by Hla Min

Updated : June 2026

U Po Kya / Phyo Kyar

• Attended regular and monastic schools while serving as an Assistant Teacher.
• Completed a Teachers Training Certificate.
• Worked as a Tally Clerk, but his intense desire to have higher education led him to become a “Kyaung Tha Gyi” at Judson College in his late 20s.
• On November 30, 1920 there were two meetings.
  At one meeting, Mr. Matthew Hunter, Principal of Rangoon College, announced that the Rangoon University Act of 1920 will be implemented the following day (on December 1, 1920).
  At another meeting at the Jubilee Hall, College students proposed to protest the Act. The “Kyaung Tha Gyis” tried to soften the stand of their young energetic colleagues, but they finally gave in and lead the protests.
  The Strike was scheduled for December 7, 1920, but the news leaked out to the higher authorities.
  So, the Strike was rescheduled for December 5, 1920.
  U Po Kya was not only a member of the strike, but he went on to support the National Schools and serve as “Amyotha Pyinnya Wun“.
• During his College days, he studied under the outstanding Burmese and Pali Scholars.
  Received his BA degree in 1922.
  Wrote several books including “Myanmar Gon Yi” and a collection of short stories (e.g. Volunteer Coolie for a Kyaung Tha). Some were prescribed as text book for schools.
• Sad to learn that he passed away at the tender age of 51 due to malaria.
• Many years ago, I met U Zaw Win Kya (son of U Po Kya) at Ava House where he was in charge of text books and publications.

Amyotha Aung Pwe Nay (National Day) uses the Burmese date (10th waning day of Tazaungmon).

A marble stone on Shwe Dagon Pagoda has the names of the 11 students who led the First RU Students’ Strike.

1920s and 1930s

• Dr. Saw Mra Aung’s account of “Rangoon University in the 1920s” can be Googled on the Internet.
  
• The early hostels were not inside the Campus.
  Took time and money to transform the “Nar Nat Taw” and its vicinity into hostels and additional class rooms.
  Hostel students had to guard themselves against mosquitoes and intruders (from nearby quarters).
  
• Students in the early days include “Chit Dukkha” U Ba Nyunt (later Professor of History, father of Win Oo), U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and U Wun (Minthuwun).
  
• U Nyo (Chauk Htutt Kyee Phaya Daga) was a philanthropist.
  His donations funded the Rangoon University Student Union Building and several buildings in the RU Estate.
  He also helped build the Club House for RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club, which was founded by Law Professor Sir Arthur Eggar).
  
• Chan Mah Phee and Daw Aye Mya were philanthropists.
  Their donations include a hospital (Chan Mah Phee Say Yone in Ahlone), Hwa Kyone school, and a Tazaung in Shwe Dagon.
  Their second son, Chan Chor Khine served as a member of the RU Council, and helped build the RU Gymnasium in memory of his beloved parents.
  
• In 1936, U Nu was elected as President of Ta Ka Ta (Tekkatho Kyaung Tha Thumagga), M.A. Raschid (father of Saya Bilal) as Vice President and Bogyoke Aung San as Secretary.
  

• In 1936, the Second RU Student Strike took place.
  The post has a photo showing U Saw Ba Hein (father of Dr. Daisy and Dr. Edwin), Ludu Daw Amar (Ah Mar), MA Daw Ohn and several more carrying the Banner.
  
• In 1937, M.A. Raschid became President of Ta Ka Tha and also Ba Ka Tha. He would later serve as Minister in the Cabinets led by Prime Minister U Nu.
  
• In 1938, Bogyoke Aung San (Editor of Oway) was expelled, because he refused to disclose the identity of the author of “Hell Hound at large”.
  The Third RU Student Strike took place.
  Ko Aung Kyaw was struck by a baton and perished. He was named Bo Aung Kyaw and the Sparks Street was renamed as Bo Aung Kyaw Street.
  
• The Student Union nurtured many students to lead the Independence Movement and to run the democratic Union of Burma.

Dark Moments

• There were many Dark Moments during the Adhamma regime starting with indiscriminate shooting on July 7, 1962 and the demolition of the RU Student Union Building on July 8, 1962.
  
• The anniversary of July 7 (in 1963) saw posters and publications condemning the atrocities.
• The authorities decided to close the universities (with the exception of Medicine and Engineering).
• A new Education System was established in November 1964.
  
• The Universities and Institutes were closed several times citing Security Concerns.
  Several students lost their lives in U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin and 8-8-88

• It took only a few years (if not a few months) to transform the “Rice Bowl of Asia” into LDC (Least Developed Country) and a highly revered Education System into one that promotes rote learning instead of rational and creative thinking (as implied by the term Tekkatho (Tekkathila or Tekka Sila).
  
• Students were dispersed (some to remote places without proper facilities).
  Some teachers and students had to commute daily for two hours (or so).
  Many have to arrange for their transportation.

Resilience

• RU and its children are resilient.
• They survived to usher in the “Pwint Linn” Era.
• Untold stories and hitherto unseen photos can now be seen in the posts.
  
• Many can forgive but not forget the dark moments in history.
• Khun Sai (founding member of the RU Centennial Group) was a medical student during the “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin”.
  For his involvement, he was debarred.
  He has posted memories of the Ah Yay Ah Khin.
  
• For three years (1988 – 1990), RU and the Institutes were closed.
  There were no Convocations after 1987 and before 1991.

Saya Pu Zaw Pwe

• Saya Pu Zaw Pwe (SPZP) is a noble tradition.
• In October 2000, I was honored to be an organizer for a SPZP (in a land far away).
• I wrote “SAYA PUZAW PWE”.
• Each line starts with corresponding letter from “SAYA PUZAW PWE”.

Related Posts

• Album : Events
• RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates

by Hla Min

Updated : June 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).