HlaMin

Category: RIT Saya

  • U Aung Khin

    U Aung Khin

    • Saya stays fit by playing Tennis and Golf.
    • Photos provided by U Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69) visited Saya in Windsor, Canada.

    Saya U Aung Khin with his son and daughter

    U Aung Khin 1
    • Moe (Saya’s son)
    • U Tint Lwin (Daniel)
    • Saya U Aung Khin
    • Nanadar (Saya’s daughter)

    Saya U Aung Khin at the Tennis Club

    U Aung Khin 2
    • U Kyi Lwin (George)
    • Saya U Aung Khin
    • U Tint Lwin (Daniel)

    Other Gatherings

    Ivan and Saya
    Lily, Saya and Dr. Tin Win

  • U Tin U

    U Tin U 1
    U Tin U 2

    U Tin U is the eldest of nine siblings including Saya U Ba Than (GBNF), Dr. Myo Tint (GBNF), U Tin Tun (A60), U Myo Min (UCC) and U Thaung Lwin (EC66).

    He matriculated in 1946 and attended Rangoon University. His classmates include Dr. Pe Nyun (GBNF), Dr. Pe Thein (GBNF) and Saya U Sein Hlaing (GBNF).

    RUBC Captain

    He is Past Captain and Gold of Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC).

    He is Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club (RGC).

    He received his BSEE from Oregon State University and MSEE from Yale University. Upon his return to Burma, he taught Part-time at the Civil Engineering Department at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rangoon.

    He celebrated his 95th in August 2024.

    A miracle happened many years ago.

    Dr. Khin Tun (Peter, son of U Tin U) wrote:

    He had an experience of being kidnapped by his company driver who hired “insurgents” with criminal records, to do the job. They came to his office at Lewis street, and pretended to be from military intelligence in mufti. They asked him to come along with them for questioning. They ask the office driver to drive the company jeep up to A1 compound near 9th mile and let the driver to get off at a bus stop with a letter to give my mother.

    One of them took the driver seat and continued driving out of the city passing Mingaladon airport. When their jeep went past the Mingaladon Military Intelligence Centre (Yay Kyi Ine), my father became suspicious. There was a road block near Hmawbi by luck, and the kidnappers tried and overtook the battle tanks in a convoy on the road. An off duty military police stopped the car, giving my father a chance to ask for help; my father reached the car key from the back seat and threw away. The military police asked my father to drive instead and was later freed, after being taken to the military commander and the police station.

    In the mean time my mother, who was doing research at Insein Railway Hospital, received a ransom letter at 11 am to bring 60,000 Kyats in a jute bag, wearing a red longyi to a road corner, near “Ar-lain-nga-sint” pagoda in “Mingaladon”, by 3 pm the same day. The kidnappers’ plan was to torture and kill my father whether they received the ransom or not. The grudge was for sacking the driver who took sick leave, and went to work in another company to get 2 salaries.

    Was it a miracle?

    Or, was it a series of coincidences?

    U Tin U overcame a death threat.

    He continued working and enjoying Golf and the 19th hole celebrations. Even to this day, he keeps fit by watering plants in the garden and taking his daily dose of Scotch Whiskey.

    He looks healthier than his younger brother Sayagyi U Ba Than.

  • Htin Aung, Dr.

    Htin Aung, Dr.

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Dr. Htin Aung 1
    Dr. Htin Aung
    • Principal of Rangoon College.
    • First native Rector of the University of Rangoon.
    • Per Dr. Yan Naing Lwin, Dr. Htin Aung accompanied Prime Minister U Nu to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1954.
    • Vice Chancellor, RU
    • After retirement, Dr. Htin Aung was appointed Ambassador to Ceylon.
      Per U Tin Htoon, Dr. Htin Aung greeted the RUBC team and also provided transportation to visit Kandy.
    • Per Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint, his Ba Dwe was recalled back to Burma by the Foreign Office. One day, the then Number One asked Saya what he was doing in Burma and that he did not ask the Foreign Office to recall him.
      Saya went to UK to continue his research and writing.
    • Old alumni may have studied Saya’s books such as “Thirty Burmese Tales” and “Burmese Drama”.
    • Saya is a scholar, a prolific writer, a historian and a folklorist.
    • Saya’s siblings:
      ICS U Tin Tut,
      Dean of Law U Kyaw Myint,
      Chief Justice U Myint Thein,
      Kyauksar expert Daw Khin Mya Mu,
      Khit San poet Daw Khin Saw Mu,
      English lecturer Daw Tin Saw Mu

    Feedback from Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint

    • [Ba Dwe] Dr Htin Aung did not get an ambassador post. He was Called a Minister (current title is Minister Counselor) and the office in Ceylon was under the Embassy in New Dehli.
    • Sometime later, on one occasion, Ne Win said, “Where is Saya Htin Aung?”
      Thi Han immediately called Dr Htin Aung to come back.
    • Ba Dwe could not find out why. It took nearly six months to see Ne Win. On meeting Ne Win, Ne Win asked why he had come back. Ba Dwe explained about being called back and that he could not go back as another person had been sent. Ne Win told him he did not call back [from Ceylon]. He was thinking of his teacher and was just asking where was. Wasn’t it like Shwe Pyin Nyi Naung?
    • He asked Ba Dwe what he could do for him. Ba Dwe asked to leave Burma for Oxford. He left to be Fellow of St Anthony’s College.
    • The other dignitaries to be awarded honorary degrees were Prince Souphanouvong of Cambodia and Emperor Haile Salasie of Ethiopia together with my father in 1958.
    • I had a photo of my father receiving the honorary LLD which he never used from PM U Ba Swe.
    U Kyaw Myint
  • Maung Maung Kha, Dr.

    Maung Maung Kha, Dr.

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    • Fondly known as “Saya Kha“
    • Completed his doctorate in Meteorological Physics from the UK.
    • Worked briefly at the Directorate of Meteorology
    • Transferred to the Department of Physics at the University of Rangoon.
    • Early native Professor of Physics at the University of Rangoon
    • Served as Interim Dean at the Faculty of Engineering.
    • Rector of the University of Rangoon.
    • Established the University Distance Learning (Correspondence Course) and served as Rector
    • Longest tenure Rectors
    • Spouse : Daw Khin Soe Tin (Ruby Kha, Sayama and Tennis Champion)
    • Children :
      Dr. Oak Soe Ka (UK),
      Mamie Kha,
      Maythi Kha (USA)
      Dr. Myat Mon Kha (USA)
    • Excellent violinist
      Accompanied U Ba Kyi singing “Only Two” (Hna Yauk Hte Nay Chin De)
    • Former colleagues and students celebrated the Centennial of Saya Kha.
    • Related posts
      Rangoon University
      Rectors
      Physics
      Saya Kha Hall
    Saya Kha and Family
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is dr.-maung-maung-kha-1.jpg
    Obituary

    Saya Dr. Maung Maung Kha, Saya Dr. Tha Hla and Saya Dr. Hla Myint were some of the early Burmese State Scholars sent to the UK for their Doctorates in Meteorological Physics, Geology and Economics. The sayas served as Professors and as Rector of the University of Rangoon.

    Saya Kha attended the Regattas at Rangoon University Boat Club and presented the trophies to the winning teams. I was a Master of Ceremonies at several regattas. I am a Life Member of RUBC, and the last Executive Committee member to be democratically elected at the General Meeting. I served as Honorary Treasurer and Vice Captain, but the higher authorities changed the rules and prevented me from becoming Captain.

    Dr. Oak Soe Kha

    • Also known as Dr. Alvin Oak Soe Kha
    • Eldest child and only son of Saya Kha
    • Selected Luyechun for the inaugural Camp at Ngapali in the summer of 1964.
    • Matriculated from MEHS in 1964.
    • Represented the Institute of Medicine (1) in Swimming and Water Polo.
      Their team led by Lyn Aung Thet won Inter-Institute Water Polo competition.
    • After retirement, spend time in Yangon and UK
    • Honorary Paulian (present at the Paulian gatherings)
    • Had mixed emotions after reading the posts from Yar Pyay Group. He was sad to know that his former classmate and neighbor Maureen Aung Khin (daughter of Saya U Aung Khin (former Professor of Chemistry) left this world at an early age. He was glad to hear that his best friend Robert Aung Khin is alive and well.
    • Shared sweet memories. Experienced first hand Saya U Ba Kyi (renowned artist) sing his beautiful translation of “Hna Yauk Hte Nay Chin Dei” (Only Two, Darling) to the accompaniment of the violin by his father Saya Kha. The sayas were Patrons of the “Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thinn”.
    • Saya Kha was the longest tenured Rector (Rangoon University, RASU and University Distance Learning)
    • His mother Sayama Daw Khin Soe Tin (Ruby Kha) was National Tennis Champion of Mixed Doubles with Joe Ba Maung. Saya Joe was also Singles Champion, and Men’s Doubles Champion with U Than Lwin. Saya taught English at RIT before transferring as Manager to Burma Railways. Saya was in charge of the Sports Program of Burma Railways. He was one of the early casualties of 8-8-88 movement.
    • Related posts
      Sports
      Swimming
      Tennis

    Dr. Oak Soe Kha (Alvin) is the son of Sayagyi Dr. Maung Maung Kha. He was selected for the first Lu Ye Chun Camp in the summer of 1964.

    In the following year, the Lu Ye Chun Program was extended to the students of Universities and Institutes. The Program ended in 1988. A few years back, an association was formed for the Lu Ye Chuns from 1964 to 1988. There have been formal and informal Reunions of the Lu Ye Chuns.

    Some Luyechuns are GBNF. They include Dr. Kyaw Sein Koe, Dr. Than Sit, Dr. Aung Kyaw Nyunt, Daw Khin Aye Than, Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo (EE), U Tin Myint and H.E. U Myint Thaung.

  • Sayas at Harvard University

    • In the early and mid 50s, 400+ Burmese State Scholars studied in the USA.
    • There were programs to cover several disciplines : Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, …, Sports and Physical Education, Movie Technology.
    • Under the “Twinning Program between the Faculty of Engineering and the prestigious universities in the USA” proposed by Sayagyi U Ba Hli, first native Dean of Engineering and Professor of Civil Engineering, engineering students (e.g. Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun, U Khin Aung Kyi) and engineering sayas (e.g. U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe) were selected as State Scholars to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at US Universities.
    • Two prestigious universities (MIT and Harvard) are quite close.
    • Several sayas attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
    • Dr. F Ba Hli (GBNF) received Sc.D (Doctor of Science) in EE (Electrical Engineering).
      He mentored Dr. Aung Gyi and U Min Wun.
      He served as DG of UBARI, Advisor at the Ministry of National Planning, and Board Member and External Examiner at UCC.
      He passed away in Sydney, Australia.
    • U Sein Hlaing (GBNF) received MSEE from MIT.
      He retired as Professor and Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at RIT.
      He passed away a couple of years after retirement.
    • Dr. Aung Gyi received BSCE and MSCE from MIT.
      He retired as Rector of RIT.
      He moved to Canada.
    • U Min Wun received BSCE from MIT and MSCE from Cornell University.
      He retired as Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Department at RIT.
      He moved to California, USA.
    • U Khin Aung Kyi (GBNF) received BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from MIT.
      He retired as Rector of RIT.
      He passed away at the tender age of 89.
    • Later MIT alumni include Dr. San Hla Aung (C58) and U San Tun (M59).
    • Several sayas attended Harvard University.
    • U Ba Toke received AM in Mathematics from Harvard University.
      He served as Professor of Mathematics at RASU and Rector of MASU.
      He voluntarily transferred to RIT as Professor of (Engineering) Mathematics.
      He will celebrate his 100th birthday on December 26, 2020.
      His life journey and achievements have been recorded in a book by his former student and colleague Tekkatho Maung Thin Char (Dr. Khin Maung Swe, GBNF).
    • U San Tha Aung (GBNF) received AM in Physics from Harvard University.
      He passed away while serving as Director General of Higher Education.
    • Later Harvard alumni include U Allen Htay (C58, GBNF).

    Group Photo

    The group photo of the sayas attending the two universities was taken at Harvard.

    An Education Delegation was visiting Harvard at the time.

    Dr. Yan Naing Lwin (Emeritus Professor of Physics, Western Illinois University) wrote :

    When we arrived the US first time in 1955 we had a few days in Boston before leaving for New York. We met all the Sayas you mentioned except Dr. Freddie Ba Hli who had returned to Burma. There were about 140 Burmese State Scholars in 1955 when I arrived.

    The summer of 1955 in August we visited Harvard & MIT again. We met Saya U Ba Toke at Harvard. Also, Daw Thein Nyunt & Daw Tin Saw Mu who were visiting the States.-

  • Dr. Tin Aung

    • During our younger days, three sayas — Dr. Hla Shwe (Boon Chiong, First in Burma in 1953 from Yegyaw Methodist), Dr. Tin Maung and Dr. Tin Aung — came back after completing their doctorate in Physics from the USA.
      Dr. Hla Shwe and Dr. Tin Maung founnd their way back to the USA.
      Dr. Tin Aung stayed.
    • He served as Professor and Head of the Physics Department at RU.
    • During the 8-8-88 movement, Saya was in the USA as a member of the Education Delegation (with U Tun Aung Chein, Professor of History).
      Saya might not be aware that he was made a Patron (in absentia) by the “Boycott / Strike Committee” of Sayas and Sayamas of the various Universities and Institutions.
    • Upon his return, Saya attended the meeting of the Department Heads of RU.
      I was present at the meeting as a Proxy for my Head of Department.
    • Sometime later, we had the sad news.
      Saya was asked to resign effectively immediately.
    • Saya’s health was reasonably good except for his need of a Pace Maker.
      A couple of years back, he had to replace the Pace Maker.
      His former students worldwide donated for his medical expenses.
    • One photo is from the RU Centennial Facebook Group.
    • Two photos are from Sayama Daw Thida (who helped publish the RU Physics Centennial Book).
    • Shwe Than Thida wrote : Dear Saya U Hla Min,Thank you very much for your valuable compilations.

  • EE Sayas

    RIT Electrical Engineering Sayas

    Seated

    • U Soe Paing
    • U Thein Lwin (GBNF, Passed away in Singapore)
    • U Tin Swe (GBNF)
    • U Sein Hlaing (GBNF)
    • U Kyaw Tun (GBNF)
    • U Sein Win (GBNF)
    • U San Tint (GBNF)

    Standing

    • U Soe Min (GBNF)
    • U Chin Way (GBNF, Passed away in USA)
    • U Win Tin
    • U Ba Myint
    • U Nyi Nyi (was in UK)
    • U Moe Aung
    • U Sein Maung

    Absent in the photo

    • U Myo Kyi (On deputation)
    • U Ba Lwin (On deputation)
    • U Tin Maung Thein (On deputation)
    • U Khaing Oo (Missed the photo shoot)

    Miscellaneous

    • For the Commemorative Issue of Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2010, I wrote about the 14 EE Sayas in the Photo.
    • Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War, Chief Editor) suggested the title : “A Short and Sad Clip : EE Sayas”.
    • At the time of writing, Seven sayas — U Kyaw Tun, U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe, U Sein Win, Dr. San Tint, U Soe Min and U Chin Way — had passed away.
      There was no information about U Nyi Nyi who went for studies in the UK.
    • A few years back, U Thein Lwin and his spouse Daw May Than Nwe passed away in Singapore within a few months of each other.
    • The remaining Sayas from the Photo are U Moe Aung, U Sein Maung, U Ba Myint, Dr. Win Tin, and U Soe Paing.
    • Note that four EE sayas did not appear in the Photo.
      Three were studying abroad (On Deputation).
      One missed the Photo Shoot.
    U Moe Aung (Pon Tu)
    U Moe Aung (Caricature)
    U Ba Myint (Pon Tu)

    Comments

    • Htun Aung :
      အမြဲ​လေးစားအမှတ်ရလျက်ပါ​ကျေးဇူးရှင်ဆရာကြီးများခင်ဗျား။ကျန်းမာသက်ရှည်ကုသိုလ်တိုးကြပါ​စေ​ကြောင်းဂါရဝဖြင့်ဆု​တောင်း​မေတ္တာပို့သလျက်ပါခင်ဗျား။

  • U Ohn Maung (ChE68)

    • Matriculated from St. Paul’s High School in 1962.
    • Also known as Anthony Sein.
    • At SPHS, there was a class period when
      Catholic students had to study Catechism, and
      Non-Catholics had to study “Morals and Manners”.
    • Ko Anthony, Ko Myint Thein (B.Com, RUBC) and several others from their class would join us in the “Morals and Manners” class.
    • Upon graduation in 1968, he joined the Chemical Engineering Department at RIT.
    • After retirement, he moved to Singapore.
    • Attended SPZPs.
    • At one SPZP, we were sad to learn that he was having some medical problems and slight memory loss.
    • Kudos to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF) for the support of sayas and sayamas for
      annual Medical Check up,
      frequent visits to the hospital and clinics, and
      for non-trivial health care (albeit on a case-by-case basis.
    • In addition to SDYF’s Garawa Money for Saya U Ohn Maung, several alumni donated for Saya’s medical expenses.
    • Daw Zin Wai Hlaing, saya’s spouse, acknowledged receipt of the Garawa money from SDYF.
    Acknowledgement
    • SDYF donated K4 Lakhs to Saya U Ohn Maung (ChE68), who has a medical problem.
      The donations will be continued in future years.
    • U Khin Maung Htwe (ChE72) donated K20,000.
    • The donations were handed over to Saya U Sein Thaung.
      He will forward it to Saya U Ohn Maung.

    Miscellaneous

    • His elder brother (a medical doctor) and younger sister (Dolly Sein, spouse of U Thein Swe, EP68) are both GBNF.
    • After visiting my web site, his nephew (elder brother’s son) regained contact with Saya U Ohn Maung.

  • U Pe Maung Tin

    U Pe Maung Tin
    • Pali and Burmese Scholar.
    • Proposed to have a separate Burmese Department.
    • First native Principal of Rangoon College.
    • Executive Committee member of Burma Research Society.
    • The Myanmar Sar Community honored Sayagyi with a bust in December 2019.
      Daw Tin Tin Myaing (Brenda, Sayagyi’s daughter) attended the ceremony.
      Met her at the Winner Inn.
      Sad to learn that her spouse succumbed to COVID-19 in UK in 2020.
    • In our middle school we had to study “Myanmar Thadda / Burmese Grammar” written by Sayagyi.
    • Sayagyi translated two early Sermons :
      Dhammacakkapavatana Sutta and Anatta Lekkhana Suttana into English.
      The three-language edition of the Suttas was published by U Tha Win.
    • Saya’s early students include
      ICS U Sein Tin (Theikpan Maung Wa)
      U Thein Han (Zawgyi)
      U Wun (Minthuwun)

  • Dr. Aung Gyi

    Former Rector, RIT

    Former Professor, Civil Engineering

    Born from my parents U Ba Pu and Daw Aye Kyi in Namtu, Northern Shan States, Burma.

    Matriculated in 1949 from Myoma High School in Rangoon. After passing the 1st year engineering, BOC College of Engineering, Rangoon University in 1952, went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass., USA as a State scholar to join the second year engineering classes there.

    Was in Dean’s list during the studies in MIT; and obtained B.S.(Civil Engineering) in 1955 and M.S.(Civil Engineering) in 1956. After working as a junior engineer in Tippetts- Abbett-MacCarthy- Stratton Engineers, New York and Green Engineering Co., Boston for a year, returned to Burma in 1957 to join the Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University as an Assistant Lecturer. Promoted to Lecturer and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering in 1958.

    Got married to Daw Mya Mya Mue in 1959. (Have a daughter and a son and two grand children from daughter who all live in Canada now.)

    Went to the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Colombo Plan Scholarship in 1963 for further studies. Obtained Ph.D (Civil Engineering) specializing in structural engineering in 1965 from the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

    Returned to Burma in 1965 and promoted to Professor and Head of Civil Engineering Department in 1966. Promoted to Rector of Rangoon Institute of Technology in 1971.

    Left Burma to join UNESCO as Programme Specialist in Applied Sciences in 1977 in Unesco Regional Office in New Delhi, India.

    Migrated to Ottawa, Canada to join the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canadian Research funding Agency in Ottawa as an Associate Director in 1981. Was then assigned to IDRC Regional Office in Singapore as Principal Program Officer from 1989 to 1992. Was transferred to IDRC Regional Office in New Delhi as Principal Program Officer in 1992. Was promoted to Regional Representative for IDRC Regional Office in New Delhi in 1995.
    Retired from IDRC in June 1997 and now settled down in Nepean, Ontario, Canada with wife.

    I look forward to seeing you all soon.

    With Metta,
    Aung Gyi

    Editor’s Note:
    Saya U Thein Aung (Met72, Mr. RIT68) volunteered to be Associate Editor for the commemorative issue of RIT Alumni International Newsletter for SPZP-2000. He compiled the biographies of the sayas and sayamas attending SPZP-2000. He also served as co-emcee of SPZP-2000.
    Sayagyi now have four grandchildren. The elder two are working.
    I was a guest on two separate occasions (around the SPZPs) hosted by Ko Wai Lwin in Yangon (a) one for Ma Ma Emma’s birthday (b) another for welcoming Sayagyi DAG and other sayas at U Nyan Tun U’s residence.
    Ko Ivan, Ko Fred, my spouse and I stayed at Saya’s house for two nights a few years back. Thanks