HlaMin

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  • Maths Sayas

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    U Kar

    (5/Apr/1894 to 21/May/1974)

    • Passed away at the age of 81
    • Taught Mathematics at RU
    • Education Minister in the Caretaker Government
    • Rector, RASU
    • Children : Saya Dr. Tin Maung and Sayama Daw Thein.

    U Aung Hla

    (18/Apr/1896 to 13/Dec/1983)

    • Passed away at the age of 88.
    • Professor of Maths, RU
    • Dean of Arts, RU
    • Accomplished musician
    • Annotated 25 Burmese songs.
    • Spouse : Daw May Than was a nationally known singer.
    • Son : U Mya Than played the lead guitar & piano.

    U Po Thon

    (27/Jul/1899 to 23/Nov/1982)

    • Passed away at the age of 84.
    • Pyinnya Mingyi ပညာမင်းကြီး
    • Supervised & published Maths texts for use in schools.

    U Net

    (15/Jan/1918 to 26/Feb/2003)

    • Passed away at the age of 86.
    • Professor of Maths, MASU
    • Feather of Daw Khin Mar Mar (Physics & UCC) & grandfather of Wunna Ko Ko, webmaster of second RIT web site.

    U Ba Toke

    (26/Dec/1920 to 2/Dec/2020)

    Book
    • Phwa Bet Taw ဖွားဘက်တော် of “Rangoon University” and “First RU Student Boycott” (which is celebrated as “Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay” အမျိုးသားအောင်ပွဲနေ့ )
    • Professor of Maths, RASU
    • Rector, MASU
    • Professor of Maths, RIT
    • Vice Chair of Maths, Assumption University
    • Mandalay University Soccer Selected
    • Chinlon expert
    • Vice chair, RU Sports Council
    • Led the Burmese Olympic team to Tokyo in 1964.
    • Gave interviews (three C-90 tapes) and documents (4 files) to Saya Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Tekkatho Maung Thin Char). The book was published in April 2010 & was distributed on Sayagyi’s 90th birthday.

    Updates

    • Many sayas — including those mentioned in the post are GBNF.
    • Other GBNF sayas include Dr. Chit Swe, Dr. Tin Maung, Dr. Saw Tin, Dr. Khin Maung Win, U Tin Hlaing, U Sein Min, U Ko Lay & U Aung Sein

    Posts

    • GBNF
    • Mathematics
    • RU
    • Sayas
    • Universities & Institutes

  • Photo Album

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    RIT Almni

    Dr. Sann Oo 1
    Dr. Sann Oo 2
    Emma
    NorCal 1
    NorCal 2
    NorCal 3
    NorCal 4

    Let Oo Sayas

    Three Generations

    • My beloved parents
    • My spouse and I
    • My elder son
    With my beloved parents

    St. Paul’s High School, Rangoon

    • De la Salle Brothers
    • Sayas / Male teachers
    • Sayamas / Female Teachers
    SPHS Staff

    Dr. Khin Mg Mg & Dr. Rafiul Ahad

    • Dr. Khin Mg Mg (Physics) : Prof and Chair, Physics & Astronomy, University of Mississippi
    • Dr. Rafiul Ahad (Computer Science) : Retired VP, Oracle USA
    KMM RA 1
    KMM RA 2
    KMM RA 3
    KMM RA 4

    Dr. Nyunt Wai (Victor Nyunt)

    • Fourth in Burma in the Matriculation Exam in 1963
    • Retired Professor, Physiology at Institute of Medicine (1) and (2)
    • Taught at Malaysian University
    VNW 1

  • MahaGandayone & U Ba Kyi (Talk)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    Video Broadcast on January 5, 2010

    Illustrated History of Buddhism

    YMBA

    • The Burmese version of the Book was published by YMBA (Young Men’s Buddhist Association) in 1951.
    Mahagandayone Sayadaw
    • YMBA requested Mahagandayone Sayadaw Ashin Janakabhivamsa to write a brief “History of Buddhism” and Artist Saya U Ba Kyi to provide illustrations.
    • U Ba Kyi observed eight precepts for 45 days before undertaking the project.
    • In 1953, U Ba Kyi gained international reputation.
    • In 1954, YMBA published an addendum (English translation of Sayadaw’s text in Burmese) for readers who are not conversant in Burmese.

    TBSA

    Illustrated History of Buddhism
    • Dhammananda Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa sought permission from YMBA to reprint the book with descriptions in both Burmese/Myanmar and English.
    • In 1994, the book was printed and published in the US and was distributed by TBSA (Theravada Buddhist Society of America).
    • Several books were left. Some were handed as prizes for the successful participants of the “Summer Dhamma Class / Camp”.

    Missed Opportunity

    • An Arts professor from Stanford University expressed desire to use “The Illustrated History of Buddhism” as a text for his course provided the book can be “ordered” from the University Book Shop.
    • Since the book was meant for dhamma dana, the book had no ISBN (International Standard Book Number) that is used by book shops.

    Miscellaneous

    • There have been some requests to reprint the book.
    • There are probably newer reprints of the book and/or PDF version of Saya U Ba Kyi’s drawings.

    U Ba Kyi

    • Saya translated a verse of the song “Hna yauk hte nay gin de” while invigilating an examination at the Institute of Education.
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha used to accompany Saya U Ba Kyi’s vocals with his violin at the functions (mostly at Rangoon University Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin).

    Translation of Burmese Song နှစ်ယောက်ထဲနေချင်တယ်

    Darling
    Only two we will live dear
    On the high crest
    Of the Mount Everest
    And the Sahara Desert
    Driest without water
    To the North Pole
    May be freezing cold
    Where the sun will never never grow
    With all my heart and soul
    Only two darling We will go

    YouTube

    @hmin3664

    Channel to access my videos

    Posts

    • Dhamma Books
    • Dr. Maung Maung Kha
    • Translation

  • Speech

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    Sayings

    There is a saying, “Speech is silver. Silence golden.”

    It does not mean that we should stay silent all the time.

    If one does not have meaningful things to say, it is better to remain silent rather than rambling or engaging in frivolous talk.

    Duration of speech

    • The length of a speech varies.
    • President Abraham Lincoln was requested to give a “few appropriate remarks” at Gettysburg. His address consisted of ten sentences. It was delivered in less than two minutes (which was not long enough for the official photographer to record the historic moment).
    • Typically, Elevator speeches last 30 – 45 seconds, Impromptu Speech (e.g. Table Topics) last 1 – 2 minutes, Prepared Speeches last 5 – 7 minutes, TED talks lastless than 18 minutes), Keynote speeches last 45 – 60 minutes with Q&A.

    Message

    • It is usually more important than the messenger.
    • The speaker should provide a “take away” or an “action item”.

    Training / Aids

    • I had a book of the 40+ speeches given by notable people (e.g. Winston Churchill).
    • Rotary Club, Kiwani’s Club and Toastmasters International provide guidance and training for communication (Public Speaking and Leadership).
    • I am a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).
    Hla Min (DTM) 1 ko
    Hla Min (DTM) 2
    Toastmaster 1
    Toastmaster 2

    Speeches

    • Inaugural address by Abraham Lincoln
    • John F Kennedy’s speech about Moon Mission
    • Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is known for “The Last Lecture”, where a Professor presents to an audience (e.g. those present for his forthcoming Retirement). Randy Pausch, who was diagnosed with Cancer, gave an up-lifting “The Last Lecture”. It can be viewed on You Tube. It has also been made into a book.
    • Steve Jobs gave a Commencement Speech at Stanford University. It can be viewed on the Internet. In three parts, he connected the dots (e.g. taking a Calligraphy course to the aesthetic Font designs on Apple Computers.

    Posts

    • 5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival
    • My Educational Videos
    • Public Speaking
    • Toastmaster’s Journey
    • YMCA

  • High Concentration Activity

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    • Also known as HCA
    • Some use the term “In the zone”

    My Moments of HCA

    RUBC (2013)

    90th Anniversary
    • Contributing Editor for the Commemorative issue of the RUBC 90th Anniversary Magazine
    • Proposed to write Prelude for each section
    • HCA lasted less than an hour. I completed the Prelude for all sections.

    UCC and ICST (Jan 2018)

    ICST
    • Attended the 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe of ICST as a Member of Generation Zero
    • Later gave a guest lecture at UCSY (University of Computer Studies in Yangon).
    • In my desire to pay back to UCC, I wrote 30+ posts on “Memories of UCC” in three days of HCA.
    • Phyu Phyu Kyaw (my former student) told me that I should not be spending too much time in Yangon reminiscing about UCC. She asked, “Would you like to have a two-night three-day vacation at Bagan?”

    Sharing Knowledge / Experience (2018 – Present)

    • After I came back to the USA, I decided to share my memories with my sayas and alumni.
    • My spouse told me that we should pay back to our beloved land, our ancestors and our mentors.
    • Started posting “Trivia” to my Facebook friends. Then opened up to the General Public.
    • Started revising and archiving in my web site: hlamin.com
    • Posted on selected Facebook Pages : RIT Updates, Myanmar, Memories and Fun with Learning
    • I am a
      “Jack of All Trades, and Master of Some”,
      Mini-Dictionary,
      Micro-Google,
      Life long learner,
      Distinguished Toastmaster,
      Amateur historian (former Docent of the Computer History Museum),
      “Sar Pay Chit Thu စာပေချစ်သူ” : freelance writer, editor & translator,
      Volunteer for alumni, religious & social organizations.
    • Depending on my HCA, I have written and/or updated dozens of posts daily.

  • Parody

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    I Love You Because (Parody by Hla Min)

    • Many years ago, I wrote a parody.
    • “I love you because” (sung by Jim Reeves) was a hit played by Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS).
    • I wrote a light version of the song.
    • I did not have a Home Minister at that time to edit or veto it.

    I love you because (Lyrics)

    I love you
    because you always stand dear
    every time I opened up the door
    You’re always there
    to help me eat my jam dear
    I love you more
    because you never snore.

    No matter
    When you’re sleeping or awake dear
    You’re pretty
    as the craters on the moon
    I love you
    every minute of the hour dear
    Because you said
    You’d cry
    beside my tomb

    I love you
    because my pocket’s lighter
    every time you shop
    around the town
    I love you
    because you’re a great fighter
    But you promised
    you would never
    knock me down

    Take These Chains (Parody by Hla Min)

    • “Take these chains” was a song that was played often by BBS.
    • Thamankyar Ko Myint (Mn70) sang a Burmese song using the tune.
    • I tried to parody the song.

    Take these chains (Lyrics)

    Take these chains from my legs and set me free
    And the rope that ties me to this tree
    If you really pity me
    let me drink a glass of Zee
    Take these chains from my legs and set me free

    I’m charged with murder of a tiny, little flea
    “Cruel” said the judge and he would not hear my plea.
    So, if you really pity me
    let me sip a cup of tea
    Take these chains from my legs and set me free

    Take this scarf from my eyes and let me see
    If your waist still measures twenty three
    When I’m free I’ll marry you
    Even barrel shape will do
    Take these chains from my legs and set me free

    Lost Neikban RIT (Parody by U Myat Htoo)

    U Myat Htoo
    Lost Neikban
    • U Myat Htoo wrote a parody on “Pyauk Sone Nay Thaw Neikban Bon” (the song by Sai Kham Leik and Sai Htee Saing).
    • Played the Ukelele and sang the song at the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles, and at NorCal RITAA Annual Dinner.

  • Pearl In My Heart

    by Hla Min & Tekkatho Moe War

    Updated : May 2026

    Saya Moe

    Saya U Moe Aung & Hla Min
    • In February 2015, Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) gave me an autographed copy of his book.
    Autographed copy
    Cover
    Musings by Tekkatho Moe War and Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)

    Updates

    • Saya is feeling the effects of Jara & Byadi.
    • He still writes articles & kabyars daily.
    • Saya authored or co-authored several books.
    Book 1
    Book 2
    Book 3

    Posts

    • Kabyar
    • Poem
    • Publications
    • Tekkatho Moe War

  • U Tin Htut

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    Highlights

    U Tin Htut
    • Matriculated from SPHS in 1953.
    • Won Senior Novices at the RUBC Regatta in 1953.
    • Coxed the Old Paulian crew which won Senior Novices at the RUBC Regatta in 1954. The crew members : U Tun Shein (Willie Saing, Stroke), M Hla Min (Moosaji, No. 3), Dr. Than Nyunt (George, No. 2) and Sao Hso Holm (Sawbwa Lay, Box).
      He and three crew members later became RUBC Gold.
    • Served as Captain of RUBC.
      Due to heavy involvement in RUBC, he decided to take a sabbatical.
    RUBC Captain

    Engineering

    • Attended 1st Year Engineering at BOC College in 1955.
    • Graduated B.Sc (Mechanical Engineering), University of Rangoon in March 1960.
    • Joined the Faculty of Engineering, University of Rangoon (Leik-Khone) as Assistant Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in May 1960.
    • Attended Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, W. Germany in 1961/62 as a state scholar.
    • Worked as a Manager in Rangoon Textile Mills Co. Ltd. from 1962 – 65.
    • Rejoined the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, RIT in September 1965.
    • Studied Engineering Production at the University of Birmingham, UK in 1968/69.
    • On return to RIT, lectured Industrial Management to 5th and Final Year students.

    USA

    • Immigrated to the USA in May 1978.
    • Worked in the Aircraft Division, Northrop Corporation, Hawthorne, CA in August 1978.
    • With Leave of Absence from Northrop, worked as UNIDO Project Management Adviser in Khartoum, Sudan in 1981/82.
    • Retired early from Northrop in September 1992.

    Family

    Wife: Irene

    Children: Saynne Tin Htut and Aung Aye Htut.

    Grand children : Three

    Editor’s Notes

    His parents were entrepreneurs in the Textile industry (e.g. Khit Ah Kyaik ခေတ်အကြိုက် Nylon), production & distribution of movies (e.g. Ah Myotha Yoke Shin, အမျိုူသားရုပ်ရှင် Carlton Cinema)

    Served as Captain of RUBC as a student, and later as a Saya Administrator.

    Organizer of RUBC Jubilee and Anniversary regattas.

    Despite having a bypass heart surgery, he was actively involved in BASES, which he co-founded with U Tin Htway (M59) and U Tun Tin (David, GBNF).

    Member of the Steering Committee for SPZP-2000.

    SPZP-2000

    Ccontributed not only to the Saya Pu Zaw Pwe fund, but also to the special fund for inviting Sayagyi U Ba Toke from Myanmar.

    Financial Controller for the 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Ma Irene was Maurice’s teacher in Methodist English High School. Saya was Maurice’s lecturer in the 5th B.E. “Industrial Management” course. All the skills learnt were used effectively by Maurice, Financial Controller for the “Reunion & Saya Pu Zaw Pwe” and aPublisher of the “RIT Alumni Newsletter” Special Issue.

    Donation

    Saya’s donations include

    • K10 Lakhs to Swel Daw Yeik Foundation
    • K100 to YTU Library Project
    • All Mechanical Gathering
    • RUBC Gathering

  • Unsolved Mystery

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    1949

    • Assassination of U Tin Tut in 1949
    • Someone informed of the “probable assassination attempt” to U Kyaw Myint (younger brother of U Tin Tut).
    • Senior Police Officials in charge of the investigation were retired with generous offers.

    Memories

    Tin Tut 1
    Tin Tut 2
    Tin Tut 3

    Post by Thant Myint-U (on September 15, 2015)

    66th anniversary of Myanmar’s tragic assassination

    Friday (18 September) will be the 66th anniversary of the assassination of U Tin Tut, ICS. He was mortally wounded when a bomb exploded in his car on Sparks Street (now Bo Aung Kyaw Street). He died shortly after in Rangoon General Hospital. The mystery of who killed U Tin Tut has never been solved. His death changed the course of Burmese history.

    U Tin Tut was educated at Dulwich and Queen’s College, Cambridge. He was a top scholar and athlete (captaining his college rugby team) and the first Burmese admitted into the elite Indian Civil Service. After World War Two, he was the only Burmese fluent in both financial and constitutional affairs and widely seen as the most brilliant Burmese of his generation.

    He was in many ways U Aung San’s principal deputy and a key figure at both the January 1947 London negotiations and at Panglong. He was seriously injured on 19 July 1947 when U Aung San and the others were killed.

    He was Burma’s first foreign minister but resigned during the increasingly chaotic and violent days of mid-1948 to become the Inspector General (i.e. commander) of the new Union Auxiliary Force, meant to counter the communists and other ‘Leftists’.

    He was a nationalist but not a socialist, and wanted to maintain good relations with the West. The more radical factions in Burmese politics and in the Burma Army saw him as a threat.

    Posts

    • ICS
    • Seven Siblings
    • The Empty Tomb
    • U Tin Tut

  • Dr. Khin Maung Win (Maths)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2026

    Family

    • Parents : U Khin Maung Latt & Daw Khin Myo Chit
    • Spouse : Tekkatho Shwe Yi Win
    • Children : Maung Maung Win (Mg Yit) & Mi Mi Win (Junior)
    U Khin Maung Latt, Daw Khin Myo Chit & KMW

    Dr. Khin Maung Win

    Maths Saya

    • As an assistant of Saya Dr. Chit Swe, I worked with several Maths Saya.
    • Dr. Khin Maung Win wrote about Maths Curriculum in France for the “High School Maths” project.
    • After retirement, he published books on Maths, Education & Vipassana (Insight Meditation).

    Vipassana

    • His parents were friends and devotees of KabaAye Sunlun Sayadaw U Vinaya. They hosted Meditation retreats in their compound.
    • During my visit to Yangon in January and February 2018, I met Saya at Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung.
    • Mi Mi Win (Junior Win) gave me two of her books (one in English, and another in Myanmar) that she wrote to celebrate the Centennial of her paternal grand parents : U Khin Mg Latt (English saya at Rangoon University & Private Tution, First Chief Editor of Working Peoples’ Daily) and Daw Khin Myo Chit (Award winning author).
    • Junior Win took a year to write the book for the Centennial of her grandparents in 2015. Her mother Tekkatho Shwe Yi Win helped with the indexing. Her brother Maung Yit helped with photos and cartoons.

    Good & Sad news

    • The book won a prize from Tun Foundation. Sadly, Shwe Yi Win passed away before the prize presentation.
    • Ko Soe Myint (M72, UCC), who appeared healthy, passed away unexpectedly at 3AM about one and a half months following his elder sister’s demise.
    • Life sometimes presents people with both good and sad news.

    Updates

    • Mg Yit is co-founder of Moemaka. He helped publish several books & e-books (including those for his Twin sister).
    • Saya is now GBNF. I received his book on Sunlun Vipassana.

    Posts

    • Dr. Chit Swe
    • Maths
    • Sunlun
    • Vipassana
    • WPD