Member of the Civil Engg Volleyball team Ma Tin Aye, Myint Myint Than, Mya Sandar Bo …
Civil Volleyball Team
She rowed as Bow for RIT Crew which won the Inter-Institute Coxed Fours. Kyi Kyi Win (Stroke, GBNF), Myint Myint Than, … Ma Tin Aye (Bow), Ko Myint Than (Cox)
RIT Coxed Fours
She participated in the Tazaung Daing Mee Htun Pwe (Lighting the Candles)
She was a member of the Set Hmu Thadin Zin established by U Win Thein (M67, GBNF).
She was also an Organizer for Yangon SPZPs in 2012 and 2016.
C73 Group offered Soon in memory of the GBNF (including U Kyaw Lin, who passed away in Southern California)
During our school days we had to learn World History (Feudal system, Renaissance, …) and Burmese History (called “Yazawin”and renamed as “Thamaing”).
Later, after hearing from the Thin sayas, Myin sayas, and Kyar sayas, I became interested in some aspects of history :
History of computers and computing
History of Myanmar Engineering Education
“Truth or fiction?” about historical events
…
The British annexed Burma in three phases :
Rakhine (Arakan) and Tennasserim (Taninthayee) after the first Anglo-Burmese war
Lower Burma after the second Anglo-Burmese war
Upper Burma after the third Anglo-Burmese war
For some time, the British Governors would base their office in India and rule both India and Burma.
ICS (Indian Civil Service) examinations were held in India and UK. BCS (Burma Civil Service) succeeded ICS.
Formal history of Burma has been written by British scholars (e.g. Harvey, Luce) and later by native scholars (e.g. Dr. Kyaw Thet, Bohmu Ba Shin, Dr. Than Tun).
Informal accounts of Burma can be found in the works by Indians (e.g. Tagore), British (e.g. Maurice Collis, George Orwell) and Burmese (e.g. Dr. Htin Aung, U Po Kyar).
The conventional wisdom is that our neighbors entered the country in three phases.
Burmese archeologists and geologists found ancient sites and quite old fossils and bones to indicate that there were early inhabitants, but they could not completely counter the “migration theory” proposed by the British historians.
Pyu is an ancient civilization, and some Pyu sites are named as UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites.
Some sayings
History repeats itself.
We should learn history so that we may not be stupid or dumb.
There is usually no single correct history. Often there are parallel, competing histories.
“Pazat Yazawin” and “theories” should be evaluated with the help of kyauk sar (stone inscriptions) …
Even in the peer-to-peer refereed papers, there are discrepancies and [unintentional] errors.
National Archive, Burmese History Commission, and Burma Research Society used to hold artifacts about Burmese History.
In High School Physics, we learned about Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy. We studied some old laws such as the “Law of Conservation of Energy”.
Energy comes in different forms (e.g. Mechanical, Thermal, Electric, Chemical, Nuclear).
Alternative energy sources (e.g. Solar, Wind) were marketed with Tax Incentives.
E = M C^2 (squared) is a overly simple explanation of the generation of nuclear energy.
The A-bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to debates on the appropriate use of nuclear energy.
Doomsayers feel that Apocalypse due to Nuclear War is highly likely.
Most countries initially do not care about environmental changes caused by the production and use of energy.
Some later care too much about the environment. The restrictions and bans (e.g. on the use of fossil fuels due to potential pollution) had economic bearing on some nations.
Trends include Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Energy.
Saya U Aung Hla Tun is the Lead Author for HMEE-2012 and HMEE-2018 projects.
Saya U Ba Than arranged with Saya U Thaw Kaung to provide access to the archives of RU Central Library by Saya U Soe Paing and team.
Saya U Tin U was interviewed by Saya U Soe Paing.
Saya U Khin Aung Kyi was interviewed by U Ohn Khine. Several volunteers assisted with other interviews.
U Ohn Khine and I compiled the CD Supplement for the HMEE book.
Details can be found in related posts.
Mr. Robert Hole was the English Editor for RUESU (Rangoon University Engineering Students Union) Annual Magazine. Daughter : Sayama Daw Gilmore Hole (UCC) Nephew : U Percy Maung Maung (classmate of Saya U Soe Paing at SPHS and Stanford University).
Saya asked Mr. Robert to write for the “History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar”. Mr. Robert asked three weeks. Said to say, Mr. Robert did not complete his assignment.
During my visit to Yangon, Gilmore invited UCC alumni to a mini-gathering at her house. We learned from Gilmore that her father had “memory retention problem”.
That is one reason I am sharing my memories before my memory declines.
History
History is appreciated in some countries.
In the USA, there are many museums (with Docents) and historical societies (with Historians).
I volunteered as a Docent at the Computer History Museum (CHM) for several years.
CHM has an “Oral History” Project to record interviews of pioneers, researchers, and notable people.
CHM also had live presentations: individuals and/or panels (with a moderator).
According to the Historian from Smithsonian, “There is generally no single, correct history. Often, there are competing parallel histories.”
We understand that there are pressing issues (e.g. rebuilding the alma mater and our beloved motherland to their former glory), but we also need to have historical facts compiled (in writing or in interviews) and preserved.
In our younger days, Rangoon Turf Club held horse races probably every week end.
U Chit Khine, father of U Myint Khine (Norman, SPHS57, C63), served as Secretary of the Turf Club.
Per U Thein Han, four members of Rangoon Turf Club were invited in 1958 as Guests of Hong Kong Turf Club. They were entertained with a special cruise.
Several medical doctors and business men were Patrons.
Newspapers ran columns about the forthcoming horse races and their tips on which horses they think will win (take first place) or place (take second place).
The races are based on the class (e.g. age, height) of the horses. To give a fair chance to the competing horses, the past winners have to carry additional weight as handicap.
[Per U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76)] : In the 70s and early 80s, there was a running joke about Hong Kong, where the three most powerful people there were the viceroy, chairman or head of the Chamber of Commerce and the President of the Turf club.
Treble Tote
Three specified races constitute the “Treble Tote”.
One has to bet all three winners to claim the Grand Prize.
Lost time and money
Many lost time trying to guess the winners.
Lost money betting on the wrong horses.
U Ne Win declared that “Horse Racing would be banned [for the good of the people].” Grapevine says that U Ne Win did not attend the Martyrs’ Day celebrations, since he wanted to be in the UK for the Derby.
Visit
We had never been to the racing ground.
Thein Wai (SPHS63) asked several classmates if they would like to visit the Rangoon Turf Club before it would be closed forever. His father (Dr. Ko Gyi) was a Patron of the Club.
We saw some “Nwa Pwe” (bullock cart races) that supplement the regular horse races.
Our grand parents and parents had workers who were non-Buddhists. They gave us sweets (for Diwali), dan bauk (for Id) and presents (for Christmas).
During our younger days, we had classmates who professed different religions and lived in perfect harmony.
Christians
Saya U Pe Maung Tin was a Christian, but he helped with the translation of Buddhist texts (e.g. Vissuddhi Magga). Saya also translated the two sermons (Dhammacakka and Anatta Lekkhana Sutta) into English at the request of U Tha Win (who published the two sermons in Pali, Burmese and English).
Teacher Kywe (PPBRS) was a Karen Christian teacher who transformed me into a “life long learner”. My mother would ask me to visit her several years before she retired.
Rev. Bernard Taylor (SPHS) retired as a Missionary in the Philippines.
Rev. Edwin David (SPHS, GBNF) served as Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Several RIT alumni (including a few Golden Sponsors) are Christians. They embrace SPZPs.
The term Saya Pu Zaw Pwe was chosen over Saya Ga Daw Pwe (which had religious connotation) so that all students can pay back the metta and cetana of their mentors.
Sikhs
D. S. Saluja (SPHS, RIT) and A. S. Sonu (SPHS) are Sikhs.
Several Singhs are RIT alumni. They include Meenu, Jagjit, Surinder, and Uttam.
Muslims
Arzani U Razak Early Graduate of National College Principal of National School in Mandalay Was nominated by several Sayadaws to be Education Minister in Bogyoke Aung San’s Cabinet
U Raschid Student Leader for RUSU and Ba Ka Tha Minister
U Khin Maung Latt Minister
U Pe Khin Negotiator at Pin Lon Conference
Bohmu Ba Shin Burma Historical Commission
U Hla Kyi (Geologist, younger son of U Razak) Helped solve the “Foundation” problem at Shwe Dagon Pagoda
Edward Hla Shwe I and II (SPHS) were Muslims.
Several RIT alumni (including the organizers at RIT Alumni International and 69er gatherings) are Muslims.
U Thein Ngwe (Ko Thein Tokyo) sent a photo of RIT Muslim students in 1971.
Men on the Moon
For the last stanza of my poem “Men on the Moon”, I wrote
“Are we not brothers here on earth? So let us all unite. There will be heaven here on earth If we all cease to fight”.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. e.g. Social media is good for getting contact with lost friends, but not good for use in research papers.
Some newspapers have Op-Ed (Opinion and Editorial). e.g. There may be two competing opinions of DST (Daylight Savings Time) : one for and one against.
An opinion may not be true. It may have biases and unintentional errors.
One should not react to an unfavorable opinion. e.g. Names may not be a hobby for everyone.
One should take whatever is relevant in the opinion. Then, optionally, one should respond (e.g. which parts are relevant, and which parts are not).
The following are examples of incorrect assessments by experts.
“Joe Montana cannot be an efficient Quarterback, because he does not have the structure, strength and finesse.” JHe went on to win four Superbowl, and entered the Football Hall of Fame.
“Apple Music and Apple Computers are two different fields. There need not be confusion with Apple in their names and products.” The judge for the Trade Mark suit could not see deep into the future. The Beatles songs (owned by Apple Music) are played in iPod (owned by Apple Computers).
“The Long Jump record at Mexico City Olympics will not be broken at other places (with lower altitudes).” Bob Beamon’s leap beat the existing Olympic and World Records by a wide margin, and was considered a “fluke” (partly aided by the rarefied atmosphere). The record was broken by Carl Lewis (who won the Long Jump at four Olympics).
Dalaban (former President U Htin Kyaw) wrote about the early use of Burmese / Myanmar terms related to University. He presented
* Thuriya (Sun) newspaper from 1930 about the naming of terms (e.g University, Principal) in Burmese / Myanmar * Cover of College magazine (1930) * Matriculation Certificate of his father Saya U Wun (Minthuwun)
U Win Aung (Maung Aung Mon, Win Aung Gyi, BBS, VOA) wrote articles about Dr. Htin Aung (first native Rector of RU) and several prominent Burmese (e.g. Mahn Win Maung, former President of the Union of Burma). During his BBS days, he announced soccer matches from Aung San Stadium.
In the RU Centennial Group
There are many
Photos
Kabyars
Articles by readers spanning several generations.
TV stations
Broadcasts include
RU -themed songs
Interview with Sayagyi Dr. Chit Swe Retired Rector, Pioneer of Computer Systems, Application and Education in Burma
Interview with Saya U Tin Oo Hlaing After his retirement, Saya served as translator / interpreter for Saddhammaransi Sayadaw.
HlaMin 