Category: RIT Saya

  • U Soe Khaw

    U Soe Khaw

    Part-time Lecturer, Mining Engineering

    EDUCATION B.S., Mining Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A. 1950
    Honors: Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. M.S., Mining Engineering, Missouri School of Mines, University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri 1952.

    EXPERIENCE
    1953 – 1964 Service with the Ministry of Mines, Govt of Burma. Entry as Asst. Inspector of Mines, then promoted to Inspector, Chief Inspector, Director of Mines, and Deputy Dir. General PMDC
    1954 – 1955 As Visiting Lecturer taught Mining Courses at the BOC Engineering College, Rangoon University **
    1971 – 1984 Service with United Nations ESCAP in Bangkok as Economic Affairs Officer (P-4) and rising to Chief of Mineral Resources Section (p-5).

    Note: (**)
    In 1954, BOC Engineering College campus was located south of the Rangoon University estate between Prome Hall and the Teachers Training College on Prome Road. It consisted of modest single storied buildings. In addition to degree courses in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical engineering, Mining courses were offered for the first time during that year.
    At Dean Sayagyi Tan Ba Hli’s request, Ministry of Mines assigned me as part time Lecturer to teach Mining Engineering courses. U Soon Sein was later transferred from the Mines Department to the University and taught mining courses full time.

    Warm regards, U Soe Khaw

    Editor’s Note:

    Saya U Soe Khaw passed away about two years ago at the tender age of 90+
    He is a cousin of Sayama Sheila Saing (RIT English) and Dr. Harry Saing (ARAE Champion in 1958 and 1960).

  • Faculty Members

    Faculty Members

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    The early Engineering departments have
    (a) Professor
    (b) Lecturers
    (c) Assistant Lecturer
    s

    The then new Education System created
    (d) Instructor(s)

    The newer Education System created
    (e) Associate Professor (s)

    Typical pay scales in the early days are

    Professor : 1300+ Kyats

    Lecturer : 800 – 50 – 1200 Kyats
    for minimum, annual increment and maximum

    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)
    The CLA was later dropped.
    So, AL : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats

    Instructor : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats
    The pay scale is the same as AL
    It takes longer to become a Lecturer

    Some terminology

    Selection Grade :
    Those who earn 800+ Kyats
    Entitled to buy 10% of salary at “Staff Shop”

    Gazetted Officer :
    Those who earn 350 (and CLA) or higher
    450 (Base Pay) in the newer system
    Promotion, deputation, transfer, leave … are published
    in the [Burma] Gazette

    Head of Department :
    Large departments are headed by a Professor
    Sub-departments are headed by a Lecturer
    Supporting departments may be headed by an AL

    Demonstrator / Tutor :
    Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so)
    Later : 320 Scale
    Supervises lab and/or tutorials

    Ad hoc Tutor :
    Early days : 100+ Kyats

  • EE Sayas

    GBNF

    • U Kyaw Tun
    • U Sein Hlaing
    • U Tin Swe
    • U Sein Win
    • U Thein Lwin
    • Dr. San Tint
    • U Soe Min
    • U Chin Way
    • U Nyi Nyi
    • U Tin Shwe
    • Daw Mya Mya Than

    Update

    The following sayas — from our days — are often seen at the Saya Pu Zaw Pwes:

    • U Myo Kyi
    • U Ba Lwin
    • U Soe Paing
    • U Moe Aung
    • U Tin Maung Thein
    • U Ba Myint
    • U Sein Maung
    • U Khine Oo
    • U Than Lwin (EC69) and U Tin Win (EC71) are seen at the SPZs of the junior batches.
    EE 1
    EE 2
    EE 4
  • Win Kyaing

    Win Kyaing

    by Ohn Khine & Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    U Ohn Khine (M70) wrote

    • After reading Saya U Myo Myint Sein’s lively article in Swel Daw Yeik magazine, my mind raced back to the good and happy RIT student days.
    • I still remember the tall and stout Saya with his famous mustache and boisterous voice. If I can rely on my memory, he taught us (70 batch) Industrial Management in the Fourth year.
    • He taught us from the Book titled “Parkinson’s Law” written by C. Northcote Parkinson.
    • Going back again to Saya U Myo Myin Sein’s article on the trip to USSR, I can imagine Saya U Win Kyaing in a very uncomfortable and awkward situation, but still can laugh out loud over the situation.
    • I would like to take this opportunity to ask belated forgiveness from Saya U Win Kyaing for lovingly calling him “Koung Kee” behind his back. Saya looked somewhat like Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (a Vietnamese leader) .
    • May his soul rest in peace.

    Editor’s Notes :

    • Saya is the younger brother of U Wah Kyu (Ko Maurice’s father)
    • He advised Ko Maurice to study Mechanical Engineering.
    • On behalf of Saya, his spouse Sayama Daw Muriel Tun Gyaw attended SPZP-2000.
  • Paying respect to U Min Wun

    Paying respect to U Min Wun

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    SoCal Gatherings

    • Some sayas and alumni used to pay respect annually to Saya U Min Wun in Southern California.
    • Organizers include Cecil Teoh (C63, SoCal), U Tin Htoon (A60, SoCal) and Dr. San Lin (C62, NorCal)
    • Dr. San Lin invited us to join him in June 2019.

    June 2019

    Co-organizers : U Tin Htoon and Dr. San Lin

    Attendees :

    • Saya U Min Wun (C, GBNF)
    • Saya U Tin Htut (M60)
    • U Tin Htoon (A60, co-organizer)
    • Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62)
    • Dr. San Lin (C62, co-organizer)
    • Cecil Teoh (C63)
    • Saya Dr. K Chiu (ChE63)
    • Saya U Tauk Lin / Henry Lam (C63)
    • U Aung Khin (EP68)
    • U Tin Nwe (C68)
    • Tom Chan
    • U Hla Min (EC69) and spouse
    U Min Wun 1
    U Min Wun 2
    U Min Wun 3
    U Min Wun 4
    U Min Wun 5
    • Saya is physically and mentally fit.
    • We had to wait for a while before Saya finished his morning meditation session.
    • Civil graduates (mostly from Southern California) used to meet at least once a year and pay respect to their saya.
    • Dr. San Lin (co-organizer from Northern California) invited us to join the gathering.
      He also offered us transportation to Southern California. We stayed at U Aung Khin (EP68)’s house. He drove us to the gathering.
    • Tom is the elder brother of Reggie, who was active in BAPS.
    • One attendee had a medical problem, but he did not want to miss the gathering.
    • Sayagadaw greeted us, but gently declined to join the lunch gathering.
    U Min Wun 6
  • Memoirs of U Ba Than

    U Ba Than
    Memoirs 1

    At the request of two grand children Aung Myo Myint and Ei Khine, Sayagyi U Ba Than wrote his memoirs.

    Sayagyi studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, University of London.

  • Soe Win, Dr.

    Soe Win, Dr.

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • Dr. Soe Win (SPHS58) stood First in Burma in the Matric exam of 1958. Ko Robert Sein (SPHS58) stood Second.
    SPHS Roll of Honor
    • Father : Saya U Sein (SPHS)
    • Uncle : Saya U Kyaw Sein (SPHS)
    • Spouse : Sayama Daw May Saw Lwin
    • Sons: Aung Mon, Nyi Thet Lwin
    • Studied Chemistry Honors at the University of Rangoon.
    • Received his Doctorate from Imperial College, London University.
    • Retired as Rector of Yangon University of Foreign Languages (YUFL).
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    Dr. Soe Win 1
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    Dr. Soe Win 2
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    Dr. Soe Win 3
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    Dr. Soe Win 4
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    Dr. Soe Win 5
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    Dr. Soe Win 6
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    Dr. Soe Win 7
  • U Shwe Hlaing

    U Shwe Hlaing
    • Studied Chemical Engineering and Mathematics in the USA.
    • Taught Engineering Mechanics in our 2nd BE class. The 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.
    • Served as External Examiner at UCC.
    • After retirement, Saya spent some time in UK.
    • Gave a short speech at SPZP-2016
  • Daw Khin Saw Tint

    Daw Khin Saw Tint
    • Taught English at RIT
    • Bilingual author
      Wrote numerous books in Burmese and English.
    • Sayama is a happy mother, grand mother and great grand mother.
    • Mother : Daw Khin Saw Mu wrote poems and articles in Burmese.
      Her work was featured in a TEDx talk by U Nay Oke Tint (St. Paul’s), younger brother of Sayama.
    TEDx Inya Lake
    • Sayama comes from a lineage of scholars and statesmen.

    Her uncles

    • U Tin Tut
      First Burmese ICS by invitation, …
    U Tin Tut
    • U Kyaw Myint
      Head of the Tribunal to try Galon U Saw, former Dean of Law at the University of Rangoon, …
    U Kyaw Myint
    • U Myint Thein
      “MMT”, author, translator, former Chief Justice and Ambassador, Victim of the Revolutionary Council
    • Dr. Htin Aung
      Former Rector and Vice Chancellor of RU, Distinguished writer, Historian, Folklorist
    Dr. Htin Aung

    Her aunts

    • Daw Khin Mya Mu
      Translator of Kyauk Sar, Thamadi Myowun, …
    • Daw Tin Saw Mu
      Lecturer in English

    Mai Khin Nyunt (Rosie, ChE71) added :

    Congratulations Mama

    Ah Ko Hla Min,

    I always have been in touch with Sayama as I take responsibility regarding 64-65 Intake RIT Students activity. Due to her Dhamma and kind heart, though she had some operations she is in good health.

  • Dr. Aung Gyi — Memories

    Dr. Aung Gyi 1
    Dr. Aung Gyi 2
    Dr. Aung Gyi 3
    Dr. Aung Gyi 4
    Dr. Aung Gyi 5
    Dr. Aung Gyi 6
    Dr. Aung Gyi 7