by Hla Min

Update : 26th October 2026

ဘွဲ့နင်းသဘင် Convocation

Early Days

• Held at Convocation Hall ဘွဲ့နှင်းသဘင်ခန်းမ

• Chancellor အဓိပတိ — ဝန်ကြီးချုပ် Prime Minister of the Union of Burma
• Pro-Chancellor — ဝန်ကြီး Minister
• Vice-Chancellor
• RU Council Members တချို့
• ပါမောက္ခချုပ်Rector
• ပါမောက္ခ / ဌာနမှူး များ Professor / Head
• မော်ကွန်းထိန်း Registrar
• ဘွဲ့ ရ ကျောင်းသူကျောင်းသားများ Graduates
• ဆုတံဆိပ် ရ ကျောင်းသူကျောင်းသားများ Prize Winners

Rectors

• Dr. Htin Aung — later Vice Chancellor

• Dr. Hla Myint

• Dr. Tha Hla

ဆက်နွယ် Related

• အောင်ဆန်းကွင်း (1962 Graduates …) Aung San Stadium
• ကျိုက္ကဆံ ကွင်း (တချို့ နှစ်) Kyaikkasan Ground (for some years citing Security concerns)
• RIT ဩဘာလမ်း Aw Barr Lann (for applauding the graduates)
• Commencement Ceremony (တချို့ တက္ကသိုလ်) at some Universitiies

by Hla Min

Update : 13th October 2026

• The first East Coast Reunion took place in Virginia in 2009.

• U Kyaw Than (M58, ex-UBA, Canada) was one of the senior alumni.
• His spouse Rosemary Than was a sister of Veronica (my primary school classmate, Gangaw Travel). Sometime back Rosemary messaged me with a request for the contact information of a common friend. She later informed me that U Kyaw Than has passed away.
• U Nyein Min (C79, Virginia) operated Wunna Construction named after his son. He is a cousin of U Thura Thant Zin (M76, Southern California). He invited his classmate friend U San Myint Than (Sammy, EC79, Texas) to come and help organize the gathering.
• Dr. L. Sein Myint (M73, Maryland) is an organizer. He is the younger brother of U L. Kyee Myint (early Chartered Accountant) and U L. Than Myint (M63, RUBC Gold). He studied in UK and worked in several places (including Alaska and Malaysia). He told me that he would pick me up at the airport and host me.
• Most of the attendees were from East Coast (e.g. New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey) and Canada
• I flew in from Northern California
• Saya U Tin Htut (M69) flew in from Southern California
• U Tha Aung (M), Daw Kinsa Maw Naing (ChE) and several others were from Canada

• During my trip, Dr. L Sein Myint, U Wynn Myint Aung (EC76, Frederick, Maryland), U Htin Linn (PTC, Washington, D.C.) and my uncle U Thein Han (Silver Spring, Maryland) hosted me.

• Dr. Win Aung (M62, iNeer) and spouse hosted a dinner for us. His father Saya C Ping Lee joined Saya U Kyaw Tun as the early EE sayas. H.E. U Than Aung (Education) asked his former student C. Ping Lee to head the Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education. Dr. Win Aung wrote an article about his father for SPZP-2000.

• U Min Han (ChE77) took most of the pictures.

Update

• U Kyaw Than, Uncle U Thein Han and U Wynn Myint Aung are now GBNF.

by Hla Min

Updated : 12th October 2026

SEAP Games

Second SEAP Games

• Burma hosted the Second SEAP games in 1961. About twenty Rangoon University students represented Burma in the games.

Fifth SEAP Games

• Burma also hosted the Fifth SEAP Games in 1969.
• [Nyunt Nyunt Tin] : I was in the 7th standard at Myoma National High School (Rangoon) and participated Kabyaluk dance. The team of 400 high school girl students danced Kabyaluk at the opening ceremony. Never forget, ever.

Six belles held the signs for the competing nations (visitors in alphabetical order followed by the host nation).

• Laos
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Vietnam
• Burma

Rangoon University

Convocation

The Prime Minister of the Union of Burma attended Convocations as Chancellor of the University.

Pro Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor also attended Convocations. Their roles are described in “Order of Procedure”.

Some dignitaries receive honorary degrees.

Rectors

• Dr. Htin Aung (First native Rector)
  Retired as Vice Chancellor
  Outstanding author
• Dr. Hla Myint
  Economist and Educator
• U Kar
  Served as Minister in the Caretaker Government
• Dr. Tha Hla
  Geologist
  Retired from United Nations
• Dr. Maung Maung Kha
  Meteorological Physicist
  Longest tenure among the Rectors

Saya Kha

Dr. Maung Maung Kha served as

• Professor and Head of the Physics Department
• Interim Dean, Faculty of Engineering
• Rector, University of Rangoon
  Saya has the longest tenure among the Rectors
• Spouse : Teacher Ruby (also won the National Mixed Doubles Championship in Tennis)
• Children : One son, three daughters

• [Alvin Oke Soe Kha] : I experienced first hand when Uncle U Ba Kyi sang “နှစ်ယောက်ထဲနေချက်တယ်” and my father Dr. Maung Maung Kha accompanied uncle on violin.
• There were fund raisers to hold Centennial celebrations for Saya Kha. Saya U Oo Khin Maung and Sayama Daw Thida were volunteer organizers along with several others.

U Ba Toke

• Book published to celebrate his 80th birthday by the Thin Char Mithar Su သင်္ချာမိသားစု
• Saya was born on 26th December 1920. He is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University and the first RU Student Strike.
• His life journey has been written in the book by Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char).
• Spouse : passed away around 2001
• Children : Two sons & Six daughters. Sadly, one son and one daughter are GBNF

• Taught at Mandalay University, Rangoon University, Rangoon Institute of Technology and Assumption University (Bangkok)
• Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon University
• Rector, Mandalay Arts and Science University
• Voluntarily transferred to RIT as Professor of Mathematics
• Played soccer
  Managed RU Sports (including Soccer tournaments)
• Leader of the Burma Olympic team
• Was healthy and active until his mid-80s
  Walked at weekends to Shwe Dagon Pagoda
• Likes to share his memories
• Health declined after turning 90

Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC)

Brief History

• In 1923, RUBC was founded by Sir Arthur Eggar (Professor of Law), who pledged a third of his salary for the operation of the Club.
• Part of U Nyo’s donation to RU Estate Fund was used to build the RUBC Clubhouse.

• The Club was ravaged during the War.
• After the war, Old Members and supporters rebuilt the Club.

• The President of the Union of Burma donated the Challenge Cup for Inter-Club Coxed Eights
• The Prime Minister of the Union of Burma donated the Challenge Cup for Inter-Club Coxed Fours
• RUBC competed in Inter-Varsity (e.g. with Calcutta University), ARAE and FEARA Regattas.
• The 40th Anniversary was celebrated in 1963 with a souvenir program containing the history of RUBC, list of Captains and EC members, list of RUBC Golds (compiled by Sithu U Tin, U Po Zon and U Tin Htoon). The photo of the Anniversary Dinner appears in another post.
• There were other celebrations such as 50th and 60th.
• For the 90th Anniversary, there were two publications. The souvenir program displayed in the post, and a reprint of the Autobiography of Sir Arthur Eggar.

U Chan Tha

• He is a multiple sports athlete.
• Past Captain and Gold of RUBC
• Captain of Prome Hall Soccer team (which won Inter-Hall Tournament for three years)
• Played soccer for RU & SAMB

Dr. Harry Saing

• In the early days, University students excel at academic and sports.
• Harry Saing represented Burma in Rowing, Hockey and Cricket and represented the Faculty of Medicine in Track and Field, and Football.
• He is Past Captain and Gold of RUBC, and is two time Champion of ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East).
• He and Saya Dr. Pe Nyun (Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) operated Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San (the first set of conjoined twins) at the Rangoon Children Hospital.
• He served as Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Hong Kong University. He also served as Patron of the Hong Kong Rowing and Sailing Club, which hosted FEARA (Far East Amateur Rowing Association) Regattas. According to Ko Htaik San (Henry Kao), Dr. Harry provided physical and moral support to the RUBC crews competing at FEARA regattas.
• Sadly, he is GBNF. I wrote about him in the 90th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine.
• Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered into the waters near his second favorite Rowing Club (after his favorite RUBC).

U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khinn

U Thant succeeded Daj Hammarskjold as the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) and served for two terms.

After retirement, he was writing memoirs when his health failed.

His body was brought back to Burma, but no high ranking personnel except a Deputy Minister was present at the Mingalardon air port.

The disrespect for Burma’s Son resulted in “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khinn”.

Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo

• Maung Ngwe Hlinne is the pen name of Saya U Thet Lwin, who taught Burmese at the Institute of Economics and later transferred to RIT as Registrar.
• He is a distinguished Composer. His songs include “Mya Kyun Nyo Nyo”.
• [Saya Dr. Soe Win] : My father Saya Sein was U Thet Lwin’s Burmese teacher at St. Paul’s High School.

Early Registrars

• U Htin Si
• U Yu Khin
• Daw Sein Sein

Early Sayas

• Dr. Hla Thwin : Professor of Psychology
• Dr. Maung Shein : Lecturer of Economics, Deputy Minister, World Bank
• U Than Aung : taught Burmese in the early days at St. Paul’s. Served as Minister of Education in the AFPFL government. Requested his former student C. Ping Lee (EE saya) to head the Technical Education and Vocational Training Department.

Censorship

• Readers wrote that the RASU Annual Magazine for 1975 -76 had hidden messages.
• In July 1963, several pamphlets were distributed during the first anniversary of 7th July.
  Citing security reasons, the schools (with the exception of Medicine and Engineering) were closed for almost a year.
  A new Education system was implemented in November 1964.
• The censorship intensified in the later years.
• My articles had to be approved by three Chief Editors of the newspapers (two Burmese and one English).
• My poem for the Sar So Daw Nay was accepted by the Assistant Editor in charge of the Working People’s Daily (WPD) Supplement. She showed me the preview (block ready to be printed). The higher authorities refused to give the green light since my poem referenced Ananda Thuriya’s epic work “Dhammata”.

Nomination

• At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school.

Philosophy

• It means love of wisdom.
• Under the new Education System introduced in November 1964, students with low ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate) were forced to study Philosophy.

Scholarship / Stipend

• The scholarship and stipend holders received 75 kyats a month (60 kyats after paying the school fees).
• Those who stayed at hostels had to pay about 57 kyats a month.
• One kyat could get long bus rides, decent food, comics, and cartoons.

RU Main Campus

• Some are blessed to be born or lived on the campus.
• Some are honored to call the campus their home.
• I only had the chance to visit the houses of some sayas.

RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes

• USA in 2000
• Singapore in 2002, 2007 and 2010
• Yangon in 2004, 2012, 2016 and 2020

Tun Naung

• Tun Naung (Noel Tin) was a star sprinter. He represented Burma in the First SEAP Games in Bangkok in 1959, and the Second SEAP Games in Rangoon in 1961. His team mates include Tun Mra (Sprint), Kyaw Mra (Hurdles) and Soe Mra (Pole Vault).
• Tekkatho Tun Naung would often play with the mandolin on his back. He is a co-founder of Stereo Khit.

Soccer

• U Than Win (Captain of the team, later Director of Sports and Physical Education)
• U Chan Tha (Captain of the Prome Hall team, also Past Captain and Gold of RUBC)
• Collegian Nay Win, Kenneth Shein and Tun Kyi played for RU First Eleven under coach Saya Nyein.

Tennis

• Joe Ba Maung taught English at RIT before transferring to Burma Railways. He was Burma Tennis Champion in Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles (with Than Lwin) and Mixed Doubles (with Sayama Ruby Kha)

Sports Officer

• Several Burma Selected and University Selected became Sports Officers.
• U Ba Maung (Soccer, RASU)
• U Maung Maung (Soccer, RIT)
• U Thet Win (Diving, Eco)

Tekkatho

• In the early days, less than 10 percent passed the Matric exam. It was an honor to prefix one’s name with Tekkatho or University.
• Khin Nyo wrote : absolutely right. I think in 1957 only 2% Passed and the total is 20000. Even dancer AmarSein was conferred with the title Thekkatho Amar Sein by the Rector Dr Tha Hla.

Prizes

• 20 or so prizes were awarded at the RU Convocation.
• Most prizes are for outstanding graduates.
• Some prizes are for those who excelled at the Intermediate Classes.
• The University prizes include Matthew Hunter Gold Medal.

Books

• There are several books about Rangoon University and the university life of students.
• Shwe Ku May Hnin wrote “Nga Doh Khit Ka Tekkatho”.

Related Posts

• Celebrations — Anniversaries, Jubilees, Centennial
• Rangoon University
• RU Alumni & Sayas
• Three Events in Dec 1920

by Hla Min

Updated : 12th October 2026

Dr. Maung Maung Kha (GBNF)

• Received his doctorate in Meteorological Physics from Imperial College, London University.
• Worked briefly at the Directorate of Meteorology before transferring to the Department of Physics at the Rangoon University.
• Early native Professor of Physics at Rangoon University.
• Interim Dean at the Faculty of Engineering
• Rector of the Rangoon University, RASU & University of Distance Learning

U San Tha Aung (GBNF)

• He is an alumnus of Harvard University.
• Co-authored High School Physics texts (in Burmese and English)
• Director General of Higher Education.

Early doctorates from USA

• Dr. Hla Shwe (Boon Chiong, first in Burma in 1953), Dr. Tin Maung and Dr. Tin Aung received their doctorates from the USA.
• Dr. Hla Shwe and Dr. Tin Maung moved to the USA.

Dr. Tin Aung

• Professor and Head of the Physics Department, RASU
• He was on an educational tour in the USA when his colleagues elected him as Patron of the All Universities’ Teachers Association for the 8-8-88 movement.
• After his return, he was forced to resign immediately.
• He recently had a replacement pace maker.

Some Sayas and Sayamas

• Daw Nyein (GBNF) : Retired as Head of the RIT Physics; Lived to 101 years

• Daw May Than Nwe (Joyce, GBNF) — First in Physics Honors in 1962; Spouse : Saya U Thein Lwin (EE, GBNF); Classmates : Dr. Sein Tun (GBNF), Robert Sein, Daw Khin Than Nwe, Daw Khin Swe Aye (Emily); She and her spouse passed away within a few months of each other in Singapore.
• U Hlwan Moe (GBNF) — Succeeded Daw Nyein as Head of RIT Physics; Spouse : Daw Khin Swe Aye / Emily; Son : Dr. Moe Aye (UK)

• Daw Khin Swe Aye / Emily —
  Spouse : U Hlwan Moe
• U Tha Hlaing
  Taught at RIT for two decades
  Gave Ovada at SPZP-2007 in Singapore along with Sayagyi U Ba Toke.
• U Kyaw Myint (GBNF)
  Retired as Director General of Higher Education; We spent some time together as Guest Speakers for the Ngapali Luyechun Camp in 1988. Has a Foundation named after him

• U Kyaw Mya Thein (GBNF) —
  Retired as Pro-Rector of ICST/UCSY; Coined the word “Kar Ku La Thin Char” for Calculus; Passed away in Singapore.
• U Tin Oo Hlaing (Principal) —
  Interpreter for Saddhammaransi Sayadaw’s Dhamma Duta to USA
• U Kaung Nyunt (GBNF) —
  Principal of RC2; Spouse : PPBRS alumni; Daughter : Khaing Khaing Nyunt (UCC)
• U Thein Aung (Micky, SPHS59, GBNF) : RUBC Gold in 1962; Met him during his visit to California.
• Dr. Htin Aung (Japan, GBNF)
  : Sacred Heart; Sixth in Burma in the Matric of 1957; Twin brother : Dr. Htin Kyaw
• Dr. Htin Kyaw : Sacred Heart;
  First in Burma in the Matric of 1957
• U Thein Htut : Saya Micky asked him to be athletic trainer for RUBC selected
• U Saw Hlaing (Principal, Director, GBNF): First met him as organizer of Thu Ka Kari သုကကာရီ association on Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Last met him at the Ministry of Education.
• U Kin Sein (Director) : He was at the Ministry in charge of vetting state scholarships
• Mehm Than Thoung : First in Physics Honors in 1961; RUBC Gold in 1961; Retired Rector of Distance Learning; Currently spending time at a meditation center

• Dr. Soe Myint Win (Electronics / Engineering, GBNF) : Gawpaka at a monastery in Northern California; Helped found the Northern California Physics Association
• Daw May Su (GBNF) : She and her spouse Saya U Ba Nyunt (EE, MOGE) visited their daughter and grand children in Northern California.
• Dr. Zin Aung (GBNF) : Medalist for Physics Hons; RU; Assumption University
• Dr. Maung Maung Gyi (Canada) : Taught at RIT. Worked in Singapore & Canada
• Dr. Aye Thein Kyaw (Canada, GBNF)
• Dr. Tin Maung Aye (USA)
• Dr. Soe Tint (USA)
• Dr. Myint Thein
• Dr. Myint Kyi (Pro-Rector, IMBTU) : Met him at the Final Journey of Sayadaw U Silananda
• U Kyaw Khin (USA)
• U Kyaw Win (USA, GBNF)
• U Ye Sint (USA)
• Dr. Khin Maung Maung (USA)
• Dr. Patheda Tin (USA)
• Dr. Kyaw Tint (USA)
• Dr. Win Naing (USA)
• Mr. Bharadwaja (wrote the Lab manuals)
• Daw Khin Mar Mar (daughter of Sayagyi U Net) studied Computer Science
• Dr. Khin Swe Myint hosted a Physics conference in Mandalay with the help of Dr. Khin Maung Maung (Professor and Chair of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Mississippi).

Miscellaneous

• Frankie Ohn (Dr. Hla Ngwe Tin) stood first in the Matric exam of 1959. He founded a company in Southern California & sold it.
• Harry Wang (Dr. Than Myint) stood Joint Third in the Matric exam of 1956.
• Dr. Yan Naing Lwin : Emeritus Professor & Chair of Physics at WIU, Macomb. He helped many Burmese to study at WIU
• Ko Soe Lwin (son of Dr. Maung Lwin) & Ko Myint Thein were selected Physics Luyechun in the Sunmer of 1965
• Chu Pu Thein (SPHS63) scored the highest marks for Physics in the first ever High School Final Only exam in 1962. Due to restrictions, he could not apply to the professional institutes and left to study in Italy.
• Dr. Khin Maung U received 99 marks for Physics in the first ever Matric exam in 1963. He scored a perfect 100, but the Chief Invigilator reluctantly subtracted a point.
• There was a Centennial Celebration for Saya Kha.
  Saya U Oo Khin Maung and Sayama Daw Thida were some of the volunteer organizers.

Sayama Daw Thida wrote :

Dear Sayar U Hla Min,
You have collected many facts regarding with Universities especially YU and RIT. I appreciate your nice memory.
I worked at YU Physics Department about twelve years (Early 1978 to mid 1989), at RIT Physics Department about six years (1971 to 1976) and YIT/YTU Engineering Physics Department about eight years (1993 to 2001).
I think the days of YU are very beautiful before 1963. I missed those days because I was high school student at that time.
My days at YU are very ordinary.
The posts written about early days of YU are very interesting.
That’s why I request “Nyi” (Nyi Thet Lwin) to collect those posts as a book.
I also thank you for your interesting posts.
I look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks again Sayar.

by Hla Min

Update : 11th October 2026

RU Estate included the following (with name changes and/or structural changes over the years).

• Rangoon College
• Judson College
• BOC College
• Convocation Hall
• Administrative Offices
• Housing for sayas
• Hostels for male and female students
• RUSU (Rangoon University Students’ Union)
• Sanatorium (Tekkatho Hospital)
• RU Gymnasium
• Tekkatho Dhammayone
• RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club)
• RU Swimming Pool
• Soccer fields
• Tennis courts
• Recreation Center (Chess, Basketball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Fine Arts …)
• Libraries
• Canteens

Selected Buildings

• The Estate was managed by the Estate Engineer and his team.
• U Nyo, a philanthropist, was a major donor for RU Estate (including RUSU and RUBC). He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by RU.
• Chan Chor Khine, second son of Chan Mah Phee and Daw Aye Mya, donated to build the RU Gymnasium.
• The RU Library was funded by Reddiar.
• RUSU has an important role in the History of Burma. It was the training ground for students, who later shone as regional and national leaders. Sadly, the building was demolished on 8th July 1962.
• Sir Arthur Eggar, Law Professor, pledged/donated a third of his salary for RUBC. Monetary support from Dr. U Nyo and other patrons accelerated the growth of RUBC into a reputable rowing club in Burma (and beyond).

RU was an elite University

• In the early days, it was convenient and not so costly to attend RU even for those who do not have scholarships and stipends. In addition to have a reasonably good quality of education (as shown by the high success rate of Burmese scholars), there was ample time and opportunity to participate and excel in sports, hobbies (SPARK, aero-modeling, so-ka-yay-tee, public speaking, debates, …)
• RU produced doctors, engineers, scientists, and social scientists who were outstanding for their extra-curricular activities.
• It is sad to see students forgoing their dreams because of the need to make long commutes and without the choice of affordable housing (hostel, …).
• It is sad to learn that many students cannot afford the time to participate and excel in sports, hobbies, …
• A reasonably good Estate might help nurture “Jack of all trades and master of some”.

by Hla Min

Update : 8th October 2026

First Volume

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).