Matriculated from St. Albert’s High School, Maymyo in 1964.
Had a very high ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate)
Admitted to the first ever 1st BE as Roll Number One.
Selected RIT Luyechun for the 1965 Summer Camp at Inlay.
His outspoken remarks about the Camp drew the ire of higher authorities.
Graduated with Electrical Power in 1970.
After working in the industry, he moved to the USA.
Studied Electronics in the USA
Added “Nawaday” to his name.
Shared his memories of RIT to the Google group of “the Combined Intake of 1st BE for 1964 and 1965”.
Ko Ohn Khine (M70)
Ohn Khine
Matriculated from St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay in 1964.
Took a combination of Science and Arts subjects
Had good ILA score to be admitted to RIT.
Graduated with Mechanical Engineering in 1970
Worked for Heavy Industries Corporation
Created and maintained the the Google group of “the Combined Intake of 1st BE for 1964 and 1965”.
Volunteer for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016, HMEE-2012, HMEE-2018, Swel Daw Yeik Foundation and several RIT-related activities.
Gave me rides during my visits to Yangon.
Co-author
Filled the “missing pieces” in Ko Zaw Min’s accounts.
Ko Hla Min (EC69)
Hla Min
Matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1963.
Stood 7th in the whole of Burma
Received Collegiate Scholarship
Top in the Science Option of I.Sc.(A) examination
Admitted to the first ever 2nd BE in November 1964 as Roll Number One.
Selected Luyechun for the Inlay Khaung Daing Camp in the Summer of 1965
Graduated with Electrical Communications in 1969.
Started the “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” in 1989 and have maintained it for 26 years.
Administrator or Moderator of selected Facebook pages.
Own web site hlamin.com
Had the honor to edit the draft version of “Memories by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday & Ko Ohn Khine” which was first posted as Google Docs for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
Published the edited document as a series of articles in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates”.
Introduction
Intakes in 1964
There were three intakes at the Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT) when the new education system started in 1964. Eligible students were admitted to the 1st BE, 2nd BE and 3rd BE classes. They are also known as
Class of ’70 (1st BE Intake in 1964) Matriculates were admitted using the ILA
Class of ’69 (2nd BE Intake in 1964) Those who had passed I.Sc.(A) with Science Option were admitted in order of merit
Class of ’68 (3rd BE Intake in 1964) Those who had passed I.Sc.(B) with Science Option were admitted in order of merit
The RIT Rector was U Yone Mo and the Registrar was U Soe Thein.
The Class of ’70
It comprised of the first year intake students in 1964. There were 494 registered students, of which 67 were female. Most graduated in 1970. Some took sabbatical for a year or two. A few left RIT before graduation. The GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) reached 138 at the end of May 2025.
Matriculates entered the first ever 1st BE classes. ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate) was used for the vetting of applicants. In the system, a score of 1 to 20 was assigned to map the marks for each subject. The ILA score (rather than the raw marks) was used to determine the eligibility of the students admitted to an institute.
Under the old education system, matriculates had to attend I.Sc. (A) classes. There were restrictions on the subjects taken at Inter classes to be eligible for Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, etc. For example, one must pass the I.Sc. with at least 50 marks in Maths, Physics and Chemistry to attend the 1st Year Engineering Classes (3rd BE in the new system).
Under the new education system, there were no restrictions on the subjects taken in Matric exam. As such, many students who passed Matric with combined Science and Arts subjects and even those with pure Arts subjects were able to attend RIT. For example, Ko Ohn Khine passed the Matric exam with an odd combination of Maths, Chemistry and Geography.
Wrote about the SPZP-2000 experience in the Post Reunion series.
U Myat Htoo (Right)NorCal RITAA
Founding member of NorCal RITAA.
Chair of BOD (Board of Directors).
One of the hosts for NorCal RITAA meetings. He would invite the attendees to take a boat ride on the nearby man-made lake. Would also arrange a karaoke session.
Past President of Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA)
President of Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA) for a decade. Led the procession for the scattering of ashes of Sayadaw U Silananda into the San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lost Neikan RIT
Wrote a parody on “Pyauk Sone Nay Thaw Neikban Bon” (the song by Sai Kham Leik and Sai Htee Saing).
LA Reunion
Played the Ukelele and sang the song described above at the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles.
Ukelele
Donation
Donated Life Vests to 20 teachers in the town of Paletwa in Chin Special Division, Myanmar.
The teachers risked their lives daily crossing Kaladan river to teach children on the other side of the town.
One teacher was killed in a boat mishap in surging waters during heavy rains. A life jacket would have saved her life.
Golden Jubilee
On May 20, 2018, the BOD (Board of Directors) and EC (Executive Committee) members of NorCal RITAA threw a surprise party to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of U Myat Htoo (C68, Chair of BOD) and Daw Hnin Maung Maung (Ma Ku, “Nyima Lay”).
According to Saya, he was the youngest in his family and wanted a younger sibling (preferably a sister).
He found an innocent 9 year old neighbor (and family friend).
Some 69ers hosted a breakfast gathering at “Crystal Jade” to welcome Ko Sein Myint (EP69, Singapore) and me.
Farewell
They bade farewell to Ko Tint Lwin (M69), who had to go back to Singapore to take care of his elder brother Saya U Thein Lwin (EE) and Sayama Daw May Than Nwe (Joyce).
Transportation
Ko Ohn Khine (M70 took me to the breakfast gathering.
During my visits, he also took me to meetings for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016 & “History of Myanmar Engineering Education (HMEE)” Project.
Attendees
Ko Shwe
Ko Tint Lwin (Daniel)
Ko Sein Tun
Ko Ohn Khine
Ko Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet)
Ko Aung Min
Ko Myint Thein (Kabar)
Ko Sein Myint
Ko Win Maung (“Lake”)
Ko Aung Min — Chair of the 69er HCF and a core organizer for 69er gatherings.
Breakfast at Taw Win Hnin Si
69ers hold a monthly breakfast gathering at “Royal Rose Restaurant (Taw Win Hnin Si တော်ဝင်နှင်းဆီ)”.
Ko Aung Min (M69) & team gave me two mementos: a sports jacket and a Tee shirt with the 69er Logo.
Major donors to the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund) and the 69er Annual Dinner were also given commemorative Tee shirts.
Orders for the sports jacket and Tee shirt were taken from interested 69ers.
The group photo shows
At Taw Win Hnin Si
L to R : Ko Tin Aung Win (Oscar), Ko Ngwe Soe (Walter), Ko Myint Thein (Kabar), Ko Hla Min, Ko Tin Maung Aye, Ko Win Lwin, Ko Tin Tun
EE69er breakfast gathering
EE69er Gathering
The group photo shows :
Standing : Ko Maung Maung, Ko Thein Swe, Ko Shwe
Seated : Ko Hla Min, Ko Than Hla (Cyril)
Ko Shwe is Treasurer for the 69er HCF and the EE 69er HCF.
Ko Maung Maung played volleyball at RIT. He is Joint Treasurer of the EE 69er HCF.
At Winner Inn
Winner Inn
The photo was taken at Winner Inn.
Saya Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) came to pay respect to Sayagyi U Ba Than.
Sayagyi U Ba Toke
U Ba Toke
The photo was taken at Sayagyi U Ba Toke’s house.
Daw Thynn Thynn (Pansy, ChE74, daughter of Sayagyi) sent a car to Winner Inn to pick up Saya U Ba Than, Saya U Tin Htut (M60) and me.
U Ba Than pays respect to Sayagyi U Ba Toke at least once every year.
Sayagyi U Ba Toke is a “Phwa Bet” of Rangoon University and the First RU Students’ Strike in December 1920.
Sayagyi has eight children (of which two passed away), many grandchildren and some great grand children.
At Dhammananda Vihara
Half Moon Bay
Ko Sein Myint’s daughter and son-in-law offered soon to the resident monks of the Dhammanda Vihara, Half Moon Bay (in Northern California, USA) for the first birthday of their daughter.
Ko Sein Myint has five children and four grand children.
Attendees include Ko Tin Myint (John Lee, M69) and Ma Lyo Kyin Sein (Mabel Lee, T69).
Updates
U Ba Toke, U Ba Than, U Thein Lwin, Daw May Than Nwe, Kabar, Ko Thein Swe & Ko Tin Myint are now GBNF.
Offered me rides during my visits to Yangon especially to attend meetings for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016, HMEE-2012, and to selected 69er Breakfast Gatherings.
Spouse is Sayama Daw Khin Swe Aye (Winnie, ChE70)
Younger sister is Sayama Dr. Khin Swe Myint (Physics).
Other Names : Ohn Gaing & Gaing Gyi
Matriculated in 1964 from St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay.
Admitted to 1st BE in November 1964.
Graduated with Mechanical Engineering in 1970.
Founder & moderator of the Google Group “Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65”.
Maintains the GBNF list for the Class of 70.
Joined HIC (Heavy Industries Corporation).
Volunteer for SPZP-2012, SPZP-2016, SDYF, Shwe YaDu & HMEE, Reunion &Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe for the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65
Publication
U Ohn Khine and I compiled the CD Supplement for HMEE-2012.
Translated Section One of HMEE-2012 into English.
Summarized Section Two of HMEE-2012.
Co-authored “RIT Days” article with U Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70).
I edited their joint long article and published in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”.
It was also reprinted in the Golden Jubilee magazine by the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65.
Ko Chit Htun (Mining) passed away at the age of 68 on 19 December 2011 (Monday). His funeral will be on 23rd December, 2011 at Yae Wai at 2 pm. He was a lecturer at YIT.
Chit Htun
We are going to meet his family this evening.
With Metta, Aung Min ( M69 )
Comments
U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M 69) wrote :
So sad to hear that Ko Chit Htun has passed away. Please send my deepest condolences to his family.
U Aung Myint (M 69) wrote :
Hi Danny, I met Ko Aung Min online yesterday just after he had sent out sad news to us. When I asked Ko Aung Min to send our condolences to Ko Chit Htun’s bereaved family, he mentioned to me that he’d donate Ks 100,000 from 69ers fund. Besides, Ko AM said he would go there in a few minutes when we were online. By the way, Ko Chit Htun, Mehm Aye Chan (Ohn Mg), Kyaw Tint, Ko Taing Ok and I were together at ThaMine College hostels looking after RIT 1st yr students. I still remember him as a very jovial person. I believe Ko Chit Htun will now rest in peace.
Received the official DVD of the 40th Anniversary gathering & mini-SPZP of the class of ’69. It took about two hours to view the DVD.
Myint Thein (Maung Kabar, GBNF) — a core organizer who offered the use of his office for the preparation meetings — looked as young as ever.
It is difficult to recognize some faces and remember their real and nick names. Except for thin, grey or dyed hair, a few have changed much over the years.
Ko Aung Min, Master of Ceremonies, appeared to have gained some weight.
Ko Thein Swe (GBNF) described the event in his e-mail.
Sayas who attended the event
U Ba Than (M)
U Khin Aung Kyi (ChE, former Rector)
U Thit (Met, Melbourne, Australia)
U Myo Myint Sein (Arch, California, US),
U Thein Lwin (EE, Singapore)
U Soe Paing (my mentor at RIT & UCC)
U Moe Aung (EE, Tekkatho Moe War, Chief Editor of “Swe Daw Yeik Sar Saung”, “Hylat Sit Sar Saung)
U Ba Myint (EE, former Pro-Rector)
U Khine Oo (EE)
U S. Kyaw Aye (M, elder brother of Abdul Rauf)
U Han Tun (M, GBNF)
Dr. Thaung Myint (Maths)
Dr. Kyaw Win (Pet)
Daw Tin Myint (ChE)
Some sayas (e.g. Saya U Shwe Hlaing) could not make it to the event.
Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Thein Lwin and Saya U Moe Aung gave short speeches on behalf of the sayas and sayamas.
In the DVD, the commentator mentioned the name and department of the saya/sayama.
We wish he had thrown in more names of the attendees [not just the presenters & the performers] so that we can match the names and faces of our long lost classmates.
Some words by 69ers
Ko Khin Maung Tin (M69)
Ko Nyi Hla Nge (C69)
Ko Myint Thein (Maung Kabar, M69, GBNF)
Ko Daniel Tint Lwin (M69)
Ko Robert Win Boh (EC69)
Ko Aung Kyaw Pe (EP69)
Ko Aung Myint (Pathein, M69)
Ma Khin Than Myint Tin (Magaret Aung Tin, M 69)
Entertainment
Saya U Khin Aung Kyi
Saya U Moe Aung
Albert Kyaw Min (several Burmese & English songs)
Ko Khin Maung Nyunt
Ko Hla Shwe
Maung Kabar Myint Thein
Daniel Tint Lwin
Robert Win Boh
Naw Mu Mu Aye & company
Myo Nyunt
David Myint Thein
Aung Min
Sargalay Khin Maung Win
Aye Lwin
and several organizers took part in the musical/dance entertainment.
General
The commentator noted that unlike other batches who studied 4 years or 6 years, most intake of 2nd BE in ’64 spent 5 wonderful years at RIT.
Uzin Myo Tun (Bobby) was in good company with Saw Tobius Kittum Ku (Toby) and Ko Khin Maung Hla.
Optimists say they will take part in the Golden Jubilee in 2019.
Conservatives suggest meeting several times before then.
Realists note that the GBNF list has 39 [at that time constituting 11% of the class.]
Kudos to the organizers, sponsors, and well-wishers for keeping the RIT spirit alive and well.
Editor’s Notes in 2021
Posted Group photos (with captions) taken in 2009. Thanks to the organizers who provided the photos.
Several sayas are now GBNF.
Several 69ers are now GBNF. The GBNF list is 113 .
There was a pseudo Golden Jubilee in 2014 to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the Admission to RIT in November 1964.
The true Golden Jubilee for Graduation was celebrated in 2019.
G 1G 2G 3G 4
Updates
Several — Harry Tin Htut, Albert Kyaw Min, Uzin Bobby, Uzin Aung Chaw, Tun Tun, Oscar, Kyaw Zin, Robert — have become Octogenarians. Tin Maung is the oldest.
Several sayas and alumni are now GBNF.
Saya U Ba Than passed away after his 94th birthday.
69er GBNF list has 128 members. Over 40% classmates have passed away. 18 succumbed to Covid.
HlaMin 