Since April 1999, I have served as a messenger, a story teller and a record keeper of the RIT Community.
It would not be possible without the support from my beloved spouse. She attended SPZPs and selected gatherings.
My beloved spouse
In the beginning
Full of Excitement
Many sayas and alumni contributed news, articles, photos, jokes, cartoons, suggestions and comments.
They were excited to get reconnected electronically and physically.
Down Memory Lane
Kogyi Koung
Several enjoyed walking down memory lane. Kogyi Koung (Dr. Koung Nyunt, A67, GBNF) wrote about several topics. They include
Lost songs from RIT : one by Sayagyi U Tha Tun, another for Ma Ma Q
Letter to Thagyarmin about Naw Louisa Benson
Kyaik Hti Yo Development Project
University Days
Saya U Aung Khin, U Aw Taik Moh, Saya Dr. Aung Gyi, Saya U Min Wun (GBNF), Saya Dr. San Hla Aung, Saya U Soe Paing, U Tin Htoon, U Myint Khine (Norman), Ko Htay Aung (Victor) and several others wrote about their University Days (Yankin College, Main Campus, BOC College, Leik Khone, Gyogone Campus).
Photo Contributors
The following provided Class Photos, Group Photos and other interesting photos.
Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (GBNF)
Saya Allen Htay (C58, GBNF) & classmates
Saya U Htin Paw (EE58, GBNF)
Saya U San Tun (M59)
Saya L. Tin Tun (Chris, M59)
Saya Krishna (M59)
U Soe Thein (EE60)
U Tin Htoon (A60) & classmates
Saya U Htun Aung Kyaw (ChE67)
U Thein Swe (EE69, GBNF) & classmates
U Aung Min (M69) & classmates
Benny Tan (M70) & classmates
U Kyi Aung (Roland, ChE73)
Dr. L Sein Myint (M73) & classmates
U Myint Swe (EP74), Daw San San (EC74) & classmates
We have acknowledged the Contributions in my Newsletter Updates, my Facebook groups and my website.
Fast forward
SPZP-2000 Organizers
Inam the Last Guy Standing from the Organizers of SPZP-2000.
Several are spending quality time with their families (especially Myees).
The RIT webmasters (Ko Khin Maung Zaw & Ko Wunna Ko Ko) became extremely busy after getting lucrative jobs. The websites became inactive.
SPZPs
There were seven Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2016.
SPZP-2020 was canceled due to the pandemic.
There will probably be no more RIT Gathering that can equal SPZP-2016 (using any Metric).
Jara, Byadi & Marana
Many sayas, organizers, sponsors & donors, alumni are GBNF.
Over 40% of 69ers are GBNF. About 20 passed away in 2020. Many succumbed to Covid.
Not so senior sayas and alumni are having medical problems in the sunset of their lives.
Loss of memory & balance are becoming common.
Pleaded for Help, but …
One said he wished he were 30 years younger to help me.
Another suggested providing some incentives to interested “New Blood” to keep my project alive and eventually take over.
I am hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.
I have categorized and tagged my posts for easier access.
I have laid down the foundation for “Memories of our alma mater, mentors and alumni” Project.
I am confident that some passionate sayas & alumni will fulfill my Dreams.
Thanks
Kudos to all who have kept the RIT Spirit alive and well.
Robert W (Bob) Floyd (June 8, 1936 – September 25, 2001)
He attended the University of Chicago. He has two Bachelor degrees. He completed BA in 1953 at the age of 17. He finished BS in 1958 after working and studying part-time.
In most US universities, one needs a doctorate to be an Assistant Professor.
Floyd is an exception. He was appointed Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in 1965. Stanford University lured him in 1968 and promoted him to Full Professor in 1970. In 1973, he was appointed Chairman, Department of Computer Science at Stanford University. He supervised Ph.D. candidates.
Floyd received numerous awards including the prestigious ACM Turing Award, which is considered the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in Computer Science.
Professor Donald Knuth (ACM Turing Award Winner, Author of “The Art of Computer Programming”, “TeX & MetaFont”) recommended Floyd for the Chair.
Floyd had been a major reviewer of Knuth’s Classic Texts. Knuth said, “Floyd had published 13+ seminal papers. Every one of them is worthy of a Doctorate.”
Dat Paung Zon Sayadaw ဓာတ်ပေါင်းစုံ ဆရာတော် from 1949
DPZ Pagoda
In 1948, my father, his siblings and dhamma friends (e.g U Kyaw Myint) built the Dat Paung Zon Pagoda and Monastery.
My parents
My elder brother was ordained as a novice. He volunteered as a Construction Helper.
DPZ Sayadaw
He served as the Chief Abbot of the Dat Paung p Aung Min Gaung monastery on Windermere Road, Rangoon, Burma from 1949.
Trip to USA
Pagoda in Allegheny
At the invitation of U Thant, Sayadaw traveled to the US (via the ocean liner – predating the days of air travel) and built a pagoda on the Allegheny Mountains.
Ananda Bodhi
In 1958, Leslie Dawson, Canadian of Irish and Scottish descent, asked Mon Sayadaw to be his mentor.
Dawson traveled to Bodh Gaya, India to rejoin the Sayadaw and received ordination as a samanera (novice monk).
He continued on to Burma where he was ordained as Anandabodhi bhikkhu at the Shwedagon temple, Rangoon (21 Dec 1958).
Ananda Bodhi had followers in Canada and New Zealand, most of whom have visited Sayadaw and the Dat Paung Zon pagoda. Two of them also ordained as Buddhist monks with Mon Sayadaw as preceptor.
Ananda Bodhi became a Tibetan Master with the name Namgyal Rinpoche in 1971, but continued to preach dhamma from Theravada, …
Pagodas around the world
Mon Sayadaw built pagodas in the several countries including USA, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
DPZ 1DPZ 2DPZ 3DPZ 4DPZ 5DPZ 6
Suggested Reading
Details of Sayadaw’s dhamma duta missions can be found in the official biography (in Burmese and English) and the web pages of his disciples (e.g Dr. Steven K H Aung).
It is a Noble Tradition that is practiced in Burma.
Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwe သက်ကြီးပူဇော်ပွဲ is for paying respect to the Elders. The age requirements vary.
Sayas at SPZP-2000
Saya Pu Zaw Pwe ဆရာပူဇော်ပွဲ is for paying respect to the sayas and sayamas. Some use the term Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe အာစရိယပူဇော်ပွဲ
Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwe
Seniors
The definition of a Senior may vary with place and time.
In some places, a Senior Day is held. Transportation, Food, Entertainment and Photo-shoot are provided for seniors of all races and creeds.
At a Festival
Thet Kyee PZP may be held in conjunction with a Festival, e.g Thingyan or Thadinkyut. Buddhists may also pay respect physically to the Elders.
Myanmar Engineering Society
MES
MES organized Thet Kyee PZP for Senior Engineers and Architects.
All-Mechanical Gathering
All Mechanical Gathering
The All-Mechanical Gatherings have a program to pay respect to Thet Kyee Mechanical Engineers.
Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe
Examples :
Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
M72 and selected Disciplines
ICST/UCSY
Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
SPZP-2000
RIT Alumni International hosted the First RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in San Francisco, California in October 2000.
Kyauk Si Bagyee for SPZP-2000
The term Saya Pu Zaw Pwe was chosen over Saya Ga Dawt Pwe so that Alumni of different Faith can pay back the Metta and Cetana of their mentors.
SPZP-2000 Organizers
I am honored to be a Core Organizer of SPZP-2000. I wrote the poem “SAYA PU ZAW PWE”. It was published in the RIT website and the Commemorative Issue of the RIT Alumni Newsletter for SPZP-2000.
Newsletter for SPZP-2000Back cover of NewsletterEE Group at SPZP-2000
Singapore SPZPs
Singapore hosted SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 and SPZP-2010. Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) and team published Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for the SPZPs.
My poem (SAYA PU ZAW PWE) was reprinted on the Back Cover of SDYSS-2002.
I wrote a poem “SWE DAW YEIK” for SDYSS-2007.
I wrote an article “EE Sayas : A Sad and Short Clip” for SDYSS-2010.
Yangon SPZPs
Yangon hosted SPZP-2004, SPZP-2012 and SPZP-2016.
Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Magazine was published for SPZP-2012 and SPZP-2016. U Saw Lin (GBNF) was Chief Editor of SDYM-2012. Saya U Moe Aung was Chief Editor of SPZP-2016. Several Distinguished Authors (e.g Ma Sandar, Maung Sein Win — Padeegone, N Jar Thaing, Aw Pi Kye) also served as Editors.
Due to the pandemic, SPZP-2020 was canceled.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Some of the Organizers and Volunteers of the SPZPs are GBNF. They include Saya Allen Htay, Ko Saw Lin, Ko Aung Moung, Ko Than Sin Myint and Ko Robin.
Saya Allen Htay (Left)
Several Sayas are GBNF. They include U Ba Toke, H Num Kok, U Soe Khaw, U Ba Than, U Min Wun, U Khin Aung Kyi, U Thit, Dr. Mg Mg Win, S Arya, S Kyaw Aye, U Soe Lwin.
Sayas U Ba Than & U Ba Toke
Sayas U Aung Khin, Dr. Aung Gyi and U Myo Myint Sein are 90+ years young. Many of our sayas are 80+ years young.
We hope to see SPZPs in the not so distant future (after the Calamities have ended).
Leg Rowing is performed by Inntha အင်းသား (inhabitants of Inlay Lake)
Western Style
In the early days, the western style of rowing was done at Rangoon Boat Club (RBC). It was an exclusive club.
Sir Arthur Eggar (RU Law Professor, former rower at Cambridge University, author of Egg-Baird rowing style) founded Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) in 1923. He pledged a third of his salary for the operating expenses of RUBC. Rangoon University Estate built the RUBC Club House with the Fund provided by U Nyo.
Publications
Past Captains : Four Brothers & Cousin
40th Anniversary Magazine (in 1963)
Compiled/edited by U Tin Htoon (A60) with the help of Sithu U Tin (President) and U Po Zon (Vice President)
90th Anniversary Magazine (in 2013)
90th Anniversary
Compiled/edited by team :
U Tin Htoon (Chair)
U Myo Myint (EC67, Vice Chair)
U Htaik San (Henry, M81, Secretary)
U Hla Min wrote “Prelude” for the sections and short articles
Dr. Tin Wa
U Khin Zaw
U Zaw Min Sein
Daw Joe Phyu
U Yemunn Soe
Daw San San Myint
U Hla Maw Tun
Dr. Nay Lin Aung
Autobiography of Sir Arthur Eggar
AutobiographyBack cover
Saya U Tin Htut (M60), U Tin Htoon, U Myo Myint, U Htaik San (Henry), Daw Joe Phyu, U Thura Thant Zin (M76), Dr. Donald Chan and I donated for the publication.
The articles were first published in the Guardian Magazine. It covers the rowing days at Cambridge, founding of RUBC, trips to Rangoon (first as a Mathematics teacher and later as a lawyer and Professor), …
RUBC
Member
10 kyats (annual membership)
50 kyats (or so, for life time membership)
Executive Committee (EC)
Honorary Treasurer
Honorary Secretary
Vice Captain
Captain
The EC is elected by voting at the AGM (Annual General Meeting). I was the last Treasurer to be elected by the members. The next year, I became the last Vice Captain.The following year, I should have been Captain, but the higher authorities had a new rule. I became sadder but wiser.
Early Presidents
Sir Arthur Eggar (Life time)
Commodore Than Pe
U Tun Thoung
Sithu U Tin
Saw William Paw
Two busts were made to honor Sir Arthur Eggar and Commodore Than Pe.
During the Adhamma Days, Sir Arthur’s bust was put in a place (out of sight). The Board listing the ECs was also moved (out of sight).
Novices
There were two races at the Regatta : Senior Novice (for 1st & 2nd place) and Junior Novice (for 3rd & 4th place).
Senior Novice Winning crew is awarded the Eggar Pewter & broaches (for bragging rights).
In 1954, an All Paulians crew won the Senior Novices race. Tin Htut (Cox), Tun Shein (Willie Saing, Stroke), M Hla Min (Moosaji, 3), and Than Nyun (George Nyun, 2) later became RUBC Gold. Sao Hso Holm (Mawn Pawn Sawbwa Lay) was Bow.
Tin Wa (Cox), Victor Htun Shein (GBNF, Stroke), Sunny Teng (3), Mya Maung (Minn Aung, 2), Mehm Than Thaung (Maurice Tun Thaung, Bow) won Senior Novice and Color Challenge for both the Monsoon Regatta and the Annual Regatta in 1958 and 1959. They are known as the Golden Crew.
Our Paulian crew was Runner-up for Senior Novices in 1963. We were awarded Full Green. Myint Thein (Cox), Myint Soe (Willie, Stroke) and Maung Maung Kyi (Bow) are now GBNF. Kyaw Wynn rowed as (3). I was No. (2).
Hla Min & Maung Maung Kyi
Color Awards
Half Green
Full Green
Gold
Details can be found in the 90th Anniversary Magazine
Defense Services Rowing Club
Commodore Than Pe (GBNF) and Bohmu Maung Maung Than Tun (GBNF) were founding members of the club. Both are Past Captains of RUBC.
Commodore Than Pe was Minister of Education and Health. He passed away and was succeeded by Colonel Hla Han.
A few years back, U Maung Maung Than Tun was the oldest living Past Captain of RUBC. He was a few months older than Saya U Tin U (C), who is now the oldest and most senior Past Captain of RUBC.
Burma Rowing Federation
Western and Traditional Rowing
Later include Kayak, Canoe
My brother U Sein Htoon (M63, Past Captain of RUBC, ARAE Champion in 1960) is Past President
Regattas
Rag Regatta
One day fun-filled program; Finalists for the Novices are seeded at the Monsoon Regatta
Monsoon Regatta
Annual Regatta
ARAE Regatta
FEARA Regatta
Amateur Rowing Association of the East (ARAE)
Tin Htoon (S) and Harry Saing (B) won the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta.
1960 ARAE Champions
Tin Htoon (S), Sunny Teng (3), Victor Htun Shein (2), Harry Saing (B) and Sein Htoon (Cox) won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo.
2024 — RIT 60th Anniversary ; 55th Anniversary of Graduation
BFF — Best Friends Forever
Swe Swe Kyaw Zin (daughter of U Kyaw Zin EP69) presented 69er Caps & Hats at a 69er Monthly Breakfast Gathering.
69er Health Care Fund
U Aung Min (M69) and team manage the 69er Health Care Fund
ကျန်းမာရေး ရံပုံငွေ Some make lump sum donation. Some donate in installments.
40% ကွယ်လွန် Gone But Not Forgotten
Reunion & Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe
On special occasions, the 69ers host the Reunion & Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe
Yearly — Annual Dinner & Entertainment (e.g M3, Panda, U Aung Min’s previous office)
Monthly — Breakfast Gathering (mostly at Royal Rose Restaurant / Taw Win Hnin Si) ; Could not meet during the Covid pandemic
Ad hoc — e.g Daw Myint Myint (C69) hosted lunch at Western Park to welcome Nyunt Nyunt Wai / Millie (T69); U Tin Win (Min69) hosted lunch at Crystal Jade for SPZP attendees
Members of the San Francisco Bay Area honored the Fallen Heroes of Burma’s Democratic Movement in general, and the events around the ominous 8-8-88 (August 8, 1988) in particular.
HlaMin 