HlaMin

Blog

  • October 2008

    U Ba Than 1
    U Ba Than 2

    Sayagyi U Ba Than was born on October 2, 1930 (Thursday).

    He usually celebrates his birthday by offering soon at a monastery and inviting his former colleagues and students to the soon kyway.

    There was a “special” gathering for Sayagyi’s 78th birthday in 2008. October 2, 2008 falls on a Thursday.

    Maung Sein Win (Padeegone) wrote a poem for Sayagyi.

    Sayagyi handed out his “memoirs” to the attendees and a hand-written “message” to his former students.

  • NorCal RITAA — Memories

  • KMZ

    KMZ

    St. Paul’s High School

    KMZ (Khin Maung Zaw) attended SPHS. After nationalization, SPHS was renamed as No. 6 Botathaung State High School. He matriculated in 1960.

    Old Paulians

    Rangoon Institute of Technology

    He graduated with B.E (EC) from RIT. He was from the Class of 76, but due to school closure, the Convocation took place in March 1977.

    RIT

    UCC

    He worked for the Systems Division at UCC before going to Singapore and the USA.

    UCC Old Timers

    Singapore

    KMZ in Singapore

    USA

    • He moved to Seattle, Washington.
    • He worked for Technology & Architecture Group at Nordstrom. He worked four days for 10 hours and had a three-day weekend.
    • He worked for Microsoft until retirement.
    • He visited the SF Bay Area to attend gatherings and meetings.
    With Sayas & Rafiul

    RIT Alumni International

    • He is a founding member and the lone member from outside the SF Bay Area.
    • He designed and implemented the ex-rit.org website.
    • He set up Special Pages for SPZP-2000.
    • He hosted us and took us to Oregon and Vancouver. The photo was taken at The Seattle Space Needle.
    Hosted us
    • He and U Min Maung (EP68) hosted Saya Dr. San Tint (GBNF).
    With Dr. San Tint in Seattle (2000)

    Friends

    Two Dudes
    With RIT classmates

    Gathering to welcome KMZ

    U Khin Zaw (UCC) and Daw Wai Wai Tun hosted a party to welcome KMZ and family.

    Attendees include

    • Saya U Myo Min (co-founder of UCC)
    • U Myint Swe (EP74) & Daw San San (EC74)
    • Maurice Chee (M75) and family
    • U Hla Kyi (EC77)
    • U Aung Myint Oo (EC84, UCC)
    • Dr. Rafiul Ahad (SPHS69, UCC) &spouse
    • Dr. Kyaw Tint
    • U Thein Naing (Patrick) & Daw Khin Myo Aung
    • U Hla Min (EC69, SPHS63, UCC) & spouse.

    U Thein Maung

    • He is a Literary Award Winner with the pen name Htin Lin.
    • He also gave private tuition for English with Saya U Khin Maung Latt.
    • He has four sons and a daughter.
    • The eldest U Soe Myint (GBNF) worked as Editor for WPD and later as Chief Editor at Guardian. His spouse Ada is the daughter of U Than Saw (Chief Editor of PWD). KMZ’s spouse is their daughter.
    • The younger brothers are U Soe Win (EC70, UCC, PTC), U Kyaw Zaw (EC72, DCA, GBNF) and U Khin Zaw (UCC).
    • KMZ’s son is named Htin Lin.
  • Kha Lay

    Kha Lay

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    Kha Lay means child.

    Kha Lay Ba Wa means childhood. The days of the innocent childhood became a theme of the song composed by Sai Kham Leik and sung by Sai Htee Saing.

    Young Sons

    Kha Lay Ah Thinn

    • Some time back, my cousin sister said, “I still have the paper with the song that you wrote for Kha Lay Ah Thinn.”
    • When we were young, there was no Internet or TV.
    • The Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS) would broadcast for specified hours in the morning, afternoon, evening and night.
    • We spend a lot of time outdoors.
    • One hangout was the corner in our uncle’s compound.
    • Someone came up with the idea that we should form a “Kha Lay Ah Thinn”. I was chosen to be the “Okkahta” (President). I am not a composer, but that did not prevent from trying out a “Theme Song”. The music and lyrics were not spectacular, but I would have earned a nod for moving out of my comfort zone.
    • We did not have fund. Our uncles, aunts and elder cousins decided to help with the fund raiser. There was the renowned “Bu Thee Gyaw & Ah Chin”. It may be a sign that I would become an organizer.

    KG

    • I did not cherish going to school at an early age. It was not fun to get up early.
    • It was not easy to use slate.
    • All that changed when a caring Karen Christian Teacher named “Teacher Kywe” magically transformed me into a dutiful student with an inquiring mind.

    Myees (Grand children)

    Young Myees
    • The elder Myee is 11 years old. The younger Myee is 8 years old. They are excellent in studies, sports and social relations.
    • They have lots of books, educational kits and toys. They enjoy visiting zoos, play grounds, gyms, and museums. They like TV, You Tube and taking photos.

  • Heroes

    Food Donors

    • For SPZP-2016, free breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided to registered attendees.
    • It was partly due to the cetana of the food donors.
    Buffet Ticket

    Stage and Equipment

    There were two stages nicknamed as

    • Lugyi Sin (for formal performances)
    • Khalay Sin (for informal performances).

    They were made possible by the sponsors and donors.

    Heroes for SPZP-2016

    • Event Committee
    • Entertainment Committee
    • Food Committee
    • Providers for Transportation
    • Providers of the Sound Systems
    • Providers of the Lightning System

    Special thanks

    Thanks go to Saya Dr. Aye Myint (former Rector of YTU) and Saya Dr. Myint Thein (current Rector of YTU) for the activities held at our beloved alma mater.

  • Living Proof

    Several sayas wondered what happened to the Swel Daw Bins, which provided Swel Daw Yeik to the engineering students. How did they perish?

    Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) was sad to see the demise of Swel Daw Bins, but he is convinced that virtual Swel Daw Yeik lie deep in the heart of the engineering sayas and students and will live on forever.

    • Ko Saw Linn (C71, GBNF) had a kidney transplant, and had been to ICU at least thrice.
    Saya U Moe Aung & U Saw Lin
    • Ko Wynn Htain Oo (M72) has a hip replacement surgery several years ago.
    WHO 1
    WHO 2
    • Ko Myint Pe (M72) had a Stage-3 cancer.
    Myint Pe 1

    I met them on RIT Alumni Facebook Pages before I met them face to face at the SPZP-2012 Main Organizing Committee meetings.

    Their health problems did not prevent them from working feverishly to repay their metta and cetana to their mentors, and to ensure that their former classmates and school mates will have wonderful reunions and flash backs to the good old days.

    Cartoonists & Supporter

    The three alumni are living proof that Swel Daw Yeik (RIT) Spirit is alive and well.

  • Khit San Sar Pay

    U Thein Han (Zaw Gyi)

    Zaw Gyi 1
    • Laureate Poet
    • “Bedar Lann” Kabyars
    • Succeeded BBS U Khin Zaw (K) as Chief Librarian
      Rangoon University Central Library
    Zaw Gyi 2

    U Wun (Minthuwun)

    Minthuwun 1
    Minthuwun 2
    Minthuwun 3
    • Laureate Poet
    • Maung Khway Bo Kabyar
    • Head, Translation Department
      Rangoon University
    • Professor, Burmese Department
      Rangoon University
    • Visiting Professor, Burmese Department
      Osaka University
    • Compiler, Burmese Dictionary
    • Co-compiler, Japanese-Burmese Dictionary

    ICS U Sein Tin (Theikpan Maung Wa)

    • Semi-autobiographical Essays
    • Victim of a botched robbery

  • ICST/UCSY PZP

    • There have been six PZPs.
    • I attended the last two PZPs.
    PZP

    Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe

    PZP 1
    With San Yin Myint and San San Lwin

    Guest Lecture at UCSY

    UCSY 1
    UCSY 2

    UCSY Rector and Staff Members

    UCSY 3

    Saya Myar Nay Celebration

    PZP 3

    Photos shared by San Yin Myint

    PZP 4
    PZP 5
    PZP 6
    PZP 7
    PZP 8
    PZP 9
    PZP 10
    PZP 11
  • UCC Twins

    UCC Twins

    Ma Nge (GBNF) and Judy
    • Ma Nge and Judy are close friends.
    • Considered as “UCC Twins“
    • One guy supposedly approached the Twins and gave them both a copy of his “Yee Sar Sar”.
    • Both found their soul mates :
      Ko Myint Swe (for Ma Nge),
      Ko Myint Zaw (for Judy)

    Ma Nge

    Ma Nge 1
    • Nge Ma Ma Than (Ma Nge, Theresa Aung Than, GBNF)
      Attended MEHS and Rangoon University
    • Studied and taught at UCC
    • Spouse : U Myint Swe (UCC)
    Ma Nge 2
    • During the Adhamma Era, Ma Nge, her brother and Ko Myint Swe were detained by higher authorities. They became Prisoners of Conscience.
    • Despite having medical problems, Ma Nge has a strong will, and showed metta and karuna to her fellow prisoners (even in her final days).
    Ma Nge 3
    • Father : U Aung Than
    • Uncles : Arzani U Ba Win, Bogyoke Aung San
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1156.jpg

    Nwe Nwe Win

    • Also known as Judy
    • Represented RASU in Track and Field
    • At UCC, she was often the sixth player of the men’s volley ball team.
    • Taught at UCC, DCS, and ICST.
      Traveled overseas for studies, training and conferences.
    Judy & Sweetie
    • Judy found her soul mate Myint Zaw, who takes care of his “Ah Ma Gyi”.
    • Retired after heading the Department of Computer Science at RASU
    • Young ones would address her as “Ah Ma Gyi” and “Teacher”
    • Still looks young (especially when attending conferences)

    Comments

    U Khin Maung Zaw wrote :

    Those good old halcyon days!!!!!!
    There actually was the third member, three musketeers if you will, who used to hang out together in the very early days of UCC. She is Sweetie Tin Moe We [UN Retiree].

  • Dean of Engineering

    Dean of Engineering

    U Ba Hli

    U Ba Hli
    • Sayagyi U Ba Hli was the first Dean of Engineering at the University of Rangoon. He also served as Professor of Civil Engineering. He is credited for the “Twinning” with the prestigious universities in the USA.
    • The commemorative issue of RIT Alumni International Newsletter for the first RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe paid respect to Sayagyi.
    • Sayagyi U Aung Khin (former Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and the driving force behind SPZP-2000) wrote an introduction to the special article written by Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (the only child of Sayagyi U Ba Hli).

    U Ba Hli’s son

    Dr. F Ba Hli 1
    Dr. F Ba Hli 2
    • Dr. F. Ba Hli received his Sc.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT. He helped Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and Sayagyi U Min Wun, who were two of the first undergraduate engineering students from the University of Rangoon to be given State Scholarship as part of the “Twinning” program.
    • Dr. F. Ba Hli’s spouse is the sister of Sayagyi U Tin U (C), Sayagyi U Ba Than (M), Dr. Myo Tint (father of Ma Kay (EE93)), U Tin Htoon (A60), Saya U Myo Min (UCC) and U Thaung Lwin (EC66). Note that four are Past Captain and Gold of Rangoon University Boat Club.
    • Dr. F. Ba Hli has a daughter and two sons.

    U Ba Hli’s grand children

    Dr. F Ba Hli’s birthday in 2008
    • Daw Tin Tin Hlaing (UCC) is the spouse of U Htay Aung (Victor, EC80, UCC, nephew of Saya U Sein Hlaing (EE)).
    • U Tha Hlaing (EC83, UCC) stood joint first with Ko Thaung Tin (KMD, former Deputy Minister) in their final year. He, his father and his paternal grandfather form Three Generation of Burmese engineers who are sayas or alumni.
    • Min Thet Tun (GBNF) did not smoke or drink, but succumbed to lung cancer in mid 30s. He lamented why some people who drink and smoke lived long.