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  • Universities and Institutes

    Universities and Institutes

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Brief history

    • The RU Act of 1920 was passed on December 1, 1920 to establish the University of Rangoon with Rangoon College and Judson College as the constituent Colleges. There were only three Faculties: Science, Arts and Law
    • On December 5, 1920, some RU students staged a strike to protest the 1920 RU Act for not being overreaching. The first RU Students’ Strike was later celebrated as “Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay”. The Strike gave birth to National Schools and “Ah Myotha Kaw Leik (National College)”. The Strike also caused the higher authorities to amend the “RU Act of 1920”.
    • In 1924, some Faculties (Engineering, Forestry, Social Science and Medicine) were added.

    Celebrations

    • Due to the war, the RU Silver Jubilee could not be celebrated in 1945. It was celebrated in the 1950s.
    • In 1970, the Golden Jubilee of the founding of RU was celebrated. A magazine was published to commemorate the event.
    • In Deember 2019, the pre-Celebration for the RU Centennial took place. In 2020, due to Covid, the RU Centennial was celebrated with restrictions.

    Positions and Pay Scales

    • The list is not exhaustive.
    • The pay scales are samples for the early days.

    Gazetted Officer

    • Those who earn 350 (and CLA) or higher
    • 450 (Base Pay) in the newer system
    • Promotion, deputation, transfer, and leave are published in the [Burma] Gazette

    Selection Grade

    • Those who earn 800+ Kyats
    • Entitled to buy 10% of salary at “Staff Shop”

    Administrators

    • Chancellor : Prime Minister or his appointee; U Nu attended Convocations and gave speeches.
    • Vice-Chancellor : Chief Justice U Bo Gyi served for two terms at Rangoon University. U Ko Lay (Zeyar Maung) was the Vice Chancellor of Mandalay University.
    • Rector : Dr. Htin Aung was the first native Rector of Rangoon University. Dr. Hla Myint, Dr. Tha Hla, U Kar and Dr. Maung Maung Kha were the early Rectors.
    • Pro-Rector : introduced in the 80s. U Ba Than Haq was the first Pro-Rector of RASU.
    • Principal : in charge of a College; U Pe Maung Tin was the first native Principal of Rangoon College.
    • Dean : in charge of a Faculty; U Ba Hli was the first native Dean of Engineering.
    • Registrar : U Htin Si and U Yu Khin were the early Registrars of Rangoon University.

    Head of Department : (e.g. at RIT in the 60s)

    • Large departments are headed by a Professor
    • Sub-departments are headed by a Lecturer
    • Supporting departments may be headed by an Assistant Lecturer.

    Professor : 1300+ Kyats

    Associate Professor : introduced in the 80s
    (1000 – 50 – 1200 Kyats)
    for minimum, annual increment and maximum

    Lecturer :
    800 – 50 – 1200 Kyats (for Lecturers before the 80s)
    800 – 50 – 1000 Kyats (for Lecturers in the 80s)

    Assistant Lecturer : 350 (and CLA) – 25 -700 Kyats
    and CLA (Cost of Living Allowance) was 89 Kyats (or so)
    The “adjusted” pay was 439 Kyats (or so)
    So, Assistant Lecturer : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats (after the period when CLA was dropped)

    Instructor : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats (introduced for the Institutes in the 60s)
    The pay scale is the same as Assistant Lecturer.
    It takes longer to become a Lecturer.

    Demonstrator :
    Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so)
    Later : 320 Scale
    Supervises lab

    Tutor :
    Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so)
    Later : 320 Scale
    Supervises lab and/or tutorials

    Lecturing Tutor :
    100 Kyats additional

    Ad hoc Tutor :
    Early days : 100+ Kyats

    Editor’s Notes :

    • For better or for worse, there have been several changes to the Education System. Pro-Rector and Associate Professor were introduced in the 80s.
      Some departments now have several Professors. There are Universities with a single Institute of College. There are 30+ Technological Universities.
    • Due to the decline in the buying power of the money, it is difficult for most teaching staff to survive with the salaries (and occasional pay raises). In 2018, a Professor told me that she earned about K5 Lakhs, of which a sizable amount is spent on transportation.
  • Mental States

    Mental States

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Cetasika စေတသိက်

    • Mental states
    • All types of cetasikas are able to arise only be depending on Citta (စိတ် consciousness)
    • There are 52 types = 13 + 14 + 25
    • Classified into three groups

    First Group : 13 types

    • Annasamana : Common to others : 13 types = 7 + 6

    • Universal annasamana : associates with all cittas : 7 types
    • Contact, Feeling, Perception, Motivation, One-pointedness, Faculty of mental life, Attention

    • Particular annasmana : associates with some cittas : 6 types
    • Initial application, Sustained application, Decision, Effort, Joy, Wish to do

    Second Group : 14 types

    • Akusla : Immoral mental state : 14 types
    • Ignorance, Shamelessness, Fearlessness, Restlessness, Attachment, Wrong view, Hatred (fear), Envy, Stinginess, Remorse, Sloth, Torpor, Doubt

    Third Group : 25 types

    • Sobhana : mental state with virtue : 25 types = 19 + 3 + 2 + 1
    • Mental states that are common to all types of sobhana citta : 19 types
    • Faith, Mindfulness, Moral shame, Moral dread, Non-attachment, Non-hatred, Equanimity, Tranquility of mental factors, Tranquility of mind, Lightness of mental factors, Lightness of mind, Pliancy of mental factors, Pliancy of mind, Adaptability of mental factors, Adaptability of mind, Proficiency of mental factors, Proficiency of mind, Rectitude of mental factors, Rectitude of mind
    • Mental state that abstains from evil speech, action, and livelihood : 3 types
    • Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood
    • Mental state that has limitless objects on which one must be practiced : 2 types
    • Compassion, Sympathetic joy
    • Mental state that realizes an object : 1 type
    • Faculty of wisdom

    Books by

    • Dr. Nandamalabivamsa
    • Dr. Mehm Tin Mon
    Abhidhamma
  • History — Footnotes

    History — Footnotes

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Negotiation

    • In 1958, Brigadier Generals Maung Maung & Aung Gyi negotiated with Prime Minister U Nu to handover to a Caretaker Government for six months.
    • The Caretaker stayed for 1.5 years.
    • It was the first Broken Promise by the Adhamma practitioners.

    No Appreciation

    • BG Maung Maung was asked to retire and become an Ambassador.
    • BG Aung Gyi was rewarded as 2IC and later exiled to Ma Chan Baw.
    • The Purging (in order to promote Boot Lickers) continued for decades.
  • Madan Chand

    Madan Chand

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Burma

    • Matriculated from Myitkyina
    • Joined 1st BE in November 1964. He was wrongly posted to G-Hall (residence for female students).
    • Stood Second in the Class of C70 and joined the RIT Civil Engineering Department along with U Aung and U Aye Win Kyaw (GBNF).
    Madan Chand, U Aye Win Kyaw & U Aung
    • Also worked for PPFC.

    USA

    • Worked for the Illinois Dept. of Transportation.
    • Often visited the Chan Myei Meditation Center in Springfield, Illinois.
    • Visited Southern California to see sayas, former colleagues, friends and relatives.

    Family

    • Spouse : Sheila
    Madan Chand & Sheila
    • Vijay B. Chand posted news of his father’s demise on the morning of December 9, 2022, and about his Last Journey on December 12, 2022.

  • Disaster

    Disaster

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    It is sad to learn about disasters happening around the world.

    Several are natural disasters. A few are man-made disasters.

    Despite advantages in technology, there is no reliable and cost-effective system yet to predict and/or prevent disasters.

    There are general predictions like “the coming of Doom’s Day”.

    Some are serious about “nuclear wars” (and similar scenarios of “Apocalypse”) and spend exorbitant money to order or build underground hideouts in remote places and also extensive “evacuation plans”.

    There are some predictions based on past data. e.g. “The next big earthquake is due. You should take extra care since you are living on a fault line.”

    A few could not and would not leave their homes even when the authorities issued “mandatory evacuation”. Some evacuated, but they when they returned they found their houses missing or being vandalized.

    Disaster recovery is not simple.
    The countless lives lost to Cyclone Nargis and its aftermath could have been minimized with proper planning and mobilization of the rescue teams.

    Kudos to the individuals and organizations that offer “disaster relief funds”. But, disaster relief is at the tail end.

    U Khin Maung Zaw (EC76) added :

    Disasters, by nature or man – made, happen all over the world, more so as the so-called climate change and population explosion exacerbated the conditions.

    In the US, several governmental, NGO and private/public organizations are stepping up their efforts to educate, prepare, assist and mitigate the people impacted by all forms of disasters.

    I just opened up my disaster backpack this morning, in the process of inspecting, refreshing and refilling the contents in there.

    There are several websites, ready.gov/kit, Red​cross, FEMA Apps which will explain what items you would need in this emergency kit, survival and medical supplies, food among others.

    Some years back, there was a website called threefoldthreeway, explaining these items as well. They initially thought you would need at least three days with off supplies & food before the rescue folks contact you.

    Some disasters in the past decade taught us that three days may not be enough in many circumstances, and now recommend to have two-weeks worth of supplies and food.

    The region that I live has been overdue for severe, 8.0+, earthquake by the experts.

    I do have enough supplies of food and water but I need to collect toilet facilities, like cardboard toilet, shower facilities among several items.

    Update

    Some Disasters

    • Cyclone Nargis
    • Earthquake — Sagaing & Mandalay
    • Wild Fires — Southern California
  • RIT — Table Tennis

    RIT — Table Tennis

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Saya Mao
    U Win Myint & Stan Liou

    Inter-Institute Champions

    Team Coach

    Saya Mao Toon Siong (M62)

    • Represented Burma in International Competitions
      (SEAP, Asian Games and World Championship)
    • Retired Burma National Coach

    Players

    • U Maung Maung – C67
      (aka Chin Kaung Hook – extremely good in Chess)
    • U Win Myint – E67 (aka Hin Lok Kung)
      Retired engineer, San Francisco Bay Area
    • Stan Liou – M67
      Former Chair, Board of Directors, NorCal RITAA
    • U Myat Lwin – Ch67 (GBNF)
  • Songs

    Songs

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Kabar Ma Kye (National Anthem)

    • Ko Than Hlaing wrote articles about National Anthems.
    • “Kabar Ma Kye” was composed by YMB based on the work by Thakin Ba Thaung.
    • The song blends the Burmese and Western styles.
    • The Chorus is usually played at public events.
    • The Prelude describes the Founding Principles (e.g Justice, Peace, Equality).

    “Our Heritage
    So, let’s defend
    This Golden Land
    Till the End of the Time / World”

    Kabar Ma Kye Bu

    • Literal meaning — We will not forgive and forget till the end of time
    • Composed by Naing Myanmar
    • Tune is based on “Dust in the wind”
    • Became a hit with the Pro-Democracy Movement in 1988.
    • Was played frequently in the Nway Oo Taw Hlan Yay.
    • YUFL students have translated into English and Chinese.
  • Changes

    Changes

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Alumni Appreciation Award

    Alumni

    • In Latin, there are four terms :
      alumnus for “male student”
      almuna for “female student”
      alumni for “male students”
      alumnae for “female students”.
    • In modern usage, the term “alumni” applies to all students.

    Days of Month

    • According to “Ripley’s Believe it or not”, a graveyard inscription has February 30th.
    • Grapevine says that Followers of two Carsars took away a day each from February to make July (named after Julius Caesar) and August (named after Augustus Caesar) to have 31 days instead of 30.

    February became the shortest month of the calendar year with 28 days. It was given back an extra day on a leap year.

    The earth takes about 365.2422 days to revolve round the sun, so the discrepancy became 0.9688 day every four years (or 97 days in 4 centuries).

    In Gregorian calendar, a leap year is defined as a non-century year that is divisible by 4, and a century year that is divisible by 400.

  • Threes

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Three RIT Sayas

    U Aung Myint, U Moe Aung, U Kyaw Sein (GBNF)
    U Moe Aung

    U Moe Aung (EE63)

    • Pen name : Tekkatho Moe War
    • Distinguished writer, poet, editor, publisher, zat saya, vocalist …
    • Chair of SPZP-2002 and SPZP-2010 in Singapore
    • Chief Editor and Publisher of Commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saungs for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 and SPZP-2010.
    • Chief Editor and Publisher of Commemorative Swel Daw Yeik Sar Magazine for Shwe YaDu (in 2014) and SPZP-2016.
    • Editor of RUESU Annual Magazine.
    • Chief Editor of RIT Annual Magazines and Hlyat Sit Sar Saung.
    • Compiled and published selected poems and articles.
    • Johnian.
    • Worked in Singapore, but moved back to Myanmar after retirement.
    U Kyaw Sein

    U Kyaw Sein (M65, GBNF)

    • Expertise : Mechanical Drawing, AutoCAD, Tinkering with devices
    • Posted and moderated several FaceBook pages.
    • Had minor health problems (e.g. vision)
    • Johnian
    • Passed away in Singapore

    U Aung Myint (M69)

    • Retired from Singapore Poly
    • Spend most time in Auckland, New Zealand
    • Hobbies : Painting, Posting motivational messages

    Three RIT Sayamas

    Daw Khin Swe Aye, Daw Tin Tin Myint, Daw Tin May Soe

    Daw Tin May Soe (ChE70)

    • Siblings / Older brothers
      U Myint Soe (C, GBNF) and U Mya Soe (C, GBNF)

    Daw Khin Swe Aye (Winnie, ChE70)

    • Spouse : U Ohn Khine (M70)
    • Younger sister of U Win Maung (George Tun, EE69er)
    • Cousin : Dr. Min Lwin (Maurice Hla Kyi)

    Daw Tin Tin Myint (Emma, ChE70)

    • Minthamee
    • Co-founder of Dana Sri Lanka (DSL)
    • Co-founder of Triple Gems Publication
    • Patron and Host of Pon Chan Chan Group in Singapore
    • Spouse : U Yu Swan (Don Min)

    Three 69ers

    U Shwe (EP69)

    • Treasurer for both the 69er HCF (Health Care Fund)
    • Joint Treasurer, EE69er HCF

    U Tin Htut (Harry, M69)

    • Pen name : Mon Yu
    • Hobbies : Music, Tai Chi, Writing

    U Thein Swe (EP69, GBNF)

    • 3rd Year Lu Ye Chun at RIT
    • Organizer for the EE69er gatherings
    • Knows names and nicknames of classmates
  • Hta Kyu, Dr. Daw

    Hta Kyu, Dr. Daw

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    • Dr. Daw Hta Kyu (Betty Chu) passed away in Yangon on February 13, 2020.
    • She was 89+ years young.
    • Siblings :
      U Wah Kyu
      Saya U Win Kyaing
      Dr. Josie Chu
      U Kyaw Nyein (Franklin Chu)
    • Nephews and Nieces :
      Hla Myint Thein (Maurice Chee, M75)
      Dr. Zaw Lin (David Chee, IM 79)
      San Yin Myint (Samantha, ICST 2nd batch)