Category: RIT Saya

• Sayagyi was the first native Dean of Engineering.
• He also taught Civil Engineering courses.
• He wanted to make sure that every engineering student know most students who are senior or junior.

• Sayagyi earlier served as Professor of Civil Engineering and Principal of GTI.

• Sayagyi proposed the Twinning Program between RU and prestigious US universities.
• Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun, U Maung Maung Than, U Aung Khin, U Khin Aung Kyi, U Thit were some of the engineering students who benefited from the Twinning Program.
• U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe and several sayas also benefited from the Twinning Program.

• For the commemorative issue of RIT Alumni International Newsletter for SPZP-2000, Saya U Aung Khin requested Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli to write about Sayagyi.
• Saya U Aung Khin wrote a preface to the article.

• Saya Bilal Raschid (A) studied Civil Engineering at RU before pursuing Architecture in UK.
• Saya Bilal provided photos of Sayagyi U Ba Hli.

• Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt is a day older than Saya Allen Htay (GBNF).
  Their birthdays are December 30th and December 31st.
• They would share their experiences with the younger people over lunch.
  
• The two sayas bonded on the long return journey by sea from USA where they did their graduate studies in Agricultural Engineering and Civil Engineering.
  There were three other Burmese — including U Soe Paing and U Ko Ko Lay — on that ship.
  They played Bridge (a card game for four players).
• The journey was lengthened by a strike at a port in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
  It gave the sayas an opportunity to visit Kandy.
  

Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60)

He worked briefly for a JVC (Joint Venture Corporation) run by his relative. He applied for States Scholar after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper.

Upon his return, he was assigned to Yezin Agricultural College. Before reporting for duty, he visited RIT to pay respect to Saya U Ba Than who asked Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt if he would like to join the Agricultural Engineering (Sub-department of Mechanical Engineering).

He moved to Thailand and then USA.

Saya feels blessed for three occasions. They involve the simple joys of life.

Food was scarce during the war time. Saya’s mother had a small jar of oil to cook. Occasionally, she would give “See nei Sar” (oil and salt) to eat rice. Saya remembers that as a “Nutt Thokedar” (delicacies of the deities).

After the Japanese evacuated, the Allied planes still strafe suspect targets. Since there was no available transport, Saya and his did had to trek a long time to the nearest “safe haven”. Saya had “htamin chauk and a tomato”. He had to ration his food to survive the journey. The small bites brought a lot of joy — that cannot be equaled by later all-you-can-eat buffet.

Saya lives in California, USA. One year, he went to Myanmar to participate in a meditation retreat outside Yangon. Probably due to side effects of taking some medicine, there was swfor elling in the body and the face. It was “Kan So” (bad luck). Two dhamma friends took him to a nearby hospital where the doctor and the staff treated him well. It was “Kan Kaung” (good luck). The services were good and the costs were reasonable.

Saya stayed fit by doing exercises (hiking, stationary bike) and by practicing meditation.

He had an operation a couple of years back. He has recovered fully.

Saya donated for the Training Component of the YTU Library Project and also to the General Fund of Cal RIT Alumni Association.

Saya Allen Htay (C58)

He joined the Civil Engineering Department as Assistant Lecturer.
He received his MS from Harvard University.
Upon his return to Burma, he was promoted to Lecturer.

He moved to USA.

Saya Allen Htay was special in his own ways.

He would take different routes (going out and then coming back) to enjoy nature and the scenery. (

He took me to a BAPS picnic. After he told me that it was time to leave, it took an hour (or so) to reach his car. It was a typical “Burmese Good Bye” greeting his colleagues, friends and former students along the way.

He would often arrive late and stay late at gatherings.

Saya remembered that his mother would take the food (which a child refused to eat) and put in the fridge. There was no concession. When the child felt really hungry, he or she will devour the food.

Saya was the de facto leader of the San Francisco Bay Area RIT Alumni Group. He served as President of “RIT Alumni International” which organized the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in Northern California, USA in October. His article “Brother, can you afford US 500 dollars?” resulted in having five Golden Sponsors for SPZP-2000.

He attended SPZPs in Singapore and Myanmar, and took photographs at the SF Bay Area Gatherings.

During a visit to Las Vegas for the MEHS Reunion (along with his spouse who matriculated from MEHS in 1957), Saya had a stroke. He briefly recovered, but finally succumbed to his illness.

He retired twice in the USA, but his former students offered him jobs to “un-retire”.

Two of his grandsons have Allen in their names : one as a first name, and another as a middle name.

• Sayagyi is a former Rector of RIT and former Professor and Head of Textile Engineering Department.
• Passed away at Bahosi Hospital in Yangon, Myanmar in November 2012.
• Along with Dr. Aung Gyi and U Min Win, he was one of the earliest beneficiaries of the “Twinning Program” proposed by Sayagyi U Ba Hli.
• Chaired the RIT Sports Council
• Loves playing Chinlon and music.

Ko Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) added :

I vividly remember the days where I used to hang out with Saya U Maung Maung Than at Ko Maung Maung’s office အားကစားမွူး near Textile Dept. Saya U Hla Shwe (Textile, GBNF) and Saya U Win Maung (Civil) were among frequent visitors, we played darts there, had some good times there.

One time he lamented that he had to refrain from drinking in the evening due to an alert from the authorities on possible student unrest.

Only much later, I found out that he was a very good close friend of my cousin during their college days.

May his soul rest in peace.

Saya visited Myanmar. The alumni from 63 to 69 hosted a welcome party for Saya at Western Park Hotel.

I met Saya at the Mingalardon Air port. We were waiting for the plane from China Air Lines to come in. It was delayed by about 30 minutes.

Plane delay

Saya became worried. Saya’s flight Yangon -> Taipei -> Los Angeles -> Seattle has about 1 hour to catch the connecting flight to LA. The air line told Saya not to worry.

On the contrary, my flight Yangon -> Taipei -> San Francisco would require to spend 6+ hours in Taipei waiting for the connecting flight.

At Taipei

Saya rushed to catch the connecting flight to Los Angeles.

I had time to kill at the Taipei air port before taking the flight to San Francisco.

We heard lots of Burmese voices around. Among them was an 84-year old Pastor from Vancouver. At the transit counter, James gave an entertaining talk about Ngapi. In the early days, he had to hide Ngapi from the Canadians because they would not withstand the smell. Now, he has to hide Ngapi from the Canadians, who like Ngapi (and other Myanmar food).

I wish I were “Tekkatho Phone Naing” or “Thawda Swe” to be able to write short and long stories about their friends and the people they meet.

Update

U Myo Nyunt (C69) visits his elder son in Seattle, Washington. He would have a gathering with Saya U Kaung.

Scrabble

• Saya Des and Saya U Khin were Scrabble Champions at the tournaments held at Guardian premises, YMCA and RIT.
  
• Many sayas from the English Department and Civil Department are Scrabble enthusiasts
  
• Chambers Dictionary and Jones Pronouncing Dictionary were used to confirm/deny the word challenges.
  They were always present on Saya U Khin’s desk.

Champions

• Saya U Win Mra was Burma’s Pole Vault Champion before he was asked to “retire” by the doctors. Saya U Win Mra and Saya Des are excellent guitarists and singers. Saya joined the Foregin Service. He was Myanmar’s Ambassador to the United Nations. He is Chair of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission.
  
• Saya Joe Ba Maung was Burma’s Tennis Champion in Singles and Doubles (with U Than Lwin). Saya joined Burma Railways and managed the Burma Railways Sports program. He was a casualy of the 8-8-88 movement.

Other Sayas

• Saya Sao Kangyi (Tony) wrote articles with the pen name Khemarat.
  He is GBNF.
  
• Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla transferred to UNDP.

Other Sayamas

• Sayama Terry migrated to Australia.
  She was a Beauty Queen in her college days.
  
• Sayama Charity retired as Professor and Head of the RIT English Department.
  Met her briefly at SPZP-2012.
  
• Sayama Muriel and Saya U Aung (Alphoso, son of H.E. U Than Aung) worked in Thailand.
  They visited Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt in Milpitas, California a few years back.
  We had lunch gatherings.
  
• Sayama Toni is a cousin of Ko Thet Tun (Henry, M 75).
  Their aunt Dr. Khin Kyi Nyunt is the spouse of my cousin Saya U Tin U.
  Sayama is a Khamee Khamet of Saya U Win Mra.
  Met her at SPZP-2012 and at the Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe hosted by Steeve Kay.
  Last met her in December 2019 at the funeral service of Dr. Khin Kyi Nyunt.
  
• Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint
  Bilingual author
  Published several books/booklets
  Donated some of the earnings from the books to YTU.
  Parents : ICS U Ba Tint, Daw Khin Saw Mu (Burmese Poetry)
  Wrote an article about her mother and two aunts :
  Daw Khin Mya Mu (Kyauk sar, spouse of Professor U E Maung) and
  Daw Tin Saw Mu (English)

Rangoon University

• U Htin Si
• U Yu Khin (father of Dr. Marie Yu Khin and Dr. Richard Yu Khin) : founded IFL (Institute of Foreign Languages), which later became YUFL (Yangon University of Foreign Languages)
• Daw Sein Sein (spouse of Pali Professor U Tin Lwin) : transferred to Department of Higher Education

Engineering Institutes

• U Sein Hla (BIT) : graduated from MIT
• U Soe Thein (RIT) : former Ba Ka Tha Leader; transferred to DHE
• U Hla (RIT)
• U Thet Lwin (RIT) : author, composer and pianist

Others

• U Kyaw Khin (IM 1) : became Deputy Minister
• Daw Nyunt Nyunt Win (RASU) : taught at Physics; spouse of U Ko Lay (RUBC Gold, Chief Editor of WPD)
• U Khin Nyo (Moulmein) : taught at the Institute of Economics; managed the Rowing team

• Sayama was among the pioneer female engineering students in Burma/Myanmar.
• Her contemporaries include Sayama Daw Tin Tin Ohn (Amy Thwin, T61), Daw Yin Yin Kyi (T61), and Ms. Pauline Reynolds (ChE61).
• Served as the Vice President of Theravada Buddhist Association of America (TBSA)
• Headed the fund raising for the first Dhammananda Vihara in Daly City, Northern California.
• Passed away several years ago, Saya U Htin Paw (EE 58, Past President of TBSA, GBNF) donated to the new Dhammananda Vihar in Half Moon Bay in memory of Sayama Julie.

The following is what she wrote for SPZP-2000.

Sayama Julie Han


Here is a brief description of my years after leaving RIT.

I spent 6 years at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, getting a M.S. degree in Textile Chemistry and Ph. D. in Materials Science.

The companies that I worked for in chronological order are:
Burlington Industries, CIBA-GEIGY, Sears Roebuck, Levi-Strauss, Raychem Corp, Tacan Corp, Johnson Matthey Inc, Xytronyx Corporation.

At present I am working as a sales manager for an optoelectronic company IPITEK, which is a division of Tacan Corp. Since 1980 I left the field of textile engineering and have been working in opto-electronic field.

Look forward to seeing you at the Reunion.
Best regards.
Julie

Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt’s birthday is December 30. He usually celebrates his birthdays by taking eight precepts and practicing vipassana meditation.

Saya is one day older than Saya Allen Htay (GBNF). They came back together from the US on the same ocean liner. Since it was a long trip, they usually play Bridge with Saya U Soe Paing and Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF).

Update

Saya’s height has shrunk 1 or 2 inches, but he does not mind. He is fond of the saying “All great men are short.”

Saya stays in shape by hiking, stationary biking and practicing meditation. He invites his dhamma friends to his house to take part in the meditation sessions.

Donation

Saya donated $500 to the “Staff Training Component” of the YTU Library Modernization Project via Northern California RIT Alumni Association.

U Myint Swe (EP74, Secretary) presented the donation receipt and the Appreciation Award to Saya.

Saya also took care of selected old friends in Myanmar. Saya also donated to selected monasteries and meditation centers in Myanmar.