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by Kogyi Koung (Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt, A67)

First Song

It was one afternoon in the early May of 1963. Someone was singing a prewar semi-classic song from the second floor of RIT main building. In 1963, RIT buildings were relatively new and that semi-classic song caused a little bit of discomfort for the freshmen [equivalent to 3rd BE] located on the first floor. The song continued as, (. hmain: njou. njou. sain: lou. je . njou pja ji hmaung che . to: dan: kalei: nanbei: ga swe . e:di jwa be: kwe…)

The meaning is: Dull and gloomy cloud override at the horizon; Indistinct brown and dim bluish vision of a wood jetting out from that end is my village … *Note: The title of the song is ‘Htamin: mjein mjein sa: me’ i.e., “Enjoying the meal with relish” . The duet song was first performed by prewar famous singers Ou’ O: Ba Thaung and Sein Party. Later many other singers have rendered their own versions of the song.

We saw an old man singing the song while he was painting watercolor on a huge art paper. He was painting the landscape described in the song. Amazingly the picture was full of life and the song was telling the story. Everybody stopped in front of his office on the second floor and looking with wonder and singing with him.

After a while we asked him, “Sayagyi, who are you and which department do you belong to?” He replied, “I am U Tha Tun, Head of the Department of Architecture”. Oh, my God! How stupid that we, the freshmen of Architecture, don’t even know the head of our department. As time passed, we learned more about ‘The Great U Tha Tun’.

When we became senior students, U Tha Tun’s health deteriorated so much that Saya U Myo Myint Sein (Raymond, A58) stepped up as a ‘Kagemusha’ [Japanese for “shadow-warrior”]. UMMS, as acting head, took care of everything about the department. Young and energetic Saya UMMS found that it was not easy to steer the department as Captain of Architecture’s Flag Ship. There were lots of problems for a relatively young department in RIT.

One such problem occurred during our final year. Two of the most experienced Sayas of architecture left the department and went abroad †[for enhancing their careers].

They were (a) Saya U Sein Maung (with elegant mustache) has long experience in Rangoon City Development Corporation. He taught each and every detail of the development of Rangoon. (b) Saya M.B. Raschid (son of U Raschid, minister of many affairs under Prime Minister U Nu). He taught with all his professional experience and perfect pronunciation of King’s Burmese with ‘zagaboun’ proverbs. Sometimes he corrected our broken Burmese.

Saya UMMS, Head of the department, not only had lost his right and left hand men, but also there was a danger that the notorious Koung Nyunt and Kyaw Thein (both A67) might not finish their Architecture degrees.

After a long struggle, Saya UMMS stabilized the flagship of Architecture and its direction. A pioneer of the Architecture of RIT, Professor U Myo Myint Sein handed over the headship to Dr. Maung Kyaw in early 80’s. In the late 80’s Dr. Lwin Aung (A59) took over.

Second Song

For creative and original works, Architects cannot design during the office hours. It is also true [to a lesser degree] for the students of architecture. During the lectures and tutorial hours we [as students] have to follow what they have taught. After school hours [mostly after 4 or 5 pm], we start to create and test our design ideas. Note that for other students and staff of RIT, such periods are the pleasure and relaxation time.

There were only a few girls in Architecture, but the one in our studio is especially alluring beauty and glamorous face. She was so popular that she became known as the queen of the student-architects. We called her Ma Ma Q.

Most of the evenings many senior students and young eligible bachelors and/or sayas visit our studio. Some stay late into the evenings. At that time we sang a song named ‘Saga: ta’ kathou’ i.e., Language University, by Khin Yu May.

Because in the song, one part said ‘dage lar te. Ko Ko. kwe ja hmar ba lou lou’ i.e., really coming Ko Ko, out of sight he is sth in the air.

Ma Ma Q didn’t know the meaning, but the visiting Ko Kos were annoyed by our song. They politely requested us to stop singing. At that time the notorious KN and KT asked ‘hse’ kjei:’ i.e., extortion money about 2-3 kyats from the Ko Kos and went to U Chit tea shop. This continued for days and weeks.

When the Ko Kos are not visiting our studio, we sang the following song, instead of Ma Ma Q. i.e., Third Song. (Note. Extract from Shwe Kyi: nyo song by Daw Ngwe Myaing)
‘Diga nei. nya hpjin. lar ma te. so: joun ya hmar lar: akou Kja.ma ne. ne: te. Shwe kyi: nyo Shwe kyi: nyo Shwe kyi: nyo’
“To-night coming you said so, may I believe Ako.. Near the blessed golden crow, golden crow, golden crow…”

Editor’s note:

Thanks Kogyi Koung for “True story of RIT in 60’s”. I remember Sayagyi U Tha Tun frequently recite a limerick starting with “A wonderful bird is a pelican”. A limerick has 5 lines with the rhyming pattern: A, A, B, B, A.

The following three rhyming “words” are for the first, second and fifth lines:
(1) Pelican [a bird with a huge beak]
(2) Belican [belly can] => The pelican tries to eat as much as his/her belly can
(3) Hellican [hell I can] => I’m not a pelican, so how the hell can I eat as much?

By Des Rodgers

On the lighter side

I need to linger awhile and talk a bit about some delightful and noteworthy events and persons. On the lighter side, I couldn’t help but chortle at Ko Ohn Khine’s and Ko Zaw Min’s reference to their pastime of ogling the your lady-students passing by the canteen on their way to G Hall at the lunch breaks and after classes.

Let it be known that Sayas Tony, U Khin, U Kyaw Lwin Hla and myself, no strangers to the female attractions of either the sayamas or the students, would lunch almost daily in the canteen seeking out the fringe benefits attached to our jobs, and to having lunch in that ideally situated viewpoint location. Sayas Joe Ba Maung and U Win Mra graced these occasions with their presence from time to time, and while waiting for our htamin net hin or si kyet khauk swe, we always amused ourselves watching Saya Kyaw Lwin Hla go through his ritual of asking for hot water to wash his plate, spoon and fork before eating. His explanation was that his 5 years of living in Australia (his father had been Burma’s ambassador to Australia) had more or less robbed him of his immunity to gastrointestinal bacterial attacks, and he feared developing ailments resulting from his use of non-sterilized utensils. We laughed then, but I later understood his apprehension after my son fell sick from the same kind of problem in Mandalay during our trip to Burma in 2007.

Our wait for the food was well worth it though, especially as we could enjoy the spectacle of watching Saya U Khin “wolfing down” 3 to 4 helpings of Si Kyet Khauk Swe in double quick time. Given his slim build, I could never figure out where he stored all the food that he ate.

During these waits, we also utilized our time well by discreetly “monitoring” the flow of traffic to and from G Hall, the ladies’ residence. It was our way of recharging our energy and relaxing our minds before returning to the heavy duty of teaching Reading, Writing, and Speaking. This practice of traffic observation got to be quite addictive, for when I played soccer on the sayas’ team, I’m sure while Sayas U Maung Maung Win, U Soe Paing, and the rest of the team were practically dripping ‘blood, sweat and tears’ in their effort to get a win, I was nonchalantly content to “play for the pleasure of the game” (read) the cheers and applause coming from G Hall, which overlooked the football field. Life, you understand, requires a balance in all things.

Saya Win Mra and I

On a more serious note, Saya U Win Mra and I, from early on, were earnestly determined to make something of our lives by eventually serving in the Burmese Foreign Service. I was, at that time, reasonably steeped in the knowledge of politics, history, and economics, and as he was a product of a career service family with a father enjoying the position of Secretary to the Prime Minister, it was quite natural that we would find common ground in purpose, and a meeting of the minds.

Our RIT discussion and debate locale was Ma Tin Aye’s shop just outside the RIT premises, where we would spend a great deal of time over dinner discussing world affairs, historic events, and foreign policy of the more powerful countries in the world. My younger friend (Mra) flattered me by according me the position of mentor, as we prepared ourselves for the forthcoming FS exams.

To trim this story, as the day of the exams approached, I discovered some disturbing trends in my thinking. Something had not been sitting well with me and had been bothering me for some time. I agonized over this unknown factor for about 10 days before the exams. As the exams drew nearer, I slowly realized that I was not sure I wanted to take the them, or to join the Foreign Service. I was slowly becoming convinced that I could not serve a calling in which I had lost my faith in the system, and my ability to give of myself 100%. After more soul-searching, I told Saya Win Mra that I wasn’t going to go through with our plan, and that I was seriously making up my mind to leave the country. To his credit, he stayed the course, disciplinarian that he is, exercising far more determination and an unshakeable grip on his dream, for which I’ve complimented him over the years.

Pagan

With my major decision out of the way, Saya Win Mra and I decided it would be a good idea to make a final journey to Pagan for posterity. We prepared ourselves well for the trip, reading up on all we could about this historic abode of early Burmese royalty. We decided to backpack our way through this emotional journey to make it more meaningful, which would not only cement our close friendship, but tie us more closely in spirit to the land of our mother country. We tramped around on foot for miles, taking in all the major historical sites, and shared information and knowledge about each edifice over our evening meals. These discussions continued after our evening bath in the Irrawaddy and our preparation for our night’s rest, which often took the form of spending the night in any one of the neglected and untended pagodas. The spectacular sunsets and the cool quiet dawns were surreal and created an unforgettable canvas in which these memorable events have been indelibly etched for us.

My trip to Pagan in 2007 brought mist to my eyes, and that wasn’t just because of Mother Nature’s cool mornings and evenings. It would have been difficult to remain unemotional on seeing the shimmering rays of a setting sun on the mighty Irrawaddy. I’ve often asked myself if it has been worth leaving my homeland, and I don’t doubt that every Burmese expat living in foreign lands is constantly reminded of the price he has had to pay in giving up his country on principle.

My former colleagues

Well, where are all my English Department colleagues now?

In 2000, my family and were invited to visit and spend time with Saya U Win Mra and his wife in the Burmese Embassy in Westchester, New York. After 30 long years, I was delighted to see my closest friend who was then Burma’s Ambassador or Permanent Representative to the United Nations. They welcomed us joyously, and the first words U Win Mra uttered were: “If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t be here today”. I took this as a compliment, not knowing if there was a downside to this comment. We spent time going over our memorable moments over traditional Burmese dinners and complemented by one of my favorite Bordeaux French red wines – Saint Emilion! During my stay, I must have depleted the embassy’s stock considerably, as this happened to be my favorite week-end dinner Merlot. We chatted about how he had risen in the Foreign Service ranks, and in which countries he had served as ambassador. I had occasion to read some of his speeches, but I could find no grammar errors as they had all been impeccably written. This memorable trip culminated in lunch at the UN, where he introduced me to a few other foreign emissaries.

Our meeting up in Rangoon in 2007 was no less momentous, with dinner at his residence, followed by a jam session of playing and singing some of our favs of times gone by when we did the BBS and Rangoon nightclub circuit. After a good stint at the Foreign Ministry as Director General, U Win Mra is currently heading Burma’s Human Rights Commission as its new Chairman. Much water it seems, has flowed under the bridge.

Sayama Muriel is happily married to a Mr. [Alphonso] Rivers, and teaches English in Cheng Mai, Thailand.

Saya U Khin left Burma after being transferred to Mandalay University, and is now engaged in freelance work as a legal consultant in Taipei, Taiwan. He’s still a bachelor, and for the rest, you can fill in the blanks.

Saya Joe Ba Maung is retired, having left RIT while I was still there, to work for the Burma Railways. He married his ever loyal lady love Nyi Ma Lay, and looked a healthy, happy man in 2007.

Sayama Toni, unfortunately lost her husband – Burma’s ambassador to S. Korea early in the last decade, and returned to Burma, where she teaches, along with her daughter Aye Aye – U Win Mra’s daughter-in-law, at a private school in Rangoon. She is still very attractive and has the same walking or gliding gait that one usually associates with a model – or a very graceful bird.

Sayama Daw Khin Saw Tint was widowed some years ago, and lives in retirement in Rangoon. All my attempts to see her in 2007 failed, but I still hope to see her one day.

Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla, who made most of my entertainment arrangements, and arm-twisted my friends to attend my brunch at Traders in Rangoon in 2007, is well and working as a Director for the Myanmar Investment Bank (name ?) on Merchant Street in Rangoon. He also took me and my family to a sumptuous Thai dinner at a restaurant on the Royal Lakes. His previous work at the UN has not only enhanced his resumé but also showcases his smooth interactive skills with people.

Since 1967, I have lived a successful life in Canada, one beyond my expectations, and one that has brought me recognition by the Canadian government, industry, and the field of education for my contributions to specialized language training for professionals. For all my flashy style of dressing and high aspirations, I’ve never been materialistic, my main priorities in life now being the welfare and safety of my wife and son, closely followed by a tantalizing glass of red wine and stimulating conversation. Writing my book was very rewarding, and took the better part of my last 2 years. May yet author a few more, time permitting.

Status

I did not come out to the west for educational or financial reasons, but along the way, I‘ve improved on my earlier status in Burma. Freedom to think as I desire, and to act as my mind dictates, were primary motivating factors in my decision to leave Burma, and I am strongly convinced that my years of study at St. Peter’s, Mandalay U., RASU, and RIT contributed immeasurably to molding me and giving me direction to succeed in life.

In my quiet moments of reflection though, my heart always returns to the fun-filled halls of RIT, echoing the sound of familiar voices, and t other moments I drift back to the hot, humid, and dusty streets of Mandalay, where I got my first beginning in life. For this anyatha, that’s where home is, and always was ever since my first ancestor from England set foot on Burmese soil in 1825, and married a fair Burmese maiden, an event repeated by my maternal Portuguese ancestors, ultimately planting roots in the upper Burma regions favored by Burma’s mightiest kings. I may never see my homeland again, but the memories and feelings can never be erased. In closing, let me give you my slightly modified version of what some writer once said:

“You can take the man out of the country (taing pyi), but you can’t take the country out of the man.”

Thank you all for sharing these nostalgic moments with me, and for having played a crucial role in helping give me a more rounded identity that has made me proud to be called an RIT alumni, and a Burmese national. I’d like to wish each and every Saya, Sayama, my former students, and alumni my very best in your quest for a long, happy, healthy, and successful life, wherever and however you have chosen to follow your star.

May Burma and RIT rise again to recapture their true glory!

With metta,

Des Rodgers

Editor’s notes:

Received New Year’s greetings from Saya U Khin (Lucien Chen, Taiwan) a few years back. Saya also wrote again in August 2016. I posted his correspondence in “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”.

Saya “Tony” Sao Kan Gyi’s pen name was Khemarat. Saya passed away. Saya’s younger brother rowed at RUBC.

Saya Joe Ba Maung was national tennis champion in singles and doubles. He was succeeded as singles champion by his doubles partner U Than Lwin. Saya passed away.

Saya U Win Mra was national pole vault champion, but the doctors requested him to rest. He was winner [or runner-up] of the “Elvis Presley songs” contest. He showed up at my uncle’s birthday party dressed in G. I. Blues (or similar). U Khin Maung Lay (Mutu) works with Saya for the Myanmar Human Rights Commission.

Saya U Kyaw Lwin Hla was a staff member of UNDP. He was succeeded by his brother U Kyaw Zin Hla. U Zaw Min Nawaday did not recognize Saya when they met in New York.

I called Saya Des several times. I had a conversation with Sayagadaw. They have a son, who works as a physical trainer.

Sayama Naw Charity Sein U retired as Professor and Head of RIT English department. She attended one or more SPZPs.

Sayama “Toni” is a cousin of Ko “Henry” Thet Tun (M75, Sydney, Australia). Their youngest aunt is the spouse of Saya U Tin U.

Sayama Muriel’s spouse is Saya U Aung (U Nge, Mr. Alphonso Rivers). U Aung’s father was H.E. U Than Aung, Minister of Education in the AFPFL Governemtn. I met them when they visited Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt in Milpitas, California, USA.

Sayama Anne (Daw Khin Saw Tint) is an accomplished bi-lingual writer. Her mother Daw Khin Saw Mu, her four uncles (U Tin Tut, U Kyaw Myint, U Myint Thein and Dr. Htin Aung) and her two aunts (Daw Khin Mya Mu and Daw Tin Saw Mu) are well known scholars and diplomats. She donated part of her “Sar Mu Ga” — K5 Lakhs — for the YTU Library Modernization Project.

Since I write notes for the different posts, the contents, level of coverage and style for a topic may vary. No block selected.

By Saya U Maung Maung Win (M61)

RIT Complex

There were three main buildings.

Building One was three-storey with teaching classes, laboratory and theatres and offices for teaching staffs of Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Math, Chemistry and English.

Building Two was two-storey building with teaching classes, laboratory, Workshop and offices for teaching staff of Textiles, Mining, Electrical, Burmese and Political Science.

Building Three was just single-storey building with laboratory rooms, teaching classes and offices for teaching staff of Mechanical and Metallurgy.

Then we have students dormitories and hostels Blocks A, B, C, D, E and F and two dining rooms and cooking facilities were connected with the main building through a passage/corridor with under cover, all along so that staff and students cars could park.

Teaching-staff Quarters

Let me say something about teaching-staff quarters on the campus such as

• 16 A, B, C, D, E and F, two-storey 4-unit buildings for assistant lecturers and later for instructors too;
• 15 A, B, C, D, E and F, two-storey 2-unit buildings for lecturers
• 14 A, B, C, D, E and F, two-storey single-unit buildings for heads of departments and professors
• a single building called the Green House  bigger than 14 series meant for the residence of rector of the Institute.

Also we have two-unit buildings of different sizes for clerical staff, technicians and laboratory assistants and other six-unit quarters for cleaners, securities, cooks, butlers etc at the back of the teaching staff quarters. The RIT campus including all teaching staff and employees was treated as a village/ward so it had its own social and basic amenities like clinic, ward and township councilors.

Further Study

Slowly one by one those teaching staff/ teachers who were sent overseas as state scholars to acquire Masters came back namely U San Tun, U Tin Hlaing, U Allen Htay, U San Hla Aung, U Win Kyaing, U Kyin Soe etc. and thus visiting lecturers from the Colombo Plan stopped coming so also those on contract staff from India.

At that time I was so eager to have Masters Degree which was my wishful thinking. Fortunately U Ba Than nominated me in 1966, thanks and appreciation for his wise choice and later after appearing for personal interview before many rectors, departments heads and many ministers including the then Education Minister Dr U Nyi Nyi, I got selected to study in Canada. That time as the country was marching towards Socialism the majority of the students selected for further studies were sent to the Communist Block such as Russia, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, GDR, the Republic of China, Poland etc and only a small portion minority was sent to English-speaking countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Because of language difficulty many took longer to finish and also some came back without any degree.

Those who were successful had to attend the political and English and language course for three months at the training centre near the Inya Lake in June 68. After the training I left home from East stopping in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Alaska, Vancouver and then in Hamilton, Ontario. My university is McMaster which is very close to Niagara Falls which again is a few miles from the Rainbow Bridge, USA.

A year later five chemistry students arrived to study in the same university for their PhDs and I had an opportunity to help them in finding accommodation and making friends with them. One of them is Daw Khin Mar Htun, the daughter of the then Burmese Ambassador Thakin Chan Htun to Canada and hence sometimes later we all were invited to his residence in Ottawa to spend 4-5 days. I met U Pe Win (Metallurgy, RIT) in Toronto many times when he was doing his Masters and later on his return, he also became rector of the Institute when I left the Institute in 1980 for Australia. I find him very polite and friendly because he was my high school teacher’s nephew in Moulmein. When I finished my study I returned home from the West visiting London, Rome, Beirut, New Delhi, from there to the Taj Mahal a gigantic marble palace really incredible and breath-taking built by a king for his wife in Agra, arriving back home on 9 Dec 70, the day right hand drive was introduced.

Sayagyi Prof. U Ba Toke who retired as the rector of the Mandalay University came back and joined as the special Math Professor in RIT and as he was matriculation Math Convenor he invited all of us to correct Math papers of students all over Burma, in his department during summer holiday thereby we came to know him better. Once I met him in Singapore in Dec 02 at the Ex-RIT Reunion, to my surprise he called me by name which shows that he has a very sharp vivid memory. With this paper I acknowledge and give thanks and appreciation for his generosity and friendship.