Category: RU

RU Pre-Centennial and Tazaungdine

• For a moment, many “forgot” the requests for “Social Distancing” and visited the brightly lit main RU campus and cherish fond memories of their youth.
  There were medical staff to check the temperature of the attendees, to remind the use of masks and even ambulance cars.
• A few cautious people waited till the next morning to visit the RU Landmarks and take photos.
  
• Some listened to dhamma talks (e.g Tha Myin Nya Phala / Merits of being a monk) on the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmon (also known as Thazaungdine).
• It is the end of the period for offering Kathein Robes.
• A few oldies reminisced the Cartoon Exhibits, Zat, Ah Nyeint and variety of performances.
  
• Law Department was part of RU when it opened on December 1920. The alumni celebrated the Centennial around March 2020 (before the “stay at home” requests due to the pandemic).
• Many celebrations are online / virtual or downsized.

Discussions

• Are the celebrations for oldies and not so young to share their memories — good and bad, joyful and sad?
  
• Some wanted to perform Dana and share merits with the fallen students (including those hit by “stray” bullets).
  
• Some readers asked if the FB group will still be open and active after the Centennial Celebrations.
  
• Pros and cons of rebuilding the Students Union
  
• Whether Another Grand Celebration will take place when the pandemic is over

Intermediate College

• During a period, students at the University of Rangoon [and Mandalay] attended Intermediate (A) classes for a year, but they did not have to take the examination.
• They then attended Intermediate (B) classes for a year. They then take the examination for both courses.

Compart System

• There used to be two examinations for a class.
  The students have two chances to pass.
• The first examination was usually held in March.
  Those who pass all subjects are eligible to apply for stipends and grants.
• Those who pass at least three subjects have to take the remaining subjects in the second examination, which was usually held in June.

Saya U Ba Toke

• Saya was born in December, 1920.
• He attended Mandalay University.
• He joined the Students’ Strike Camp, and missed the first examination held in March.
• The strike ended, and Saya took all the subjects in the second examination and passed.
• He wanted to attend the Faculty of Engineering in Rangoon, but he needed a stipend. He could not get the stipend because he did not take the first examination.
• Saya’s teachers persuaded him to take Mathematics Honors in Mandalay.

Dr. Tint Lwin

• He took the Pure Science option for I.Sc.
• He attended engineering classes for a while, but he changed his mind to study Medicine.
  He took the classes needed to study medicine (e.g. Biology) and the supplementary exams.
  Finally, he was admitted to the MBBS classes.
• During his university days, he was Goalkeeper for the University First Eleven. He team mates include Collegian Nay Win, Tun Kyi and Kenneth Shein.
• After retirement, he moved to the USA.

Posts include those by children and grandchildren of Sayas

• Dr. Maung Maung Kha
• U Ba Toke
• U Hla Shwe
• U Kyaw
• U Aung Khin
• Dr. Chit Swe
• U Wun (Minthuwun)
• Dr. Kyaw Thein
• U San
  to name a few

Photos

In the early days, there were a handful of professional photographers. They had busy days and lots of income at the Graduation Ceremonies. Some (e.g Mg Mg Hnyutt) employed relatives and friends for the ad hoc assignments (shooting and developing films).

The graduates and their families could only take photos with their own cameras outside the Convocation Hall.

Some who forgot to buy (or chose not to buy) their graduation photos found them on Boards / Posters with “teasing” captions.

Now, even children can take photos and videos with smart devices (phones, pads, …).

They would smile when we talk about using Box Cameras, Yashica Mat and black and white film rolls (typically 12 and 24 prints). Many could not afford professional cameras with high quality lens and filters.

Sad News

• Thet Shay Sayama Daw Khin Kyi Kyi (Physics) passed away at the age of 100.
• She is the beloved spouse of U Thein Pe Myint (Author, Politician).
• Her son U Han Tha Myint (EC70) was a Senior Engineer at PTC.
  He was a victim of 8-8-88.
• Her daughter Daw Kyi Tha Myint is a Physics sayama.
• There are several posts / condolence pages for Sayama.

Alumni News

• Thamankyar Ko Myint (Aung Myint, Mining 70)
• has shared his old songs (e.g Pei Byote) for his friends on the Internet.
• Per request, he provided three songs for use in the Yar Pyie broadcasts.
• He is busy with assignments (e.g dubbing) without the help of some members his recording team.

VIDEOS

• In time for the Tekkatho Yar Pyay, I managed to make 100+ Daily Educational Broadcasts.

• The latest i a video on SCHOLAR ATHLETES
  
• Broadcast : #103 November 27, 2020
  

RU Soccer

• Saya Nyein (Coach)
  
• Many played for Burma

• U Than Win
  Captain
  Director, SPED
  
• U Chan Tha
  Captain, Prome Hall Soccer
  Burma Selected
  Also RUBC Captain and Gold

• Collegian Nay Win
  Won Best Player award
  Academy winner

• U Tun Kyi and U Kenneth Shein
  Teams mates of Collegian Nay Win
  Played for Railways and Burma

Posts on RU and Burma Soccer

• U Aung Khin
  Scored winning goal for Burma in Asian Games
  
• U Ba Maung
  Sports Officer
  Played for RU amd Burma
  
• U Gary Maung Maung
  Played for Customs and Burma

RUBC Gold

• U Thet Toe (C H Chan)
  Advocate
  Most Senior Past Captain (before his demise)
  
• James Barrington (ICS)
  Permanent Representative to UN
  Ambassador
  
• Dr. Ronald Lwin (San Lwin)
  Physician
  
• Balwant Singh
  Commissioner of Pegu Division
  U.N. Security
  
• U Tin U
  Part-time Lecturer, Civil Engineering
  Director of several companies
  Most Senior Past Captain
  
• U Mg Mg Than Tun
  Navy Commander
  Ambassador
  Oldest Past Captain (a few months older than U Tin U)
  
• Dr. Pe Nyun
  Pediatric Surgeon
  Leader of team that operated on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San (conjoined twins)
  
• Dr. Pe Thein
  Professor
  Minister of Health and Education
  
• Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing)
  Pediatric Surgeon
  Deputy Leader of team that operated on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San
  ARAE Champion in 1958 and 1960
  Burma Selected in Hockey and Cricket
  rack and Field, Soccer and Rowing selection for Faculty of Medicine
  
• U Tin Htoon
  Architect
  ARAE Champion in 1958 and 1960
  Silver medalist for Yachting in SEAP Games
  Compiler for 40th and Chair of 90th Anniversary of RUBC Magazines
  
• Tin Htoon and Harry Saing won the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta
  
• Tin Htoon, Harry Saing, Victor Htun Shein, Sunny Teng and Sein Htoon won the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours at the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo.
  

Miscellaneous

• I served as Contributing Editor for the 90th Anniversary of RUBC.
  
• I wrote articles and broadcast videos on various sports.
  
• RU Athletes for 2nd SEAP Games in Rangoon in 1961

MRTV broadcast

Live with

• Opening and Closing Songs
  
• Virtual Ribbon Cutting
  
• Prerecorded Messages by Dignitaries
  
• Video clips of Events, Exhibitions, Competitions. Seminars

Miscellaneous

• Kabyars to commemorate RU Centennial
  December 3, 2020
  Organizers: Tekkatho Ka Laung Ah Thin from the 50s and 60s
  
• Master Plan to bring back the Glory to RU
  Autonomy
  High Quality Education and Research
  Pleasant and Healthy Environment
  Upgrade to Buildings (including Hostels)
  _
  
• BBC Myanmar
  Saya U Ba Toke
  Selected Sayagyis and Sayamagyis

• Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe
• Sharing is Caring

Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe

• I was fortunate to be an organizer for the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwes.
• The first SPZP was held in San Francisco, California, USA in 2000.
• The Singapore alumni hosted the SPZPs in 2002, 2007 and 2010.
• The Myanmar alumni hosted the SPZPs in 2004, 2012 and 2016. The next SPZP scheduled for December 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic.

• The precious memories are shared by alumni — young and old, far and near, weak and strong — via pictures, anecdotes, poems (in both Burmese and English).

Sharing is Caring

There are many Subject Matter Experts (SME) in the group. They can share their knowledge, experience and wisdom.

• Sayas and Sayamas
  Retired, Semi-retired, Active
• Family members of Sayas and Sayamas
  Children, Grand children and Great grandchildren
• Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins
  Cartoonists
  Composers
  Dancers (Minthas, Minthamees)
  Journalists
  Lu Shwin Daws
  Musicians
  Vocalists
  Zat Sayas
• Athletes
  Burma Selected
  University Selected
  Selection for Halls, Disciplines and Classes
• Authors
• Bloggers
• Organizers and/or Executive Committee Members
  Annual Dinner
  Associations
  Magazine
  Social and Reading Club
  Student Union
• Photographers
• Poets
• Professionals
  Retired, Semi-retired, Active
• Videographers

My Videos

My recent videos include

• Early RU Sayas
  Matthew Hunter
  Mark Hunter
  Sir Arthur Eggar
  L D Stamp
  G H Luce
  J S Furnival
  …
  
• Symbols of RU
  Mya Kyun Nyo
  Song by Maung Ngwe Hlinne (U Thet Lwin)
  Gangaw
  RU Centennial Facebook Group
  Sein Ban
  Reference in songs
  Thit Pot Pin
  Yangon Heritage Site
  
• Earlier videos include
  
• Disciplines and Departments
  Archaeology
  Chemistry
  Commerce
  Economics
  English
  Geography
  History
  Mathematics
  Medical Pioneers
  Myanmar
  Pali
  Philosophy
  Physics
  Psychology
  Statistics
  UCC
  …

Some posts

• U Ohn Khin acted as Ko Aung Myint (friend of Ko Thein Pe) in “Collegian” movie
  
• Ludu Daw Ah Mar’s article about Literary Events in Japan was censored during the Adhamma days.
  The publisher of Moe was ordered to tear off the article completely.
  
• Several readers noted that some articles in Kyemon had errors (e.g. wrong dates and/or details of some dark moments in the history of RU)
  
• Brain Drain
  
• Soccer players who represented RU and Burma
  
• One Saya told security not to disperse the students.
  
• Love stories — some with sad ending

Celebrations

• MRTV Broadcast
  Mostly prerecorded segments
  
• Broadcast by other stations / channels
  
• Souvenirs
  T shirt
  Mug
  Bag

MRTV broadcast

Live with

• Opening and Closing Songs
  
• Virtual Ribbon Cutting
  
• Prerecorded Messages by Dignitaries
  
• Video clips of Events, Exhibitions, Competitions. Seminars

Miscellaneous

• Kabyars to commemorate RU Centennial
  December 3, 2020
  Organizers: Tekkatho Ka Laung Ah Thin from the 50s and 60s
  
• Master Plan to bring back the Glory to RU
  Autonomy
  High Quality Education and Research
  Pleasant and Healthy Environment
  Upgrade to Buildings (including Hostels)
  _
  
• BBC Myanmar
  Saya U Ba Toke
  Selected Sayagyis and Sayamagyis

Jubilees and Celebrations

• Silver Jubilee (25 years)
• Golden Jubilee (50 years)
• Diamond Jubilee (75 years)
• Centennial (100 years)
• Sesquicentennial (150 years)
• Bicentennial (200 years)
• Tricentennial (300 years)

Rangoon University Act of 1920 was enacted on December 1, 1920.

The First RU Student Strike to protest the Act took place of December 5, 1920 (two days earlier than planned because the news leaked to the higher authorities).

2020 two Centennials related to RU.

The Burmese Movie Industry also has a Centennial in 2020. Kye Mon ran a series of articles (e.g. interview with U Tin Yu).

Yar Pyay Ah Kyo

• 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) will publish a “Collection of Kabyars” and a commemorative Magazine.
• Yar Pyi Ah Kyo kicked off on December 1, 2019with an opening ceremony at the Convocation Hall.
• There have exhibitions at the Recreation Center and the RU Central Library.
• There were several Fund Raisers for Yar Pyi.
• Several individuals and groups have published books.
• The Main Committee is still collecting manuscripts.

ADMIN and Rectors in the mid 1960s

• Dr. Nyi Nyi (Secretary / Deputy Minister)
• U San Tha Aung (Director General of Higher Education)
• Dr. Maung Maung Kha (Rector, Rangoon Arts and Science University)
  Saya earlier served as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Engineering
• U Hla Shwe (Rector, Mandalay Arts and Science University)
• U Yone Mo (Rector, Rangoon Institute of Technology)
  Saya formerly served as Dean of Burma Institute of Technology
• Dr. Ba Than (Rector, Institute of Medicine (1))
  Saya served as Medical Superintendent of RGH during the War
• Dr. U E (Rector, Institute of Medicine (2) in Mingaladon)
• Dr. Maung Maung Gyi (Rector, Institute of Medicine in Mandalay)
• Dr. Aye Hlaing (Rector, Institute of Economics)
  Later served as Chairman of the Union Bank of Burma
• Lt. Col. San Myint (Rector, Institute of Education)
• Dental : Dr. Aung Than (Rector)
• Vet : U Mya Nyunt (Rector)
• Agri : U Than Tun (Rector)

There have been name changes (e.g. Some Institutes are now known as Universities.)

Principals in the Mid 1960s

• Workers’ : U Kyaw
• Taunggyi : U Khin Maung Tint
• Myitkyina : U San
• Magwe : U Win Maung
  later transferred to DHE
• Mawlamyaing (Moulmein) : Mehm Thet San
  later became Deputy Minister
• Pathein (Bassein) : U Tin Oo Hlaing
  

Photos

• It is important to preserve and share old photos.
• Before the advent of digital cameras and smart phones, it was not simple and cheap to take photos (let alone process them).
• In my younger days, I had a Box Camera, and later Yashica Mat. Unlike my uncle and a cousin brother who are experts in developing films (in a dark room), I had to pay 25 to 50 pyas per print at a Studio (e.g. Ahuja). Later, there emerged professional photographers (e.g. Maung Maung Nhyat and his brothers) and freelance photographers (e.g. Dat Pone San Aung, Dhatu Kyaw Lynn, Maung Maung Soe).
• Only those who won contracts had permission to take official photos at the Convocations. It was not compulsory to take and pay for the photos. Some, who did not order the photos, found their photos being displayed as examples of “Do not walk like this” and similar fun messages.
• In the posts, there are individual photos and group photos (e.g. fresher welcome, farewell, graduation, newspaper clippings). Some have captions and dates. It is sad to note that some photos remind of people that are GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten).
• In the early days, Color photos had to be sent abroad for processing. Our wedding photos were taken with the color film given to me by my elder brother. They were then sent to a friend who was studying abroad. The color photos faded over time.
• With the advances in technology, even small children can take reasonably good photos. The photos can be edited (e.g. crop, color-adjusted).
• Some unscrupulous people have “doctored” photos and presented them as “evidence” of news. One unethical researcher “duplicated” data to “get favorable results”.

Dr. Thwe Oo (UK)

• Shared her memories of growing up (until she matriculated) in the Main Campus.
• Described the harrowing experience of the “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin” (especially the fear for her father’s safety).
• Her father Saya U Khin Maung Nyunt (History, Assistant Registrar under Rector Saya Dr. Maung Maung Kha and Registrar Sayama Daw Sein Sein) was Warden of Sagaing Hall at the time. Per Sayagyi’s request, he and his Hall Tutors tried to persuade the throng of student protesters — some holding sharp objects — marching on to the Convocation Hall, but to no avail. They had to go along with the crowd and try to minimize the crowd inflicting damage on the Campus property.
• She fondly remembers her father play tennis with his close friend Joe Ba Maung (Burma Tennis Champion in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles).
• She also had good rapport with the Swimming Instructors and friends at the University Swimming Pool.
• Her mother is Sayama Daw Mya Mya Nu (Zoology, fondly known as Mya Lay of the “Lay Sisters”).
  Her aunts are Tin Lay, May Lay and Than Lay.

Dr. Nyan Taw (SPHS63)

• Matriculated in 1963 from St. Paul’s High School.
• RUBC Gold
• Joined the Zoology Department
• Did his graduate studies in Marine Biology in Tasmania, Australia.
• Worked for PPFC (People’s Pearl and Fisheries Corporation)
• Worked overseas on UN and Government projects.
• He is happy to see posts about the simple but heroic act in 1941 (before he was born). His mother Daw Marie Hla Taw helped Bogyoke Aung San escape the net of the Police Commissioner who had placed Five Rupee / Kyat reward on Bogyoke. An actress has been selected to portray his mother in the movie about Bogyoke.

Htein Win

• Took photos of the Ah Yay Ah Khin (mostly from a saya’s house in the Main Campus).
• Gave the photos to some friends and to an organization overseas (for storage).
• With the Pwint Linn era, he was able to get back the archived photos from overseas.
• Managed to get articles from some of the participants in the Ah Yay Ah Khin.
• Ko Khin Maung Zaw bought a book from Myanmar and then mailed it to me.
• In November 2019. I was invited to attend the 5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival in Mandalay. I met Ko Htein Win who had a book stall at the Festival. He gave me an autographed copy of the book about 8-8-88.