A University is usually a collection of colleges or schools.
Oxford University and Cambridge University have constituent colleges (e.g. King’s College, Trinity College)
Harvard University have constituent schools (e.g. Law School, Business School, Divinity School)
In the early Colonial era, educators and politicians requested to have an independent university in Burma, but to no avail.
The colleges had to be affiliated with a university (e.g. Calcutta University).
The colleges could not offer disciplines such as Medicine and Engineering.
Dr. Tin Wa wrote :
Before the colleges and universities, the British offered what is called First Arts (FA) which is an equivalent of Intermediate Part B. That is a two year college degree. My grandfather U Ohn Pe, was one of those who was awarded with First Arts who later became the Chief Translator at the British High Court for the cases that came before it.
Rangoon University
On December 1st, 1920, a law was enacted to establish Rangoon University with two constituent colleges : Rangoon College and Judson College.
RU Golden Jubilee in 1970
The Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1970.
I had a small part as a volunteer member of the “Zay Nay Yar Cha Htar Yay Ah Phwe”.
I remember Academy Maung Maung Tar (actor) reserving a booth to promote and sell cosmetics.
Play Boys (then an amateur band) wanted to have a high stage and give a public performance.
There were several committees : one with Saya Dr. Aung Gyi as Chair and Saya U Thet Lwin as Secretary.
RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins took part in the Entertainment Program. RIT belles performed the “Htee Yein”. Swel Daw Yeik Ah Nyeint featured Minthamees and Lu Shwin Daws. Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) and Saya U Saw Tun (Burmese, now in NIU) were Patrons.
There was a commemorative issue.
It had a reprint of Bogyoke Aung San’s rendition of “Invictus”.
It also had an article on the early days at the Faculty of Engineering by U Hla Maung (who graduated in 1928). It was a source for the “History of Myanmar Engineering Education (HMEE)” book published in 2012.
First RU Strike
Several students did not like the limitations of the Rangoon University Act of 1920.
They decided to protest on December 7, 1920.
The news was leaked to the authorities.
The core members decided to start the strike on the evening of December 5, 1920.
On Shwe Dagon pagoda, there is an inscription honoring the students in the strike.
Mr. Matthew Hunter, Principal, met the students and requested them to end the strike.
One student said, “We are not striking against you. We are asking for changes to the education system.”
The strike resulted in the establishment of national schools and national college.
It also caused enhancements to the Act to provide “greater” autonomy and “better” education system.
The event is celebrated as “Ah Myo Tha Aung Bwe Nay” (National Day).
Thakin Ko Daw Hmaing, Ah Myo Thar Pyinnya Wun U Po Kyar, Arzani U Razak, U Nu (first and last Prime Minister of the Union of Burma) and U Thant (3rd UNSG, first among the Asians) are some outstanding teachers and administrators from the national schools.
Education Systems
In November, 1964 a “new” Education System was established.
Several Faculties from Rangoon University became Institutes. For example,
Institute of Medicine
Rangoon Institute of Technology
Institute of Economics
Institute of Education
A few faculties (e.g. Arts, Science) were placed under the “Arts and Science University”. For example,
RASU (Rangoon Arts and Science University)
MASU (Mandalay Arts and Science University)
Subsequent changes to the education system saw a proliferation of Universities.
The first East Coast Reunion took place in Virginia in 2009.
U Kyaw Than (M58, ex-UBA, Canada) was one of the senior alumni.
His spouse Rosemary Than was a sister of Veronica (my primary school classmate, Gangaw Travel)
Sometime back Rosemary messaged me with a request for the contact information of a common friend.
She then added that U Kyaw Than has passed away.
U Nyein Min (C79, Virginia) operated “Wunna Construction” (named after his son). He is the cousin of U Thura Thant Zin (M76, Southern California). He invited his classmate friend U San Myint Than (Sammy, EC79, Texas) to come and help organize the gathering.
Dr. L. Sein Myint (M73, Maryland) is one of the organizers. He is the younger brother of U L. Kyee Myint (early Chartered Accountant) and U L. Than Myint (M63, RUBC Gold). He studied in UK and worked in several places (including Alaska and Malaysia). He told me that he would pick me up at the airport and host me.
Most of the attendees were from East Coast (e.g. New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey) and Canada
I flew in from Northern California
Saya U Tin Htut (M69) flew in from Southern California
U Tha Aung (M), Daw Kinsa Maw Naing (ChE) and several others were from Canada
During my trip, Dr. L Sein Myint, U Wynn Myint Aung (EC76, Frederick, Maryland), U Htin Linn (ex-PTC, Washington, D.C. ) and my uncle U Thein Han (Silver Spring, Maryland) hosted me.
Dr. Win Aung (M62, iNeer) and spouse hosted a dinner for us. His father Saya C Ping Lee joined Saya U Kyaw Tun as the early EE sayas. H.E. U Than Aung (Education) asked his former student C. Ping Lee to head the Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education. Dr. Win Aung wrote an article about his father for SPZP-2000.
6th Poetic Art of a group of Alumni of the well-known RIT ( Rangoon Institute of Technology), Myanmar. They are engineers with remarkabe career on the one hand, but on the other hand, they are trying to disseminate innate nature and life style of Myanmar by poetic art depicting short but complete poems.
Please enjoy this poetic art about how the poet had an unforgettable heartfelt night by watching the dancing of a beautiful dancer of a traditional dancing troupe.
Thanks a lot Ko Zaw Min [Nawaday] for your interesting reminiscences (RIT 1964 – 1970)
I would like to sprinkle some sesame (Nhan Phyu).
Boxing
The boxing tournament was held in the lawn in front of C and D block. I remember two of our seniors went up the ring and had some jovial boxing making us LOL. Ko Zaw Win and Ko Min Kyi (both M 67) were the two, if I can rely on my memory. There was no square concrete monument at that time.
Sayas and Sayamas at RIT in 1964
The list is not comprehensive. It contains the names of most RIT sayas in 1964 (when we started attending classes).
There are several sayas (Dr. Aung Gyi, U Aung Khin, …) who were abroad on deputation, and some who did not teach us.
Burmese Department : U Tein Kyi (Head), U Tin Shwe, Daw Khin Than Myint, Daw Hla Myint, U Tin Win, …
English Department : Daw Yin Yin Mya (Head), Daw Khin Win Kyi, U Sao Kan Gyi (GBNF), Daw Naw Charity Sein Oo, U Joe Ba Maung (GBNF), Mr. Desmond Rodgers (Canada), U Khin (Taiwan), U Kyaw Lwin Hla (UNDP), …
Mathematics Department: U Sein Shan (Head, GBNF), U Shwe Hlaing, U Ko Ko Gyi (GBNF), U Tun Shein (GBNF), U Aung Soe, U Than Lwin, U Thein Han (Austraila), …
Physics Department : Daw Nyein (Head, GBNF), Daw May Than Nwe (GBNF), U Saw Hlaing (GBNF), Mr. Robert Pho Yein (GBNF), U Nyunt Yin, Daw Thaung Nwe, Daw Aye Yi, …
Chemistry Department : U Kyaw Tun (Head), Daw May Chit, Daw A Mar Sein, U Morris Kyaw Zaw, Daw Win Win, U Ba Ti, Daw Rosie Kwet Kaw (USA), Daw Win Myaing, U Pike Htwe, Daw Tin May Latt (Betty, GBNF), Daw Than Than (GBNF), …
Mechanical Department : U Ba Than (Head), U Kyin Soe, U Tin Hlaing (GBNF), U Mg Mg Win (Australia), U Tu Myint, U Arya, U Soe Lwin, U S Kyaw Aye, U Phone Myint, U Win, U Khin Mg (GBNF), Dr. Tin Hlaing (Singapore), U Myo Win (GBNF), U Tin Htut (USA), U Han Tun (GBNF), …
Electrical Department : U Sein Hlaing (Head, GBNF), U Kyaw Tun (GBNF), U Tin Swe (GBNF), U Sein Win (GBNF), U Soe Paing (UCC, UN), U Khine Oo, U Myo Kyi, U Sein Mg, U Ba Myint, U Tin Shwe (GBNF), U Thein Lwin (GBNF), U Soe Min (GBNF), U Nyi Nyi (UK), …
Chemical Department : U Khin Aung Kyi (Head, GBNF), Dr. Hla Myint (Australia), …
Civil Department: U Min Wun (Head, USA), Dr. San Hla Aung (USA), U Allen Htay (GBNF), U Khin Mg Phone Ko (Singapore), U Thein Tan, …
Metallurgy Department : U Thit (Head, GBNF), U Aung Hla Tun, …
Mining Department : U Soon Sein (Head, GBNF), U Win Kyaing (GBNF), …
Textile Department: U Maung Maung Than (Head, GBNF), U Shwe Yi (GBNF), Daw Tin Tin Ohn (GBNF), …
Architecture Department : U Myo Myint Sein (Head, USA), Dr. Lwin Aung (Sayadaw), …
Workshop Department : Mr. Simons (Head, GBNF), U Phone Myint, …
We had to do practical works on blacksmith and carpentry in the first year. All first year students male and female had to do it. Mr. Simons, father of Victoria Simons (Met 70), was head of the department and U Phone Myint assistant head. Most popular among students was U Chit the blacksmith. U Chit had passed away a few years back.
Food stalls
The so called canteen in our first year days was a small open air building with roof and sort of concrete flooring, just like a zayat. But the location is very strategic for us male students. The road from the roofed walkway leading to G Hall is in front of it so G Hall students and their friends had to use that only road going to and from the main building to the Hall. Just imagine how much we enjoy sitting in the canteen. Of course one thing is we had no choice than to eat Si Kyet Khauk Swel, drink tea coffee or cold drinks at that canteen. I remember the price of the Si Kyet Khauk Swe was 50 pyas, and special one 75 pyas.
There was also a stall selling tit bits (snacks, cigars, cigarettes and betel) at the corner of the roofed walkway from the main building to dining hall and hostels. (That walkway covered the sunshine only but couldn’t cover the heavy rains with strong winds. We all were soaked like rats in water pail sometimes walking along that walkway in the rainy seasons.) The owner of the stall was a middle-aged lady. Later U Chit also opened a Mont Hin Ga stall in the mornings near the dining hall. There was also a food shop at Gyogone junction outside the RIT compound known as Ma Tin Aye’s shop.
The new open shed to accommodate food stalls was built on the space between the small canteen and dining hall. I am not sure when new stalls came in to sell foods. At the time there was only one shed facing the dining hall. Later another shed was built on the opposite side also.
I remembered the shop named “Aung Theik Pan”, especially the two siblings of the owner. They are Po Po, elder girl and her young brother Aw Tee. Of course we couldn’t go to that shops frequently but sometimes when we had sponsors and during the holidays when the dining hall was closed.
Film Shows
The film shows at the Assembly Hall once a week were enjoyable. There were good films both foreign and local. Thin and lanky Ko Khin Mg Yin was the electrician and operated the film projector. He had passed away already.
Summer training and courses
During our 2nd year summer holidays, some students who didn’t join UTC camp attended the First Aid course. I attended the course but couldn’t recall my memory about it.
From 3rd year onward, we had to undergo practical industrial training at factories and dockyards during the summer holidays. It was compulsory. I did my training at Mandalay Dockyard (3rd year) Amarapura B.E.M.E base workshop (4th year), and Union of Burma Research Institute (5th and Final year).
Architecture students went to places where they can see and learn about the historical buildings and our ancestors’ architectural talents.
Civil Engineering students went to Maymyo for the practical training on Surveying and other related studies. Other engineering disciple students went to their related industrial factories. These arrangements were beneficial to us and the industrial experiences we gained were of much help later in our work life.
Hostel life
As a hostel student we have to mingle not only with our classmates but also with our seniors and juniors. Due to our moving from one block to another at random rather than stay put in one block and room, our circle of friends become bigger and bigger as we advance to our final years.
From second year onward, the blocks and rooms were allocated by drawing lots. So we did not know which hall will be our next year’s place and who our neighbors will be. We can choose our room mates in advance. The floors of the blocks are already fixed for which year students to stay. The uppermost floors of A,B,C,D,E blocks, corridor rooms between A&B, B&C, and D&E are mostly for fifth and final year students. F block is for final year students only. Inle Hall is mainly for first year students.With this system of allocating rooms, we tend to have more close friends with those from one year senior and one year junior. I think this is one main factor in fostering our RIT spirit which we showed vehemently in Inter-Institute Sports meetings (as Ko Zaw Min mentioned), and later in our work and social lives.
How I got my nickname “Gaing Gyi”
Brother asked my father what my name was. When he told my name, the brother put down on paper as “Ohn Gaing” with the guttural sound of the second word. I was an overweight and chubby boy then. I remembered whenever I put on long pants our family doctor would call me “Lu Win Sin Nauk Paing” and told me that it was not an English name but the hind part of Kyauk Se Elephant.
Those who had seen the Kyauk Se Elephant will have in their eyes how I look like at that time. From thence my friends jokingly called me “Gan Gyi” meaning big hip. Up till Matriculation class I was called by that name among friends. Rarely will they call me “Ohn Khine”.
When I joined RIT together with eleven of our friends from St Peter’s, these friends were so used to call me “Gaing Gyi” before. So after a while, I was known by that name among my friends’ friends, and they started to call me by that name. Some called me “Khine Gyi”, but the guttural sound seemed like easy to call and that was how I came to be called. In my work also my colleagues addressed me by that name up till now. I changed my name’s spelling to “Ohn Khine” when I joined RIT.
Editor’s Notes
We request sayas and colleagues to point out the errors and discrepancies.
Supplementary material
Memories of RIT by Ko Zaw Min Nawaday (EP70)
Articles by Daw Than Yi (EP70, “Maubin Ma Shwe Than”)
Pamphlets/booklets by the “Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65”
Photo Albums
RIT Students’ Guide e.g. one in possession by Ko Benny Tan (M70)
HMEE-2012 by Saya U Aung Hla Tun & team Ko Ohn Khine and I compiled the CD Supplement for the HMEE-2012 Book
RIT Alumni International Newsletter and Updates
CD Supplement compiled by U Ohn Khine (M70) and U Hla Min (EC69)
During our younger days, we attended “Sar Pay Haw Pyaw Pwes”.
They took place at Research Congress, Social and Reading Clubs, Recreation Center, Schools, Libraries and even at the village wards.
Literary Talks are also held outside Myanmar by the literary lovers.
For more than a decade, there were Annual and ad-hoc San Francisco Bay Area Talks.
Past speakers include Kyemon U Thaung (Aung Bala), Director Win Pe, Tin Moe (U Ba Gyan), Maung Swan Yi, Shwe Ku May Hnin, Tin Maung Maung Than, Min Ko Naing and Aw Pi Kyeh.
Made in Myanmar
In 2018, Aw Pi Kye and Min Ko Naing were invited speakers from Myanmar.
Aw Pi Kyeh is from the Class of 81/82.
As “Mann Bei”, he contributed and managed the RIT Cartoon Box.
He served as Secretary of the RIT Cartoon Association.
Later, he headed the Myanmar Cartoonists Association.
He spoke about “Made in Myanmar“. His talk displayed wit, humor, reasoning and philosophy.
He lamented the loss of countless lives in Cyclone Nargis due to “insufficient knowledge” (e.g. about Disaster Recovery).
He pointed out that his dress is made from neighboring countries. Shouldn’t one proudly support “Made in Myanmar” products?
During his study at Harvard, he proudly spent US$30 to buy a backpack labeled “Made in Myanmar”. His friend bought a similar backpack but labeled “Made in Sri Lanka”. The seam of his back pack broke after a week. Before his return to Myanmar, his friend gave him his backpack. He felt somewhat mad, but accepted it. He went on to use the backpack in Myanmar until it got discolored and his spouse asked him to stop using it. The message is that one not only needs Cetana but also the skills to provide “added advantage”.
He gave examples of how others (nations and their companies) used our natural resources and our local talents to create products (and often sell them back at profit).
He requested those overseas to use “conversion” to understand the “thinking” of those living in Myanmar (possibly most of their lives) as a baby step to help making “Made in Myanmar” proud and reliable.
Met Victor at the gatherings of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65 in Yangon.
One gathering was hosted by U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70) at a sea food restaurant. Victor gave me a ride.
Another gathering was at the Reunion and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of the Combined 1st BE Intake of 64 and 65 at the Assembly Hall in Gyogone Campus. He was among the those seated on chairs. Most of them had medical problems, but came to pay respect to their sayas and sayamas.
U Ohn Khine (M70) sent the news the demise via the Google Group.
The “Soon Kwyay Invitation” forwarded by my son (who was a classmate of Victor’s elder son) lists the family members.
HlaMin 