On October 2, 2008, the former students of Sayagyi U Ba Than (Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering) was honored with a special Birthday & Garawa ceremony.
Retired from a University in Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Wrote a letter for SPZP-2000
Requested Australian agencies to help YTU.
RIT Auto Club
RIT Auto Club
He and U Maung Maung Win managed the Club.
Ko Hla Oo and fellow members of the RIT Auto Club bade farewell to Saya U Myo Win. There were 25 or so members. The group provided a receipt for the gathering.
Receipt
I reported the event in RIT Alumni Newsletter, RIT Updates group and my web site hlamin.com
Several shared the Receipts photo for nostalgia & the good old times when one Pound was traded for 13 Kyats and one US Dollar was traded for 5 – 6 Kyats. Some wanted to show the “Believe it or not” item to the younger generation.
He is a saya of our sayas (including Sayas U Aung Khin, Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun and U Khin Aung Kyi).
He started teaching at Rangoon University before the war.
After retirement, he moved to USA.
He passed away in Portland, Oregon in his late 90s.
Activities
He served as President of RIT Track and Field Association. U Khin Maung Lay (Henry, T68) was Secretary. U Myo Nyunt (C69) was Joint Secretary.
He served as Line Judge at RUBC Regattas along with Saya U Sein Win and Saya Dr. San Hla Aung.
He attended SPZP-2000. U Khin Aung Kyi paid respect to him and Saya U Ba Toke.
Saya and spouse
He visited Yangon in 2013. Former students hosted a Welcome party at a restaurant for him. They gave him presents including a Banner. U Myo Nyunt saw that Banner when he visited Saya in Portland.
Brothers
His younger brothers H Num Fatt (EE60, Australia) and H Num Pon (Saya U Myint Lwin, C61, USA) are Engineering alumni.
U Myint Lwin rowed for Engineering. He attended SPZP-2000. He was working in SF Bay Area at the time. He later moved to East Coast.
Saya’s visits to the Bay Area had tremendous impact.
One visit resulted in the formation of BAPS (Burmese American Professional Society) — a merger of BEA (Burmese Engineers Association) and BASTS (Burmese American Science and Technology Society).
SPZP-2000
Another visit resulted in a dinner meeting where the Bay Area Alumni Group led by Saya Allen Htay decided unanimously to hold the First Ever Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe on October 28-29 week end. For details, see the articles by Saya Allen Htay, Saya U Nyo Win and U Myat Htoo, Ko Benny Tan and Ko Maurice, and Ko Thein Aung.
Saya wrote the Introduction to the article by Dr. Freddie Ba Hli about his father Sayagyi U Ba Hli.
Saya wrote several articles for RIT Alumni Newspaper : His student days at RU; Tribute to Saya U Tin Hlaing (M59); On the Road to the Millennium; Brief history of Mechanical Engineering Department.
Newsletter
Brief Bio
He enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rangoon in 1950. (At that time, one must pass the I.Sc. (Intermediate of Science) with good grades to pursue engineering courses.)
He left the Third Year B.Sc.(Engg) class in 1952 upon being selected as a State’s Scholar to continue the undergraduate studies at Lehigh University.
He received the B.S.M.E. and M.S.M.E. degrees and returned in 1956 to join the staff at the Faculty of Engineering as an Assistant Lecturer.
Saya was awarded the Colombo Scholarship in 1962 to pursue post-graduate studies at Toronto University. He received the M.A.Sc. degree and returned in 1967 to continue teaching at Rangoon Institute of Technology.
Saya served as Professor and Head of Mechanical Engineering.
In 1976, he resigned from the Institute in 1976 and emigrated to Canada.
He retired in 1998 after working for twenty one years in Canada.
His post-retirement sojourns can be found in his excellent article written specially for the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (Special Issue).
Health
Saya stays fit.
He regularly plays golf and tennis.
Saya & daughter
He attended several SPZPs, but now prefers not to travel far except for occasional family gatherings.
Paying respect in 2015
In 2015, Ivan Lee (M69) provided his Mercedes and gas for a whirl wind trip to Canada and the East Coast.
Frederick Thet Gyi (M69) manned the wheels for the major part of the trip.
Sayagyi U Aung Khin hosted me and my spouse for a night’s stay at his house.
Ivan and Fred stayed at a nearby hotel, but spent time chatting with Sayagyi.
We enjoyed the Mohinga and Ah Kyaw prepared by Sayagyi.
He also asked each of us to pick a souvenir from Windsor, Canada.
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).
The early Engineering departments have (a) Professor (b) Lecturers (c) Assistant Lecturers
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
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.
![Longing [for]](https://hlamin.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/u-moe-aung-2.webp?w=720)
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