Gold Medal for Highest Score for Combined I.Sc. in 1949
Alumnus of Imperial College, London University
Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Siblings : U Tin U, Dr. Daw “Ruby” Win Hlaing, Daw Myint Myint Thwe, Dr. Myo Tint, U Tin Htoon, U Myo Min, U Thaung Lwin, Daw Cho Cho Hlaing
Spouse : Daw Mya Mya (GBNF)
Son and Daughter-in-law : U Ye Than, Daw Lwin Mar Oo
Grandchildren : Ko Aung Myo Myint, Ma Ei Khine
Celebrated 90th Birthday on October 2, 2020
U Tin Htoon and Henry Kao compiled a Special “Photo Album Book”
Give back “Garawa Money” from Saya Pu Zaw Pwes to Charity
For many years, offered “Birthday Soon Dana” at Yaw Sayadaw’s Monastery and invited former colleagues and students to the Soon Kyway
Early supporter of HMEE (History of Myanmar Engineering Education) Project Held co-ordination meeting to kick off the Project Donated Class Photos (and more) for use in the HMEE-2012 Book
After attending the 2nd year engineering class from June 1952 to September 1952, I went straight to MIT on a state scholarship to continue my studies . Saya U Min Wun and I went together to MIT and joined the academic session, starting from September 1952. We met Dr Freddie Ba Hli at MIT, who was already studying for his Ph.D in electronics or electrical engineering. He was one of the nicest and helpful persons that I have ever met in my life. He gave us briefings and guidance so that we were able to assimilate into the American education system and American way of life without any difficulty He also helped us with our home works when we had some difficulties in the beginning. I am forever grateful to him for his kind help. I am sure U Min Wun feels the same. Saya U Khin Aung Kyi, Saya U Sein Hlaing, U Percy Lao, U Win Htein, U Kyaw Min, Robin Aw, U Kyaw Thein, U Aung Kywe, U Aung Myint and U Sein Hla came to MIT for further studies at a later date. U Percy Lao later became Rangoon City Engineer (water and sanitation), U Win Htein who is an architect became a Rangoon City Building Engineer, and the late U Kyaw Min became a free lance architect [and also taught part-time at the Architecture department for some time]. All these three professionals taught some time at RIT. I do not know what happened to Robin Aw. The late U Kyaw Thein was an engineer at the Construction Corporation and later became a lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department at RIT. U Aung Kywe was a Director (water and sanitation) at the Construction Corporation. U Aung Myint became the Chief Architect at the Construction Corporation. U Sein Hla was an engineer at the Construction Corporation and later became the Registrar at RIT under Rector U Yone Moe. Later more batches of Burmese students came to MIT when I was no longer there. I am describing all these things to point out the fact that the standard of engineering education in Burma at that time was quite good. None of us had to go through the entrance examination to get into MIT. They trusted our grades and our education standard. Maybe the visiting Professor Horwood from MIT was quite impressed with the Faculty of Engineering and put a good word for us to the MIT admission authorities.
I will not go into details of the activities of all the various students’ associations, societies and clubs, as there were so many of them. But I would like to mention briefly about the hostel life, that I had experienced at that time. Every hostel had what we called a social and reading club . There was an adequate room reserved for this club at the ground floor of the hostel. In general, newspapers, popular magazines, a chess board, a carom board and a table tennis were provided so that the hostel students could read, play chess, play carom board, and play table tennis and socialize to get to know each other well. Even without the social and reading club, all the hostel students ended up knowing each other well sooner or later, as they met each other almost everyday at the hostel and at the dining hall. The hostel students were in general well behaved. I hardly saw the Warden or Hall Tutors at Ava Hall and Prome Hall, as there were very few student problems which needed attention of the Warden or Hall Tutors.
Based upon my experience, I feel that these extra-curricular activities and hostel life gave the opportunities to the students to broaden the knowledge of the different parts of Myanmar; and they also created a better understanding of the different culture, food, habit, dresses, dialects etc of the country. Most of the students developed life-long friendships through these activities which contributed to well-beings of these students throughout their lives. Sport activities also taught the students about hard work, cooperation, team work, competition, winning and losing. The extra-curricular activities also triggered, developed and enhanced the hidden talents of some of the students. These activities therefore formed part of the University education of the students, in addition to the education that they received from the classrooms. Another benefit of these activities was the bonding and a better understanding, which developed between the students and the teachers who were involved in these activities.
After getting my Bachelor degree in Cvil Engineering in 1955 and my Master degree in Civil Engineering in 1956 from MIT, I worked for Engineering Companies for a year, which involved both design and fieldwork in engineering construction projects. I then came back to Rangoon in 1957 to join the Civil Engineering Department as an Assistant Lecturer. I was promoted to become a Lecturer in 1958 and became also more or less Head of the Civil Engineering Department. The policy in place at the University of Rangoon under the Ministry of Education at that time stated that a teacher/ any person could become a lecturer / professor only if he/ she had a post graduate degree. Sayagyi U Ba Hli was the Professor of Civil Engineering and Dean of the Faculty at the same time. U Aung Khin was Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, U Sein Hlaing was Head of the Electrical Engineering Department, U Khin Aung Kyi was Head of the Chemical Engineering Department, U Soon Sein was Head of the Mining Engineering Department, U Thit was Head of the Metallurgy Department, and U Maung Maung Than was Head of the Textile Engineering Department. I think Mr Johnson was Head of the Architecture Department. I do not remember who was the Workshop Superintendent at that time. We were quite happy as we had new facilities near the Prome road in addition to the B.O.C College of Engineering building. These new facilities comprised of a tall administrative building (with offices, conference/meeting rooms, library), classrooms, lecture theaters, laboratories , offices for the teaching staff and a small assembly place under the copper dome roof in the corner of the campus. The dome roof looked like a turtle back, and pretty soon this new campus became known as “turtle dome /leik khone” campus. After our arrival from USA, UK etc, the foreign teachers under contract were let go, as we gradually replaced them, except for a few teachers from UK or USA. I could recall Prof. Neale? in Electrical Engineering Department, Mr Redpath and Mr Skelton in Mechanical Engineering Department and Mr Johnson and Mr Nagler in Architecture Department.
As a young teacher I was surprised and pleased to see a few pioneering female engineering students (not more than ten) at the Leik Khone campus. They and their parents overcame the social uneasiness and they decided to study engineering/architecture to become lady engineers /architects. I do not know exactly when they first joined the 1st year engineering class; but It was one of the important turning points in the history of engineering education.
As young teachers, most of us were struggling to learn how to teach effectively at the beginning. I noticed that we were teaching about 15 to 20 hours per week which included lectures, laboratory and drawing classes. The contact hours of learning for the students remained the same as the time when I was an engineering student i.e. about 30 hours per week. The passing grade for the students also remained the same. i.e. 40% for each subject and 50% average for all the subjects combined. The medium of teaching was still in English. The laboratory and workshop facilities were quite good and adequate for the student population that we had. But the library looked quite small when I compared it with the library that they had in MIT, although it had a few good engineering books and journals. I felt that it needed a lot of investment to become a top notch engineering library.
It was with enthusiasm and hope that most of us were busy trying to build up our respective departments and trying to improve the engineering education in general. While we were busy, Professor and Dean U Ba Hli retired some time around 1961, and in place of U Ba Hli we had a succession of temporary Deans, Professor of Chemistry U Po Tha, Professor of Geology Dr Tha Hla, and Professor of Physics Dr Maung Maung Kha for about 6 months. The Faculty of Engineering also had to move to a new campus in Gyogone in 1961. Before our relocation to Gyogone, the Faculty of Engineering was one of the Faculties of the University of Rangoon. The academic and administrative related policy decisions were made by the Senate and Administrative Council of the University of Rangoon respectively so as to maintain and improve the standard of education of all its Faculties, including the Faculty of Engineering.
As you all know, Gyogone campus was built with the aid of Russia; and I understood that the Government of Burma paid back the cost in rice. I do not know whether it was true or not. In any case it was and still is an impressive looking campus. The buildings accommodated classrooms, laboratories and workshop, big assembly hall with a movie projector, library, offices for the administrative and teaching staff,and student hostels. There were also houses for all the staff, dining and kitchen facilities, small medical clinic, and open space for sport activities. All the buildings, houses etc occupied and still occupy a large area in a compound.
Phwa Bet Taw of RU (Rangoon University) and the First RU Students’ Strike (which led to the amendment of RU Act, and the establishment of National Schools and National College.
Studied at Mandalay University and Harvard University.
Professor and Head of Mathematics at Rangoon University
Rector, Mandalay Arts and Science University
Voluntary transfer to Rangoon Institute of Technology as Professor and Head of Mathematics
Associate Dean, Assumption University, Bangkok
More information can be found in the Book by Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Tekkatho Maung Thin Char)
95th Birthday Celebration
Memories
Sayagyi U Ba Toke passed away on Dec 2, 2020 (the day following RU Centennial, and a few days short of his Centennial Birthday).
The photos (shown above) were taken on Sayagyi’s 95th birthday with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sayagyi was pre-deceased by his beloved spouse, son (Soe Win) and daughter (Kitty).
Ma Betty, Ye Myint, Nellie, Pansy, Tammy and Deborah have posted photos and articles about their loving father.
Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Tekkatho Maung Thin Char, GBNF) wrote a book about the “Life Journey of Sayagyi U Ba Toke” and published with the sponsorship of Tekkatho Thin Char Mi Thar Su.
Sayagyi attended SPZP-2000, but skipped SPZP-2002 due to Sayagadaw’s health.
He attended subsequent SPZPs in Yangon and Singapore.
The attendees of SPZP-2007 appreciated Sayagyi’s anecdote about a 100+ year young Soviet guy quarreling with his 4th wife (and making amends soon after).
Sayagyi played soccer in his younger days.
Even in his 70s and 80s, he took weekly hikes to Shwe Dagon Pagoda with younger neighbors.
Sayagyi served on the RU Sports Council and as Leader of the Burma Olympic Team to Tokyo Olympics.
Sayagyi served as Commandant of the Tekkatho Luyechun Camp.
During my early visits, Sayagyi gave me an autographed copy of the Book and also took us down memory lane.
Sadly, aging caught up and Sayagyi lost mobility and his vision and hearing were impaired (as apparent on my later visits).
Many were planning for his Centennial Birthday, but …
Garawa To & By Sayagyi
On behalf of the Classes of 70 and 71 (also known as the 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65), Ko Khin Maung Myint (ChE71) offered Garawa money to Sayagyi.
Sayagyi offered Soon to Sangha and listened to the dhamma talk
Per invitation from his former students, Sayagyi attended the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (also known as SPZP-2000), San Francisco, California, USA in October 2000. On behalf of the sayas, Sayagyi gave blessings to the SPZP-2000 attendees. He was accompanied by Ko Ye Myint (eldest son) and spouse.
Bagyee Myat Myo Myint (Ko Myo Myint, Retired Dy Chief Engineer, Burma Railways) drew a Pon Tu of Sayagyi.
Pansy sent a car and driver to pick up Saya U Ba Than, Saya U Tin Htut and me at Winner Inn. Saya U Ba Than pays respect to Sayagyi at least once every year. Saya U Tin Htut also paid visit to Sayagyi during most of his visits to Yangon. I visited Sayagyi during my trips to Yangon. Ko Ye Myint, Pansy, Debbie and Ko Ohn Khine (M70) provided transport on different occasions.
Taught us Surveying in our 2nd BE. He enforced a seating plan starting with Roll Number One at the back of the class. Since I could read his notes on the Blackboard, I became Four Eyes.
Founding member of BARB
Member of Myanmar Pyeikkadein Ah Phwe
Saya jokingly said that he was assigned as the Last Speaker to prevent overrun of the SPZP-2000 program.
Wrote several articles for RIT Alumni International.
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 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.
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.
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)
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
