Reunion of Final Year Engineering Students 1948 & 1949
Date : January 13th, 1980 Place : Inya Lake Hotel Photo : provided by Mrs. Gyim Kho and U Myo Myint (EC67, RUBC Gold, Nephew of U Gyim Kho).
First Row :
U Than Myint
U Maung Maung Myint
U Aye Kha
U Boon Pin Deputy Chief Engineer, Burma Railways Son : U San Lin / Robert (EC73) Passed away a few years back in Taiwan
U Min Han Son : U Nyein Min / Johnny (C79)
Second Row :
U Soe Aung Chief Engineer, PWD Children : Daw Thynn Thynn Khaing / Janet (EP70) and U Nyunt Aung (C73)
U Khai Waing
U Po Han Deputy Minister of Construction
U Kyaw Tun Saya of our Sayas (including Professor U Sein Hlaing) Taught at BOC College of Engineering Retired Lecturer of Electrical Engineering, RIT Children : Dr. Daw Tin Nu (Elizabeth, English), Dorothy (ex-RIT) Passed away in Burma after visiting Dorothy and family in Australia
U Saw Taik Kyi
U Gyim Kho Spouse gave a copy of the photo for use by HMEE-2012 Nephew : U Myo Myint (EC67, RUBC Gold)
U Mya Than
U Tin Oo
Third Row :
U Kyi
U Aung Kyi Retired from GE. Worked as a Private Contractor
U Kyaw Myint
U Tha Nyunt
U U Gyaw
U Khin Maung
U Lal Bik
Comments
U Aye (M62) provided information about U Saw Taik Kyi and U Aung Kyi
First Rector of ITBMU (International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University)
Passed away on August 13, 2005.
I served as Master of Ceremony at the Service.
I carried the Box of his Ashes and accompanied Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, President of TBSA) for the Scattering of the Ashes near Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.
Publication
Book in memory of U Silananda
I was a member of the Committee & Contributing Editor
Book
August 30, 2015
Attended 10th Anniversary of Sayadaw U Silananda’s demise
ဂျပန် – မြန်မာ အဘိဓာန် Japanese – Burmese Dictionary (ချစ်မန်းနွယ် အဖွဲ့နှင့် အတူ) with Chit Man Nwe / Professor Harada & team
ခေတ်စမ်းစာပေ Co-founder of Khit San Sar Pay with Theikpan Maung Wa and Zawgyi
Three Pioneers
Saya U Wun (Minthuwun), BBS U Khin Zaw (“K”) and Saya U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
U Khin Zaw founded BBS (Burma Broadcasting Service, Myanmar Ah Than) and served as its Director. Earlier, he was Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Library. He was succeeded by U Thein Han.
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.
Zawgyi and Minthuwun are Laureate Poets. They co-founded Khit San Sar Pay with Theikpan Maung Wa (ICS U Sein Tin). They were the early students of Saya U Pe Maung Tin (Pali and Burmese Scholar, first native Principal of Rangoon College).
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.”
He is a saya of our sayas. He passed away peacefully in his 90s.
Condolences
Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi wrote :
I am very sad to know that Saya U Num Kock has passed away.
He was my Saya teaching us “Drawing” when I attended first year engineering in Rangoon University in 1951. He was a very nice and gentle person. So far as I remember he was never angry or upset about anything. He was a hard worker and also a helpful person.
Please send my heartfelt condolences to his family. Thank you.
Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) wrote :
I am so saddened to learn belatedly of Sayagyi U Num Kock’s passing away. Sayagyi was one of my earliest sayas in Engineering. Sayagyi taught me Building Drawing in my second year engineering at the B.O.C. College and also supervised our surveying practical exercises. Sayagyi was always very kind and patient towards us and we all loved and respected him.
Please convey my heartfelt condolences to Sayagyi’s wife and family.
Several alumni remember Saya teaching Soil Mechanics.
Memories
Old Crocs remember Saya’s service as Line Judge at the RUBC Regattas.
U Myo Nyunt (C69) remembers Saya not only as his teacher, but also for guiding the RIT Track and Field Association as President.
At the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe held in the USA in October 2000, Saya U Khin Aung Kyi paid homage to his two sayas : Saya U Num Kok and Saya U Ba Toke.
A few years back, Saya U Num Kok visited Yangon. He was given a Welcome Gathering by his former colleagues and students. He brought back a banner and hung it in his house in Portland, Oregon, USA>
Continued as Researcher, Scholar and Administrator in UK.
There is an Economic Theory with Saya’s name.
Dr. Tha Hla
Studied for a Doctorate in Geology in the UK
Became Professor and Head of Geology Department
Retired as Rector of the University of Rangoon.
Served as UN Advisor in several countries and settled in Thailand.
There are several anecdotes about Saya.
When an AFPFL minister protested the States Scholarship for his mentee Dr. Nyi Nyi, Saya did not back out. He pushed the nomination through during a period when the minister was away.
Saya is highly regarded for “Lead by Example“ Saya calmly requested and convinced the students and crowd (following the agitator Ajala) to disperse
Director Thar Du was unhappy when Saya (as Member of the Movie Censor Board) recommended some parts of the movie to be revised. Thar Du was surprised and delighted when Saya voted the same movie for an Academy Award. Saya explained that the two roles required different consideration.
During his stay in Thailand (while waiting for a US visa), U Tin Maung Nyunt was recommended by Dr. Tha Hla to be a proof reader for the Nation newspaper.
He hosted people with different beliefs and helped them if needed. Saya offered guests (including U Tin Maung Nyunt) his collection of Whiskey and drinks, but added, “Do not spoil Whiskey by adding water or soda. You can drink “Ah Yet”, but never let Ah Yet” drink you.”
Dr. Maung Maung Kha
Several posts cover Saya Kha.
Studied for a Doctorate in Metereological Physics in the UK
Became Professor and Head of Physics Department
Served as Rector of the University of Rangoon, RASU and University Distance Learning
Shwe Ku May Hnin remembered Saya Kha’s smile when a student (from the Social and Reading Club) asked him, “Saya, will you continue the tradition of Di Tha Par Mauk Kha Saya giving away his beautiful daughters to brilliant students?”.
A member of the RU Centennial group remembered Saya Kha’s smile and forgiveness when he was inadvertently hit by a student (who had to take classes at Workers’ College and come to the Main Campus for practical sessions). The young sayas U Thein Aung (Micky) and U Thein Htut scolded the offender and his companions for not knowing Sayagyi.
Per Dr. Alvin Oak Soe Kha, his father is the Rector with the longest tenure and is known for his kindness and compassion.
