Blog

• Classmate Priests
  High school and university classmates who became priests
  Some quite early
  A few after retirement
  
• 1965 – 1969
  Spent most of that period at Rangoon Institute of Technology
  Was active in extra-curricular activities
  
• 1920 – 1929
  The first decade of Rangoon University
  Established in December 1920 with Rangoon College and Judson College as constituent Colleges
  
• Myanmar Medical and Dental Professionals
  Had world wide gatherings (e.g. California, New York)
  
• BMRI / DMR
  Dr. Mya Tu founded Burma Medical Research Institute
  He also co-authored “Who’s who in Medicine in Burma?”

Classmate Priests

Catholic Priests

Father Edwin David (SPHS, GBNF) served as Priest of the St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Father Bernard Taylor (SPHS) served as a Missionary in some Asian countries. He resettled in Upper Burma.

Sayadaws

After retirement, U Aung Chaw (Victor, SPHS63, C69) became Ashin Okkantha. Sayadaw’s monastery is in Sagaing.

After retirement, U Myo Tun (Bobby, A69) became Ashin Pannagavesaka. Sayadaw serves as Dhamma Librarian, Editor and Interpreter at Mawlamyaing Pa Auk Monastery.

1965 – 1969

Lu Ye Chun Camp (Summer 1965)

The Lu Ye Chun Program was extended to Universities and Institutes. Inlay Khaung Daing Camp was established. The Camp hosted the Lu Ye Chuns from the High Schools, Universities and Institutes.

• I was chosen as Lu Ye Chun for 2nd BE in 1965.
• Ko Thein Swe was chosen as Lu Ye Chun for 3rd BE in 1966.
• Ko Tin Myint was chosen as Lu Ye Chun for 4th BE in 1967.

The RIT Lu Ye Chun list that appeared in HMEE-2012 is not complete. It did not contain Ko Sein Shwe, Ko Hla Min, Ma Khin Than Myint Tin and Ko Zaw Min (Lu Ye Chuns for 1965 Inlay Camp).

Classes at RIT

• Except for Architecture students, students from other majors took the same courses (albeit taught in different sections) for 2nd BE. There were 300+ students.
• They had to select their major for 3rd BE. There were 80+ EE students.
• Some left before graduation. Some decided to take sabbatical.
• At the end, there were 40+ EE students left.
• The EP students outnumbered the EC students 3 by 1.
• We studied EC (Electrical Communications).
• Eleven of us graduated in 1969.
• Three (Kyaw Soe, Aung Thu Yein, Chit Tin) are now GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten) at this time.

RIT (General)

• With every turmoil (effecting “National Security”), the Classes were suspended.
• U Win Thein (M67, GBNF) was a Prime Mover. He co-founded Set Hmu Thadinzin and Mechanical Magazine. He co-organized activities.
• Several RIT students excelled at Sports. There were Burma Selected (e.g. Sai Kham Pan, Htay Aung) and All Universities Selected.

Activities

I served as

• Treasurer and Vice Captain of Rangoon University Boat Club
• Class Representative, Joint Secretary and Secretary of RIT Electrical Engineering Association
• Committee Member for “Hlyat Sit Sar Saung”
• Editor of the Bulletin published by RIT English Association
• Member of UTC, Scrabble, and Chess teams
• Free lance writer (articles, poems, translations)

Nationalization

• The schools were nationalized.
• St. Paul’s High School became No. (6) Botathaung State High School.
• Some Brothers left Burma for Malaysia, UK and Germany.
• A few indigenous Brothers (e.g. Brother Anthony) remained in Ady Road.
• Brother Joseph was ordained as Father Joseph.

U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) wrote :

AFAIK, EC was the hardest and strictest discipline at the RIT in those days as we’ve been told. Some even asked us why we had to go there. Of course, I am not going to mention the easiest discipline there but we joked like, “they had 109 students and 110 passed the exam”. I do not mean any disrespect to Sayas and friends from other majors!! At times, it made us wonder why were we there for god’s sake.

CRAZY TIMES!!! Indeed.

1920 – 1929

1920

• Rangoon University was established with Rangoon College and Judson College as constituent colleges.
• First Rangoon University Students’ Strike protesting the limited scope of the Rangoon University Act.
  The event is celebrated as National Day (Ah Myotha Aung Pwe Nay).
  The movement led to the founding of National Schools.
• Saya U Ba Toke is a Phwa Bet Taw of the above events.
  All took place in December 1920.

1921 and 1922

• Rangoon University conducted its own examinations for Arts and Science.
• Amendments to the Rangoon University Act were suggested. Some were implemented.

1923

• Preparation to add Engineering classes at Rangoon University
• Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) was founded by Sir Arthur Eggar (Law Professor and member of Cambridge University Rowing Club)

1924

• Admitted students with B.Sc. to attend a “condensed” three-year degree course in Engineering
• Admitted students with I.Sc. to attend a four-year degree course in Engineering
• First year Engineering classes were given for the first time

1925

• Second year Engineering classes were given for the first time

1926

• Third year Engineering classes were given for the first time

1927

• Fourth (Final) year Engineering were given for the first time
• The first batch of Engineering graduates (those who already had B.Sc.)

1928

• The second batch of Engineering graduates (those who joined after passing I.Sc.)
• U Hla Maung wrote in the RU Golden Jubilee Magazine.
• U Hla Maung’s article was referred in HMEE-2012 book.

1929

• The third batch of Engineering graduates

Suggested Reading

• Magazine published in 1970 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Rangoon University
• Literature on “Ah Myo Thar Aung Pwe Nay”
• HMEE-2012 by Saya U Aung Hla Tun and team
• HMEE-2012 Section One (Translated by U Ohn Khine and revised by Saya U Soe Paing)
• Book published by Dr Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char) for the 80th Birthday of Saya U Ba Toke
• [1963] 40th Anniversary of RUBC (compiled by Sithu U Tin, U Po Zon and U Tin Htoon)
• [2013] 90th Anniversary of RUBC : U Tin Htoon (Chair), U Myo Myint (Vice Chair), U “Henry” Htaik San (Secretary) and several members. I volunteered as a Contributing Editor and wrote Prelude for all sections and three articles.

Myanmar Medical and Dental Professionals

There have been five Global Reunions for Myanmar Medical & Dental Professionals.

• Los Angeles, California, USA in 2009
• Sydney, Australia in 2012
• Yangon, Myanmar in 2014
• London, United Kingdom in 2016
• New York, USA in 2018

BMRI / DMR

During the early days of UCC, I was invited to give guest lectures at BMRI (Burma Medical Research Institute).

Dr. Mya Tu founded BMRI. He passed away at the age of 91 in Australia.

His successors include Dr. Aung Than Ba Tu, Dr. Khin Maung Tin, Dr. May May Yi, Dr. Than Swe and Dr. Paing Soe.

BMRI later became DMR (Directorate of Medical Research).

Dr. Nyunt Wai added :

The founder Dr. Mya Tu was a physiologist. One of his successors was a physiologist (Dr. May May Yee), another was a microbiologist (Than Swe), and the rest were physicians. Dr. Khin Maung Tin, who specialized in liver diseases passed away the earliest (heard it was a heart attack); survived by Dr. Daw Htay Kyi, a TB specialist. Dr. Aung Than Ba Tu, around 90 years of age, is still active, giving talks and participating in the editorial team of a certain journal.