Category: RIT

• Saya U Min Wun matriculated from Taung Dwin Gyi in 1949.
• His close friends called him “Kyit In”.
• His brothers include Dr. Kyi Soe and Dr. Aung Win (BDS).
• His early sayas include U Mu, father of Daw Khin Maw Maw (spouse of Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw (EC69)).
• Saya U Min Wun, Saya Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Maung Maung Than were the first group of engineering students to benefit from the “Twinning Program” to attend prestigious universities in the USA.
• Saya U Min Wun did his BS at MIT and his MS (specializing in Photogrammetry) at Cornell University.
• Upon their return to Burma, Saya joined Civil Engineering Department as Assistant Lecturer and was promoted a year later to Lecturer.
• Saya retired as Professor and Head of Civil Engineering and relocated to the USA.
• Per request of his former students, Saya worked at CalTran (California Transportation) until he reached 80.
• In our 2nd BE in 1964, Saya taught “Surveying”. He used the “reverse” seating plan (starting with Roll Number One from the back row to the highest roll numbers in the front row. He enforced a strict attendance policy. Some students joking said, “Min Win yin Nga htwet”. “
• Saya was one of the early readers of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”. He wrote several articles for the Newsletter.
• Saya is healthy. He practices Vipassana meditation. But his spouse who has a medical problem requested Saya not to go on long trips (e.g. PZPs in Myanmar). His former students sent Garawa money to saya via those traveling to Southern California.

Contributions

• Advisor, Myanmar Pyeikkadein Ah Kyan Pay Ah Phwe
• Supplement to the Kyaik Hti Yo Project (The original original photo essay was done by Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (A67, GBNF)).
• Bagan Restoration
• History of RIT Civil Engineering Department (The article appeared on the CD supplement of HMEE-2012 book)
• Interview by Aung Zay Internet TV (based in Southern California)

Rectors

• Dr. Htin Aung (First native Rector)
• Dr. Hla Myint
• U Kar
• Dr. Tha Hla
• Dr. Maung Maung Kha (Longest tenure)

Dr. Maung Maung Kha

• [Alvin Oke Soe Kha] : I experienced first hand when Uncle U Ba Kyi sang ”ႏွစ္ ေယာက္ ထဲ ေန ျခင္တယ္” and my father Dr. Maung Maung Kha accompanied uncle on violin.
  
• There were fund raisers to hold Centennial celebrations for Saya Kha. Saya U Oo Khin Maung and Sayama Daw Thida were volunteer organizers along with several others.

U Ba Toke

• Saya was born in December 1920 and is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University and the first RU Student strike.
• His life journey has been written in the book by Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char).
• Taught at Mandalay University, Rangoon University, Rangoon Institute of Technology and Assumption University (Bangkok).
• Played soccer.
  Managed RU Sports in general and Soccer tournaments in particular.
• Leader of the Burma Olympic team.
• Healthy and active until his mid-80s.
• Likes to share his memories, but his health declined after turning 90.

Registrars

• U Htin Si
• U Yu Khin
• Daw Sein Sein

U Thet Lwin

• Maung Ngwe Hlinne is the pen name of Saya U Thet Lwin, who taught Burmese at the Institute of Economics and later transferred to RIT as Registrar.
• He is a distinguished Composer.
  His songs include “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo”.
• [Saya Dr. Soe Win] :
  My father Saya Sein was U Thet Lwin‘s Burmese teacher at St. Paul’s High School.

Early Sayas

• Dr. Hla Thwin was Professor of Psychology.
  
• Dr. Maung Shein was Lecturer of Economics before becoming Deputy Minister.
  
• U Than Aung taught Burmese in the early days at St. Paul’s.
  Served as Minister of Education in the AFPFL government.
  Requested his former student C. Ping Lee (EE saya at the Faculty of Engineering) to head the Technical Education and Vocational Training Department.

Censorship

• Readers [of the RASU Annual Magazine for 1975 -76] came up with several hidden messages.
• In July 1963, several pamphlets were distributed during the first anniversary of 7th July.
  Citing security reasons, the schools (with the exception of Medicine and Engineering) were closed for almost a year.
  A new Education system was implemented in November 1964.
• The censorship intensified in the later years.
• My articles had to be approved by three Chief Editors of the newspapers (two Burmese and one English).
• My poem for the Sar So Daw Nay was accepted by the Assistant Editor in charge of the Working People’s Daily (WPD) Supplement.
  She showed me the preview (block ready to be printed).
  The higher authorities refused to give the green light since my poem referenced Ananda Thuriya’s epic work “Dhammata”.

Nomination

• At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school.
• The members could propose a list of items about their alma mater.

Philosophy

• Philosophy means love of wisdom.
• Under the new Education System introduced in November 1964, students with low ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate) were forced to study Philosophy.

Scholarship / Stipend

• The scholarship and stipend holders received 75 kyats a month (60 kyats after paying the school fees).
• Those who stayed at hostels had to pay about 57 kyats a month.
• One kyat could get long bus rides, decent food, comics, and cartoons.

Early Mathematicians

• Some mathematicians served as Pyinnya Mingyi
• Some wrote textbooks for middle and high schools.

RU Main Campus

• Some are blessed to be born or lived on the campus.
• Some are honored to call the campus their home.
• I only had the chance to visit the houses of some sayas.

RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes

• USA in 2000
• Singapore in 2002, 2007 and 2010
• Yangon in 2004, 2012, 2016 and 2020

Rangoon University Boat Club

• In 1923, Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) was founded by Sir Arthur Eggar (Professor of Law), who pledged a third of his salary for the operation of the Club.
• U Nyo (Philanthropist) sponsored RUBC Club as part of his donations to the RU Estate.
• The 40th Anniversary was celebrated in 1963 with a souvenir program containing the history of RUBC, list of Captains and EC members, list of RUBC Golds (compiled by Sithu U Tin, U Po Zon and U Tin Htoon). The photo of the Anniversary Dinner appears in another post.
• There were other celebrations such as 50th, 60th, …
• For the 90th Anniversary, there were two publications. The souvenir program displayed in the post, and a reprint of the Autobiography of Sir Arthur Eggar.

Dr. Harry Saing

• In the early days, University students excel at academic and sports.
• Dr. Harry Saing represented Burma in Rowing, Hockey and Cricket and represented the Faculty of Medicine in Track and Field, and Football. He is Past Captain and Gold of RUBC, and is two time Champion of ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East).
• He and Saya Dr. Pe Nyun (Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) operated Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San (the first set of conjoined twins) at the Rangoon Children Hospital.
• Dr. Harry served as Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Hong Kong University. He also served as Patron of the Hong Kong Rowing and Sailing Club, which hosted FEARA (Far East Amateur Rowing Association) Regattas.
  According to Ko Htaik San (Henry Kao), Dr. Harry provided physical and moral support to the RUBC crews competing at FEARA regattas.
• Sadly, he is GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten). I wrote about his in the Souvenir Magazine.
• Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered into the waters near his second favorite Rowing Club (after his favorite RUBC).

Tun Naung

• One was a star sprinter. He represented Burma in the First SEAP Games in Bangkok in 1959, and the Second SEAP Games in Rangoon in 1961. His team mates include Tun Mra (Sprint), Kyaw Mra (Hurdles) and Soe Mra (Pole Vault).
• Tekkatho Tun Naung would often play with the mandolin on his back. He is a co-founder of Stereo Khit.

SEAP Games

• Burma hosted the Second SEAP games in1961. About twenty Rangoon University students represented Burma in the games.
• Burma also hosted the Fifth SEAP Games in 1969.
• [Nyunt Nyunt Tin] : I was in the 7th standard at Myoma National High School (Rangoon) and participated Kabyaluk dance.
  The team of 400 high school girl students danced Kabyaluk at the opening ceremony. Never forget, ever.

Football / Soccer

• U Than Win (Captain of the team, later Director of Sports and Physical Education)
• U Chan Tha (Captain of the Prome Hall team, also Past Captain and Gold of RUBC)
• Collegian Nay Win, Kenneth Shein, Tun Kyi and Dr. Tint Lwin played for RU First Eleven under coach Saya Nyein.

Tennis

• Saya Joe Ba Maung taught English at RIT before transferring to Burma Railways.
  Saya was Burma Tennis Champion in Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles (with Than Lwin) and Mixed Doubles (with Sayama Ruby Kha)

Sports Officer

• Several Burma Selected and University Selected became Sports Officers.
• U Ba Maung (Soccer, RASU)
• U Maung Maung (Soccer, RIT)
• U Thet Win (Diving, Eco)

Tekkatho

• In the early days, less than 10 percent passed the Matriculation examination. It was an honor to prefix one’s name with Tekkatho or University.
• Khin Nyo wrote : absolutely right. I think in 1957 only 2% Passed and the total is 20000. Even dancer AmarSein was conferred with the title Thekkatho Amar Sein by the Rector.Dr Tha Hla.

Daw May Saw Lwin

• TQ Saya Hla Min for including our photo in your post.
• I think you would be happy (but not surprised) to learn that our granddaughter Ei Lwin, Dr Nyi Thet Lwin’s daughter achieved grade 9 in all of the nine subjects that she sat in the recent, 2019, GCSE exams. Following grandpa’s footsteps almost sixty years later!
• Dr. Soe Win (SPHS58) stood First in Burma in the Matriculation of 1958.

Prizes

• There were 20 or so prizes awarded at the RU Convocation.
• Most prizes are for outstanding graduates.
• Some prizes are for those who excelled at the Intermediate Classes.
• The University prizes include Matthew Hunter Gold Medal.

Books

• There are several books about Rangoon University and the university life of students.
• Shwe Ku May Hnin wrote “Nga Doh Khit Ka Tekkatho“.

• Studied Chemical Engineering and Mathematics in the USA.

• Taught Engineering Mechanics in our 2nd BE class.
  Students love the free-body diagrams with half arrows.

• Wore jeans and smoked quite a lot.
  
• Quit smoking and wore taik pone.
  A dramatic change.

• Taught ALGOL and some computer subjects in the planning phase of the UCC Project.
  
• Students felt sad when they learned that their favorite saya was to be transferred to Pathein (Bassein) College.
  
• As recounted by U Zaw Min Nawaday, there was a farewell party where U Tha Htay read the message in Burmese and U Khin Maung Win (Roland Thein) read the message (drafted by ZMN) in English.
  
• Many years later, Saya served as External Examiner at UCC.
  
• After retirement, Saya spent time in Myanmar and UK (with his daughter).
  
• U Ohn Khine (M70) was able to give Garawa money of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 64 to Saya, and took pictures.