HlaMin

Blog

  • UCC — CS Doctorates

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    U Tun Aung Gyaw

    U Tun Aung Gyaw
    • Member of Generation Zero at UCC.
    • Ph.D from he University of Illinois at Urbana Champaigne
    • Worked for several high tech companies before retiring
    • Gave a talk on AI at North America Burmese Engineers Association

    U Soe Than

    U Soe Than (Left)
    • Masters from University of Lancaster in the UK
    • Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in the United States.
    • Worked at VMI (Virginia Military Institute) and in the Washington, D.C, (District of Columbia).

    U Maung Maung Htay

    U Mg Mg Htay (4th from Left)
    • Masters from Queen Mary College, UK
    • Ph.D from LSU (Louisiana State University), Baton Rouge in the United States.
    • Worked at VMI (Virginia Military Institute) and Radford University in Virginia.
    • Served as Chair of the Regional ACM Programming Contest.
    • Offered his expertise (for curriculum development …) at UCSY (University of Computer Science Yangon)

    Rafiul Ahad

    Rafiul Ahad
    • Masters from UCC and AIT (Asian Institute of Technology) in Thailand
    • Ph.D from USC (University of Southern California) in the United States.
    • Worked at University of Maryland, Hewlett Packard and Oracle USA.
    • Managed Oracle Cloud Computing Project.
    • Gave Key Note speech at an AIT Commencement Ceremony

  • TOKM

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Book published for his 70th birthday

    Memories

    Book Presents

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60) receives books from his former students and from his god-children.

    He received a book from Professor Dr. Nyunt Thein.

    Dr. Nyunt Thein proposed to have some (if not all) of the examinations for MRCP to be held in Burma.

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :

    Due to Nyunt Thein’s efforts, all parts of the exam are being conducted in Rangoon and Mandalay.

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :

    I am so fortunate that books written by my former students are either given to me by the authors or bought for me by my niece Hnin Wit Yee or Min Thet Aung.

    I got a signed copy of “The Female Voice of Myanmar” by Nilanjana Sengupta, translated into Burmese, by Myae Hmone Lwin. It was given to me by Ma Thida.

    The book consist of articles about and by four eminent lady Burmese writers and activists: Ludu Daw Ah Mar, Daw Khin Myo Chit, Daw Aung San Su Kyi and my “daughter writer” Ma Thida (San Gyaung).

    Please do not say that I am biased towards my daughter but I read the articles on Daw Ah Mar, Daw Khin Myo Chit and Daw Sung Dan Su Kyi once only but read and reread the articles by and on Ma Thida about three times or more.

    Coming from a family whose members were at different times and at different lengths of incarceration by the military government, each article about Ma Thida in prison brought back sad memories of my own family. I had to pause even in the middle of each article as such memories flooded my mind.

    From a very young age Ma Thida stand out among her contemporaries . A multifaceted person with deep attitudes and understanding of right and wrong, justice and injustice, tears welled up in my eyes reading what she went through in prison, and had to stop reading after going through some incidents described by her in the book.

    I am happy and very proud that she can be what she is now, an activist, feminist, author and running PEN Myanmar and many more.

    This book must be read in Burmese as in any other language, much would be lost in translation.

  • Mining Engineering

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Win Thein Zaw (Min69)

    Win Thein Zaw
    • Pen name : Wai Lu
    • Took Optional Burmese in High School
    • Wrote several articles for the 69er Golden Jubilee Magazine
      RIT Thaing Exhibition
      RIT Nicknames
    • Spouse (Mu Aye) is a cousin of Ko Win Boh (Robert, EC69, Australia)
    • Retired Member of Parliament of Pyitthu Hluttaw
      Oversaw Committees related to Mining and Natural Resources.
    • Surprised us at an ad hoc breakfast gathering with Uzin Aung Chaw, Ko Sein Myint, Ko Myint Maung, Ko Win Maung, Ko Shwe, Ko Maung Maung, Ko Myat Soe Lwin …
    69ers

    Kyaw Tint (Min69)

    Kyaw Tint
    • Youngest, smartest and most stubborn among the 14 students in Min69.
    • Joined the Faculty
    • Received Masters from Australia.
    • Prisoner of Conscience.
    • Wrote an article in the 69er Golden Jubilee magazine.
    • GBNF #110
      Passed away in September 2021

    Khin Kyaw Nyein (GBNF)

    Khin Kyaw Nyein
    • RIT Volleyball Selected
    • Taught/coached female Volleyball players (e.g. Ma Tin Aye, C73)
    • Also good at Soccer, Dobat & Dancing.
    • He is GBNF #117
      Passed away in January 2022

    Khin Maung Gyi (Min69)

    • One of two Khin Maung Gyi in the Class of 69.
    • Room mate of Ko Chit Pe (M69, GBNF)
    • Still have dark hair (hopefully original)
    • Mech KMG (GBNF) passed away in 2021.

    Tin Win (Min69)

    • Hosted some 69er gatherings.
    • He was Honorary Consul for Switzerland.

    Min69 (GBNF)

    • Aung Naing (Bahadhur) : Aug 14, 2011, #055, GTI Principal (Taunggyi), Yangon
    Chit Htun
    • Chit Htun : Dec 11, 2011, #058, YIT Lecturer, Yangon
    • Chit Swe : early GBNF
    • Khin Kyaw Nyein : 2022, #117
    • Kyaw Soe : #065
    • Kyaw Than : Organizer
    • Kyaw Tint : Sep 8, 2021, #110, Saya, Prisoner of Conscience
    • Myint Kyi : #047
    • Myint Swe : early GBNF

    Min70

    Zaw Winn (Zinyawgyi)

    • Heis an organizer of the Combined 1st BE intake of 64 and 65.
      He is a bilingual writer, poet and translator.

    Aung Myint (Thamankyar Ko Myint)

    Thamankyar
    • He is a member of the A1 Family. He is an actor, composer, vocalist, guitarist and production manager. Sad to note that his younger brother Sai Wunna passed away.
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    Ko Zaw Winn and friends

    Mining Engineering

    • The first course was given at the BOC College in 1954.

    U Soe Khaw (GBNF)

    U Soe Khaw
    • Received BS from UC Berkeley and MS from Minnesota School of Mines.
    • Served as Part-time lecturer and Head of the newly established Mining Department at BOC College.
    • Wrote an article for HMEE project.
    • After working for the Ministry of Mines and UN projects, he moved to USA.
    • Attended SPZP-2000.
    • Saya Allen Htay (GBNF) and Dr. San Lin asked me to join a micro-gathering with Saya U Soe Khaw.
      It started before lunch and ended after dinner.

    U Soon Sein (GBNF)

    • Received MS from Colorado School of Mines.
    • Mawgunwin Third Grade.
    • Succeeded U Soe Khaw as Head of Department.
    • Retired as Professor.
    • Spoke to him before SPZP-2000.
      Per advice from his doctors, he declined the invitation to attend SPZP-2000.

  • RUESU Magazine

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Tekkatho Moe War

    From Saya U Moe Aung

    Dear Ko Hla Min,

    Thanks to Saya U Soe Paing for his great endeavour in visiting the UCL (Universities’ Central Library) numerous times [in January 2012] to gather and record invaluable information relating to RIT (and BOC college of Engineering as well). And thanks to you for archiving all through your emails and keeping all RITians gelled together.

    Only when did Saya U Soe Paing mention Engineering Students’ Magazines, that I happen to recall one Engineering Students’ Magazine in which I was part of it. That was in Academic Year 1960-1961. I was still an Electrical Engineering Student at that time (2nd year, or, by the present calling, 4th year). At Rangoon University (Main University) they had a University Students’ Union (in Burmese, Thud Meg-ga is translated as Union), and we had correspondingly an Engineering Students’ Union as well at our Faculty of Engineering at Leik-Khone (Dome), Prome Road.

    At that time I met one Ko Hla Tin (Civil) who was my senior and several years older than me, staying at Prome Hall which was adjacent to Leik Khone, only separated by a fence. He was an avid poet (pen name Kay-tu Win Tint, from Taunggoo) and I used to visit his room at Prome Hall to talk about poems and literature during lunch or break times. I also met one senior (can’t recall his name, I think Ko Sein Hlaing) who was the Secretary of the Students’ Union. After some lively discussions, we decided to issue an Engineering Students’ Union Annual Magazine and they made me the Chief Editor. The Magazine consisted of two sections, Burmese and English, of which Saya U Aung Khin (Mech) was the English Editor.

    I still have the 1960-61 issue neatly tucked in a cupboard in Yangon.

    Now I remember that Ko Sein Hlaing (EE?) is still in Yangon, helping to look after his grand children, but not in good health. Ko Sein Hlaing’s daughter was my daughter’s very close friend since their childhood days. We met once in Singapore about 12 years back.

    Dear Ko Hla Min, this is the time to reminisce and be happy about the good old days and try to fly back with whatever time machine we could get hold of. Time really flies and we should realize that our days are numbered.

    Publications

    • Saya published “Collection of Poems” :
      some books by himself (e.g. Pearl in My Heart) and some with collaborators (e.g. Swel Daw Poems).
    • He also published a collection of articles (e.g. Sea of Men & selected articles)
    • During one of my visits to Rangoon, he gave me an autographed copy of his book.
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    Autographed copy
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pearl-3.jpg
    Cover
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pearl-2.jpg
    Musings by Tekkatho Moe War and Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)

  • Numbers

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    U Hla Min

    Value of a number

    Value of a number in positional notation depends upon the Base or Radix.

    In the Decimal system (Base Ten), 1001 has a value of a thousand and one.

    In the Binary system (Base Two), 1001 has a value of 9.

    Folklore

    • “One Thousand and One Nights” (also known as Arabian Nights) is from the Arabic Folklore.
    • Scheherazade told 1001 stories to defer her death.

    Numerical Palindrome

    • A palindrome reads the same forward and backward.
    • 101, 1001 and 123454321 are numerical Palindromes.

    Ramanujan and the Beauty of numbers

    Ramanujan was highly interested in Mathematics and ignored other subjects in College.

    Ended up as an employee in a post office.
    Bold enough to send his handwritten notes to Professor Hardy (Cambridge University), who sponsored him.

    Ramanujan later fell gravely ill.
    Professor Hardy went to see him in a hospital. He supposedly told Ramanujan that he rode a taxi cab with 1729 on its license.

    Ramanujan replied, “That is an interesting number. It is the smallest number that can be represented as the sum of two cubes in two ways.”

    1729 = 729 + 1000 = 9*9*9 + 10*10*10

    1729 = 1 + 1728 = 1*1*1 + 12*12*12

    Ramanujan’s works are still being studied and refined by Mathematicians.

  • Hack

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    U Hla Min

    In the early days of Computing, a Hack is defined to be a “useful and/or beautiful piece of code.”

    Hacker

    • Some students, who worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computing Laboratories, preferred working on code rather than attending courses.
    • They feel proud of their Hacks and are addressed as Hackers.
    • Over time, Unethical Hackers emerged.
    • Ethical Hackers also rose to defend against the Unethical Hackers.
    • Most people do no know or care about the difference between Ethical and Unethical Hackers.

    Ethical Hackers

    • They try to break the security of computer systems and applications.
    • They propose solutions to defend the possible attacks of Unethical Hackers.
    • They are known as White Hats.

    Unethical Hackers

    • They inflict damage to hardware, software and data systems.
    • They may steal and sell sensitive information.
    • One study says that it is safer and lucrative to be a Criminal Hacker (also referred to as Cracker) than selling drugs (which can lead to imprisonment and death in some countries).
    • The underground business for malware (viruses, Trojan horses, …) is valued at multi-billion dollars.


  • Calendars

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    • A solar calendar is based on the orbit of the earth around the sun. Typically, it takes 365.2422 solar days to complete the orbit. A leap year attempts to adjust the calendar by adding an extra day every four years.
    • A lunar calendar is based on the orbit of the moon around the earth. Typically, it takes 29.6 days to complete a cycle.
    • A luni-solar calendar is a “hybrid” calendar that uses “lunar” month and “solar” year. The calendars used by Chinese and Vietnamese have 12 months in a year and an extra month in the year in which the Lunar and Solar Calendars are synchronized.
      The CNY (Chinese New Year) and Tet (Vietnamese New Year) occur in late January or early February.
    • Julian Calendar
      Leap year : if a year is divisible by 4
    • Gregorian Calendar
      Leap year :
      if a Century year is divisible by 400
      Other years if divisible by 4
    • Burmese Calendar
      The Burmese use a Luni-Solar-Socio-Religious Calendar.
      It is used for social and religious events.
      There are 12 lunar months with a total of 355 days in a Common Burmese Year.
      There is a difference of 10 days with a Common Year in the Gregorian Calendar.
      An inter-calary month named “Second Waso” is usually added every three years to sync again with the Solar Calendar.
      It is known as “Wah Htutt”.
      If needed, an additional day is added in “Wah Gyi Htutt”.
    • Civil Calendar
    • Academic Calendar
    • Appointment Calendar

  • 1939 – 1958

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Second World War

    • The Second World War started in 1939 in Europe and spread to Asia.
    • The University of Rangoon suspended classes 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. He 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.
    Panglong Conference

    1947

    • Pinlon Sar Choke (Panglong 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 Thike / 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 the 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 [Thant Shin] and Stable AFPFL [Ti Mye] caused the handover to the “Ein Saunt Ah Soe Ya” (Caretaker Government) in 1958. Some (e.g. U Nu) consider the event as the first Coup d’etat.

  • Jan 2018

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    There were several gatherings during my visit to Yangon in January, 2018.

    • Mini-gathering hosted by me
    • 69er Monthly Gathering
    • UCC gathering hosted by the Myints
    • 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of ICST and UCSY
    • Lunch gathering hosted by MARB sayas

    Mini-gathering hosted by me

    Host : Me

    During my visits to Myanamar, several friends gave me rides.

    U Win Maung (Lake) gave a ride to three alumni:

    • U Myint Maung (Bu, Volleyball)
    • Ashin Okkantha (Uzin Aung Chaw, Victor) who came down from Sagaing Hills
    • Yours truly

    Since it was short notice, some former classmates could not show up.

    A notable exception was U Win Thein Zaw (“Wai Lu”) who came down from Nay Pyi Taw at the breakfast gathering. His spouse is a cousin of U Win Boh (Robert).

    Standing:

    • U Shwe (Treasurer of the 69er HCF and EE 69er HCF)
    • U Sein Myint (Major donor of the HCFs, RIT Selected for Rowing, Swimming and Water Polo)
    • Ashin Okkantha (Uzin Aung Chaw, Sagaing Hills)
    • U Win Maung (Lake, RIT Selected for Swimming and Water Polo)
    • U Hla Min (Host, also donated to the HCFs)

    Seated :

    • U Myat Soe Lwin (Sai Hwet, Survived a fall from the ceiling)
    • U Win Thein Zaw (Member of Pyithu Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw)
    • U Kyi Win (Kyaw Gyi, former sea farer, yogi)
    • U Myint Maung (Selected for EE Volleyball, One of the youngest 69er, Eligible bachelor)

    Sharing Merits

    • I hosted the mini-gathering.
    • I also donated to the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund) and the EE69ers HCF.
    • Ah Hmya, ah hmya, ah hmya

  • Encyclopedia

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Apr 2026

    Text Update on January 2, 2021

    U Hla Min

    Early Encyclopedias

    “Chamber’s Cyclopaedia” was one of the earliest encyclopedias. It covered 40+ subjects.

    In our younger days, we had “Pear’s Soap” and “Pear’s Cyclopaedia”. The company was probably building its brand name by supporting the publication of an encyclopedia.

    Encyclopedia Britannica

    My uncle had a set of “Encyclopedia Britannica”. It covers many topics written by SME (Subject Matter Experts). Yearly supplements were published. The final supplement came out a couple of years ago. There will no longer be printed editions. There will only be on-line subscription.

    Wikipedia

    • Wikipedia is a collection of encyclopedias in multiple languages.
    • The English edition of the Wikipedia is the largest.
    • The accuracy of the Wikipedia is comparable to that of the “Encyclopedia” thanks to the countless volunteer contributors and editors.
    • I was a volunteer to correct discrepancies (mostly entries on Burmese/Myanmar). For example, a young author wrote that St. Paul’s High School was the first among the De La Salle Schools in Burma. He was unaware that St. Patrick’s High School in Mawlamyaing was the first (and was established a few months earlier than St. Paul’s).

    No Absolute Perfection

    There is a slight chance that there are errors in an encyclopedia (or an equivalent “book of knowledge”). One author was unaware that Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira Gandhi. He was a pilot and entered politics only when his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi (touted as Indira’s confidante and successor) died in a plane crash.

    Collaboration

    The advent of Internet and the rise of “Collaborative Work” have lowered the time and cost to maintain encyclopedias.

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    A few years back, I received a call to submit entries to “Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife”. I emailed to the editors that I was willing to help them on the Burmese section. They sent me four samples and asked me to send back one short article (not exceeding 500 words and with two or more references) on a chosen Head Word (e.g. Burmese American Festivals). They reviewed my article and accepted me. The remuneration was $10. I replied that I would like to have a copy of the 2-volume encyclopedia. A deal was struck. They would give me the encyclopedia if I submit at least 8 articles. Nine articles were accepted. Two articles were merged with the work of other authors. One author was a Burmese College Professor. Another was probably a graduate student, who inserted the wrong date for Martyr’s Day. The Editors promised to correct his error in another edition. I received a 3-volume encyclopedia (initially projected to be 2-volume) and an additional $10.

    Google Books

    • Some are not aware of “Google Books”.
    • If one goes to “Google Books” and search for my name, one can find the nine articles.

    Burmese Encyclopedia

    In my younger days, my parents bought me “Myanmar Swel Sone Kyan” (Burmese Encyclopedia).

    I heard that the “Myanmar Swel Sone Kyan” is under re-development with the help of SME (Subject Matter Experts).