AD stands for Anno Domini / “In the year of our Lord”
Also known as CE (Common Era)
Usually differs from the Burmese Era by 638 Note : Burmese New Year falls in mid-April. So, the Gregorian year will span two Burmese years.
BC
BC stands for “Before Christ“
BE / ME
Burmese / Myanmar Era
Started off with Sasana Era
Now differs by 1182 due to “Thet ka rit phyo” (adjustment by two Kings who believed in the astrological “kain khan” sayings)
SE
SE stands for Sasana Era Sasana is usually rendered as “Dispensation of Buddha”
SE is reckoned from Maha Parinibbana (Death of Lord Buddha)
In the mid 1950s, the Sixth Buddhist Council was held at the Kaba Aye (World Peace) Pagoda to celebrate the 2500 year of the Sasana Era.
Sample Conversions
Suppose the Burmese Era is 1382 BE, then Sasana Era = 1382 + 1182 = 2564 and Common Era = 1382 + 638 = 2020
Note:
January, February, March and early April of 2020 AD will correspond to 1381 BE. The latter part of April, and May to December of 2020 AD will correspond to 1382 BE.
February has 28 days in a common year, and 29 days in a leap year.
April, June, September and November have 30 days.
January, March, July, August, October and December have 31 days.
January : 31
February : 28 (or 29) February is the shortest month in the year with 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year.
March : 31
April : 30
May : 31
June : 30
July : 31
August : 31
September : 30
October : 31
November : 30
December : 31
Days in a year
A common year has 365 days, while a Solar year has 365.2422 days.
A year which is not a Century year is a Leap Year if it is divisible by 4. The discrepancy of .9688 days is rounded up to a day.
A year which is a Century year is a Leap Year if it is divisible by 400. This ensures that there are 97 leap years in four centuries.
Grapevine
February initially had 30 days, but one day each was transferred to July (honoring Julius Caesar) and August (honoring Augustus Caesar) to have 31 days in those months (worthy of Roman Emperors).
February was left with 28 days.
Ripley’s “Believe it or not” illustrated a grave stone which had February 30.
Special Days
We were aware of
Father’s Day
Mother’s Day
Labor Day
Christmas
Easter
Thanksgiving
Independence Day
Presidents’ Day
Valentine’s Day
Differences
For a long time, we were not aware that some special events are celebrated on different days (depending on the country and religious order).
Most Christian denominations celebrate according to the Gregorian Calendar.
The Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas and Easter according to the old calendars (e.g. Julian).
The Theravada Buddhists celebrate the Full Moon Day of Kason as the “Thrice Blessed Day”.
The Mahayana celebrate the events (Birth, Enlightenment, Maha Parinibbana) on dates different from those of Theravada Buddhists.
Some Thoughts
We later learn about
Kabyar (Poem) Nay
Myat Saya (Teacher) Nay
Secretary Day
Friend Day
Pi Day
Some wonder why there is no Grandfather’s Day, Grandmother’s Day or Grandparent’s Day.
Holidays
Not all special days and events are holidays.
Even among holidays, there are Public Holidays, State Holidays, and Bank Holidays.
There may be good reasons (social, commercial) for having the designated days.
Thanksgiving
For us, every day is Thanksgiving (time to repay to our parents and mentors for their unbounded love and care).
Adeline Hpyu Hpyu Aung wrote :
Yes Saya. We should be thanking God, Parents and teachers everyday, without them we will not be who we are.
KMZ wrote :
My left brain at times over-analyzed many of these days.
Many of these holidays are the work of “Holiday Industrial Complex”.
As Ma Adelyne Hpyu Hpyu Aung posted, some of these days like Mothers’ Day/Fathers’ Day should be 365 days a year, not necessarily just the designated day a year.
Believe it nor not there also is a ‘National Splurge Day’ which is June 18th. US Congress eventually passed a law to stop creating those days.
Nine Cousins, Two in-laws, Two nephews, Two niecesU Tin U & U Ba ThanU Ba Than & Family Ma Ruby & Kim Ma Ruby, Peter & Ye MyintMa Ruby, KimMa RubyMa Ruby, Ma Betty & Cho ChoRUBC Captains : Tin U, Myo Tint, Tin Htoon, Thaung Lwin (all brothers) & Sein Htoon (cousin, cox)U Tin Htoon & U Tin Htut U Tin Htoon & U Sein Htoon : RUBC Captains & ARAE ChampionsU Myo Min with his MomU Myo MinPeter Tun & FamilyPeter succumbed to Covid : First NIH doctor to pass away due to lax Health Protocol Win Mar & Khin Sandy TunEmmy & GraceTin Tin Hlaing & Tha HlaingHtay Aung, Tha Hlaing, Tin Tin Hlaing Dr. Myo Tint, Dr. Tun Oo, Dr. Tin Kyi Wn, RaymondU Mya Thein, Khin Win Than Htay Aung, Tin Tin Hlaing, Tha Hlaing, Daw Mya Mya Win / Allison Daw Myint Thwe, Tha Hlaing, Daw Mya Mya Win / Allison
Rangoon University (Established on December 1, 1920)
Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing (Founder of Peace Movement and Principal of National College)
Bogyoke Aung San (Architect of Burma’s Independence)
U Thant (United Nations Secretary General)
U Thein Han (Zawgyi, Chief Librarian of Rangoon University Central Library, Laureate Poet)
U Wun (Minthuwun, Professor, Head of RU Translation Department, Lexicographer, Visiting Professor at Osaka University)
Dr. Maung Maung Kha (Rector of Rangoon University)
Dr. Maung Maung KhaDr. Maung Maung Kha & Family
Ludu Daw Ah Mar (Amar, Author and Publisher)
U Khin Maung Latt (Taught English at RU and at his private school, Chief Editor of Working People’s Daily)
Daw Khin Myo Chit (Participant in the struggle for Burma’s Independence, Award winning Author and Translator)
RU Jubilees
The University of Rangoon was established in December 1920. The Jubilees include
Silver Jubilee (in 1945) Most of the schools were closed for three years. The University of Rangoon reopened in 1946. There were make-shift classes on Mogul (Shwe Bon Tha) Street during that period. Saya U Ba Toke was lucky to receive his Masters during the war (thanks to his supervisor).
Golden Jubilee (in 1970) I used to have a commemorative issue. I also had a small part as a volunteer of the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yay Ah Phwe”.
Diamond Jubilee (in 1995) Saya Dr. Soe Win has posted a picture.
Centennial (in 2020) EC Members of the “Tekkatho Kalaung Ah Thin (1958 – 1962)” will publish a Kabyar book and a commemorative issue.
The Engineering Education was established in 1923. Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC) was founded in 1923. The Centennial Celebrations could be held in 2023.
At the centennial celebrations of some universities, the alumni and staff were asked to nominate events and people to be honored as the 100 items associated with the school. The Group members could propose a list of memorable items about their alma mater.
Mechanical Engineering from Rangoon University in 1960
Worked for JVC run by relatives. Read news about State Scholarship
Masters in Agricultural Engineering from Virginia Tech in the USA
Paid respect to Saya U Ba Than. Saya asked if he would like to join Agri Dept. (sub-dept of Mechanical).
Later moved to Thailand & USA
Books
Saya and I used to exchange books (dhamma and general).
He told me to keep the ones that I want.
He bought books. He got books when his dhamma friend Saya U Soe Kaw (Mining) passed away. He got books when a monastery undergoing renovation gave away the old stuff.
Saya’s books include Ludu Dawlove Ah Mar, Theikpan Maung Wa, Tha Ka Doe, and Kyemon U Thaung.
Ludu Daw Ah Mar
She took part in the 1936 RU Student Strike.
Spouse : Ludu U Hla (Writer & Journalist)
Many journalists & writers worked at Ludu Newspaper founded by U Hla & Daw Ah Mar.
Saya gave me the book written by Ludu Daw Ah Mar about notable people from Mandalay.
Daw Oo Zun (founder of the first Lu Oh Yone လူအိုရုံ) and Kyar Ba Nyein (Boxing & Checkers) are some of the Mandalay Thu မန္တလေးသူ and Mandalay Thar မန္တလေးသား featured in the book.
Book by Ludu Daw Ah Mar
Theikpan Maung Wa
U Sein Tin was an early student who took Burmese Honors.
Became ICS.
Co-founded “Khit San Sar Pay” with U Thein Han (Zawgyi) & U Wun (Minthuwun).
Wrote a journal during his study at Oxford University and published a book.
Wrote semi-autobiographical accounts featuring Maung Lu Aye မောင်လူအေး and Maung Lu Hmwe မောင်လူမွှေး
His collection of “Wut Htu Saung Par ဝတ္ထုဆောင်းပါးာwas prescribed as a Burmese text for high school.
Saya gave me the book written a book by Theikpan Maung Wa about pets.
Theikpan Maung Wa succumbed as a victim of a robbery (gone wrong).
Memories
Health & Fitness
President of RIT Thaing
Member of RIT Saya Soccer Team
Hiking & some Mountaineering (before having medical problems)
Had operation
Social & Religious Activities
Volunteer for constructing the pagoda & monastery at Taung Pulu Kaba Aye (first in the SF Bay Area & later at Boulder Creek)
Member, Kappiya Karaka ကပ္ပိယကာရက
Supporter, Team that compiled & converted Mogok Sayadaw’s tapes into CD
Donated $500 to YTU Library Modernization project
Donation
Used to have monthly လဖက်ရည် နဲ့ စကားဝိုင်း with Saya Allen Htay (GBNF), U Ko Ko Aye (GBNF), Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) and me.
Visit by Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC). They spent over a month on an Ocean Liner to return home after studying in the USA.
Visit by U Soe Paing
Saya and U Sein Tun were roommates at Mandalay University in 1955. They met again at a Fundraiser in Newark Pavilion on June 22, 2025.
Northern California RIT Alumni Association was formed to carry on some activities of RIT Alumni International with the help of younger alumni.
Past Presidents include Saya U Maung Maung / George (ChE66), Gordon Kaung (M83) and U Aung Myint Oo (EC84). Current President is U Tin Maung Win (C86).
The first Chair of BOD was Stan Liou (M67). Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, GBNF) served as Chair for several terms.
David Ko (U Tin Myint, M67, GBNF)
David Ko
Entrepreneur
Golden Sponsor for SPZP-2000.
Donated $3000 to SPZP-2012.
Supported Norcal RITAA. Sponsored a table at the Annual Dinner to invite selected sayas (e.g U Myo Myint Sein & Dr. Tin Win) & alumni (e.g U Thura Thant Zin) from Southern California
After his demise, his spouse Mavis Ko continued supporting the Alumni Association
NorCal RITAA Dinner
Saya U Myo Myint Sein (A58)
Saya Myo
First batch of Architecture graduates
Masters from Michigan University
Professor at RIT
Published books on Architecture
President of RU ConBro association. He and his brothers attended De La Salle Schools.
Played Soccer
Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62)
Dr. Tin Win
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio.
Won a Gold Medal in 1958 for Joint Highest Score in Maths in I.Sc (both years)
Youngest in the Class of M62
Doctorate from Melbourne University
Past President of BASES
Core Organizer for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
Daw Khin Htar Yee (Lily, T72)
Lily (Rightmost)
Founding member & Secretary of BEA
Spouse and supporter of Saya Dr. Tin Win & his projects; Financial support for eligible students; Fundraiser for SPZP-2007 by running the LA Marathon
Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
U Thura Thant Zin (M76)
Thura (Seated Right)
Goalkeeper for All Universities & Institutes’ Hockey Team
RUBC Gold with Dat Pon Sann Aung (GBNF), Win Khaing (GBNF) & Phyo
Past President of BASES
Organizer, SPZP-2000
Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles
Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66)
Saya George
Founding member of RIT Alumni International
Organizer, SPZP-2000
Founding member & First President of Norcal RITAA
Fundraiser for the Training Component of YTU Library Modernization project
Daw Khin Khin Kyu (Ann, A67)
Ann (2nd from Right)
Supporter of RIT Alumni international & Norcal RITAA
Classmates include Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (GBNF) and U Tun Thein.
Brother : Saya U Thein Han (Maths, Burma selected in Basketball)
Notes
BASES invited alumuni from Norcal to attend Annual Dinner. One was hosted by U Tin Htway (M59, co-founder). Most others were held at selected hotels and restaurants.
later — Associate Dean, Assumption University, Bangkok
U Ba Toke 1U Ba Toke 2
Daw Nyein
Daw Nyein 1Daw Nyein 2
RIT Alumni
Dr. Sann Oo, Daw Than Yi / Maubin Ma Shwe Than Friends 4Friends 5Friends 6Nyunt Maung San, Tin Tin Myint / Emma Norcal 1NorCal 2NorCal 3NorCal 4NorCal 5
I am trying to emulate their philanthropy by sharing my knowledge & expertise.
Sharing Knowledge & Expertise
Jack of All Trades; Master of Some
Proponent of Youth Leadership
Sharing Knowledge & Expertise gained as
Software Engineer / Craftsman
Consultant
Distinguished Toastmaster
Author & Blogger
Translator & Interpreter
Editor of newsletters & books
Folklorist & Historian
Recording history of our beloved land
Love history
HMEE TeamHMEE Book
Was Member of “History of Myanmar Engineering Education Project”. U Ohn Khine (M70) & I compiled CD supplement for HMEE book.
Was Docent at the “Computer History Museum” in Mountain View, California, USA.
CHM
Published 2500+ posts
Broadcast 220 Short Talks from August 2020 to February 2021. Can be viewed using @hmin3664 on YouTube
YouTube Channel for my videos
Hope that my posts &videos will be helpful to scholars and historians in Myanmar and beyond.
Wrote articles, reviews, poems & translations for
National Foreign Language Center at University of Maryland, College Park : Burmese Language Lessons (Listening and Reading)
Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife ABC-CIO Press : Can access my articles from Google Books.
Encyclopedia
MoeMaKa : Online Publication
RIT Alumni Newsletter : from April 1999 – present
RIT Alumni Newsletter for SPZP-2000
Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung : Poems for SPZP-2002 & 2007; Article in SPZP-2010
SDY Sar Saung for SPZP-2002
Swel Daw Yeik Magazine : Article for Shwe Yadu 2014
SDY Magazine for Shwe YaDu 2014
History of Myanmar Engineering Education : U Ohn Khine (M70) & I compiled CD Supplement for HMEE Book
CD for HMEE Book
BAPS Newsletter : Contributing Editor
BAPS Newsletter
Dhammananda Newsletter : Contributing Editor for Dhammananda Vihara, Half Moon Bay, California & Theravada Buddhist Society of America (TBSA)
Dhammananda Newsletter
Paying Homage to Sayadaw U Silanandabhimvama : Contributing Editor & Member of Publications Committee
Homage to U Silananda
Rangoon University Boat Club : Contributing Editor for 90th Anniversary Issue
RUBC Magazine
Guardian Newspaper : Poems (e.g. Men on the Moon); Articles (e.g. Computers and Applications) in English
Men on the Moon
Working People’s Daily (WPD) : Poems (e.g. Phaung daw-u Festival); Translation (e.g. Still So Young) in English
Phaungdaw-u Festval
Forward Magazine : Poems (e.g. To the Fallen Warrior) in English
To the Fallen Warrior
Veda Magazine (ဝေဒ) : Articles for Burma Astro Research Bureau
Pan Magazine (ပန်) : Articles in Burmese
High School Mathematics Project : Member of Editorial Team
Team of System Specialists : Computer Education & Application
Set Hmu Thadin Zin (စက်မှုသတင်းစဉ်) : Short notes
Hlyat Sit Sar Saung (လျှပ်စစ်စာစောင်) : Article for RIT EE
Activities / Contributions
Docent at Computer History Museum, Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View, California
Contributing Member of History of Myanmar Engineering Education Project, which published HMEE Book in 2012; U Ohn Khine & I compiled the CD Supplement for the book; Copies of the HMEE Book were donated to Universities’ Central Library, YTU Library and RITAA / Alumni Association
DTM / Distinguished Toastmaster, Toastmasters International
Volunteer, SF Bay Area ACM Chapter
Member, 2010 Census Count Committee
Founding member, RIT Alumni International
Founding member & BOD, NorCal RIT Alumni Association
Translator / Interpreter of Dhamma Talks at Tathagata Meditation Center, San Jose
Past Vice President, Theravada Buddhist Society of America; Editor of Dhammananda Newsletter; Content provider of TBSA web site; Contributing Editor of “Paying Homage to Sayadaw U Silandabhivamsa”
Translator, “Poetic Art Series”
Founder & Chief Editor, RIT Alumni Newsletter
Compiled “Memories” for PPBRS, SPHS, RIT, UCC, RUBC …
Souvenirs
Dream Big or Small
“If one person can dream, others will fulfill”
The saying is attributed to Jules Verne who dreamed & wrote about space ships, submarines, and travel around the globe.
My Earlier Dream
SPZP-2000
Was to connect or re-connect Sayas, Colleagues & Friends physically and electronically.
We successfully organized the First RIT Alumni Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in San Francisco, California in October 2000.
Six more World-wide Reunion and SPZP took place. Singapore in 2002, 2007 & 2010. Yangon in 2004, 2012 & 2016. Due to pandemic, SPZP-2020 was canceled.
Started RIT Alumni International Newsletter in April 1999.
Served as Content Provider & Editor for ex-RIT websites : first one by KMZ (UKhin Maung Zaw, now retired from Microsoft) and second one by Wunna Ko Ko (then at SAS).
Both ex-RIT websites are now inactive.
My Later Dream
Was to record Oral & Written History of our Alma Mater and our Beloved Land.
Set up hlamin.com (to archive old posts, add new posts and revise selected posts).
Requested SPZP-2000 Organizers, interested sayas & alumni to record gatherings.
Requested Subject Matter Experts & interested readers to review and enhance selected posts.
HlaMin 