by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

RU Centennial

• Pre-Celebrations kicked off on December 1, 2019. The celebrations continued to the end of 2020.
• Former Executive Committee members of the 1958 – 1962 Tekkatho Kalaung Ah Thinn published
  (a) Collection of Kabyars mainly from the old University magazines
  (b) Magazine with hitherto unpublished articles, essays, short stories, kabyars, etc.
• Several books have been published to commemorate the RU Centennial.
• A book and magazine by Tekkatho Kalaung Ah Thinn
• SMART Sarpay reprinted the book by Maung Aung Mon (Win Aung).

• Sayagyi U Pe Maung Tin was the first native Principal of Rangoon College and the founder of the Burmese Department. The Myanmar Sar Mi Thar Su honored Sayagyi in December 2019 with a bust. Daw Tin Tin Myaing (Brenda, daughter of Sayagyi) attended the ceremony.

• Sayagyi U Ba Toke (GBNF) who is a Phwa Bet Taw of the University of Rangoon was interviewed by a TV program. Sayagyi passed away on December 2, 2020 (the day after RU Centennial). It was several days short of Sayagyi’s centennial birthday on December 26.

• Kyemon published an article about the Land marks of the University of Rangoon.
• Myanmar Ah Lin published a series of articles for RU Centennial.

• The RU Golden Jubilee in 1970 and the RU Diamond Jubilee in 1995 were celebrated for 2 – 3 weeks.

Albums

I have created albums. Members are requested to

• add captions and comments
• add photos to existing albums
• create new albums (if required)

The following is a sampling:

• Botany
  Dr. Daw Yi Yi (Mother of Okka)

• Burmese (Myanmar Sar)
  “Khit San Kabyar”
  Saya U Wun (Minthuwun)
  See Aung Pyie (Farewell to Mya Thilar)
• Chemistry
  Saya U Aung Khin
  Dr Soe Win & Daw May Saw Lwin
  U Nyunt Win
  Dr. Aung Myint
  U Tin Win (Alan)
  Dr. Myint Tun (Henry Cho Tun)
  U Kyaw Tun
  U Maung Maung Gyi
  U Nwe Aung

• Ma Chit Swe’s Autograph
  Mom of Hazel Kyaw Zaw (Kyi Kyi May)
  Friends of Ma Chit Swe

• Graduation
  Photo taken at Bayin Ma Studio
  Photos taken inside Convocation Hall
  Photos taken outside Convocation Hall

• Law
  U May Aung
  Sir Arthur Eggar (founder of RUBC)
  Dr. Ba Han
  U Kyaw Myint
  Sayas and sayamas
  LLB first batch
• Mathematics
  Sayagyi U Ba Toke
  Dr. Chit Swe
  Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Tekkatho Maung Thin Char)
• Physics
  Sayagyi Dr Maung Maung Kha
  Dr. Tin Aung
  Dr. Soe Myint Win
  Dr. Aye Thein Kyaw
  Daw May Su
  Dr. Zin Aung
  Dr. Saw Wai Hla
  Dr. Win Naing
  Dr. Myo Thaik
• Rectors and Registrars
  Dr. Htin Aung
  U Thet Lwin
• UCC Alumni
  UCC Gathering

Notes :

• There are more photo albums.
• I have posted photo essays for some topics.

1940s, 1950s and 1960s

Second World War

• The Second World War started in 1939 in Europe and spread to Asia.
• Rangoon University was closed for three years : 1943 – 1945.
• Per Sayagyi U Ba Toke : There were some make-shift classes at the ad-hoc University in Mogul (Shwe Bon Tha) Street.
  Sayagyi taught Mathematics there.

1946

• Rangoon University was reopened in 1946.
• Saya U Tin U (C), Saya U Sein Hlaing (Professor, EE), Dr. Pe Nyun (Pediatric Surgeon) and Dr. Pe Thein (Professor, Minister) attended Rangoon University in 1946.

1947

• Pinlon Sar Choke (Panglon Agreement) was signed on February 12, 1947. Some ethnic races did not attend the Pinlon Conference.
• Nine Arzanis — Bogyoke Aung San, Thakin Mya, Deedok U Ba Cho, Mahn Ba Khaing, Sao San Htun (Mong Pawn Sawbwa), U Ba Win, U Razak, ICS U Ohn Maung and Yebaw Ko Htwe — were mercilessly gunned down at the Secretariat on July 19, 1947. All except Sao San Htun (who was hospitalized with fatal wounds and died on July 20, 1947) perished that day.
  Three ministers including Bagan U Ba Gyan escaped.

1948 and 1949

• Burma gain Independence on January 4, 1948 at 4:20 AM. Sao Shwe Thaik became the first President of the Union of Burma. U Nu became the first Prime Minister.
• Two factions — White Flag led by Thakin Than Tun and Red Flag led by Thakin Soe — of the Burma Communist Party (BCP) went underground. There was several groups in the armed rebellion.
• For a short period of time, the Burmese government was called “Yangon Ah So Ya”.
• Thanks in part to the arms sent by neighboring India, and the volunteer RU students, the planned conquest of Rangoon was derailed. The tide was turned, and Burma was back on the road to normalcy,
• The Union of Burma had a bi-caramel parliament.

1950s

• Dr. Ba U served as the second President. In his book “My Burma”, he considers himself as the first President elected in accordance with the Constitution of the Union of Burma. The general public considers him as the Second President (who succeeded Sao Swe Thike).
• Many States Scholars were sent to prestigious universities in the USA and UK to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies. In 1954, there were 400 Burmese State Scholars (many from the “Twinning Program” proposed by Sayagyi U Ba Hli). Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun and U Maung Maung Than were the early recipients of the “Twinning Program” to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at prestigious universities (e.g. MIT, Cornell).
  Upon their return, they supplemented and later replaced the foreign sayas.
  Some worked for government departments and the Industry.
• The split in the AFPFL (Anti-Facist People’s Freedom League) party into Clean AFPFL [သန့်ရှင်းThant Shin] and Stable AFPFL [တည်မြဲTi Mye] caused the handover to the “Ein Saunt Ah Soe Ya” အိမ်စောင့်အစိုးရ Caretaker Government in the late 50s. Some (e.g. U Nu) consider the event as the first Coup d’etat.

1960s

• President Mahn Win Maung was detained on March 2, 1962. The 17-member Revolutionary Council staged a Coup d’etat.
• Sama Duwa Sinwa Naung (President-elect) did not become President.
• Per Kyemon U Thaung, seven Council members were not aware of the major decisions.
• Brigadier General T. Clift (Air Force) resigned. He was succeeded by Brigadier General Thaung Dan. Several senior officers were sent as Military Attaches.
• Commodore Than Pe (Navy) passed away. He was Ta Wun Gan (Minister) for Health and Education. He is Past Captain and President of RUBC. RUBC has bronze statues of Sir Arthur Eggar (Founder, Life President) and Commodore Than Pe on the promontory.
  Commodore Thaung Tin had jump promotions and became Chief of Navy. Colonel Hla Han became Minister for Health and Education.
• Colonel Chit Myaing was the last original Revolutionary Council member to pass away. He served as Ambassador to Yugoslavia and UK before moving to USA. He was a supporter of U Kelasa (one of the two sayadaws left behind by Mahasi Sayadaw during his visit to US in 1979).
• Ko Tin Maung Thant (son of UNSG U Thant) passed away unexpectedly during his visit to Burma. The motorcade at his last journey was longer than that of Commodore Than Pe.

Khit San Kabyar

The first volume has poems by U E Maung (later Burmese Professor) and Daw Khin Saw Mu (mother of Daw Khin Saw Tint and U Nay Oke Tint).

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Saya U Tin Nyo (MERB)

• MERB was formerly known as BERB (Burma Education Research Bureau). Inattended meetings at BERB. Saya Jimmy (Dr. Khin Maung Kyawe) was the Director General. I first met him as a colleague of my cousin uncle U Than Lwin at the Faculty of Social Science.
• After the mandatory name change, BERB became MERB.
  Old books (e.g. by Maurice Collis, BBS U Khin Zaw, Daw Khin Myo Chit) were forced to rename their titles before they could be reprinted. There was no Grandfather’s clause for the name change. “Trials in Burma” became “Trials in Myanmar”.
• MERB produced Educational TV programs. U Tin Nyo directed the video highlighting University Sports.

• U Tin Nyo shared the video “တက္ကသိုလ်အားကစားပုံရိပ်များ” directed by him and produced by ETV team (MERB) in1996 to mark the “Yangon University Diamond Jubilee”.
  Narrator : Saya U Nyein (RU Soccer Coach)
  Short Interviews with U Ngwe Gaing (Soccer), U Tun Mra (Athlete), U Myo Nyunt (Weight Lifting) and Haymar Nay Win.

• Saya U Nyein was Coach of the Rangoon University First Eleven. Two of his players Collegian Nay Win and Aung Tin became movie actors.
  Several players (e.g. U Ngwe Gaing) became Burma Selected. Saya Nyein was a regular at the birthday gatherings of my uncle U Thet Toe (Past Captain and Gold of RUBC). They were classmates at Diocesan Boys High School.
• U Tun Mra (eldest of the Mra brothers) won the Gold as a member of the 4 x 100 meters relay team anchored by U Soe Win (then Burma Champion) at the 2nd SEAP Games held in Burma in December 1961. His younger brothers U Kyaw Mra (Hurdles, later National Coach) won Silver and U Soe Mra (Pole Vault) won Gold at the 2nd SEAP Games. The three Mra brothers also competed in the 1st SEAP Games held in Bangkok in 1959. Three more younger brothers (Win Mra, Maung Maung Mra, Aung Mra) are also Burma Selected.
• Met U Tun Mra, U Khin Maung Latt and U Tin Myint at the YUBC Annual Regatta in 2019.
  U Tun Mra and U Khin Maung Latt were members of the 4 x 100m relay team that set the RU record. U Tin Myint was cox of two Senior Novices Winning crews in the 1960s.
• Hemar Nay Win (Vocalist) is the daughter of Collegian Nay Win and Daw Khin Marlar (daughter of Bo Ze Ya). Hemar gave an interview about her father. She inherited Ah Nu Pyinnar (but not Sports skills) from her father.
• U Myo Nyunt was Burma Selected for Weightlifting.

For your reading pleasure

Photos

• Acid, Base and Alkali Myar
  Chemistry alumni
• Mother and Daughter (Both alumni) e.g. daughter and grand daughter of Saya U Aung Khin (Chemistry)
• Fresher Welcome (and Fresher Queen)
• Sports Selections (e.g. Marlar, RASU)

Kabyars

both originals and reprints (e.g. from the Philosophy Magazine and Pu Zaw Pwes)

Memories

First-hand accounts of the various closures of the schools

• Some had to walk a long way back to the hostels. One was invited to stay at his friend’s house for the night.
• One practiced for three months for the 3-day performance, but actually performed for a day.
• One worked for daily wages at the Library in 1988 and saw many cartoons and posters for the 8-8-88 movement.
• One remembers taking the examinations back in the home town.

Status

• Some sayas, sayamas and alumni cannot spare the time to take part in gatherings. For example, Sayama Dr. Than Than Nyein (Chemistry) told the organizers not to send her invitations to the Pu Zaw Pwes.

• Some have passed away, but without obituary notices and confirmation from the bereaved family, we cannot list them as GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten).
• After retirement, Saya U Aung Khin moved to Malaysia. He is GBNF.

• Many of our sayas and sayamas are GBNF. Three most senior sayas and sayamas who passed away around 100 years of age are Daw Hla May (Anne, English), Daw Khin Kyi Kyi (Physics) and U Ba Toke (Mathematics, Former Rector of MASU)
• A few are 90+ years old. U Tin U (Part-time Civil Engineering saya) and U Ba Than (Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
• Several are 80+ years old.

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Jubilees

Silver Jubilee (25 years)

• Due to the war, the celebrations for RU took place much later than 1945.
• RIT Newsletter was published in 1999 and the Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 2024.

Golden Jubilee (50 years)

• RU Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1970.
• RIT Golden Jubilee (Shwe YaDu) was celebrated in 2014.

Diamond Jubilee (75 years)

• RU Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1995.

Centennial (100 years)

• SPHS celebrated the Centennial in 1960.
• RU Centennial celebrations started in November 2020.
  Yah Pyay Ah Kyo celebrations kicked off on December 1, 2019 and continued throughout 2020

Sesquicentennial (150 years)

• SPHS celebrated the Sesquicentennial in 2010.

Miscellaneous

• Bicentennial (200 years)
• Tricentennial (300 years)
• Millennium (1000 years)

Three Events in December 1920

Rangoon University

• Rangoon University Act of 1920 was enacted on December 1, 1920.
• The Act established Rangoon University with Rangoon College and Judson College as constituent colleges.

First RU Student Strike

• The Strikevto protest the Act took place of December 5, 1920 (two days earlier than planned because the news leaked to the higher authorities).
• The senior students requested the junior students not to strike. When their request was not complied, 11 senior students decided to the strike as leaders.
• The Burmese date — 10th Waning Day of Tazaungmon — is celebrated as Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay.
• The strike led to the establishment of Ah Myotha Kyaung (National School) and Ah Myotha Kaw Leik (National College).
• U Po Kya served as Ah Myotha Pyinnya Wun. He is a distinguished author.
• Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing served as Principal of Ah Myotha Kaw Leik.

Saya U Ba Toke

• He’s is a Phwa Bet Taw of RU and the first RU Students’ Strike.
• Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon University
• Rector of MASU
• Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon Institute of Technology
• Associate Dean, Assumption University, Bangkok

Publications

• Former EC members of the RU Ka Laung Ah Thinn (1958 – 1962) including Daw Kyu Kyu Thin and Saya U Moe Aung (Tekaktho Moe War) published a “Collection of Kabyars” and a commemorative Magazine in February 2020.
• Several books, Sar Saungs and Magazines were published for the RU Centennial Celebrations.

Early Sayas

Dr. Maung Maung Kha

• Doctorate in Meteorological Physics from UK
• Worked briefly at Meteorology Department
• Transferred to RU Physics Department
• Interim Dean of Engineering
• Longest tenure among Rectors of RU
• Hobby : Music / Violin
• Former students celebrated Saya’s Yar Pyi
• “Saya Kha Hall”

U San Tha Aung

• Studied Masters at Harvard University
• Senior Lecturer, Physics
• Co-authored High School Yupa Beda texts with Dr. Maung Maung Kha
• Director General of Higher Education
• Passed away after returning from an inspection tour

Dr. Nyi Nyi

• He was a mentee of Dr. Tha Hla.
• A Minister protested against Dr. Tha Hla’s nomination of Dr. Nyi Nyi’s scholarship citing his ideology. Dr. Tha Hla managed to push through the nomination during the Minister’s absence.
• Served as Deputy Minister.
  Instrumental in establishing the then new Education System
• Retired from UN
• Pen name : Oak Aw

Rectors and Principals

U Hla Shwe

• Rector, Mandalay Arts and Science University (MASU)
• Senior Burmese Saya

U Yone Mo

• Retired Chief Engineer, Burma Railways
• Dean of Engineering, BIT
• Rector, Rangoon Institute of Technology

Medicine

• Dr. Ba Than (Institute of Medicine 1)
• Dr. U E (Institute of Medicine 2)
• Dr. Maung Maung Gyi (Institute of Medicine at Mandalay)

Economics

• Dr. Aye Hlaing
  Rector, Institute of Economics
  Professor of Economics, Faculty of Social Science

Education

• Lt. Col. San Myint
  Rector, Institute of Education

Dentistry

• Dr. Aung Than
  Rector, Institute of Dentistry / Dental Medicine

Vet

• U Mya Nyunt
  Rector, Institute of Veterinary Science

Agri

• U Than Tun
  Rector, Institute of Agriculture

Workers

• U Kyaw
  Principal, Workers’ College

Taunggyi

• U Khin Maung Tint (Tekkatho Phone Naing)
  Principal, Taungyi College
  Distinguished author / novelist
  

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Two Sayas named Hunter

There were two Sayas named Hunter at the University of Rangoon.

• Matthew Hunter taught Physics and Chemistry, and also studied Geology.
  He served as Principal of Rangoon College. He tried to persuade the student leaders of the 1936 RU Strike. The students explained, “We are not protesting you. We are protesting to have changes to the University Act.”
  He loved the students very much. Tears fell when he had to bid farewell after retiring from Rangoon University.
  
  Some awards (given out at the early Convocations) are named after “Matthew Hunter”.
• Mark Hunter (John Mark Hunter) taught and wrote on English Literature. He was a member of the Commission responsible for the implementation of the Rangoon University Act of 1920. He later served as Professor at RU.

Judson

• Andoniram Judson Jr. (1788 – 1850) was the most significant American Baptist Missionary to Burma. His supervisors told him that it would be a tough task. There were a few ABMs before him, but they did not stay long.
• Judson and his team (which included some former dhamma teachers) compiled the English-Burmese and Burmese-English Dictionaries (see photos of two editions).

• Judson published the Burmese translation of the Bible.
• He helped found the association for Baptists.
• He is honored by having a church and a college named after him.
• In 1920, Judson Collegeand Rangoon College became constituent colleges of the newly established University of Rangoon.
• Two buildings for Judson College were donated by the American Baptists.
• The Willington Hall was built in memory of two families — the Vintons and the Johnsons — of the Church of Willington for their missionary work in Burma. It was later known as Dagon Hall.
• The Benton Hall was donated by Ms. Benton (Treasurer of the Judson Church and/or Judson College). It was later known as Thiri Hall.
• Note: Depending on the period, a Hall may house classrooms or may be used as a hostel.
  There was also a building named North Hall (which later became Shwebo Hall).
• Examples of evolution of halls
• Mandalay Hall was a Residence Hall.
• After the “Dark Days” (7th July and 8th July 1962), several Residence Halls were converted into Admin Offices and/or Classrooms.
• Mandalay Hall was a temporary home for the UCC project before moving to Thamaing College Campus.
• Geology majors had most of their classes at Mandalay Hall.
• G-Hall in the Gyogone Campus initially housed single sayas.
• In November 1964, G-Hall became a resident hall for female students. Madan Chand (C70) was inadvertently listed to reside at G-Hall. Lyo Kyin Sein (T69) was inadvertently listed to attend at a men’s Hall (e.g. C-Block)

Burmese

• In the early days, several languages (e.g. Pali) were taught by the Department of Oriental Studies.
• Sayagyi U Pe Maung Tin (Pali and Burmese Scholar) proposed to have a separate Burmese Department.
• Sayagyi translated Pali books (e.g. Visuddhi Magga) and Suttas (e.g. Dhammacakka and Anattalekkhana) into English.

• ICS U Sein Tin (Theikpan Maung Wa), U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and U Wun (Minthuwun) were the early Burmese (Honors) students of Sayagyi. The trio is also known as co-founders of the Khit San Sar Pay movement.

• U Sein Tin was a victim of a bungled burglary or the case of mistaken identity.
• U Thein Han was offered to do Masters by both the Burmese Department and the English Department, but he chose to study Library Science in the UK. He succeeded U Khin Zaw as Chief Librarian of the Rangoon University Central Library.

• U Wun studied Linguistics and Literature in the UK. He headed the Translation Department at the University of Rangoon. He later served as Professor of the Burmese Department, and as Visiting Professor at the University of Osaka at the invitation of Professor Harada (pen name : Chit Mann Nwe). He is the father of U Htin Kyaw (former President).

• In December 2019, the Myanmar Sar Htar Na (Burmese Department) unveiled a statue honoring Sayagyi.

Met Daw Tin Tin Myaing (Brenda Pe Maung Tin, Sayagyi’s daughter) at Winner Inn. She attended the unveiling of Sayagyi’s statue. She was also a guest at the Fund Raising Concert for RU Centennial. Two friends mentioned that his spouse (an Old Paulian) passed away in UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some Posts

Per Hlaing Bwa : According to a “Shay Hmi Nauk Hmi” Saya, U Chit was detained for “providing food to the University Student Protesters”. He was questioned repeatedly for the rationale of his work. He wrote, “The students are my benefactors. I therefore need to repay their kindness in times of need.” Finally, a relative with connections managed to secure the release of U Chit. Sadly, he passed away 8 months later. He is an “unsung hero.”

Per Myo Thaik : He witnessed the “Tha Dar Phyu” (later referred to as “Tha Dar Ni”) incident and endured a tear gas bomb. His posts are based not only on his experience (recorded as dairy entries), but also on other sources : Gabriel (Thet Tun) and a post from the on-line forum.

Poems

• Yadana Thu
• Novem Pink
• Min Oo Idw

Memories

• Saya U Khin Zaw (Workers’ College)
• U Tin Aye
• Thann Htutt Aung
• Dr. Thwe Oo : Daughter of Saya U Khin Maung Nyunt and Sayama Daw Mya Mya Nu
• Dr. Jillian Phyu Maung : Grand daughter of Saya U Aung Khin (Chemistry)
  

by Hla Min

Updated : May 2026

Tin Aung Lwin

• Scored 100% in the သင်္ချာချွန် exam.
• Saya U Po Thon (Director of Education & Author of High School Maths Texts) recommended Dr. Nyi Nyi to recruit Tin Aung Lwin as a Science Scholar.
• He had published a book based on his blogs.
• In a recent blog, he shared his memories about Saya U Aung Sein, Dr. Min Oo and Dr. Zaw Win.

Science Scholarship

In the old education system, there were minimal requirements to attend courses at the University.

Among those who stood First in Burma, Dr. Soe Win (Matric 58) chose to study Chemistry and Dr. Hla Tin Ngwe (Frankie Ohn, Matric 59) chose to study Physics. Sayagyi U Ba Khin chose to work and later became Head of four Departments and a renowned Vipassana Teacher.

The disruption took in several forms (a) the use of the controversial ILA system (b) competition to enter professional courses (c) discrimination of those who are not 3-NRC.

The “Science Scholarship” (SS) program was introduced to lure brilliant students to study Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

Saya Dr. Nyi Nyi, then Deputy Minister of Education, “promised” that SS holders will be sent for further studies (may be even before they graduate).

Twenty Scholarships were reserved for each discipline, but they were never filled due to lack of student interest.

For the first batch, there were four Science Scholars for Maths (including Ko Tin Aung Lwin & Ko Win Naing) and two for Physics (including Ko Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing).

For the second batch, Zaw Win (Second in Burma in 1970) was Science Scholar for Maths.

There were two more batches.

Silver Lining

Reality struck.

There were few scholarships for the Ministry of Education.

But, there’s a silver lining in every cloud. Some SS scholars gained wealth and fame as Tuition Sayas.