selection in 1958-59
U Hla Thein (C60)
CC (Retired)
Prome Hall selected footballer.
U Kyaw Htin (C60)
Construction corporation
He was from St.Patrick’s HS, Mawlamyine
U Tin Ohn (C60)
Port Commissioners, Yangon.(Retired)
Went for further study in Australia.
He was from SHS No.1, Mawlamyine.
U Hla Tin (C60)
Irrigation (Retired)
A writer/poet (Kaytu Win Tint), my mentor, senior colleague from Prome Hall, he was in room no. 102, while I (U Aye N62) was in room 108.
He was from Toungoo.
U Hla Thein (C60)
From State HS No,1, Mawlamyine
Ramanya Hall basketball star
Yangon City Development (GNBF)
Electrical
U Mg Mg Myo Nyunt (EE60)
Major (DI) (Retired)
(also known as Ko Than Nyunt at Prome Hall)
President of SPARKS (1958-59)
U Htay Swe (EE60)
He was from St Patrick’s HS. Moulmein. He matriculated the same year with U Aung Tun (DI) .
U Than Htut (EE60)
ECC (Retired)
Passed away while on state scholarship to the US.
U Nyan Tun (EE60)
EPC
He was from SHS No.1, Mawlamyine
U Tun Yee (EE60)
Dy. Director (Electrical), Public Works
Per U Aye : He was from Prome Hall, known for body building, our instructor for body building in his room, 1958-59.
U Soe Thein (EE60)
Attended SPZP-2000 with his brothers Saya Dr. Aung Soe (C61) and Saya Dr. K C Chiu (ChE63)
Mechanical
U Aung Tun (M60)
Major(Retired), Defense Industries (DI)
St. Patrick’s HS, Mawlamyine
Prome Hall selection in football and basketball
U Hla Shwe (M60)
Lt Col (Retired), Defense Industries
U Khin Maung Win (M60)
EE, BPI (Retired)
He was from Morton Lane Judson HS, Moulmein
Nelson Khaing (M60)
Major (DI) (Retired)
Dy. Supdt No.4 HI
U Tun Aung Zaw (M60)
Ministry of Mines
Per U Aye : He was my senior neighbour at Prome Hall in 1958-59), room number 107, while I was in room number 108.
Saya U Tin Htut (M60)
Past Captain & Gold, RUBC
Taught Industrial Management (formerly taught by sayas from Social Science & Institute of Economics)
Co-founder & Past President, BASES
Financial Controller, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
Donated to various RIT-related projects (e.g Library Modernization
Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60)
U Tin Maung Nyunt
MS from Virginia Tech
Taught Agricultural Engineering at RIT
President of RIT Thaing
Worked in Thailand & USA.
Donated to Norcal RITAA & YTU Library Modernization Project.
U Than Tin (M60, GBNF)
U Tin Htut & U Than Tin
RUBC Gold
Won the Union of Burma President’s Challenge Cup for Inter-Club Coxed Eights in 1956
U Than Sein (M60)
Due to schedule conflict, he could not join the M60 Reunion lunch with U Tin Htut & U Than Tin.
Saya U Tun Shwe (M60)
U Tun Shwe
Patron of RITAA, SDYF and SPZP.
Attended 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles. His host was his cousin U Win Htay (Walter Cheng Lyan, M70).
U Bo Lay (M 60)
EE Mechanical (Retired)
Irrigation Dept.
U Hla Shein (M60)
Asst Lecturer, 1960-61
Moved to CC
Manager, Insein Workshop
Part time lecturer on mechanized construction.
Metallurgy
U Than Shwe (Met60, GBNF)
Lt Col, Defense Industries
MD -Heavy Industries Corp.(HIC)
Minister for Industries
U Kyaw Win (Met60)
Lt Col (Retired), Defense Industries
Public Health
U Maung Maung (Public Health 60)
Major-GE(Retired)
UNICEF (Sierra Leone)
UNICEF(New York)
He was from Morton Lane Judson HS, Mawlamyine
During his assignment in FAO project in Sierra Leone, U Aye met U Maung Maung in Freetown
There are many posts about 69ers with varying focus & details. Need to integrate them.
A69
Aung Khin : worked in Botswana; moved to Seattle, Washington, USA to be near daughters and grand children; Attended Golden Jubilee on December 14, 2019 in Yangon
Kyaw Kyaw : belonged to an elite group who married early
Myo Tun (Bobby) : won essay contests as Errol Than Tun; retired from PWD; he became Ashin Pannagavesaka; was editor of Pa Auk Sayadaw’s books and dhamma librarian at the Mawlamyine Pa Auk Taw Ya; went on dhamma dhuta missions (e.g. to Vietnam).
Tobias K. Ku (Tobi, GBNF) : succumbed to Covid in 2021; daughter passed away earlier to Covid
Thet Htun : moved to Taiwan.
Thwin Thwin Aye MHmi (Olive) : played chinlon with her classmates; Spouse : U Han Zaw; Met them at the lunch gathering at Crystal Jade in 2012
Tin Maung Hla (GBNF) : sponsored Abhidhamma books & courses
ChE69
Aung Min Oo
Aung San
Aye Aye Kyu
Ceril Shair (USA?)
Khan Za Lan
Khin Maung Win
Kyaw Minn (Ei Kun, Singapore)
Kyaw Min (Albert) : Guitarist, Vocalist
Moe Hein (Ajala) : Swimming, Water Polo
Myat Tun
Myint Ko
Myint Myint Aye
Myo Min, Mehm
Soe Win
Swe Swe Oo
Taing Oke, Dr. (Japan)
Yi Yi Khaing (Vilma, Singapore)
C69
Aung Chaw (Victor, Ashin Okkantha)
Aung Kyaw Nyein (USA)
Aung Myint
Aung Than
Aung Win
Ba Than Chit (Saw Myint Naing)
Han Sein (GBNF) : Swimming. Water Polo, Diving, Basketball, Tone Kyaw
Hla Myint
Hla Myint Thein (Patrick Aye) : Saya, Secy of RIT Civil, Entrepreneur
Htay Aung (Canada)
Htay Myint
Htin Aung, Dr. (Chinlone) : Prof
Khin Aung (Taiwan)
Khin Maung
Khin Maung Aye
Khin Maung Myint
Khin Maung Tint : Saya, Entrepreneur
Khin Maung Win, Dr. (Donald Ba Pe) : Assoc. Prof, Taught in Malaysia
Kyaw Min Thein (Kenneth)
Kyaw Naing (Kyaw Thwin)
Kyaw Thein
Kyaw Tint
Li Li Wai (Lily?)
Maung Kyaw
Myint Aung
Myo Khin, Dr. (Retired Prof at Japanese University)
Myo Nyunt : Jt. Secy of T & F; Soccer
Myo Win
Myo Chit
Myint Myint : Major Donor to 69er HCF, Donated to Library & selected charities
Nyi Hla Nge : Retired Dy Minister
Ngwe Tun (Tun Tun)
Phone Kyaw (Mandalay)
Phor Daw Khan
Sam Nithang (Samuel, USA) : Saya
Saw Lwin
San Linn
Saw Yan Naing (GBNF)
Sein Tun
Soe Myint
Soe Tint
Than Htwe
Than Oo
Thaung Htay
Thaung Htwe
EE69
Abdul Rauf (GBNF)
Aung Gyi Shwe (GBNF) : Secy of T&F, Soccer, Weightlifting
Aung Kyaw Pe
Aung Than
Aung Thu Yein (GBNF)
Aye Thein : Volleyball
Ba Oak
Bishnu Shahi (GBNF) : Badminton
Chit Tin (GBNF)
Dave Singh Saluja (Thailand)
Hla Min (USA) : Lifelong Learner
Hla Paik
Hla Tun
Khin Maung Hassan (Saudi Arabia)
Khin Maung Bo (Alan Saw Maung, GBNF)
Khin Maung Soe
Khin Maung Tint
Khin Maung Win (GBNF) : Sargalay turned Lada
Khin Maung Win (Roland Thein)
Krishnan Lal (Australia)
Kyaw Sein (Ashley Woo)
Kyaw Sein (Singapore)
Kyaw Soe (GBNF)
Kyaw Win
Kyaw Zin (Australia?)
Kyi Shwin
Kyi Win (Kyaw Gyi)
Kyin Hwet
Maung Toung (Tom, USA)
Maung Kaung
Maung Ko
Maung Maung : Volleyball; Jt Treasurer, EE69er HCF
Maung Shwe : Treasurer, 69er HCF & EE69er HCF
Mehm Paw Oo
Mehm Aung Tin
Min Aung (Hla Thaung)
Min Lwin
Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet)
Myint Maung (Bu)
Myo Aung
Myo Hein
Oo Kyaw Hla (Canada?)
Sai Aik Yee
Sai Kham Pan : Burma Selected in Badminton
Sai Kyaw Aye (?) : Shan language broadcasting
Saw Aung
Saw Edison (Australia) : Volleyball
Saw Lwoi Lwin Thaw (?)
Sein Myint (K K Wong, USA?) : Rowing, Swimming, Water Polo; Major Donor to 69er HCF and EE69er HCF
Soe Myint
Soe Myint Thein
Soe Thein (Peter Myint Maung)
Soe Win (GBNF) : Basketball
Tan Chaung Yin (USA)
Thar Kyaw
Than Hla (Cyril Ba Than)
Than Htay
Than Lwin (Henry) : Saya
Than Myint
Thein Swe (GBNF) : 3rd BE Luyechun
Thein Tun (Michael)
Thet Lwin
Tin Maung Soe (Tommy Ah Nein, GBNF) : Basketball
Tin Oo
Tin Shwe : hosted BFG
Tin Tin (Anne, USA) : Homecoming in 2019
Tun Aung Gyaw, Dr. (USA) : UCC, DCS, ICST; AI
Victor Lwin
Win Boh (Robert Gyi, Australia) : Guitarist, Vocalist
Win Maung (Thailand?) : Rowing, Swimming, Water Polo
Ye Win, Mehm : Secy of RIT EE
Yi Tun
Zau Lai, Duwa : Myitkyina & Yangon
Several GBNF
M69
The list is not exhaustive
Aye Lwin (GBNF) : Secretary of RIT Mechanical Engineering Association; Secretary of RIT Annual Magazine; Attended 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
Aung Min : Chair, 69er HCF; Organizer of 69er Activities
Aung Myint : Joined Faculty after graduation; Taught at Singapore Poly; Lives in New Zealand and Singapore
Mehm Aye Chan (Ohn Maung) : Joined Faculty after graduation; Worked at sea before founding his own company
Htay Aung : Outstanding swimmer; Won 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and Cross-lake; Burma selected in water polo for 1969 SEAP Games; Spouse : Than Than (SEAP & Asian Games Champion)
TT & HA
Khin Maung Aye : Joined Defense Industries; Pen name : Maung Hmut
Khin Maung Tin : Joined Faculty after graduation; Taught at RIT & Marine Engineering Institute
Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee) : MS in USA; PE for New York & New Jersey; Golden Sponsor of SPZP-2000; Major donor to 69er Health Care Fund; Host for RIT-UCC Gathering in New Jersey for more than a decade; Founder & CEO of MASTAA
Ivan
Tint Lwin (Daniel) : MS from Canada; Retired as Associate Professor from NTU; Guitarist / Vocalist
Daniel
Met69
Myint Kyi
Maung Tun (GBNF) — Covid
Ohn Kyaw
Sai Aung Win (Mandalay)
Sai Kyaw Myint
Tin Aung
Min69
Aung Win
Khin Kyaw Nyein (GBNF)
Kyaw Tint (GBNF)
Khin Maung Gyi
Mya Win
Tin Maung
Tin Win (Hosted lunch gathering at Crystal Jade in 2012)
I felt uncomfortable to be addressed as “Ah Ba”, “Pho Pho” and to be offered assistance (e.g. wheelchair).
I now feel OK to use wheelchair at air ports and to have people assist me when I climb up & down hill slopes. I had a couple of bike rides on dirt roads.
I enjoy senior discounts for trains, buses & restaurants.
I hope that my mental faculties will remain sharp and strong.
Jara (old age) caught even the sport stars like Sayagyi U Ba Toke.
Sayagyi U Ba Toke
Phwa Bet Taw
Saya is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University and the first Rangoon University Students’ Strike in December 1920.
SPZP-2000
In 2000, Theingi (Saya’s youngest daughter) conveyed us Saya’s wishes to attend SPZP-2000. U Maung Maung Than (M79, Texas) had donated a round trip ticket. Several sayas & alumni donated expenses. Details can be found in “Count down to the Reunion” articles.
SPZP-2000
Birthdays
Saya 2
He celebrates his birthdays with his children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren.
Saya‘s birthday
Longevity
Saya gave a speech in SPZP-2007 about “Longevity”. He visited a house in USSR where the 80+ year old host explained about the noise up stairs. “Don’t worry. It’s my 100+ year old uncle quarelling with his fourth wife. They will make amends.”
Garawa
During my visits to Yangon, I paid respect to Saya.
U Ohn Khine (M70) gave me a ride in 2012. Saya gave us autographed book. We enjoyed Sayagyi’s accounts. He was a football star, a leader of the Burma Olympic Delegation, and an excellent teacher. Up to his early 80s, he could walk to the Shwe Dagon pagoda with his friends. In his 90s, Sayagyi lost some mobility, eye sight and hearing, but he was determined to attend SPZPs.
Book
In 2016, Saya’s son U Ye Myint and daughter Daw Thynn Thynn (Pansy) made arrangements to give us rides to and back from Saya’s house.
U Ba Toke
In 2018, I called Ma Theingi and asked about Sayagyi. She mentioned that Sayagyi is healthy but because he had lost most teeth, she has to listen carefully to grasp his message.
Saya passed away on December 2, 2020. It was the day after RI U Centennial. It was a few days short of his Centennial Birthday on December 26.
U Ba Than usually visits and pay homage to his saya U Ba Toke at least once every year.
Both are our Sayagyis.
January 2017
Pansy (Thynn Thynn, ChE 74) asked her daughter & son-in-law to pick up Saya U Ba Than (86 years), Saya U Tin Htut (79 years) and me to see her father Sayagyi U Ba Toke (96 years).
Sayagyi has some problems with mobility & vision, but his mind remains crisp & clear.
He was born on Dec 26, 1920. Rangoon University opened on Dec 1, 1929. They are “Phwa Bet Taws”.
Sayagyi deferred celebrating his birthday so that three of his grandchildren abroad could come back & join the celebration.
Sayagyi is pre-deceased by his beloved spouse, daughter (Kitty) and son (Soe Win).
He has six remaining children : Betty, Ye Myint, Nellie, Pansy, Tammy & Debbie
Pansy has offered transportation (within Rangoon) to Sayas who want to visit her father
Book
Book
A detailed account of Sayagyi has been covered by Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (“Maung Thin Char”).
I received an autographed copy during a previous visit. The book may need a reprint.
Memories
SPZP-2000
Ko Maung Maung Than (M79, Texas) donated a roundtrip ticket to invite a Saya from Myanmar to attend SPZP-2000.
Debbie (Saya’s youngest daughter) relayed Saya’s wish to attend SPZP-2000.
Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70) offered accommodation for Saya, Ko Ye Myint & spouse.
Several sayas and alumni donated towards Saya’s expenses for the trip. Some offered to show Saya around the SF Bay Area.
SPZP-2000SF Bay Area
SPZP-2007
Saya was asked about Longevity.
Saya recounted his experience in USSR. The host said, “Do not worry about the noise upstairs. It’s my 100+ years young uncle quarreling with his fourth wife. They will make peace soon”.
SPZP-2012 & 2016
Saya needed assistance to attend the SPZPs.
Even some younger Sayas needed wheelchair.
RU Centennial
Due to pandemic, most events were broadcast or held online.
Saya passed away on Dec 2, 2020 — the day after the RU Centennial.
GBNF
Sayagyi U Ba Toke passed away a few days short of his Centennial birthday
Fifth month in the old Roman Calendar; Had 30 days. The month was given an extra day and renamed in honor of Julius Caesar.
Seventh month in the Gregorian Calendar; Has 31 days
My father’s birthday
My beloved fatherMy parents
Born on 1st July
Passed away in his 80s
See posts : “Phay Phay” & “Let Oo Saya”
Men on the Moon
Book
Apollo 11 Mission
Eagle (Lunar Module) landed in Tranquility Bay on the Moon on July 20, 1969
Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) was the first to land on the moon
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) was the second to land on the moon
Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot) circled the Moon and waited for his crew mates to return from the Moon
I wrote a poem “Men on the Moon”. A copy was sent by Mr. Hall (Information Officer, USIA) to NASA. The poem was published in the Guardian.
Poem
US Independence
4th of July
Martyrs’ Day
July 19, 1947
Bogyoke Aung San, six ministers, a Secretary and a bodyguard were assassinated
Translation of InvictusAung San
Nine Arzanis were gunned down on July 19, 1947.
Eight perished that day.
Sao San Htun passed away at the hospital a day later.
Arzanis
Bogyoke Aung San — passed away at the tender age of 32 Children : U Aung San Oo, Aung San Lin (GBNF), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Thakin Mya — Considered as Deputy Prime Minister
Deedoke U Ba Cho — Grand children : Dr. Khin Hla Cho, Daw Khin Myint Cho
Mahn Ba Khaing — Daughter : Daw Myint Myint Khaing
Mong Pawn Sawbwa Sao San Htun — passed away in the hospital on July 20, 1947; Son : Sao Hso Holm
U Ba Win — Bogyoke’s elder brother; Son : Dr. Sein Win
U Razak — Sons : U Tin Myint, U Hla Kyi
ICS U Ohn Maung — Sons: U Tin Maung Thein, Francis, Dr, Min Min
Yebaw Maung Htwe
There are books (e.g. “Who killed Aung San?” and “Eliminate the Elite” by Kin Oung) and documentaries (e.g. “Who really killed Aung San?” by BBC program) about the fateful event.
Dark days in July 1962
According to the newspapers, 17 died on July 7, 1962.
Ko Aung Khin was stuck by a stray bullet as he was returning from RUBC to his home in Windermere Road. He was listed as the 17th victim.
The celebration of the 7th July in 1963 ended with the closure of Universities with the exception of the Faculties of Medical & Engineering.
The revered Student Union was demolished on July 8, 1962.
HlaMin 