Category: SPZP

By Ba Thein (Atlanta)

Thank you very much to all of you (Organizing members and the participants) for the unforgettable grand event “SPZP and RIT Reunion 2000” at San Francisco.

Let me express the most exciting moment for me at the event. Earlier, I have learned from your “Countdown to the Reunion” articles that there were some questions about the agenda, especially about the Saya Ga Daw Pwe which is a tradition/practice for the Buddhists. Later the organizing committee members arranged it as an optional for the attendees.

On that great evening of October 28, I arrived just in time from the other hall into the main hall to participate in my most anticipated moment. I jumped into the event from behind the other participants. For a few seconds, all of us struggled willingly with joy for a tiny spot to pay homage to our Sayagyis. Each of us did it successfully in a thrilling moment. To pay homage all my Sayagyis together in this place and time was an extraordinary opportunity for all of us. It does not matter for me – their religion – whether they directly taught me, indirectly, or did not – whether I have seen them before or not. Sayas are Sayas. Whoever they were/are. There is no problem. Our Sayas and Sayamas have done a grand – unparalleled accomplishments to our Mother “Rangoon Institute of Technology”, to our Mother Country , and to our lives.

One more special excitement for me was, I noticed that there were non-Buddhists not only on the stage among the Sayas but also on the floor among the engineers who were proudly paying homage with strong eagerness to our Sayagyis. Immediately after we paid homage, I saw many of us ‘Great Engineers’, some with tears of joy, bowing their heads, rushed to the Sayagyis sitting on the stage, touched, and held their Saya’s hands with excitement. I guessed that some of these fore-rushers were in their 60’s and trembling with exultation. I learned that SPZP is not only for young engineers.

The event was very enthusiastic and swift. [Let me say,] it was also a little chaotic and informal. However, this kind of chaotic atmosphere was the real unforgettable “Unique Essence” of our once-in-a-life-time SPZP and Reunion, 2000.

With Respect, Ba Thein, Atlanta

Editor’s note:
On the eve, we had an informal gathering at an “all you can Japanese, Korean and Chinese buffet”. There we saw some of our Sayagyis revering their Sayas. At the Reunion dinner, the main event, and the picnic the following day, we saw more instances. Sayagyi U Khin Aung Kyi paying respect to his Sayas — Sayagyi U Ba Toke (Maths) and Sayagyi U Num Kok (Civil) — is awesome and inspiring.
Earlier I received e-mails telling me the difference of Asian and Western cultures, e.g. how one calls one’s professors by their first name, and hinting that “it would be awkward for non-Asian spouses to witness/understand the SPZP”. Fortunately, we did not hear any complaints at the event.

It took a lot of planning, time and energy to host the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in October 2000.

The attachment shows the draft invitation with several items as TBD (To Be Decided).

Main event

The main event “RIT Reunion Dinner and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe” was held from 5 pm to midnight on October 28, 2000 at the Embassy Suites Hotel near San Francisco International airport.

There was some inconvenience as the 300+ attendees had to be accommodated in two rooms instead of the single room (booked initially).

Except for the sit-down dinner, the attendees from the “overflow” room joined the “main” room.

A live band comprising of Ko Thet Win (drummer, son of U Shwe Kyaw (M63, BAF, GBNF) and Ko Thiha (keyboard, son of Dr. Daw Mya Mya (OG), son-in-law of Saya U Ba Nyunt (EE58) entertained.

Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69), Ma Myint Myint Sein (Diana, M70) and several alumni sang and danced (e.g. to Mee Bone Pwe).

The key note was given by Saya Dr. Aung Gyi.

Saya U Aung Khin, Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Myo Myint Sein, Saya U Min Wun and Saya U Ba Toke gave speeches.

Several attendees participated in the optional “Ga Daw Pwe”.

Recognition awards were given to

• the Golden Sponsors — U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70), Yu Beng (Benny Tan, M70), U Tin Myint (David Ko, M67), U Khin Maung Oo (Ivan Lee, M69) and U Maung Maung Than (M79)
• U Hla Myint Thein (Maurice Chee, M75, core organizer of SPZP-2000)
• U Hla Min (EC69, Chief Editor of RIT Alumni International Newsletter)
• U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76, Designer and web master of http://ex-rit.org)

Details can be found in the 64 “Countdown to the Reunion” and 36 “Post-Reunion” posts.

The 3-hour VHR Cassette had been converted to a 2-disk DVD.

Secondary event

Reunion picnic was scheduled for a park (with Coyote Point as a first preference), but due to weather reports predicting inclement weather, the picnic was held instead at a school.

Family members of sayas and alumni demonstrated their culinary expertise.

• U Ohn Khine (M 70)

• U Saw Lin (C 71, GBNF)

• Daw Hla Thi (Tex 72)
• U Aung Myo Khin (M 71)
• Daw Pyone Pyone Oo (C 79)
• U Myo Myint (M 72)
• U Myint Soe (Pet 72)
• U Ko Ko Gyi (C 73)
• U Aung Moung (M 73, GBNF)
• U Nyunt Htay (Met 73)
• U Toe Maung (C 74)
• Daw San San (C 79)
• U Win Khaing (M 75)
• U Than Win (Pet 75)
• U Htay Maung (M 75)
• U Tin Tun Aung (M 75)
• U Than Po (M 75)
• Daw Khin Saw Mu (EP 74)
• U Zaw Min (M 75)
• U Hla Win (M 75)
• U Myint Aung ( 78)
• U Win Htay (M 78)
• U Myint Wai (A 79)
• Daw Hla Htay Aung (A 79)
• U Soe Myint (Min 83)
• U Aung Win (C 84)
• U Win Khaing Moe (EE 84)
• U Aung Kyi Soe (M 85)
• Daw Kyi Kyi Pyone (M 86)
• U Kyaw Hlaing (M 86)
• U Tin Maung Naing (M 87)
• U Tin Oo (M 87)
• U Myint Naing (EE 91)
• U Zaw Naing (EE 96)

SPZP-2012

• The RIT Buddhist Association published two books for SPZP-2012.
• One is a collection of the Ovada (Exhortations) of the sayas and sayamas [mostly Professor and/or Head of Departments or their representatives] given at the “Arcariya Pu Zaw Pwes” at RIT/YIT.
• Another details the history and the activities of the RIT Buddhist Association. Contributors include Saya Dr. Thein Hlyne, Saya U Sein Maung, Saya U Lin, Saya U Soe Myint, and several EC members (notably U Maung Maung Lay and spouse).

SPZP-2016

The RIT Buddhist Association published Ovada (Exhortations) of the sayas and sayamas invited to SPZP-2016.

Dear U Hla Min

This is with reference (Update Sept 5, 2012) to your emotional feelings about not being a Saya at RIT and people being not aware of you as a Post Master and an Editor.

It is very natural that with the generation gap growing wider and wider with each passing decade, the middle-aged or the younger people will definitely not- or not wish to- know who their preceding generations are and how they fared or are faring.

Only with the exception of a few who possess strong desires to master some language (e.g. English, Burmese) and to acquire in-depth knowledge and writing skills to become a writer or poet, I believe that not many wish to take up interest in these fields. Please correct me if my viewpoint is wrong. Since we are living in a modern hi-tech world, especially in capitalist countries, most people tend to chase after monetary gains first and place others last.

But, people who know you will not hesitate to shower their praise on you, because they acknowledge that you have sacrificed a vast portion of your time and energy throughout the years to get RITians connected and feel at home. If I were sitting near or at the same dinner table as you, I am sure I would have done the same thing like Saya Dr Myo Khin and Saya Dr Soe Thein did. Since I did not see you at the SPZP 2007 dinner night, I thought that it was my duty to call on you the next day and that was why I saw you off at the Airport with Ko Tin Aung Win (TAW) at the wheel. I remembered that day because it was raining heavily and I was soaked.

For me, U Hla Min, you deserve to be deemed a writer and a poet, because you don’t need to write hundreds to become one. There were instances of some famous poets who wrote only a few poems in their lifetime.

My memory doesn’t permit me to recall distinctly but only vaguely the ones you wrote. During that period I myself wrote some poems in English and they got published in “The Guardian” Magazine.

We all know you were a Saya at UCC, DCS and ICST and I would like to take this opportunity to mention that my brother-in-law Ko Hla Min (same name) was your former pupil. The last time when you visited Singapore, I heard Ko Hla Min went to meet you.

Well, U Hla Min, this is Life! and whatever will be, will be (Que Sera Sera). But as you mentioned, let us share our memories of our beloved Swel Daw Yeik with never ending love and passion.

Let us Embrace SPZP 2012 Yangon together!

Regards
[Saya U] Moe Aung

Editor’s notes

• Thanks Saya for your kind words. Things have changed since SPZP-2007.
• RIT Alumni International and NorCal RITAA presented me “Appreciation Awards”.
• During my visit to Canada, Sayagyi U Aung Khin and Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi hosted us.
• I was invited to the 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of UCSY. Even though I could not attend the UCC/ICST/UCSY Thetkyi Pu Zaw Pwe, the organizers reserved “Garawa money” for me. Sayama Daw Mu Mu Myint asked her husband to drive a long way to give me the Garawa money.

• Saya U Moe Aung is a Laureate Poet and a distinguished writer, editor and publisher. His mentors include the famed Sayagyi Daung Nwe Swe.
• In his student days and later as a faculty member, Saya not only served as the [Chief] Editor, but also supervised the printing of the Sar Saungs and Magazines.
• Saya has published poems in both Burmese and English.
• Saya’s contributions include Chair of SPZP-2002 and SPZP-2010, and the Chief Editor and/or Publisher of the commemorative issues of the “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” and “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine”.
• Saya is a Patron of Swel Daw Yeik Foundation.
• During my visits to Singapore and Yangon, Saya gave me books and vintage magazines.
• Sayagyi U Kyaw Tun (GBNF), Saya U Myo Kyi, and Saya U Moe Aung taught “Principles of Electrical Engineering” to non-Electrical engineering students.

RIT Poet Laureate Ko Hla Min:

I must admit that I was suffering from a Monday morning “hangover”, having been intoxicated with emotional overdose over the reunion weekend [in October 2000].

Judging from the post-reunion emails I read, I am not alone. What a reunion!

By all measures, it was a success and did satisfy the alumni’s tremendous pent-up desire to reconnect with each other after many decades of separation. The dedication of the members of the organizing committee is second to none.

With the assistance of his lovely wife, Benny Tan devoted practically full-time to this project for several months. I had a first-hand experience to see how meticulous he was when he was designing the RIT T-shirt. It came out a winner!

I do appreciate the sensitivity the organizing committee displayed in making this event non-religious and non-political. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for me to attend. The only regret is that I failed to locate the whereabouts of my buddy Ko Aung Min of Taunggyi (M70). I heard he went to Singapore, but so far my search has ended in “no find”.

Now that the grand reunion is over, everybody is slowly recovering from the “hangover”. The big question is who would go to Singapore in 2002, and how do we go about doing it?

With best regards,
Steeve Kay (Ko Thaung Sein)

Editor’s notes

• Ko Thaung Sein (EC70) is a multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs. He donated $20000+ to RIT-related projects and events.

• He attended GTI for a while before joining the first ever 1st BE class in 1964.
• Received MSEE from Stanford University and MBA from Pepperdine University.
• At the request of his sister, who is a medical doctor who had patents for processing “disability” claims, Steve decided to transform from a successful electronics designer to the Chief Executive Officer of QTC Management.
• After private investors showed interest in his company, he retired, but continued to lead a multiple-purpose fourth career: (a) visiting the places of the world’s leading religions
  (b) incubating the projects of young professionals
  (c) supporting education (e.g. as trustee of University of California at Irvine)
  (d) maintaining [diverse] business portfolio
  (e) helping those in need (via CABA)
  (f) continue paying back the metta and cetana of his mentors — as Golden Sponsor of RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes, Helen and Steeve Kay Health Care Fund for the RIT Sayas and Sayamas.

Editorial

Team

• Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) & team published the commemorative issue.
• They printed my article “A Short and Sad Clip: EE Sayas” (renamed by Saya). The article will be re-posted separately.

Attendees include :

(1) Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69, Singapore)

(2) Ko Toung (Tom Lou, EC69, Connecticut) and Ma Khin Myint

(3) Ko Tin Myint (John Lee, M69, California, GBNF) and Ma Lyo Kyin Sein (Mabel Lee, T69)

(4) Ko Myo Khin (C70, Japan) and Ma Mya Nwe (Winsome, C73)

(5) Ko Sai Tun Aye (Min70, Canada)