He is a senior, but he is physically & mentally active.
Represented RIT in Swimming, Water Polo, Diving & Basketball.
In 1999, the 69ers organized a Reunion and mini-SPZP for the 30th Anniversary of Graduation. The organizers compiled an address / phone book for the 69ers and also listed GBNF. He was inadvertently listed as GBNF.
Only close friends knew that he was whisked away by Adhamma authorities and sentenced to 20 years in a kangaroo court for his involvement in 8-8-88 related activities. He was released after 17 years when “Lut Nyein Chan Thar Kwint လွတ်ငြိမ်းချမ်းသာခွင့်” was proclaimed.
He was a Tone Kyaw. He suffered losses & relations during and after his imprisonment.
He did not lose heart. He attended 69er gatherings regularly and served as photographer. He tried out camera tricks (e.g. creating twins) and posts the photos on the RIT69ers FB page.
He is active as Leader (“A Pho Gyi အဖိုးကြီး”) for the social & religious activities in the Latha လသာ area.
His birthday is on May 24.
He succumbed to Covid in 2020.
Dr. Tin Hlaing (M63)
Dr. Tin Hlaing
Joined Mechanical Engineering Department in 1963.
His friends called him “Byte” Tin Hlaing or “R” Tin Hlaing, since there was a senior Saya U Tin Hlaing (M59, GBNF) who headed the Agri Engineering sub-Department.
The elder saya passed away untimely because he could not get access to the two dialysis machines (reserved for VIP) and he could not get passport / visa in time to get medical treatment abroad. Those were the days.
Dr. Tin Hlaing moved to Singapore. He co-chaired SPZP-2002.
A few years ago, he became a Tone Kyaw. Another Dr. Tin Hlaing (Marine Technology) passed away in Singapore. A few alumni sent condolences to Saya.
Hla Min
U Hla Min
My name sake matriculated from St Paul’s High School in 1964 and graduated with EE in 1970. He was one year junior to me at SPHS and RIT. He joined UCC as Chief Operator (CO). He taught Programming at Worker’s College.
He appeared healthy and strong, but unfortunately he passed away at the tender age of 30+.
During his hospitalization, he was taken care of by his former classmate Dr. Min Lwin (SPHS64).
Many were not aware that there were two Hla Min (Old Paulian, RIT alumni, UCC employee/saya).
Two government departments — Coop သမဝါယမ Training School, Trade ကုန်သွယ်ရေး Training School, where I had given guest lectures — inquired UCC how they can send “Lwan Thuu Pann Khwe လွမ်းသူ့ပန်းခွေ wreath) for me.
We went to Kyandaw ကြံတော Cemetery for Ko Pauk Si’s Last Journey. He earned the nickname at SPHS, because he would eat Pauk Si ပေါက်စီ from the vendor who had borrowed money from his father and did not pay back in cash.
Moe Hein (Ajala, ChE69, who represented RIT in swimming & water polo) looked at me as if I was a Ghost. He said, “I had taken the day off to bid you farewell. I did not hear any news from your brother (who worked at DI/HIC) and felt sorry for you. If I don’t show up, there might not be people at your funeral.”
Those who are young might not have heard about the Nigerian rabble-rouser / trouble maker named Ajala. Moe Hein, with his loud voice, can overwhelm supporters from other teams in the Inter-Institute tournaments.
Tin Tun & Tin Htoon
This is not a case of Tone Kyaw. It caused some confusion.
A Burmese name may be spelled differently in English. e.g Tun, Htun & Htoon for ထွန်း
Ko Tin Tun, who married U Tin Htoon’s niece (Aye Aye Khin), passed away in Yangon on the morning of May 22, 2020.
Saya U Thein Tan (C64) and Ko Sann Tun Ni (Sushi owner) asked for clarification. They were relieved to find out that it was not U Tin Htoon (Past Captain and Gold of RUBC, Goenka’s devotee / organizer).
Magazines and Periodicals published by the Faculty of Engineering (1946 to 1964)
Engineering students as well as teaching staff expressed their knowledge on Science and technical subjects and also their philosophies and narrative skills by writing technical articles, poems and short stories in the periodicals and magazines published by the faculty.
By going through these articles, one could clearly see the reflection of the activities of the students and staff of our Faculty of Engineering (later Institute of Technology). It was also one of the main source of information for this brief history of engineering education.
There were not many publications during the 1940 to 1964 period. Only five issues could be found. “Engineering Student Journal” was the first to be published in 1940-41 academic year. A proper magazine came out in 1951-52 academic year named “Rangoon University Engineering Students’ Union Annual Magazine”.
RUESU formed a magazine committee at the students’ annual mass meeting to be able to publish an annual magazine. Chief editor was Ko Maung Maung Aye (2nd year), secretary was Ko Ohn Ghine (2nd year). Teaching staffs were named as consultants. Mr. Cutter Pearl acted as consultant editor. See Appendix B for the list of magazine committee members.
RUESU took care of everything from financial matters up to the printing of the magazine. Motto of the magazine was “to shape knowledge with our hands”, and the main objective of publishing the magazine was to be able for the students to achieve the talent of expressing the significant features of the subject(s) that they regarded as interesting.
The magazine was bi-lingual (Burmese and English) and had 168 pages. It was printed at “Aung Meit Set” printing house.
The annual magazine came out in 1952-53 academic year also. Chief Editor was Ko Maung Maung Lay (3rd year), secretary was Ko Kyaw Win (2nd year), and consultant editor was Mr. C. Ping Lee [father of Dr. Win Aung (M 62)]. A contest for short story, poem and article was included in this magazine. It was bi-lingual and had 138 pages. It was printed at “Setkyarwalar (Universe)” printing house on Inya Road. See Appendix B for a list of committee members and winners of the contest.
In the foreword of the 1956-57 annual magazine, it was stated thus: “It was a sad thing that the annual magazine could not be published for three years after 1952-53 academic year. We had tried our utmost to overcome whatever difficulties we faced and finally we could hand the magazine to you”. To overcome the shortage of capital, advertisements had to be included in the magazine.
Ko Myo Aung was chairman of the magazine committee and Ko Kyaw Hoe was chief editor and publisher. The consultant editors were U Maung Maung Gyi (later professor of Burmese department) and U Ngwe Thein (later lecturer of Engineering Geology of Mining department) for Burmese and English sections respectively. The magazine was bi-lingual and had 108 pages. Photos of the newly opened Engineering College on Prome Road were included in the magazine.
There were no annual magazines after 1956-57 academic year. Only in 1960-61 academic year, the magazine could be published again. Publisher was Ko Ne Tun and editor in chief was Tetkatho Moe War (U Moe Aung, Electrical Engineering department). U Kyaw Tun (Lecturer, Electrical department), and U Aung Khin (Lecturer, Mechanical department) were consultant editors. See appendix B for a list of members.
The magazine was printed at Myo Nyunt Press House. It was a bi-lingual with 160 pages. It was the last magazine published with the name of “Rangoon University Engineering Students’ Union Annual Magazine”. After the publishing of 1960-61 annual magazine, there were no magazines up till 1965.
Engineering Education around the 1950 period
To get a clear picture of the engineering education at the faculty of engineering, Rangoon University, excerpts from an article written by Dr. Aung Gyi is included. Dr. Aung Gyi was an Inter Science and Engineering student from 1948 to 1952. He served as Rector of Rangoon Institute of Technology from 1971 to 1978. The following are excerpts from his article.
“I was an engineering student and then became one of the teaching staff at a later date. I matriculated in 1949 and entered the University of Rangoon and stayed in Ava Hall and took what we called in those days the Intermediate of Sciences (I. Sc.) courses. The courses were: English, Burmese, Physics, Chemistry and Maths (pure and applied maths). We needed to take these courses for two years in order to go to the engineering studies. I remember having a great time in the first year as we did not have to take the exam at the end of the first year for some unknown reason. But we had to take the exam at the end of the second year for all the subject matters that were taught to us for the whole two years. It was a tough examination at the end of the second year as we had to study a lot. We had physics and chemistry exam papers, two maths papers, English and Burmese papers, physics lab practical exam and chemistry lab practical exam within a period of 15 to 20 days in the hot month of March. Only about 60% of the students passed through the first time. The passing grade for each subject was 40%. Fortunately the University authorities in those days were understanding and kind enough to give the failed students what they called compartmental examination again in May/June for the failed subjects. Given a second chance like that, a lot of students passed the exam this time around. The Faculty of Engineering admitted the students, including the students who passed the ISc exam under the compartmental system, with a passing grade of at least 40% for each of I. Sc. subjects and the average grade for all the subjects combined of 50%.
I was quite fortunate to have good teachers in my I. Sc. days. I remember that Saya U Than Tin gave good lectures in physics. Saya U Thein Nyunt was good as well in teaching us chemistry. Needless to say the experiments that I had to do in physics and chemistry labs were interesting as they were all new to me. The maths teachers I remember were Professor U Aung Hla, Sayagyi U Kar, Sayagyi U Ba Toke, two Indian lecturers with the same last name Chowdhury, I forgot their first names. One Chowdhury was bald headed and the other had a lot of hair. They were teaching, I think, under contract with the Rangoon University. These very good teachers, I had to say, gave me a good foundation in maths. The English teachers were very good too. They were Saya U Kan Gyi and Sayama E. Kan Gyi. The only Burmese teacher I remember was Saya U Hla Maung who could make a boring topic into an interesting lecture. I owe a lot of gratitude to these wonderful teachers.
I joined the first year engineering class in 1951-52 academic year, having satisfied the entrance requirements of the Faculty of Engineering mentioned above. The academic year, I think, was from June to February with about one month break in October. So far as I know there was a “new course engineering” at the Faculty of Engineering right after the World War II. I do not know what the entrance requirement for this new course was.
I stayed in Prome Hall like most of the other engineering students in those days, as it was situated close to the B.O.C. College of Engineering building where we had classrooms, laboratories and workshop for our engineering courses. A few engineering students however stayed in Tagaung Hall which was in the same Prome road campus of the Rangoon University as Prome Hall. Both of these hostels were timber buildings and they could easily get burnt down, but I was happy to see that they are still standing there when I last visited Yangon in 2010. These two Halls gave accommodations to all engineering students, even to some students from Rangoon at that time, as there were vacancies and as the total engineering student population was not that big. If my guess is correct, I think there were about 350 to 400 students for 4 years of all engineering disciplines, out of which there were about 75 first year engineering students. The system in place at that time was in such a way that the students had to take common courses in the first two years and branched out into different disciplines of choice, starting from 3rd year.
I remember that as first year engineering students, we still had to take maths classes from 7:00 am to 9:00 am at the main campus where we had taken the I. Sc. courses. I remember getting up early in the morning in Prome Hall, and taking a walk along the road what we called as “Padaukpin Lane” or “Thaton Lane”, and through Thaton Hall and Ava Hall, for the mathematics classes at the main campus. All of us then rushed back to B.O.C. College of Engineering from the main campus after 9:00 am to take the engineering classes, which included lectures, practical laboratory work, workshop practice, and drawing classes, starting from 10:00 am. We normally finished our classes around 4:00 pm. The total contact hours of learning for engineering students were about 30 hours per week. If my memory is correct, it was difficult to get an engineering degree in 6 years after matriculation. Somewhere along the way some of us failed for one reason or the other, and had to repeat a class. The passing grade for each subject, which included workshop training at the engineering faculty was 40% and the average passing grade for all the subjects combined was 50%. When I passed my 1st year engineering in April/May 1952, I noticed that about 15% of my classmates were left behind to repeat the 1st year engineering.
I do not remember all of my teachers at that time. I can only recall that Saya U Num Kok was in charge of 1st year engineering drawing, Saya Jaidka taught us “building materials and construction”. Saya Ketrapal gave lectures and practical laboratory training in “ heat engines”. Sayagyi U Kyaw Tun and/or Saya C. Ping Lee taught us “electrotechnology” in the classroom and in the laboratory. In addition to the lectures, laboratory work and drawing, all of us had to take workshop trainings in carpentry, blacksmith, welding and in machine shop. The medium of teaching was English. We were also encouraged to take some practical training with some engineering organization during the summer vacation. I am not quite sure, but I think Ko Chit was an assistant at the blacksmith shop, and U Ba Sein was an assistant in the electrical lab. I think Mr. P Davies was the workshop superintendent. The classrooms, laboratory facilities, the workshop facilities that I attended were good and adequate. The library I visited some time was full of engineering books, magazines and journals. I could imagine that with its qualified teaching staff and good teaching facilities, the Faculty of Engineering was producing the qualified engineers needed by the country at that time.
I do not know what the total number of teachers we had at the Faculty of Engineering at that time. I could guess that the student/teacher ratio was about 20:1 from the number teachers and from the number of students I had seen. I noticed that there were few Burmese nationals teaching staff at the Faculty, and most of the teachers were from India and UK. It seems that right after the World War II, there was shortage of qualified teaching staff from Burma at higher education/University level as a whole. Sayagyi Professor U Ba Hli was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and I believe he received his post graduate degree from a British University. He was quite far-sighted and tried to broaden and improve the engineering education by having some kind of twinning arrangements with not only a British University but also with Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA (M.I.T.). I remember as a student hat there was a visiting Professor called Professor Horwood from M.I.T. at the Faculty, and I think he gave us lectures on sanitary engineering. Sayagyi U Ba Hli must have planned to increase the number of engineering disciplines that were given at the Faculty from civil, mechanical and electrical engineering to other disciplines as well, such as Mining, Chemical, Metallurgy, Textile engineering and Architecture. I understood that this plan came into fruition in 1954/55. He must have also planned to send the Burmese nationals to UK, USA, and other countries for further training so that they could be appointed as qualified teaching staff at the Faculty at a later date. I therefore take this opportunity to put on record that a big credit is due to the late Sayagyi U Ba Hli for his contribution to the improvement of engineering education in Myanmar.
After attending the 2nd year engineering class from June 1952 to September 1952, I went straight to MIT on a state scholarship to continue my studies. Saya U Min Wun and I went together to MIT and joined the academic session, starting from September 1952. We met Dr. Freddie Ba Hli at MIT, who was already studying for his Ph.D in electronics or electrical engineering. He was one of the nicest and helpful persons that I have ever met in my life. He gave us briefings and guidance so that we were able to assimilate into the American education system and American way of life without any difficulty. He also helped with our home works when we had some difficulties in the beginning. I am forever grateful to him for his kind help. I am sure U Min Wun feels the same. Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Sein Hlaing, U Percy Lao, U Win Htein, U Kyaw Min, Robin Aw, U Kyaw Thein, U Aung Kywe, U Aung Myint and U Sein Hla came to MIT for further studies at a later date. U Percy Lao later became Rangoon City Engineer (water and sanitation). U Win Htein who is an architect became a Rangoon City Building Engineer. The late U Kyaw Min became a free lance architect (and also taught part-time at the architecture department for some time). All these three professionals taught some time at RIT. I do not know what happened to Robin Aw. The late U Kyaw Thein was an engineer at the Construction Corporation and later became a lecturer at the Civil Engineering department at RIT. U Aung Kywe was a Director (water and sanitation) at the Construction Corporation. U Aung Myint became the Chief Architect at the Construction Corporation. U Sein Hla was an engineer at the Construction Corporation and later became the Registrar at RIT under Rector U Yone Moe. Later more batches of Burmese students came to MIT when I was no longer there. I am describing all these things to point out the fact that the standard of engineering education in Burma at that time was quite good. None of us had to go through the entrance exam to get into MIT. They trusted our grades and our education standard. Maybe the visiting Professor Horwood from MIT was quite impressed with the Faculty of Engineering and put a good word for us to the MIT admission authorities.
Now I would like to touch upon the extra-curricular activities of the students from 1949 to 1952 when I was one of the University students in Rangoon. As mentioned in the beginning, all the extra-curricular activities were in sports; in artistic and literary related activities; in activities of various students’ associations, societies and clubs according to their respective aims. Good and adequate facilities were available for these activities at the Rangoon University campus, except for swimming. But Inya Lake was available for the students for swimming and rowing. There were competitions in sports such as soccer, tennis, table tennis, badminton, basket ball, volley ball, track and field, swimming, rowing, boxing, weight-lifting, and body building (Mr. University). There was University soccer team which was quite good and competing nationally at Aung San stadium. There were annual dinners of various hostels with anyeints and concerts participated by outside professional artists. There were separate annual concerts, stage shows and anyeints by the talented students also. There were students’ magazines published every year with articles and poems by the students.
I will not go into details of all the various students’ associations, societies and clubs, as there were so many of them. But I would like to mention briefly about the hostel life, that I had experienced at that time. Every hostel had what we called social and reading club. There was an adequate room reserved for this club at the ground floor of the hostel. In general, newspapers, popular magazines, a chess board, a carom board and a table tennis were provided so that the hostel students could read, play chess, play carom board, and play table tennis and socialize to get to know each other well. Even without the social and reading club, all the hostel students ended up knowing each other well sooner or later, as they met each other almost everyday at the hostel and at the dining hall. The hostel students were in general well behaved. I hardly saw the Warden or Hall Tutors at Ava Hall and Prome Hall, as there were very few student problems which needed attention of the Warden or Hall Tutors.
Based upon my experience, I feel that these extra-curricular activities and hostel life gave the opportunities to the students to broaden the knowledge of the different parts of Myanmar; and they also created a better understanding of the different culture, food, habit, dresses, dialects etc. of the country. Most of the students developed life-long friendships through these activities which contributed to well-beings of these students throughout their lives. Sports activities also taught the students about hard work, cooperation, team work, competition, winning and losing. The extra activities also triggered, developed, and enhanced the hidden talents of some of the students. These activities therefore formed part of the University education of the students, in addition to the education that they received from the classrooms. Another benefit of these activities was the bonding and a better understanding, which developed between the students and the teachers who were involved in these activities”.
Editor’s notes
With the support of Sayagyi U Ba Than & Saya U Thaw Kaung, Chief Librarian of the RU Central Library, Saya U Soe Paing compiled materials. Most articles and correspondences from the early periods were in English. Based on Saya U Soe Paing’s work, the editorial team headed by Saya U Aung Hla Tun, former Editor-in-chief of RIT Annual Magazines and also a National Literary Award winner, wrote the book in Myanmar/Burmese.
U Ohn Khine and I prepared the CD Supplement for the book. It included photos (too many to be incorporated into the book), bio of Sayas and sayamas, articles for the SPZPs, and excerpts from my Updates.
President : Sayagyi U Ba Hli (Dean of Engineering, University of Rangoon, GBNF)
Honorary Secretary : Saya U Soon Sein (Professor, Mining, GBNF)
Honorary Treasurer : Saya U Tin U (Part time Lecturer, Civil)
U Tin U
U Tin U at SPZP-2012
Highlights
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1946.
Attended Rangoon University before going for studies in the USA.
Represented RUBC in the Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948 along with Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein and Khin Maung Wint (Bobby).
1948 Independence Day Regatta
Received BCSE from the University of Oregon and MCSE from Yale University.
Upon his return to Burma, he worked in the industry and taught part-time at the Civil Engineering department.
Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club
Oldest & Most Senior Past Captain of RUBC
Three Losses
Lost his spouse Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Nyunt in November 2019
Lost his elder son Dr. Khin Tun (Peter) in April 2020
Lost his son-in-law U Tin Tun in May 2020
U Tin U & Family U Tin U 3
U Ba Than
U Ba Than
Highlights
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1947, and won the Collegiate Scholarship.
In 1949, he won Gold Medal for scoring highest marks in the Intermediate of Science exam.
RUBC Full Green
Studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, London University
Joined Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer
As a requirement for promotion, he did Masters at Imperial College.
Retired as Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Mech Engg Sayas
Saya is an early supporter of the HMEE-2012 project. Donated his photo albums. Cooperated with U Thaw Kaung to allow U Soe Paing & team to access the archives of Rangoon University Central Library.
Birthdays
Celebrations
Birthday Soon Kyway
Before the pandemic, he invited colleagues and former students to his Birthday Soon Kyway at Yaw Sayadaw’s Monastery.
U Tin Htoon (A60, younger brother) compiled a Photo Album for Saya’s 90th Birthday
U Ba Than
Donated all of the Garawa Money to various social & religious associations.
Passed away peacefully after his 94th birthday.
U Ba Than & Daw Mya MyaU Ba Than & Family
Updates
Four of the nine siblings are members of the 90+ Club like their mother.
U Tin U (eldest) passed away on Aug 19, 2025 — a few weeks after his 96th birthday. He was the most senior Past Captain of RUBC. He was also the oldest Yale University alumni from Burma.
U Ba Than (2nd oldest) passed away after his 94th birthday.
Dr. Daw Win Hlaing (Ruby, 3rd) celebrated her 93rd birthday on Aug 31, 2025.
Daw Myint Thwe (Betty, 4th) passed away two months before her 91st birthday.
The account about the Association of Engineers in Burma after World War was told by Saya U Tin U and recorded by Saya U Ba Than.
The Association was re-instituted about 1955-56.
President : Sayagyi U Ba Hli (Dean of Engineering, University of Rangoon)
Honorary Secretary : Saya U Soon Sein (Professor, Mining)
Honorary Treasurer : Saya U Tin U (Part time Lecturer, Civil)
U Tin U
U Tin U
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1946.
Attended Rangoon University before going for studies in the USA.
Captain & Gold of Rangoon University Boat Club in 1948. Represented RUBC in the Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948 along with Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein and Khin Maung Wint (Bobby).
Received BCSE from the University of Oregon and MCSE from Yale University.
Upon his return to Burma, he worked in the industry and taught part-time at the Civil Engineering department.
Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club
Oldest & Most Senior Past Captain of RUBC
Retired as Advisor of PWD Group.
U Ba Than
U Ba Than
1947 : Matriculated from St. John’s Dio and won Collegiate Scholarship.
1949 : Gold Medal for scoring highest marks in the Intermediate of Science exam
RUBC Full Green
Studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, London University
Joined Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer
As a requirement for promotion, he did his Masters at Imperial College
Retired as Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Early supporter of HMEE-2012 project. Donated his photo albums. Requested U Thaw Kaung to allow U Soe Paing & team to access the archives of Rangoon University Central Library.
Before the pandemic, he invited former colleagues and students to his Birthday Soon Kyaw at Yaw Sayadaw’s Monastery.
He donated back all of the Garawa Money to various social and religious associations.
He is now GBNF.
Updates
HMEE book was published in December 2012. Copies of the book were donated to Universities’ Central Library and YTU Library.
U Tin U lost his spouse Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Nyunt in November 2019, his elder son Dr. Peter Khin Tun in April 2020 and his son-in-law U Tin Tun in May 2030. He will celebrate his 96th birthday on August 3, 2025.
U Ba Than passed away after his 94th birthday in 2024.
Wrote the article “BOC College Student” for RIT Alumni International Newsletter
Business Manager for the publication of Rangoon University Engineering Students’ Union Annual Magazine in 1952-53.
Graduated in 1954 with Civil Engineering
MS from MIT as a recipient of the “Twinning Program” proposed by Saya U Ba Hli
Attended SPZP-2000 held in San Francisco. He requested to be seated with Sayagyis.
Letter in 2012
My dear Ko Aung Gyi:
I tried to e-mail you several times in the past few months but they didn’t get through. I was wondering where have you been and how were you doing.
By the way, as I am unable to attend the great Reunion myself, I have two important proposals for you to consider and, if you thought appropriate, present to the Reunion Organizing Committee:
(1) That at the start of the reunion the whole body of attendees should pay respects to Sayagyi U Ba Hli and Dr. Murray P. Horwood from MIT who were instrumental in getting scholarships and admissions for Burmese graduates and students to MIT, Harvard (San Tun Aung and Nelson Chin graduated from there), Cornell (Kyit In [Min Wun] and Kyaw Win), Michigan State, Ann Arbor & East Lansing, Lehigh, even UCLA (my R.U. College of Engineering classmate graduate Ohn Ghine went there) etc. As you know, Dr. Horwood headed the team of professors from MIT to RU Eng. College back in the 1950’s – – that’s how it got started for the Burmese boys like myself to come to the U.S. for further studies.
(2) I believe that this similar kind of arrangement with MIT or other institutions could and should be made with the Myanmar govt and RIT now for Myanmar to catch up with the world. If you have a chance to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, please tell her about this proposal. Education and higher education, esp. technical and medical, is extremely important for Myanmar students and graduates and for the country, and no one should overlook this.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration of the above.
My best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to you and your family and all our Sayas, colleagues and friends at the Reunion, in Myanmar and overseas. Please take a lot of pictures at the reunion for me!
Aw Taik Moh
1954 B.Sc. Civil Engineering, R.U. Eng. College
M.C.P.(City Planning) M.I.T. 1957
P.S. Since I attended the last reunion in San Francisco many years ago the RIT Committee lost contact with me, otherwise I would have contributed something to the “Book” they are now publishing about the history of the university (which I heard of from Dr. Chris Lee). I want to let you and the Committee know that I have an original copy of the R.U. Engineering Students’ Union Magazine, published in 1953 – in both Burmese and English – for which I was a Business Manager when I was a 3rd year engineering student. It has the photos of Sayagyi U Ba Hli and the entire faculty and Dr. Horwood and all the students.
Updates
RUESU published six Annual Magazines
Saya U Moe Aung was Editor of the magazine for 1960 – 61
The Metallurgy Department was established in 1954 with the assistance of contract staff from India. Mr. H.S. Shastri was the first head of department and Mr. A.C. Agrawal was an assistant lecturer.
I was awarded a government scholarship to study Metallurgy at Lehigh University in 1954, when I was a second year student of Civil Engineering in Rangoon. (Incidentally, it was at Lehigh that I first met Sayas U Aung Khin and U Pu.), I returned home in 1957 after completing my bachelor’s degree and joined the department as assistant lecturer. Saya U Saw Pru joined the department as an assistant lecturer in 1958.
I was awarded a Colombo Plan Fellowship in 1959 for further studies at the University or Queensland, Australia, and came back in 1961 after finishing my master’s degree. I was promoted to lectureship in 1962,
Saya U Than Tin joined the department in 1960 and left for U.S. after a few years. There were visiting lecturers from U.S.S.R., namely, Mr. Charlichev from 1961 to 1963 and Mr. Chalpanov from 1963 to 1965.
Sayas U Aung Hla Tun, U Pe Win and Dr. Khin Maung Win joined the department in 1965, 1966 and 1967 respectively. There were also part-time teaching staff from time to time from UBARI, such as U Khin Maung and U Nyunt.
I left the department in 1968 to go to Australia.
The continuing history of the Metallurgy Department after 1968 can best be written by Saya U Aung Hla Tun,
Notes (by Hla Min)
Saya taught “Materials and Processes” in our 2nd BE class in 1964. He attended some SPZPs & Metallury gatherings in Myanmar. He moved to Melbourne, Australia.
Saya’s successors include Dr. Saw Pru (GBNF), U Than Tin & Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win (GBNF).
Pon Tu of Dr. Khin Maung Win
Updates (by Hla Min)
Saya U Aung Hla Tun (GBNF) was the lead author for HMEE projects.
U Aung Hla Tun
Sayas U Win Kyaw (Met71, RUBC), U Thein Aung (Met72, Mr. RIT68) & U Nyunt Htay (Met73, Poet/Editor) had a micro-reunion in 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles and at the iNapa Winery in Northern California.
iNapa Winery
Metallurgy is taught as “Materials Science” in the US.
President : Sayagyi U Ba Hli (Dean of Engineering, University of Rangoon, GBNF)
Honorary Secretary : Saya U Soon Sein (Professor, Mining, GBNF)
Honorary Treasurer : Saya U Tin U (Part time Lecturer, Civil)
U Tin U
U Tin U at SPZP-2012
Highlights
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1946.
Attended Rangoon University before going for studies in the USA.
Represented RUBC in the Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948 along with Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein and Khin Maung Wint (Bobby).
1948 Independence Day Regatta
Received BCSE from the University of Oregon and MCSE from Yale University.
Upon his return to Burma, he worked in the industry and taught part-time at the Civil Engineering department.
Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club
Oldest & Most Senior Past Captain of RUBC
Three Losses
Lost his spouse Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Nyunt in November 2019
Lost his elder son Dr. Khin Tun (Peter) in April 2020
Lost his son-in-law U Tin Tun in May 2020
U Tin U & Family U Tin U 3
U Ba Than
U Ba Than
Highlights
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1947, and won the Collegiate Scholarship.
In 1949, he won Gold Medal for scoring highest marks in the Intermediate of Science exam.
RUBC Full Green
Studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, London University
Joined Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer
As a requirement for promotion, he did Masters at Imperial College.
Retired as Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Mech Engg Sayas
Saya is an early supporter of the HMEE-2012 project. Donated his photo albums. Cooperated with U Thaw Kaung to allow U Soe Paing & team to access the archives of Rangoon University Central Library.
Birthdays
Celebrations
Birthday Soon Kyway
Before the pandemic, he invited colleagues and former students to his Birthday Soon Kyway at Yaw Sayadaw’s Monastery.
U Tin Htoon (A60, younger brother) compiled a Photo Album for Saya’s 90th Birthday
U Ba Than
Donated all of the Garawa Money to various social & religious associations.
Passed away peacefully after his 94th birthday.
U Ba Than & Daw Mya MyaU Ba Than & Family
Updates
Four of the nine siblings are members of the 90+ Club like their mother.
U Tin U (eldest) passed away on Aug 19, 2025 — a few weeks after his 96th birthday. He was the most senior Past Captain of RUBC. He was also the oldest Yale University alumni from Burma.
U Ba Than (2nd oldest) passed away after his 94th birthday.
Dr. Daw Win Hlaing (Ruby, 3rd) celebrated her 93rd birthday on Aug 31, 2025.
Daw Myint Thwe (Betty, 4th) passed away two months before her 91st birthday.
I matriculated in 1949 and entered the University of Rangoon and stayed in Ava Hall and took the Intermediate of Science (ISc) courses. The courses were: English, Burmese, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (Pure and Applied Maths). We needed to take these courses for two years in order to go to the engineering studies. I remember having a great time in the first year as we did not have to take the examination at the end of the first year for some unknown reason. But we had to take the examination at the end of the second year for all the subject matters that were taught to us for the whole two years. It was a tough examination at the end of the second year as we had to study a lot. We had physics and chemistry examination papers, two mathematics papers, English and Burmese papers, physics lab practical exam and chemistry lab practical exam within a period of 15 to 20 days in the hot month of March. Only about 60% of the students passed through the first time. The passing grade for each subject was 40%. Fortunately the University authorities in those days were understanding and kind enough to give the failed students what they called compartmental examination again in May/June for the failed subjects. Given a second chance like that, a lot of students passed the examination this time around. The Faculty of Engineering admitted the students, including the students who passed the ISc exam. under the compartmental system, with a passing grade of at least 40% for each of ISc subjects and the average passing grade for all the subjects combined of 50%.
I was quite fortunate to have good teachers in my ISc days. I remember that Saya U Than Tin gave good lectures in physics. Saya U Thein Nyunt was good as well in teaching us chemistry. Needless to say the experiments that I had to do in physics and chemistry labs were interesting as they were all new to me.The maths teachers I remember were Professor U Aung Hla, Sayagyi U Kar, Sayagyi U Ba Toke, two Indian lecturers with the same last name Chowdhury. I forgot their first names. One Chowdhury was bald headed and the other had a lot of hair.They were teaching, I think, under contract with the Rangoon University. These very good teachers, I had to say, gave me a good foundation in mathematics. The English teachers were very good too. They were Saya U Kan Gyi and Sayama E. Kan Gyi. The only Burmese teacher I remember was Saya U Hla Maung who could make a boring topic into an interesting lecture. I owe a lot of gratitude to these wonderful teachers.
I joined the first year engineering class in 1951-1952 academic year, having satisfied the entrance requirements of the Faculty of Engineering mentioned above. The academic year , I think was from June to February with about one month break in October. So far as I know there was a “new course engineering” at the Faculty of engineering right after the World War ll. I do not know what the entrance requirement for this new course was.
I stayed in Prome Hall like most of the other engineering students in those days, as it was situated close to the B.O.C. College of Engineering building where we had classrooms, laboratories, and workshop for our engineering courses. A few engineering students however stayed in Tagaung Hall which was in the same Prome road campus of the Rangoon University as Prome Hall. Both of these hostels were timber buildings and they could easily get burnt down; but I was happy to see that they are still standing there when I visited Yangon in 2010. These two Halls gave accommodations to all engineering students, even to some students from Rangoon at that time, as there were vacancies and as the total engineering student population was not that big. If my guess is correct, I think there were about 350 to 400 students for 4 years of all engineering disciplines, out of which there were about 75 1st year engineering students. The system in place at that time was in such a way that the students had to take common courses in the first 2 years and branched out into different disciplines of choice, starting from 3rd year.
I remember that as first year engineering students, we still had to take mathematics classes from 7:00 am to 9:00 am at the main campus where we had taken the Intermediate of Science courses. I remember getting up early in the morning in Prome Hall ,and taking a walk along the road, what we called as “Padaukpin lane” or “Thaton lane”, and through Thaton Hall and Ava Hall , for the mathematics classes at the main campus. All of us then rushed back to B.O.C. College of Engineering from the main campus after 9:00 am to take theengineering classes, which included lectures, practical laboratory work, workshop practice, and drawing classes, starting from 10:00 am. We normally finished our classes around 4:00 pm. The total contact hours of learning for engineering students were about 30 hours per week. If my memory is correct, it was difficult to get an engineering degree in 6 years after matriculation. Somewhere along the way some of us failed for one reason or the other, and had to repeat a class.The passing grade for each subject, which included workshop training at the Engineering Faculty was 40% and the average passing grade for all the subjects combined was 50%. When I passed my 1st year engineering in April/May 1952 I noticed that about 15% of my classmates were left behind to repeat the 1st year engineering.
I do not remember all of my teachers at that time. I can only recall that Saya Num Kock was in charge of 1st year engineering drawing, Saya Jaidka taught us ” building materials and construction”, Saya Ketrepal gave lectures and practical laboratory training in “heat engines”, Sayagyi U Kyaw Tun / Saya C. Ping Lee taught us “electrotechnology” in the classroom and in the laboratory. In addition to the lectures, laboratory work and drawing, all of us had to take workshop training in carpentry, blacksmith, welding, and in machine shop. The medium of teaching was English. We were also encouraged to take some practical training with some engineering organization during the summer vacation. I am not quite sure , but I think Ko Chit was an assistant at the blacksmith shop, and U Ba Sein was an assistant in the electrical lab. I think Mr P. Davis was the workshop superintendent. The classrooms , laboratory facilities, the workshop facilities that I had attended were good and adequate. The library I visited some time was full of good engineering books, magazines and journals. I could imagine that with its qualified teaching staff and good teaching facilities, the Faculty of Engineering was producing the qualified engineers needed by the country at that time.
I do not know what was the total number of teachers we had at the Faculty of Engineering at that time. I could guess that the student/teaching staff ratio was about 20:1 from the number of teachers and from the number of students I had seen. I noticed that there were few Burmese nationals teaching staff at the Faculty, and most of the teachers were from India and UK. It seems that, right after the World War II, there was shortage of qualified teaching staff from Burma at higher education/University level as a whole. Sayagyi Professor U Ba Hli was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and I believe he received his post graduate degree from a British University. He was quite far-sighted and tried to broaden and improve the engineering education by having some kind of twinning arrangements with not only a British University but also with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (M.I.T). I remember as a student that there was a visiting Professor called Professor Horwood from M.I.T at the Faculty; and I think he gave us lectures on sanitary engineering. Sayagyi U Ba Hli must have planned to increase the number of engineering disciplines that were given at the Faculty from civil, mechanical and electrical engineering to other disciplines as well, such as Mining, Chemical, Metallurgy, Textile engineering and Architecture. I understood this plan came into fruition in 1954/1955. He must have also planned to send the Burmese nationals to UK, USA and as qualified teaching staff at the Faculty at a later date. I therefore take this opportunity to put on record that a big credit is due to the late Sayagyi U Ba Hli for his contribution to the improvement of engineering education in Myanmar.
The RU Act of 1920 was passed on December 1, 1920 to establish the University of Rangoon with Rangoon College and Judson College as the constituent Colleges. There were only three Faculties: Science, Arts and Law
On December 5, 1920, some RU students staged a strike to protest the 1920 RU Act for not being overreaching. The first RU Students’ Strike was later celebrated as “Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay”. The Strike gave birth to National Schools and “Ah Myotha Kaw Leik (National College)”. The Strike also caused the higher authorities to amend the “RU Act of 1920”.
In 1924, some Faculties (Engineering, Forestry, Social Science and Medicine) were added.
Celebrations
Due to the war, the RU Silver Jubilee could not be celebrated in 1945. It was celebrated in the 1950s.
In 1970, the Golden Jubilee of the founding of RU was celebrated. A magazine was published to commemorate the event.
In Deember 2019, the pre-Celebration for the RU Centennial took place. In 2020, due to Covid, the RU Centennial was celebrated with restrictions.
Positions and Pay Scales
The list is not exhaustive.
The pay scales are samples for the early days.
Gazetted Officer
Those who earn 350 (and CLA) or higher
450 (Base Pay) in the newer system
Promotion, deputation, transfer, and leave are published in the [Burma] Gazette
Selection Grade
Those who earn 800+ Kyats
Entitled to buy 10% of salary at “Staff Shop”
Administrators
Chancellor : Prime Minister or his appointee; U Nu attended Convocations and gave speeches.
Vice-Chancellor : Chief Justice U Bo Gyi served for two terms at Rangoon University. U Ko Lay (Zeyar Maung) was the Vice Chancellor of Mandalay University.
Rector : Dr. Htin Aung was the first native Rector of Rangoon University. Dr. Hla Myint, Dr. Tha Hla, U Kar and Dr. Maung Maung Kha were the early Rectors.
Pro-Rector : introduced in the 80s. U Ba Than Haq was the first Pro-Rector of RASU.
Principal : in charge of a College; U Pe Maung Tin was the first native Principal of Rangoon College.
Dean : in charge of a Faculty; U Ba Hli was the first native Dean of Engineering.
Registrar : U Htin Si and U Yu Khin were the early Registrars of Rangoon University.
Head of Department : (e.g. at RIT in the 60s)
Large departments are headed by a Professor
Sub-departments are headed by a Lecturer
Supporting departments may be headed by an Assistant Lecturer.
Professor : 1300+ Kyats
Associate Professor : introduced in the 80s (1000 – 50 – 1200 Kyats) for minimum, annual increment and maximum
Lecturer : 800 – 50 – 1200 Kyats (for Lecturers before the 80s) 800 – 50 – 1000 Kyats (for Lecturers in the 80s)
Assistant Lecturer : 350 (and CLA) – 25 -700 Kyats and CLA (Cost of Living Allowance) was 89 Kyats (or so) The “adjusted” pay was 439 Kyats (or so) So, Assistant Lecturer : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats (after the period when CLA was dropped)
Instructor : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats (introduced for the Institutes in the 60s) The pay scale is the same as Assistant Lecturer. It takes longer to become a Lecturer.
Demonstrator : Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so) Later : 320 Scale Supervises lab
Tutor : Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so) Later : 320 Scale Supervises lab and/or tutorials
Lecturing Tutor : 100 Kyats additional
Ad hoc Tutor : Early days : 100+ Kyats
Editor’s Notes :
For better or for worse, there have been several changes to the Education System. Pro-Rector and Associate Professor were introduced in the 80s. Some departments now have several Professors. There are Universities with a single Institute of College. There are 30+ Technological Universities.
Due to the decline in the buying power of the money, it is difficult for most teaching staff to survive with the salaries (and occasional pay raises). In 2018, a Professor told me that she earned about K5 Lakhs, of which a sizable amount is spent on transportation.
HlaMin 