Visiting Professor, Osaka University, Japan Collaborated with Professor Harada (Chit Mann Nwe)
Daw Khin Saw Mu
Khit San Kabyar
Statuette in “Bagyi Aung Nyar De” (short story)
Siblings : ICS U Tin Tut, U Kyaw Myint, U Myint Thein, Dr. Htin Aung, Daw Khin Mya Mu, Daw Tin Saw Mu
Spouse : ICS U Ba Tint
Children : Daw Khin Saw Tint, U Nay Oke Tint
TEDxTalk
Two Poets and their Legacy on Kabyar
Main Characters from “Bagyi Aung Nyar De” : ICS U Tin Tut (Bagyi Aung), Minthuwun (Maung Chit), Daw Khin Saw Mu (Statuette), ICS U Ba Tint (Merchant / Buyer of Statuette)
All four have passed away
It’s time to debunk the myth about “Bagyi Aung”. Many thought that he was Dr. Htin Aung.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) successfully sent Apollo-11 to land men on the moon and bring them safely back to the earth (as envisioned by JFK).
Apollo 11
Neil Armstrong — Civilian Commander; First man on the moon
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin — Lunar Module Pilot; Second man on the moon
Michael Collins — Command Module Pilot
My Poem
The poem honoring the Apollo 11 Mission was published in the Guardian newspaper.
A copy of the poem was given to Mr. Hall (USIS), who forwarded it to NASA and the astronauts.
Updates
Neil Armstrong became a University Professor
For some time, Buzz Aldrin was depressed for not being the first to set foot on the Moon. He later competed in “Dancing with the Stars”.
Michael Collins reply to interviewers : “The mission needed three astronauts. I am 1/3 of the success.” He wrote a book.
Apollo 13 had a technical problem. The saga was recounted in a book and a movie.
Apollo 17 had a Scientist Astronaut.
A mini-history was published based on the interviews with Astronauts.
Received two Masters : one from RIT, another from Melbourne University
Spouse : Daw Gyn Yu — Myeik Thu & Culinary Expert
Son (Min Yu Aung) & daughter (Hnin Yu Aung) — both successful
Taught at Rengsit University
Senior manager at a Refinery in Thailand
After retirement, spending time with his daughter and grandchildren in California, USA.
Activities
Writes with the pen name “Maung Yin Maung (Okkpo)”. Not sure if the name is inspired by the first Burmese novel.
Author & Poet.
Wrote about his sayas (High School & Uni)
Co-author of the “Collection of Poems” by five RIT poets headed by Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War). One poem is about his beloved sweetheart and later his spouse Ma Gyn Yu (ChE72).
Book of poemsPoet
Organizer, Poetic Art Series & Musical Video (O Bei Myat Saya)
Organizer for book donation to the ChE Library & Training Component of YTU Library Modernization Project.
Per U Aung Myaing’s request, Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66) organized a fund raiser of US 3000+ for supporting the Training Component of the YTU Modernization Project.
Library
Recorded with the U-70 members at a professional studio. He has posted some of them on Facebook.
He & Daw Gyn Yu have provided assistance to sayas and alumni visiting Bangkok especially for medical treatment.
With Bagyee
Provided materials (paint, paper) to Pon Tu expert Bagyee Myat Myo Myint
Facilitator, Myanmar Association of Chemical Engineers; Knowlege sharing; Financial aid for needy ChE
Luyechun (လူရည်ချွန်) for 9th & 10th standards. Present at the first Luyechun Camp was Thinchar Chun (သင်္ချာချွန်) Kyaw Myint (later T72 grad, MARB President)
Metallurgical Engineering
Nyunt Htay 2
Graduated from RIT in 1973 with Metallurgical Engineering
Taught Metallurgical Engineering
Retired as Associate Professor
Wrote articles about the Department, Sayas & Students
Passion
Poetry, writing & editing
Pen name : Maung Nyunt Htay (Ah Htet Min Hla) မောင်ညွန့်ဌေး (အထက်မင်းလှ)
Nyunt Htay 3
Editor, RIT Annual Magazine
Chief Editor, Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung
Myanmar Mudita
Contributor, Poetic Art Series
Co-author, Collection of Swel Daw Yeik Poems
Book of Poems
Family members
Two daughters
Several “Myee” cats.
Health
Had a brush with Covid-19 and received support from the alumni and/or SDYF.
Recovered fully
Some sayas, sayamas and 9 Metallurgy alumni (including Maung Tun, 69er) succumbed to Covid.
Memories
Book Presents
Gave me the Myanmar Mudita Sar Saung
Gave me an autographed copy of “Swel Daw Kabyar Collection” by him and four RIT Poets : Saya U Moe Aung, Saya U Aung Myaing, U Win Myint (M72) and U Toee Maung.
2015 RIT Alumni in Los Angeles
Attended the gathering with Metallurgy Saya U Win Kyaw (Met71),
Other Metallurgy attendees include Saya U Thein Aung (Met72), Sayama Dr. Naing Naing Aung (Met91) & Ko Thiri Nyunt (musician).
Gathering at iNapa Winery
At iNapa Winery
Metallurgy sayas and Ko Thiri Nyunt attended the Lunch, Dinner & Entertainment at iNapa winery hosted by Gordon Kaung (M83) and Lillian (EC83).
The attendees paid respect to Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi. On behalf of Bagyee Myat Myo Myint, U Nyunt Htay presented a Pon Tu to Sayagyi.
Micro-gathering in 2019
During my visit to Yangon in late 2019, U Nyunt Htay hosted a micro gathering at Shwe Bae.
U Win Kyaw picked me and Saya U Ye Myint (ChE70) to attend the gathering.
In our younger days, tears would not fall easily even when one is forsaken by a lover.
Later, even when one’s parents passed away (especially untimely), one sensed grief and might shed a few tears.
A few years back (in April, 2013) we told the workers (masons, carpenters, painters …) not to bring their lunch boxes the following day, since we would be offering requisites (robes, medicine, Nawakama, Soon) and that they would have Dan Bauk (Birayani).
The next day, the workers brought their lunch boxes as usual.
Asked “Why?”
They replied, “We want to take back Dan Bauk to feed our children, who have never eaten such delicacy.”
My heart ached (thinking of the hard lives of the workers and their families).
Tears were ready to roll down. (There were Tears of Sorrow followed by Tears of Joy – appreciating the metta and cetana of parents.)
Note for the revised article: Should we substitute Dan Bauk with Two Eggs?
Editor’s Notes
Due to the pandemic, the former Rice Bowl of Asia is facing food shortage.
Due to misdirected policies, the purchasing power of Burmese Currency has declined.
Thanks to Ko Htoo and Ko Hta, many starving families have temporary relief in the form of Food Coupons (e.g by Mg Mar Ga, Shwe Zin Ma and their supporters).
I earlier translated Saya’s article about the K1000 (gratitude gift) by his mother-in-law to purchase a bowl of Khauk Swe.
Feedback
Saya U Moe Aung wrote :
Dear Ko Hla Min
As a matter of fact, I really cherished the article you’ve rendered into English recently. By the way, DanBauk is Briyani or, Birayani, as per your usage above?
Excellent rendition, cheers!!
Tekkatho Moe WarBook Present from Tekkatho Moe War
In the 1961 – 62 Academic Year, the Faculty of Engineering of Rangoon University moved to the Gyogone Campus.
It was named Burma Institute of Technology (BIT).
Sayas & Sayamas
U Yone Mo served as Dean.
U Sein Hla served as Registrar.
Newly minted sayas & sayamas include U Aung Soe (C), U Maung Maung Win (M), Daw Tin Tin Ohn (T) & Daw Julie Han
Matriculation & HSF
In 1961, the last Matric & High School Final exam took place. Those who pass the exam could attend the University.
In 1962, there were separate exams for Matric & HSF. Those who pass HSF had to take the Matric exam in order to attend the University.
2nd SEAP Games
RU athletes in 2nd SEAP Games
In December 1961, Burma hosted the 2nd South East Asian Peninsular Games.
Burma placed First (according to the Tally of Medals) in the Games. Burma was dominant in Track & Field, Swimming & Diving (to name a few).
About 20 students Rangoon University represented Burma in the Games. Several won Gold Medals : Tun Mra (4 x 100 meters relay), Soe Mra (Pole Vault), Kyaw Han (Volleyball), Richard Yu Khin (Yachting).
Ko Richard (GBNF) provided the group photo. He also wrote about the swimming training with Ko Tin Maung Ni under a Japanese coach.
Met Ko Tun Mra, Ko Khin Maung Latt & Ko Tin Myint (GBNF) at the RUBC/YUBC Annual Regatta in December 2019. Ko Tun Mra mentioned that he, Ko Kyaw Mra (GBNF), Ko Soe Mra & Ko Tun Naung represented Burma in the first SEAP Games held in Bangkok in 1959.
1962
Coup d’etat
On March 2, 1962, a 17-member Revolutionary Council staged a Coup d’etat. Sao Shwe Thaik’s son was killed.
Mahn Win Maung (President), U Nu (Prime Minister), U Myint Thein (Chief Justice), several high ranking officers & Sawbwas were imprisoned.
U Myint Thein was among the first to be detained and the last to be released. He was given only a part day off to attend the last journey of his spouse Daw Phwa Hmi (pioneer Burmese female barrister).
Sama Duwa Sinwa Naung had been selected to succeed Mahn Win Maung as the President, but the Coup ended the democratic parliamentary system.
Sama Duwa Sin Wa Naung
HSF Exam
The HSF exam results for Rangoon Division was annulled claiming a leakage of exam questions.
The students had to retake the HSF exam in August, 1962.
Dark Days in July
There were two Dark Days.
Student protesters faced indiscriminate shooting on July 7, 1962. The newspapers & Myanmar Ah Than said that there were 17 victims.
Ko Aung Khin who was killed by a stray bullet on his way back from RUBC to his home in Windermere Road was listed as the 17th casualty.
On July 8, 1962, the revered RU Student Union Building was demolished.
1963
Matric Exam
SPHS63 Scholarship Winners
Most exams were held in March. However, the Matric exam in 1963 was held in May.
St. Paul’s High School had five students in the Top Five, seven in the Top Ten, and ten in the Top Twenty.
Anniversary of 7th July
In July 1963, the first Anniversary of 7th July 1962 was celebrated with posters, pamphlets & magazines.
Some time later, the higher authorities announced the closure of most schools except the Faculty of Medicine & the Faculty of Engineering.
Rangoon University Boat Club
Dinner to celebrate the RUBC 40th Anniversary
Annual Regatta was canceled citing security reasons.
Sithu U Tin (President) decided not to cancel the Dinner commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of RUBC by Sit Arthur Eggar (Law Professor).
1964
Scholarship for USSR & East Bloc
Soviet Union and East Bloc nations offered scholarships for undergraduates & graduates.
Some classmates (who were concerned about how long the schools will close) applied & were accepted.
Maung Maung Kyi studied Chemical Engineering (specializing in Pulp & Paper) at Dresden University, GDR.
New Education System
Shwe YaDu
Enacted in November 1964
The reorganization saw former Faculties as independent Institutes with their own Rector and Registrar. The remaining faculties of Rangoon University became Rangoon Arts & Science University (RASU).
Under the new Education system, BIT became Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). It had autonomy. U Yone Mo served as Rector. U Soe Thein (former student leader) served as Registrar.
Matriculates were admitted to the fresher classes at the Universities & Institutes using Intelligence Level Aggregate (ILA).
The marks for each subject were converted to an ILA score (1 – 20). Those who have a balanced score can have a higher ILA than someone who has high marks in most subjects but a low score in one subject.
There were name changes to the degrees offered, e.g B.E instead of B.Sc.(Engg)
Majors were introduced.
LL.B was offered.
Luyechun
The program was initiated in the Summer of 1964.
Outstanding students from middle school and high school was chosen as Luyechun. They were sent to the Ngapali Luyechun Camp.
Oke Soe Kha (MEHS), Win Aung (TTC) and Ma Pwint Than (Loikaw) were some High School Luyechuns.
1965
Nationalization
On April 1, 1965 private schools were nationalized.
St. Paul’s High School (SPHS) became No. 6 Botathaung State High School.
Methodist English High School (MEHS) became No. 1 Dagon State High School.
Luyechun Camps
Inlay Luyechun
The Luyechun program was extended to students of Universities & Institutes in the summer of 1965.
I was selected as RIT Luyechun along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ma Khin Than Myint Tin, and Ko Zaw Min. We were sent to the newly opened Inlay Khaung Daing Camp was added.
The Rangoon Combined Camp was the meeting point for those from Ngapali Camp and Inlay Camp.
Irrespective of years gone by, my beloved mother and benefactor still remains in my heart. I wrote the poem for Thway Thauk Magazine in May 1964 in memory of my mom who passed away on March 10, 1964.
HlaMin 