Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing Founder of Peace Movement Principal of National College
U Thant
U Thant United Nations Secretary General Third UNSG First Asian UNSG
Bogyoke Aung San Architect of Burma’s Independence
U Thein Han (Zawgyi) Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Central Library Laureate Poet Co-founder, Khit San Sar Pay
U Wun (Minthuwun) Professor, Burmese Department, RU Head of RU Translation Department Lexicographer Visiting Professor at Osaka University Laureate Poet Co-founder, Khit San Sar Pay
Dr. Maung Maung Kha First native Professor of Physics Rector of Rangoon University (with longest tenure)
Ludu Daw Ah Mar (Amar) 1936 RU Students’ Strike Author and Publisher Spouse : Ludu U Hla
U Khin Maung Latt Taught English at RU and at his private school Chief Editor of Working People’s Daily Spouse : Daw Khin Myo Chit
Daw Khin Myo Chit Participant in the struggle for Burma’s Independence Award winning Author and Translator Spouse : U Khin Maung Latt
Rangoon University
The University of Rangoon was established in December 1920.
Silver Jubilee (in 1945) Most of the schools were closed for three years. The University of Rangoon reopened in 1946. There were make-shift classes on Mogul (Shwe Bon Tha) Street during that period. Saya U Ba Toke was lucky to receive his Masters during the war (thanks to his supervisor).
Golden Jubilee (in 1970) I used to have a commemorative issue. I also had a small part as a volunteer of the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yay Ah Phwe”.
Diamond Jubilee (in 1995) Saya Dr. Soe Win has posted a picture.
Centennial (in 2020) “Yar Pyay Ah Kyo” celebrations kicked off in December, 2019
EC Members of the “Tekkatho Kalaung Ah Thin (1958 – 1962)” published a Kabyar book and a commemorative issue.
Miscellaneous
Centennial for “Amyotha Aung Bwe” in 2020 uses Myanmar date
Centennial for “Myanmar Yoke Shin” in 2020
Centennial for “Engineering Education” in 2023
Centennial for “Rangoon University Boat Club” in 2023 I was a Contributing Editor for the 90th Anniversary
At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school.
Colonel Min Sein : Commissioned by the British; Dean of Medical College
Dr. Daw Yin May : Three Fellowships; MS of Dufferin Hospital
Major (later Lt. Col) Shwe Zan : Commissioned by the British
Dr. Ko Gyi : Warden of Medical College; Medical Superintendent of EENT hospital
Dr. Daw Myint Myint Khin : “Mummy Gyi”
Dr. Mohan
Dr. Mohan & Daw Hnin Yi
Dr. Mya Tu : Founder Director of BMRI; Compiled “Who’s who in Medicine in Burma” & “Who’s who in Health Industry in Burma”
Dr. Mya Tu
Dr. Ba Than refused the British to evacuate and then headed the RGH during the Occupation. After the war, he had to appear before the British Officers and tell about his “commitment to the country and its citizens”. The Officers dropped the case. He later served as Rector of Institute of Medicine (1).
U Thant 1Stamp honoring U ThantAutograph signed by U Thant
Early Days
Won essay and translation competitions in his youth.
Had excellent communication skills (reading, writing, speaking).
Was requested by his mother to study only for two years at the University of Rangoon and then return and work.
Became a Saya at the Pantanaw National School. For accreditation requirements of the school, he requested help from U Nu (who was a Principal)
Later, U Nu (leader of AFPFL and Prime Minister) asked U Thant to help the party and the government in various capacities.
United Nations
U Thant succeeded Mr. James Barrington (ICS, RUBC Gold) as the Permanent Secretary of the Burmese Delegation to the United Nations. Later, the post would be called “Myanmar Ambassador to the United Nations”.
UNSG
Daj Hammerjold, the second United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) perished in an air crash during a UN mission.
In trying to find a successor to Hammerjold, the two super powers USA and USSR could not agree. USSR refused to accept USA’s candidate. USA refused to accept USSR’s proposal of Troika (a three member committee from each of the Three Blocs). They agreed to have U Thant (who hailed from Burma, a co-founder of the Non-Aligned Movement) as the Interim UNSG.
The General Assembly later ratified him as the third UNSG.
U Thant became the first Asian UNSG.
He retired after serving two terms as UNSG.
Post retirement
After retirement, U Thant started writing his memoirs but was interrupted by failing health.
His younger brother U Thaung was by his side in the final days, and helped bring U Thant’s body home.
Last Journey
The higher authorities were told explicitly or implicitly not to pay respect to U Thant’s body. The Deputy Minister of Education who paid respect to U Thant was dismissed effective immediately.
Most people expected a decent ceremony (if not a State Funeral befitting the Head of the World Organization), but they learned that U Thant’s body was to be placed at the Kyandaw Cemetery.
This led students to take U Thant’s body to the Main Campus and and make it a temporary (may be final) resting place for U Thant.
There were three dissenting votes by the student representatives for the higher authorities’ proposal to have U Thant buried in the Mausoleum (in Cantonment Park), and they lost by 8-3 margin.
The dark moments resulted in students being jailed or debarred, and some having to wait more months for their graduation ceremony. A few never had a chance to graduate. One participant had already distributed invitation for the wedding, but ended with the loss of his freedom for a few years and his love.
Book
Htein Win Sar Pay published a book about the “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin”.
Contains rare photos (most of them recovered from an archive overseas). Many photos (that were in Burma) were destroyed “out of fear” for harassment / punishment.
Met Ko Htein Win at the 5th ILF (Irrawaddy Literary Festival) in Mandalay in November, 2019. He was promoting another book 8-8-88.
U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) wrote :
The sad thing I discovered at my last visit to Myanmar in Nov/Dec 2018 was that the tomb of U Thant has been closed and in disrepair. The entrance was padlocked, the compound was unkempt.
Centennial Birthday
At the Centennial Birthday Celebration for U Thant held in the San Francisco Bay Area several years back, I was a Speaker.
Ko Tin Maung Thant
Ko Tin Maung Thant (“Ah Pho Gyi”, U Thant’s son) was my sister’s classmate at the Private Primary Boundary Road School (PPBRS).
He left the school to join his father (then Permanent Secretary of the Burmese Delegation to the United Nations).
Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly during his visit to Burma in 1962.
His funeral service was grander than that of Commodore Than Pe (Minister of Health and Education), the first member of the 17-man Revolutionary Council to pass away.
The list is partly based on a special broadcast by BBC, which covered the early Burmese female scholars that studied for their Masters and Doctorates (mostly in the UK and the US). Additional details are provided by friends and relatives (including Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint, Dr. Yan Naing Lwin, Dr. Kyaw Tint, Dr. Richard Yu Khin and Uncle U Thein Han).
Masters
Daw Mya Sein (History)
Daw Ma Ma Khin (Nutrition)
Daw Khin Khin Gyi (Education)
Arts
Dr. Thinn Kyi (Geography) — aunt of Ko Theikdi
Dr. Thaung Blackmore (History) — aunt of Dr. Richard Yu Khin
Dr. Yi Yi (History)
Dr. Khin Hla Han (History) — daughter of Saya U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
Education
Dr. Khin Mya (Education)
Dr. Saw Yi (Education)
Dr. K Mya Yi (Education)
Social Science
Dr. Khin Nyo Nyo (Eco/Commerce)
Dr. Khin Ohn Thant (Eco/Commerce)
Dr. Yi Yi Chit Maung (Commerce) — sister of Saya U Tin Htut
Dr. Kyi May Kaung (Political Economics) — daughter of Sithu U Kaung
Dr. Khin San Yi (Eco/Commerce)
Political Science, Literature, Library Science and Journalism
Dr. Emma Ba Yoke Nyunt Han (Political Science)
Dr. Khin Mya Kyu (Literature)
Dr. Khin Lay Myint (Literature, French) — daughter of Journal Gyaw Ma Ma Lay
Dr. Khin Thet Htar (Library Science) — compiled magnum opus of Health Professionals in Burma (with her spouse Saya Dr. Mya Tu)
Dr. Marjarie Tin Nyo (Journalism) — daughter of Nation U Law Yone
Science
Dr. Linsday (Zoology)
Dr. Lynsdale
Dr. Yi Yi (Botany)
Dr. Yi Yi
Dr. Mya Mya Nu (Zoology, Ornithology)
Dr. Yin Yin Nwe (Geology, Earth Science)
Dr. Hla Hla Sein (Mathematics)
Dr. Mya Mya Than (Botany)
Dr. Khin Mya Mya (Physics)
Dr. Khin Sein (Botany)
Medicine
Dr. Khin Khin Kyi (1) (Pharmacology)
Dr. Khin Khin Kyi (2) (Microbiology)
Dr. Khin Ma Gyi (Pharmacology)
Dr. San Yi (Physiology)
Dr. Marlar Maung (Microbiology)
Some countries offer C.Sc. (Candidate of Science).
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint added :
Although not doctorates, first in their fields:
Dr. Daw Saw Hsa, FRCS, surgery Dr. Daw Yin May, FRCS, FRCOG, FRCP (only Burmese Doctor to be conferred fellowships from three different colleges).
Fields of study of medicine:
Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Kyi (pharmacology) Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Kyi 2 (microbiology) Dr. Khin Ma Gyi (pharmacology)
Dr. Daw San Yi (physiology)
Dr. Daw Marlar Maung (microbiology) younger sister of Alumnus Khin Maung Maung (Burma Navy) (SPHS 1960)
Prof. Daw Phae (Mrs. Yu Khin) microbiology
Prof. Daw Myint Myint Khin, BA English, FRCP Edin: Professor of Medicine writer and poet, Medical educationalist
Prof. Daw Hla Kyi, FRCOG, MMSA. She was the only OB-GYN with Master of Midwifery of the Society of Apothecaries.
Dr. Yan Naing Lwin wrote :
Daw Hla Hla Sein — who taught Mathematics at RIT and is a sister of Daw Myint Myint Sein (M70) — received M.A in math from University of Indiana, Bloomington, Ind . and Ph.D. in mathematics from University of Illinois , U-C. She passed away about 2 years ago in Pasadena, Ca.
Mimi Aung – received her BS & MS degrees in EE from University of Illinois, U-C. She has been the program manager for NASA Mars helicopter project at JPL – Pasadena.
Doris Chan – received her BS , MS & Ph.D. degrees in EE from University of Illinois, U-C. Currently at BAE systems.
Angel Chan – received her BS in Chemistry & Biology from Western Illinois University Ph.D. in Material Science & MD degrees from University of Illinois, U-C Currently at John Hopkins University
Dr. Kyaw Tint wrote :
Daw May Su, received Master of Science in Nuclear Physics. Based on my conversation with her, I noticed her University was in London, but could not recall the name. She passed away in Northern California several years ago.
There is also another lady named Dr. Khin Mya Mya, PhD in Physics, I think from Australia in 1970s.
Dr. Daw Khin Sein of Botany was my English teacher of proficiency course at IFL. Her high school was in Darjeeling and the PhD was most likely from Britain.
U Thein Han wrote :
Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, MBBS, MRCOG, Mandalay Medical College (spouse of Professor Dr. Pe Thein).
“K” is the pen name of BBS U Khin Zaw (Founder and Director of Burma Broadcasting Service / Myanmar Ah Than). He was assisted by his cousin U Pe Thaw. His mentees include “Aba” U Than Myint.
U Khin Zaw & U Than Myint
He served as Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Central Library. Saya Zaw Gyi (U Thein Han, Laureate Poet) succeeded him as Chief Librarian.
Librarian & Author
He wrote about Burmese Music. He listened to Burmese Classical Songs and wrote international notation for them.
Writing notes for Burmese songs
He explained to visiting musicians (Duke Ellington, Count Bassie …) about Burmese Musical Instruments.
He translated poems by Saya Minthuwun and Saya Zaw Gyi.
“K”, Zawgyi & Minthuwun
Several years back, U Wint Khin Zaw mailed me a book authored by his father. The book’s title unfortunately had to be changed from Burma to Myanmar (in my time) per order of the Censorship Board for Publications. Due to absence of Grandfather’s Clause, books with Burma in the title could not be reprinted without changing it to Myanmar. (e.g books by Maurice Collis and Daw Khin Myo Chit).
U Wun (Minthuwun), U Khin Zaw (“K”) and U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
Three Authors
U Khin Zaw
U Khin Zaw
Chief Librarian of Rangoon University
He founded BBS (Burma Broadcasting Service, Myanmar Ah Than) and served as its Director.
Wrote “Burma in My Life-time”.
Compiled notes for Burmese Classical songs.
Collaborated with Minthuwun for “Burmese Nursery Rhymes”.
U Thein Han
U Thein Han
He studied Burmese and Library Science. For many years, he served as Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Library and Rangoon University Central Library (RUCL).
National Literary Award winner
Sar Pay Beik Mun Award winner
U Wun
U WunU Wun & Htin KyawBook about Minthuwun by his son U Htin Kyaw
U Wun headed the Translation Department at Rangoon University.
He served as Professor of Burmese at RU, and as Visiting Professor at Osaka University.
He is a Lexicographer. He compiled the Myanmar Abhidan. He worked with Professor Harada (Chit Man Nwe) and team on the Japanese-Burmese Dictionary.
Khit San Sar Pay
Zawgyi and Minthuwun are Laureate Poets. They co-founded Khit San Sar Pay with Theikpan Maung Wa (ICS U Sein Tin). The three were the early students of Saya U Pe Maung Tin (Pali and Burmese Scholar, first native Principal of Rangoon College).
Libraries
In the early days, some Faculties of RU had libraries.
Under the then new Education System, most Universities and Institutes had their libraries.
The main library was known as RUCL (RU Central Library).
Saya Zawgyi has a bust honoring him as the Librarian of RU Library and RUCL.
Daw Myint Myint Khin and U Thaw Kaung were Assistant Librarians for the Faculty of Social Science.
Daw Myint Myint became RIT Librarian.
U Thaw Kaung became RUCL Librarian.
Broadcasting
U Khin Zaw was assisted by his cousin U Pe Thaw and his wife.
U Than Myint was his mentee.
U Kyaw Nyein, U Hla Bu & Daw Olive, Alison Tun Ngwe, Daw Than Hnit and others produced high quality programs.
Several BBS members were offered assignments and permanent positions at BBC and VOA.
“K”
U Khin Zaw
“K” wrote a semi-autobiography in “Burma In My Time”. The title had to be changed “Myanmar In My Time” for the reprint. Ko Wint Khin Zaw mailed me a copy of his father’s book.
He transcribed Burmese Classical songs.
U Khin Zaw transcribing Burmese song
“K” provided the music and some translations for “Maung Khway Boh” nursery songs. The work is based on kabyars by Minthuwun.
For Maung Khway
He hosted visiting musicians.
U Khin Zaw and Duke EllingtonU Khin Zaw explaining about Saing WaingU Khin Zaw and Count Basie
Minthuwun’s works
Dalaban (U Htin Kyaw) wrote several articles about his father Minthuwun (e.g Burmese terms for RU, Departments and Disciplines).
Book about Minthuwun by his son U Htin Kyaw
Minthuwun compiled the Burmese Dictionary.
He collaborated with Chit Mann Nwe & team at Osaka University on the Japanese-Burmese Dictionary.
Minthuwun compiled a list of Outstanding Burmans (in their fields).
Aspiring poets studied “Su Tu Pyu” and other books by Minthuwun.
He collaborated with U Khin Zaw on Burmese Nursery Songs.
For Maung KhwaySample Song
Zawgyi’s Kabyars
Zawgyi’s kabyars are recited around the world not only by renowned speakers but also children (e.g contest for reciting kabyars).
There is a PBS documentary about Saya’s famous kabyar (Bedar Lann) with the translation by Dr. Lyn Swe Aye.
During our younger days, three N’s : Nu (Burma), Nehru (India) and Nasser (Egypt) celebrated the Burmese New Year (Thingyan Festival). They helped found the Non-Aligned Movement.
Other leaders such as Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Daj Hammarskjold (UNSG) and David Ben Gurion (Israel) also visited Burma.
Nehru and Indira Gandhi
Photos : Compiled by Win Aung Gyi (Maung Aung Mon)
Chou En Lai
Chou
Ho Chi Minh
Received Honorary Degree from Rangoon University
Prime Minister U Nu was Chancellor or Rangoon University
HlaMin 