Blog

  • Boundary

    Video Broadcast on October 3, 2020

    Concepts

    • Mathematics
      Boundary Point
      Boundary Value
    • Physical Boundary
    • Mental Boundary
    • Boundary Road
      Dhamma Zedi Lann
    • Boundary Road School
      PPBRS (Private Primary BRS)
      PBRS (Private BRS)

    Micro Saya Pu Zaw Pwe

    • Teacher Kywe (Karen Christian)
      Infant (B) / Middle KG class and Music
      Transformed me into Life Long Learner

    Miscellaneous

    • Prizes
    • Story books
    • Aesop’s Fables (translated by Min Yu Way and Ngwe Tar Yi)
    • Thermos Flask (for reciting Mingalar Kabyar)

    Activities

    • Concert
    • Selected Sports

    Gone But Not Forgotten

    • U Kyaw Zaw and Teacher Ah Mar (Daw Khin Khin Aye)
    • Tin Maung Thant (son of U Thant)
    • Myat Hla Sein (son of Shwe Nyar Maung / U Chin Sein)
    • Myint Sein (Veda)
    • Nay Win (M69)
    • Myo Set (son of Tha Gaung Gyi)
  • Complementary Skills

    Video Broadcast on December 20, 2020

    • The success of a company or a product often requires complementary skills.
    • Three examples are provided.

    Microsoft

    • Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, passed away at the age of 65. He had the technical expertise.
    • Bill Gates had the business acumen to turn Paul Allen’s ideas into products.
    • The two were complementary.

    Apple

    • Steve Wozniak is fondly called Woz (Wizard of Oz).
      He built the microcomputer and wanted to give it free to the members of the Home Brew Computer Club.
      After retiring from Apple, he returned to school under an assumed name.
    • Steve Jobs had the business acumen and persuaded Woz to form Apple Computers.
    • The two were complementary.

    Music

    • Oscar Hammerstein wrote beautiful lyrics.
    • Richard Rodgers was a talented composer.
    • The two were complementary.
      They combined their talents to produce hits for Broadway Musicals and Hollywood Movies.
      Their works include “Oklahoma”, “Sound of Music”, “South Pacific” and “My Fair Lady”.

    Miscellaneous

    • Bricklin and Frankston
      Creators of VisiCalc
    • Albert Einstein
      Work reviewed by his first wife
  • Chemistry

    Video Broadcast on September 28, 2020

    Introduction

    • Studied basics of Chemistry as part of General Science

    Dhatu Beda (Chemistry in Burmese)

    • Took “Dhatu Beda” in the first ever HSF Only examination in 1962.
    • Maung Maung Kyi (SPHS) scored the highest marks in Chemistry.
      He had Distinction in Chemistry also in Matriculation and I.Sc(A).
      Chemical Engineering (specializing in Pulp and Paper) from Dresden, Germany.

    Chemistry (in English)

    • Took Chemistry in the first ever Matriculation Only examination in 1963.
    • Khin Maung U (SPHS) scored a perfect 100 and stood first in Burma.
    • Grapevine says that the Physics examiners reluctantly took away a mark from Khin Maung U’s perfect score. He ended up with 99 marks in Physics, 100 marks in Chemistry and 100 marks in Mathematics.

    Pros and Cons

    • Guinea pigs for the Education System.
    • Lost one year in the process, but learned some “Translation”.

    Our Chemistry Sayas

    • Saya Cecil D’Cruz (SPHS, Chemistry Saya, GBNF) moved to Australia and worked as librarian.
    • I.Sc(A) : Daw Khin Khin Aye
    • 2nd BE : Daw Thaung Khin (later Dr) …

    Chemistry Sayas

    U Po Tha

    • First native Professor of Chemistry at Rangoon University
    • Nephew : U Aung Khin (retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
    • Served as an Interim Dean of Engineering at Rangoon University.
    • Wrote Foreword for a book by Dr. Htin Aung

    U Aung Khin

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    U Aung Khin
    • Saya succeeded U Po Tha as Professor
    • Cousin : U Khin Maung Myint
    • Children : Robert and Maureen (GBNF)

    Mehm Thet San

    • Doctorate from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC)
    • Room mate at UIUC : Dr. Yan Naing Lwin
    • Director General of CRO
    • Deputy Minister.
    • Per U Aye (M62, HIC/ FAO/UN (Retired)) :
      Dr. Mehm Thet San was from Kadoe- Kaw Hnat, near Moulmein.
      He matriculated from St, Patrick’s HS, Moulmein, in 1947.
      He was our Dy. Minister for Industry.

    Mehm Tin Mon

    • Principal of Moulmein College.
    • Professor and Adviser at IMBTU.
    • Bilingual author
    • Wrote and taught “condensed” courses in Abhidhamma.
    • Daughter : Dr. Mi Sandar Mon (Mechanical Engineering Professor).

    Dr. Ko Gyi

    • Met Saya when I attended the Head of Department meeting(s) as a representative from ICST.

    Dr. Soe Win

    • Stood first in the Matriculation examination in 1958.
    • Father : Saya Sein (Our Burmese teacher in SPHS)
    • Spouse : Daw May Saw Lwin
    • Sons : U Aung Mon, Dr. Nyi Thet Lwin
    • Took Chemistry Honors
    • Joined the Chemistry Department of Rangoon University
    • Doctorate from Imperial College, University of London
    • Retired as Rector of YUFL (Yangon University of Foreign Languages).

    Some Other Sayas and Sayamas

    • Dr. U Aung
      Brother : U Soe Thein (UCC)
    • Dr. Aung Myint
      Former Head, Workers’ College
      Once known for his long hair and Yaung Don
    • Daw Khin Aye
      Spouse : Dr. Myint Thein
    • Daw Khin Aye Than
      Lu Ye Chun for 3rd year in the summer of 1965
    • U Khin Maung Myint
      Spouse : Daw Than Than
      Moved to USA
    • U Khin Maung Zaw Taught at IM(1)
    • Dr. Khin Mar Tun
      Spouse : U Nyunt Win
    • U Khin Zaw (Workers’ College)
      Requested “Chemistry Mi Thar Su” to help teach (on line)
    • U Kyaw Zaw
    • U Kyaw Tun
      Taught at Chemical Engineering Department
      Transferred to Chemistry
      Spouse : Daw Than Than
      Moved to Canada for some time
    • Daw Kyi Kyi Tin (PBRS, Workers’ College, Assumption University)
    • Daw May Saw Lwin
      Spouse : Dr. Soe Win
    • Dr. Myint Oo
      Attended UCC courses.
    • Dr. Myint Thein
      First Myanmar to study Nuclear Chemistry in the US
      Spouse : Daw Khin Aye
    • Dr. Myint Tun (Henry Cho Tun, SPHS60)
      Collegiate Scholarship in the Matriculation examination of 1960
      Gold Medal for I.Sc.
    • U Nyunt Win
      Early Associate Professor
      Brothers : Dr. Ohn Kyaw, Dr. Myo Nyunt
      Spouse : Dr. Khin Mar Tun
    • Dr. Ohn Kyaw
      Brother : U Nyunt Win, Dr. Myo Nyunt
    • Daw Than Than
      Spouse : U Kyaw Tun
      Moved to Canada for some time
    • Daw Than Than
      Spouse : U Khin Maung Myint
      Moved to USA
    • Dr. Than Than Nyein
      Sister : Daw Yin Yin Waing
      Requested former students not to invite her to the Acariya Pu Zaw Pwes (in order to concentrate on her meditation practice)
    • Dr. Daw Thaung Khin
      Head of RIT Chemistry Department.
    • Dr. Thein Aung (GBNF)
      Warden of Thaton Hall.
      Principal of Pathein College
      Spouse : Daw Than Sein, Myanmar sar (Burmese Dept)
      He and his wife passed away recently.
    • Dr. Thein Aung
      Taught at RIT before moving abroad.
    • Dr. Tin Win (David)
    • Dr. Tin Win (Alan)
      Moved to Thailand
    • U Yu Htay
    • Dr. Zeya (Moved to Canada)

    Miscellaneous

    • Branches of Chemistry
    • Relationship with other disciplines
    • Bridge : IC – Chemical Engineering
    • Dr. Myint Han (SPHS59, 9th)
      Studied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
      CRO,
      won awards from Sweden
    • U Ye Myint
      Played soccer and badminton
      RASU Lu Ye Chun for 2nd year in the summer of 1965.
    • U Maung Maung Kyi (SPHS63)
      Highest marks in Chemistry in the first ever High School Final Only examination in 1962.
      Stood 11th in Burma in Matriculation examination in 1963 and was awarded Collegiate Scholarship.
      Gained distinctions in Chemistry in the first ever Matriculation only examination and the last I.Sc.(A) examination.
      When the schools were closed, he applied for a scholarship to study Chemical Engineering (with specialty in Pulp and Paper) in Germany.

    Some Chemistry Graduates

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    Chem 67 – 71

    Dr. Soe Win and Daw May Saw Lwin

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    Chem 1
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    Chem 2
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    Chem 3

    At Geeta Hewun

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    Daw May Saw Lwin 1
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    Daw May Saw Lwin 2
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    Daw May Saw Lwin 3

  • Chemical Engineering

    Video Broadcast on December 30, 2020

    • Beginning
      Application of Chemistry to Industry and/or Engineering
      Work Unit and Process Flow
    • Related to several disciplines / subjects
    • Applications : Plants, Factories, Refineries, Paper Mills, …
    • Saya U Khin Aung Kyi (GBNF)
      7th in Burma in Matriculation of 1949
      BS and MS in ChE from MIT
      Joined Faculty as Assistant Lecturer
      Promotions : Lecturer, Professor, Rector
    • Saya U Kyaw Tun and Sayama Daw Than Than
      Chemistry and ChE
    • Dr. Myint Han
      Chemistry and ChE
    • Dr. Than Htike
      IC and ChE
    • Course offered at RU in 1953
      With the help of Indian Contractor / Sayas
    • First batch of graduates in 1957
      Saya Dr. Hla Myint (Mack)
      worked in Thailand and Australia
    • Saya Dr. Maung Maung Win (ChE60, GBNF)
      Professor
    • Pauline Reynolds (ChE61)
      First female ChE in Burma; moved to Thailand
    • Dr. Min Kwan Than (ChE62)
      Moved to USA
    • Saya Dr. Tin Aung (K C Chiu, ChE63)
      Past President, BEA
    • Sayama Daw Tin Myint
    • Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66)
      Founding member, RIT Alumni International
      Founding member and Past President, NorCal RITAA
    • Saya U Myat Thwin (Keusan Lin, ChE66)
      Worked in Texas
    • Saya U Htun Aung Kyaw (ChE67)
      Worked in Thailand; moved to USA
    • Saya U Ohn Maung (ChE68)
      Moved to Singapore
    • Saya Dr. Taing Oke (ChE69)
      Moved to Japan
    • Sayamas Daw Tin Tin Myint (Emma), Daw Khin Swe Aye (Winnie), … (ChE70)
    • U Win Paing (ChE70)
      Sayadaw U Wara , Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung
    • U Khin Maung Myint and Daw Mai Khin Nyunt (ChE71)
    • Saya U Aung Myaing and Daw Gyn Yu (ChE72)

  • Cards

    Video Broadcast on October 1, 2020

    Different kinds of Cards

    • ID : for identification
    • Credit Card
    • Debit Card
    • Cash Card
    • Prepaid Card
    • Greeting Card
    • Playing Cards

    Standard Deck

    • 52 cards
    • Jokers / Wild Cards

    Four Suits

    • May signify the four seasons or the four quarters of a year
    • Usually called Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades
      (Implicit ordering of the suits in some games such as Bridge)

    13 cards in a Suit : may signify the number of weeks in a season or quarter

    52 cards in a Deck : may signify the number of weeks in a year

    2 colors

    • Usually Black and Red
    • May signify two-valued concepts (e.g Ying and Yang)
    • Model for Deque (Double Ended Queue)
    • Data structure
    • Items can be added to both ends of a Deque, and can be retrieved from both ends.
    • With restrictions, a Deque can be used as FIFO (First In First Out) Queue and LIFO (Last In First Out) Stack.

    Bridge

    • Card Game requiring intellect, communication and finesse.
    • Championships
    • Ivan Lee (Khin Maung Oo, M69) is a Life Time Platinum in Bridge (after completing Bronze, Silver and Gold).

    Solitaire

    • Collection of Card Games that can be played by a person.
    • May be played on a computer.
    • I spent a lot of time (several months) to earn and defend “Daily Challenge” title (five games of varying complexity every day for the whole month).

    Card Games (involving betting)

    • Games in Myanmar
      (e.g Koe Mee and variants)
    • Casino
      (e.g Black Jack, Poker and variants)
    • Computers and Online
  • Calamity

    Video Broadcast on August 27, 2020

    Types of Calamity

    • Famine
      e.g. caused by natural disasters
    • Disease / Pandemic
      e.g. COVID-19
    • War
      e.g. Second World War

    Miscellaneous

    • Prevention
    • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
      See related posts
  • Volleyball

    Video Broadcast on December 22, 2020

    SEAP Games Volleyball Champions

    by U Aye (M62, RU Selected), HIC/FAO/UN(Retired)

    Ko Kyaw Han from RU Forestry was Burma selected player in 1961 SEAP Games in which Burma won gold medal. The team was led by Ko Kyaw Nyunt (1), we called him Ah Kogyi.

    • Ko Kyaw Nyunt (1), Record Office, Defence Services, Captain
    • Ko San Aye, 5th Buriff.
    • Ko Soe Myint, RODS
    • Ko Ohn Shwe, RODS
    • Ko Maung Ni, RODS
    • Ko Kyaw Nyunt (2), Insein, (Burma Railways)
    • Ko Tin Ohn, Insein, (Burma Railways)
    • Ko Kyaw Han, RU
    • Ko San Dwe, 5th Buriff
    • The Coach was U Myat Tun Aung.

    Burma selected team came to practice with our RU team almost daily before the game.

    Ko Nay Aung (RU), Ko Shwe Kyaw (M63), and I (Ko Aye(M62)) were called in to participate in the team of judges for the volleyball in the SEAP games (in December 1961).

    Scoring

    • Side Out Scoring
      15 points per game
      Best of Three
    • Rally Scoring
      25 points per game
      Best of Five
      5th game : 15 points
    • Outdoor (Beach)
      21 points per game
      Best of Three
      3rd game : 15 points

    Competitions

    • World Championship
    • Olympics
    • National
    • Inter-Institute

    Game

    Volleyball is played by two teams of six players each. Players may have roles (e.g. striker, lifter). Some teams had four strikers and two lifters. Some teams prefer to have five strikers and a lifter. A few teams have all players do the spiking and lifting.

    There are rule changes over the years. In the early days, only the serving team can score. Later, any team (serving or defending) can score, but the game score was raised to 25.

    We saw a documentary on how Japan selected and trained tall and/or strong females with no [international] experience to compete in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Japan won the gold medal for Women’s Volleyball.

    Beach Volleyball is played by two teams of two players each. Each player has to lift and strike.

    Burma Selected

    Ko Thar Din (EC79), who represented RIT and Burma, moved to the USA.

    Other non-alumni who represented Burma include Ko Than Soe (3rd of 9 Wan brothers from St. Paul’s) and Ko Ohn Shein.

    Early selected :
    Members of the SEAP Games Championship Team,
    U Tin Maung Swe,
    U Khin Maung Htwe,

    RIT

    Ko Aung Khin (M67), Saw Edison (EP69) and Saw Orson (A) represented RIT.

    Per Ko Hla Kyi (EC77), RIT Volleyball team was Insein Township champion for 3 times around 1975 – 77. More than 2/3 of RIT students are Insein Township Volleyball selection.

    Ko Aye Thein, Sa Maung Maung, Ko Myint Maung (Bu) and Saw Edison (all EP69) represented EE in the Inter Department tournament.

    UCC

    UCC staff (Saya U Ko Ko Lay, U Kyaw Nyein, U Thein Oo, …) and some users played friendly matches. Ma Judy (Nwe Nwe Win) was often the sixth player on the men’s team.

    Rangoon University Volleyball activities from 1958-62
    Contributed by U Aye (M 62), HIC, FAO/ UN (Retired)


    I arrived first year Engg. in 1958-59, playing for Prome Hall. Team members – Ko Hla Aye (M59) Capt. ( Also Capt of Moulmein district volleyball team and Capt of RU football team), Ko Tin Nyunt (Mr RU and Mr Burma, junior), Ko Aye (M62), Ko Ba Swe (C 60), Bran Dev (C 59) (RU football forward), Ko Than Aung, (Prome hall football team), and Ko Boon Hoke. Our team was one of the strongest teams during 1958-59.

    Toungoo Hall- Team members- Ko Aung Than (Capt), Ko Tin Ngwe, Ko Nyi Nyi, Ko Tar, Ko Shwe Kyaw, Ko Hla Thein. Toungoo Hall won the Inter- Hall tournament during 1958-59.

    Ava Hall- Team members – Ko Tin Mg Swe, Ko Kyaw Han, Ko Soe Myint (Also RU football team), Ko Tin Myint, Ko Nay Aung, Ko Thein Han, Ko Soe Nyein.

    Ko Aye led the Ramanya Hall team in 1959-60 and 1960-61, in 1961-62, he played for BIT team along with Ko Shwe Kyaw, Ko Tin Win, Ko Aye Kyu, Ko Ohn Kyaw, Ko Aung Myint, Ko Soe Myint, Ko Kyaw San Win.

    Inter district volleyball tournament followed after inter hostel tournament.

    Moulmein district team- Ko Hla Aye (Capt), Prome Hall, Ko Tin Nyunt (Prome Hall), Ko Aye ( Prome Hall), Ko Aung Myint , Ko Ang Ku, Ko Kyaw Win (Amara Hall). Ko Aye (Capt) led the Moulmein district team in (1959-60, 1960-61, 1961-62). From 1959-62, Ko Tun Lwin (Thaton Hall), JK Sinha (Medical) and Ko Thein Ngwe were selected for the team.

    Prome district team- Ko Tin Mg Swe, Ko Kyaw Han, Ko Soe Nyein, Ko Soe Myint, Ko Tin Myint, Ko Thein Han. ( Prome District won the Inter-district tournament during 1958-59).

    Mandalay Hall became a prominent team in later years, led by Ko Pyone ( also RU footballer), Saw Bio Sonny ( also RU footballer). Ko Pyone and Bio Sonny also played for Pyapon district team.

    Thanlyin District team- Ko Nay Aung, Ko Tar, Ko Hla Kyi and co.

    Tharawaddy District team- Ko Nyi Nyi (Toungoo hall), Ko Thein Han and co.

    Mandalay Hall – Ko Pyone, Ko Bio Sonny, Ko Kyaw Oo and co.

    Pyapon District team- Ko Pyone, Ko Bio Sonny, Ko Kyaw Oo and co.

    After I graduated in 1962, Ko Shwe Kyaw told me that a new RUVC was elected with Ko Tin Ngwe ( Toungoo hall) as President and Ko Kyaw Oo as Secretary for 1962-63. Probably Ko Shwe Kyaw was also in the EC.

  • University

    Video Broadcast on August 28, 2020

    • College
    • Institute
    • School
    • Multi-disciplinary projects

    Early Universities

    • Europe (e.g. Italy)
    • Later in UK (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge)
    • In USA (e.g. Ivy League Schools)

    Professor

    • Assistant Professor
    • Associate Professor
    • Professor
    • University Professor
    • Tenured Professor
    • Visiting Professor
    • Emeritus Professor

    Rangoon University

    • Started with two constituent Colleges in 1920
    • Rangoon College
    • Judson College

    Faculties and Deans

    • Arts
    • Science
    • Social Science
    • Law
    • Engineering
    • Medicine
    • Notes :
    • Mathematics Department was initially under the Faculty of Arts.
      Saya U Aung Hla served as Professor of Mathematics and Dean of Arts.
      Later, it was under the Faculty of Science.
    • In November 1970, a new Education System was implemented.
      Most of the Faculties of Rangoon University became autonomous Insitutes.
      e.g. Institute of Economics
      Institute of Education
      Institute of Medicine
      Rangoon Institute of Technology
    • In the 1990s, there were more renaming.
      e.g. University of Medicine
      Yangon Technological University
  • Time

    Video Broadcast on August 29, 2020

    • Concept of Time and Time Arrow
    • Calendar
      See related posts
    • Clock
      See related posts
    • Sun dial
    • Water clock (old Myanmar)
    • Time management
      See related posts
  • Sayas

    Video Broadcast

    U Pe Maung Tin

    U Pe Maung Tin
    • Pali and Burmese Scholar
    • First native Principal, Rangoon College
    • Proposed Burmese Department as a separate language
    • Early students include
      Theikpan Maung Wa (ICS U Sein Tin)
      Zawgyi (Saya U Thein Han)
      Minthuwun (Saya U Wun)
      Daw Khin Saw Mu

    Dr. Htin Aung

    Dr. Htin Aung
    • Scholar and Prolific Writer
    • First native Rector, Rangoon University
    • Burmese Ambassador to Ceylon

    U Aung Hla

    • First native Professor of Mathematics
    • Dean, Faculty of Arts
    • Compiled notes for Burmese music

    Dr. Maung Maung Kha

    Dr. Maung Maung Kha
    • First native Professor of Physics, RU
    • Interim Dean, Faculty of Engineering
    • Rector, Rangoon University
    • Rector, Rangoon Arts and Science University
    • Rector, Rangoon University Distance Learning
    • Patron, Tekkatho Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thinn
    • Centennial (Celebrated by former colleagues and students)

    U Ba Toke

    U Ba Toke
    • Phwa Bet Taw of 1920 RU Act and First RU Students’ Strike
    • Professor of Mathematics, RASU
    • Rector, MASU
    • Professor of Engineering Mathematics, RIT
    • Associate Dean, Assumption University
    • Vice Chair, RU Sports Council
    • Leader, Burma Olympic Team for 1964 Tokyo Olympics
    • Passed away on December 2, 2020
      The day after RU Centennial Celebrations
      A few days short of his 100th Birthday

    U Ba Hli

    • First native Dean of Engineering, Rangoon University
    • Proponent of “Twinning Universities” with prestigious universities in the USA
    • Professor, Civil Engineering, Rangoon University
    • Principal of GTI
    • Son : Dr. Freddie Ba Hli, Sc.D, MIT