Category: RU

Rangoon University Estate include the following with name changes and/or structural changes over the years.

• Rangoon College
• Judson College (formerly Baptist College)
• BOC College (of Engineering)
• Convocation Hall
• Administrative Offices
  
• Housing for sayas
  
• Hostels for male and female students
  
• RUSU (Rangoon University Students’ Union)
  Donated by U Nyo
  
• RU Gymnasium
  Donated by Chan Chor Khine (second son of Chan Mah Phee and Daw Aye Mya)
  
• RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club)
  Founded by Law Professor Sir Arthur Eggar (who pledged a third of his salary for the operations)
  Club House donated by U Nyo
  
• Recreation Center
  (Chess, Basketball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Fine Arts …)
  
• Tekkatho Dhammayone
  Fund raising concert by Inya Hall residents (including Daw Su, mother of Daw May Saw Lwin)
  
• Sanatorium (Tekkatho Hospital)
  
• RU Swimming Pool
  
• Soccer fields
  
• Tennis courts
  
• Libraries
  
• Buildings for Class rooms and Labs
  
• Canteens

RU Library Donor

• The Estate was managed by the Estate Engineer and his team.

• U Nyo, a philanthropist, was a major donor for the RU Estate.
  His donations were used to build RUSU and RUBC.
  He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by RU.

• 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).

• 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, social scientists … who were also 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, …) .
  Many students cannot afford the time to participate and excel in sports and hobbies.

• A reasonably good environment / program might nurture “Jack of all trades and Master of some”.

Autographs

Audrey Than

Posted autographs

• Khin Swe Oo
• Khin Hnin Yu
• Maung Tha Ya
• …

Hazel Kyaw Zaw

• Posted messages from the autograph (1939) of her mother Ma Chit Swe.
• It reinforced the concept of “Six degrees of separation” (in the early days) and “Four (or less) degrees of separation” (in the Internet age).
• Many of her mother’s friends had children who became schoolmates (some senior, a few classmates and some junior) of Hazel.

• During my visit to Yangon in late 2019 and early 2010, Hazel invited me to a mini-gathering with Saya Dr. Soe Win, Sayama Daw May Saw Lwin, and her friends.
• We met again at the lunch given by Saya and Sayama to celebrate their 49th Anniversary.

Sayas and Sayamas who are 100 years (or so)

• Sayagyi U Ba Toke is a Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University and the First RU Students’ Strike. He passed away on December 2, 2020. It was a day after the RU Centennial, but a few days before his 100th Birthday (December 26).

• Sayama Daw Hla May (Anne, English) passed away earlier. She was 100 (or so).

Golden Jubilee

Saya Dr. Soe Win (retired Rector of YUFL) and Sayama Daw May Saw Lwin (retired Professor of Chemistry) celebrated their Golden Anniversary on November 7, 2020.

Contributors

Nice to read the memories of

• Dr. Daw Khin Kyi (OG, daughter of former RU Vice Chancellor Justice U Bo Gyi, sister of former BIT Registrar U Sein Hla …),
• Dr. Maung Maung Nyo (National Literary Award winner, Life time achievement Award …),
• Dr. Khin Maung Nyo (Chemistry, Author, …)

and the writings (articles, kabyars …) by numerous “Not so young, not so old” readers

Early contributors include

• Po Shwe Kyu
• Thit Yaing
• U Khin Zaw
• U Tin Aye
• Dr. Myo Thant
• Dr. Nwe Oo
• Min Oo
• Yadanar Thu
• Win Myint (Myeik)
• Hazel Kyaw Zaw
• Padamyar Winhtein

Gone But Not Forgotten (GBNF)

Several sayas and alumni passed away recently.

They include

• U Khin Aung Kyi (former Rector of RIT)
• Dr. Kyaw Thein (former Rector of ICST)
• U Ngwe Tun (former Lecturer of Civil Engineering)
• U Han Sein (C69, Prisoner of Conscience)
  He was sentenced to 20 years and served 17 years

Second SEAP Games

• Burma hosted the Second SEAP games in 1961.
• About twenty Rangoon University students represented Burma in the games.
  They include:
  Tun Mra, Kyaw Mra, Soe Mra and Tun Naung — Track and Field
  Kyaw Han — Volleyball
  Than Lwin and Mu Mu Khin — Tennis
  Richard Yu Khin — Yachting
  Aye Kyaw and Derek Lynsdale — Swimming

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

• RU Convocation
• RU Rectors
• RU Registrars

RU 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.
• Prizes (medals, books) were awarded to outstanding students (graduates and some undergraduates)
• Related posts
  1958 Convocation
  Visits

RU 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

RU Registrars

• U Htin Si
• U Yu Khin
  Earlier served as Dean, Chair of RU Sports Council
  After retirement, helped found IFL (Institute of Foreign Languages)
• Daw Sein Sein
  Retired as Director, Ministry of Education

The three co-founders were were the early students of Sayagyi U Pe Maung Tin (Pali and Burmese Scholar) at the then newly established “Burmese Department” at the Rangoon University.

• Theikpan Maung Wa
  (ICS U Sein Tin)
  
• Zawgyi
  (U Thein Han)

• Minthuwun
  (U Wun)

RU Library Donor

Raja Dr. S. Ramanatha Reddiar(b. 1871-1932) L.L.D.(Honoris Causa), F.R.U

Other donors

• U Nyo (RUSU Building, RUBC Club House and several in the RU Estate)
  
• Chan Chor Khine (son of Chan Mah Phee and Daw Aye Mya) donated for the RU Gymnasium
  
• Sir Arthur Eggar (Law Professor) pledged a third of his salary for the operation of RUBC

• 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.

Chemical

Chemical