Due to the war, the celebrations for RU took place much later than 1945.
RIT Newsletter was published in 1999 and the Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 2024.
Golden Jubilee (50 years)
RU Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 1970.
RIT Golden Jubilee (Shwe YaDu) was celebrated in 2014.
Diamond Jubilee (75 years)
First Day CoverRU Diamond Jubilee
RU Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1995.
Centennial (100 years)
SPHS celebrated the Centennial in 1960.
RU Centennial celebrations started in November 2020. Yah Pyay Ah Kyo celebrations kicked off on December 1, 2019 and continued throughout 2020
Sesquicentennial (150 years)
SPHS celebrated the Sesquicentennial in 2010.
Miscellaneous
Bicentennial (200 years)
Tricentennial (300 years)
Millennium (1000 years)
Three Events in December 1920
Rangoon University
Rangoon University Act of 1920 was enacted on December 1, 1920.
The Act established Rangoon University with Rangoon College and Judson College as constituent colleges.
First RU Student Strike
The Strikevto protest the Act took place of December 5, 1920 (two days earlier than planned because the news leaked to the higher authorities).
The senior students requested the junior students not to strike. When their request was not complied, 11 senior students decided to the strike as leaders.
The Burmese date — 10th Waning Day of Tazaungmon — is celebrated as Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay.
The strike led to the establishment of Ah Myotha Kyaung (National School) and Ah Myotha Kaw Leik (National College).
U Po Kya served as Ah MyothaPyinnyaWun. He is a distinguished author.
Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing served as Principal of Ah Myotha Kaw Leik.
Saya U Ba Toke
U Ba Toke
He’s is a Phwa Bet Taw of RU and the first RU Students’ Strike.
Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon University
Rector of MASU
Professor of Mathematics, Rangoon Institute of Technology
Associate Dean, Assumption University, Bangkok
Publications
Former EC members of the RU Ka Laung Ah Thinn (1958 – 1962) including Daw Kyu Kyu Thin and Saya U Moe Aung (Tekaktho Moe War) published a “Collection of Kabyars” and a commemorative Magazine in February 2020.
Several books, Sar Saungs and Magazines were published for the RU Centennial Celebrations.
Early Sayas
Dr. Maung Maung Kha
Saya Kha Hall
Doctorate in Meteorological Physics from UK
Worked briefly at Meteorology Department
Transferred to RU Physics Department
Interim Dean of Engineering
Longest tenure among Rectors of RU
Hobby : Music / Violin
Former students celebrated Saya’s Yar Pyi
“Saya Kha Hall”
U San Tha Aung
U San Tha Aung
Studied Masters at Harvard University
Senior Lecturer, Physics
Co-authored High School Yupa Beda texts with Dr. Maung Maung Kha
Director General of Higher Education
Passed away after returning from an inspection tour
Dr. Nyi Nyi
He was a mentee of Dr. Tha Hla.
A Minister protested against Dr. Tha Hla’s nomination of Dr. Nyi Nyi’s scholarship citing his ideology. Dr. Tha Hla managed to push through the nomination during the Minister’s absence.
Served as Deputy Minister. Instrumental in establishing the then new Education System
Retired from UN
Pen name : Oak Aw
Rectors and Principals
U Hla Shwe
Rector, Mandalay Arts and Science University (MASU)
Senior Burmese Saya
U Yone Mo
Retired Chief Engineer, Burma Railways
Dean of Engineering, BIT
Rector, Rangoon Institute of Technology
Medicine
Dr. Ba Than (Institute of Medicine 1)
Dr. U E (Institute of Medicine 2)
Dr. Maung Maung Gyi (Institute of Medicine at Mandalay)
Economics
Dr. Aye Hlaing Rector, Institute of Economics Professor of Economics, Faculty of Social Science
Education
Lt. Col. San Myint Rector, Institute of Education
Dentistry
Dr. Aung Than Rector, Institute of Dentistry / Dental Medicine
Vet
U Mya Nyunt Rector, Institute of Veterinary Science
Agri
U Than Tun Rector, Institute of Agriculture
Workers
U Kyaw Principal, Workers’ College
Taunggyi
U Khin Maung Tint (Tekkatho Phone Naing) Principal, Taungyi College Distinguished author / novelist
Publications – Cartoons Comics Journals Magazines Newspapers Novels Sar Saungs
Calendar
Old Roman Calendar Ten “working” months (from March to December)
Later Roman Calendars Twelve months (from January to December)
Julian Calendar
Gregorian Calendar
Child
Khalay
Khalay Ah Thinn (Association)
Child Psychology
Piaget
Fun
Fun with Learning Facebook group
Fun with English Definitions Palindrome Tongue Twister Word Games (Crossword puzzle, Lexicon, Scrabble, Anagram, Jumbled phrase)
Fun with Mathematics Paradox Puzzles
Fun with Physics Online course
Maths
Saya U Aung Hla In 1950 – 52, Saya U Aung Hla was Dean of Arts. He was also Professor of Maths. He is an expert in music, and wrote notes for selected Burmese songs. His spouse Daw May Than is a vocalist. His son U Mya Than is a Guitarist and Pianist.
Maths Department In the early days, the Maths Department was under the Faculty of Arts. Later, Maths Department was under the Faculty of Science.
Options (offered in different periods) at Rangoon University Pure Maths Applied Maths Double Maths : Pure & Applied Triple Maths : Pure, Applied & Statistics
My Contributions
Five decades as Volunteer of various organizations and projects
26 years as Founder & Chief Editor of RIT Alumni International Newsletter Silver Jubilee in 2024
Member, HMEE (History of Myanmar Engineering Education). U Ohn Khine and I compiled the CD Supplement for the HMEE Book in 2012
220+ Videos (on selected topics) : Broadcast in 2019 and 2020
3000+ Articles in my web site hlamin.com
Former Moderator of RU Centennial Facebook Group Overview of RU Centennial Group (Posts) Countdown to RU Centennial (Posts) Photo Essays and Photo Albums
Memories Memories of PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School) Memories of SPHS (St. Paul’s High School) Memories of RIT (Rangoon Institute of Technology) Memories of UCC (Universities’ Computer Center)
Contributor Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife
Language Expert Burmese Language Project, NFLC, University of Maryland at College Park
Contributing Editor, Dhammanda Newsletter
Contributing Editor, “Homage to U Silananda”
Contributing Editor, Souvenir Magazine for RUBC 90th Anniversary
Contributing Editor, BAPS Newsletter
Bilingual Author
Wrote and translated Poems and Articles
Interpreter, Meditation Retreats
Edited books of Sayadaws and colleagues
New Year
Gregorian Calendar January 1st
Lunar New Year aka “Chinese New Year” and “Tet” January or February
Persian New Year aka “First day of Spring” around March 21
Myanmar New Year aka “Thingyan” Mid April cf : Songkran in Thailand
Karen New Year
Bringing in the New Year Celebrations of New Year’s Eve (December 31) e.g. Dropping the ball at Times Square in New York
Olympics
Ancient Games Mount Olympus, Greece
Modern Olympic Games proposed by Pierre de Coubertin Early period : amateurs only Later : commercialized (sponsors, hosts, professional athletes …)
Summer Olympics Breaks during the World War Postponed during the Pandemic
1936 Berlin
1948 London
1952 Helsinki
1956 Melbourne
1960 Rome
1964 Tokyo
1968 Montreal
1972 Munich
1976 Montreal
1980 Moscow
1984 Los Angeles
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
1996 Atlanta
2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
2008 Beijing
2012 London
2016 Rio de Janerio
2020 Scheduled for Tokyo Postponed to 2021 due to pandemic
2024 Paris
Winter Olympics
Sleep
Conventional 8 hours (for adults) more (for infants)
Could/ should vary with person e.g. my uncle slept 4 hours, but he had power naps in the day
Rationale for sleep Rest “Clean up garbage” in the brain Activities by the Subconscious (e.g. problem solving)
Sleep studies Dream Sleep Apnea (Breathing difficulties) Monitor brain (for a specified period) Effect of duration (too little, too much) Effect of rhythm (specified time to go to sleep)
Miscellaneous Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise The story of Pauk Kyaing
Thet Kyee Sayas and Alumni
Sayagyi U Ba Toke Phwa Bet Taw of Rangoon University in December 1920 Book about his life and achievements by Dr. Khin Maung Swe (Maung Thin Char, GBNF) Saya of our sayas Passed away on December 2, 2020 (the day after the RU Centennial Celebrations) but a few days short of his Centennial on December 26.
U Ba Toke
U Thein Han (96 years) Worked as Systems Engineer for IBM Burma Active doing exercises and sharing memories / posts
U Thein Han
U Tin U (96 years) Joined Rangoon University in 1946 along with Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein and U Sein Hlaing. Former part time Lecturer at Civil Engineering Department; Oldest and Most senior among Past Captains of Rangoon University Boat Club that are still alive; Opened the RUBC Centennial Ceremony in December 2023, Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club; Lost his beloved spouse Dr. Daw Khin Nyunt, his eldest son Dr. Khin Tun (Peter, MRCP, Former Associate Dean of Oxford University) and his son-in-law U Tin Tun within a few months (late 2019 to May 2020)
U Tin U
U Ba Than (94 years) Won Collegiate Scholarship in 1947; Gold Medalist for highest score in Intermediate Examinations for 1948 and 1949; Retired as Professor and Head of Mechanical Engineering; Early supporter of HMEE-2012 (History of Myanmar Engineering Education) Now GBNF
U Ba Than
Other Thet Kyees Several of my sayas, sayamas, relatives and friends are 90+ years young.
Time and Motion Study Kenneth and Lillian Gilbraith
Time Management
Five minute biographies
One minute manager
Early responder within 4 or 5 minutes
Gettysburg Address less than 2 minutes
TED Talk less than 18 minutes
Toastmaster Speech typically 5 to 7 minutes
Sports Timing Records
To Err Is Human
“To err is human, but to make blunders use a computer indiscriminately.”
Some software “auto-corrects” words incorrectly.
In our younger days, there was a good Scrabble player named James Thet Wai (Proof Reader for the Guardian newspaper).
Burmese publications have language experts (Burmese, English, Pali).
Before the Internet, the production of a good book requires the expertise of editors and reviewers. Even then, some typos and discrepancies can appear. e.g A reference book described Rajiv Gandhi as the “younger” son of Indira Gandhi.
Note that articles on the Internet / Social Media — with lax reviews — can have typos and errors. An entry on Dr. Ba Than lists Dr. Aung Than as his son. Another article claimed that Prof. U E Maung was “Bagyi Aung”. One author did not know the time line / order of Arzani Nay and the assassination of ICS U Tin Tut.
It is important to check facts (especially historical dates & events) and provide correction.
YMBA
Young Men’s Buddhist Association
Illustrated History of Buddhism Mahagandayone Sayadaw Ashin Janakabhivamsa (Author); Saya U Ba Kyi (Artist) First edition : Myanmar text Supplement : English text Reprint: Theravada Buddhist Society of America
YMCA
Young Men’s Christian Association
N. Smith — Invented Basketball
Dale Carnegie — How to win friends and influence people; How to stop worrying and start living; How to improve your diction
Dr. Ralph Smedley — Public Speaking and Leadership; Precursor to Toastmasters International
Zero
Numerals
Hindu-Arabic numeral : 0
No such Roman numeral
Miscellaneous
The Dawn of Nothing
Positional number system
0-based numbering
Nil; Null; Nothing
Often used to represent “False” in two-valued logic.
Absolute Zero (temperature)
Ground Zero
Zero in
Zoom
Lens
Photographers and Videographers often use Zoom lens for special effect.
The more we grow older the more we have to avoid “zoom camera” to our face.
Zoom In and Zoom Out
We zoom in when we want to see things in detail.
We zoom out when we need to see things in the bigger picture.
According to “Ripley’s Believe it or not”, a graveyard inscription had February 30th.
Julius Caesar’s followers took a day from February to make July (named in his honor) have 31 days instead of 30.
Augustus Caesar’s followers took a day from February to make August (named in his honor) to have 31 days instead of 30.
February became the shortest month of the calendar year with 28 days. It was given back an extra day on a leap year.
The earth takes about 365.2422 days to revolve round the sun, so the discrepancy between a solar year and the calendar year became 0.9688 day every four years (or 97 days in 4 centuries). The first correction was to designate a year divisible by 4 as a Leap Year.
In Gregorian calendar, a leap year is defined as a non-century year that is divisible by 4, and a century year that is divisible by 400. This is more accurate than the first correction.
Grandma
My mother-in-law & my sons
Latin terms for student
Alumnus : male student
Almuna : female student
Alumni : male students
Alumnae : female students
In modern usage, “alumni” applies to all students.
We sometimes use alum as a short form for alumni.
Synonym
Synonyms are words which have almost the same meaning for the given context.
Since some words have multiple meanings, one must specify the meaning associated with a synonym.
For example, Dictionary, Thesaurus, Lexicon and Vocabulary are synonyms. Their usage depends on the context. In general, Lexicon is a body of knowledge (or dictionary) of Latin and Greek. At one time, Lexicon is a card game where players create words and score points. It was superseded by Scrabble.
Antonym
Antonyms are words which have almost the opposite meaning for the given context.
Since some words have multiple meanings, one must specify the meaning associated with an antonym.
For example, Love and Hate are antonyms.
In Pali, the antonyms of Lobha (Greed), Dosa (Anger or Hatred) and Moha (Ignorance of Delusion) are Alobha (Non-greed), Adosa (Non-hatred) and Amoha (Non-ignorance or Wisdom).
A puzzle based on homonyms : “What is the difference between the Prince of Wales and a cricket ball?” The Prince of Wales is HEIR to the THRONE. A cricket ball is THROWN to the AIR.
Teaching is only one aspect. A teacher learns by teaching and receiving feedback from the students. A teacher should be a life long learner.
Learning is another aspect. We should not encourage Rote Learning and mindless repetition. “Learning how to learn” and similar courses propose efficient and effective techniques.
Degree
Liberal education is usually offered at the Bachelor’s level.
A university degree was necessary for getting decent jobs. Now, there are some companies that do not mandate a university degree for selected jobs.
Disciplines
In the beginning, there were no computers and no Computer Science. Among the computer pioneers were engineers, mathematicians, physicists, psychologists, and linguists.
Edgser W. Dijkstra, who won the ACM Turing Award (equivalent of Nobel Prize in Computer Science), had to put “Theoretical Physicist” in his marriage license instead of “Programmer” or “Computer Scientist”.
The same is true for any emerging discipline.
Research and Development transcends multiple disciplines. It requires collaboration.
Main Facebook pages
For relatives and close friends
For not-so-close friends
RIT Updates
Member of selected pages
Old Burma
RIT Updates
Lifelong Learning
Memories
Myanmar
I used to be a member of the following:
ကံ့ကော်မြေ (ရာပြည့်တက္ကသိုလ်)
စကားပရိယာယ်
စွယ်တော်ရိပ်ဖေါင်ဒေးရှင်း
NorCal RITAA
P.B.R.S Group
RIT 69ers
Team Old School IT
YUBC Old Members
Buddhism Q&A
Proper use of “Like” button
Some users use the “Like” button indiscriminately.
Puzzled to see Likes in an Obituary posting. Shouldn’t one be sad?
Before clicking “Like”, check if the posting is current or old, and determine if the contents are really likeable.
Malware
Malicious software industry is responsible for losses (in down time, data corruption, identity theft) in the billions.
According to one report, the industry is more profitable and safer than the drug dealing.
The penalty of offenders for malicious software is “peanuts” (e.g. little or no jail time) compared to drug dealers (e.g. life imprisonment and death penalty) in most countries.
Option
One should be aware of “opt-in” versus “opt-out” options.
Many do not read “fine print”.
Retire vs. Re-tire
U Thaung Sein (Steeve Kay, EC70) is a Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs.
He told me, “You should not retire. You may re-tire (as in re-threading a tire). We will try to support you and your projects
I am retired from working to make ends meet.
I am re-tiring as long as my physical and mental health permit.
Took a few on-line courses (for credit) Too taxing and slow; Opted to audit 100+ courses (covering many subjects)
Listen to one Blinkist every day
Listened to Merriam Webster’s Word of the day (WOTD) Podcast every day.
Ride stationary bike for 30 minutes every day.
Write or revise several posts every day.
Salutation
Context and culture dependent.
We call some old unrelated people as “Uncle” and “Auntie”.
At St. Paul’s High School, we call our sayas without the formal U. e.g. Saya Sein
I was reprimanded by a reader for writing Saya Aung Khin instead of Saya U Aung Khin or Sayagyi U Aung Khin.
A visiting German wanted to be addressed as “Professor Doctor” (not just Professor or Doctor).
Saya Allen Htay was told not use “Mr” in Netherlands. He was asked to use “Ingr” (for Engineer).
Early surgeons in the UK were not necessarily doctors. So they did not force people to address them as Doctor
People who have Honorary Doctorates usually put “Honoris Causa” (meaning the degree was awarded for esteem).
Speed and Scope of Writing
A friend said, “You write too fast and too much. Slow down.”
A few said, “We have read every post”.
One said, “Cover topics of interest to the general reader, not just engineers and scientists”.
One can please some readers all of the time, and all readers some of the time, but one cannot please every reader all of the time.
I am just disseminating the teachings of Thin Sayas, Myin Sayas, Kyar Sayas
In the dining hall, there is an album about Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa’s early years in the US (e.g. meditation retreat at a church, dhamma classes at a Zen Buddhism Temple).
There are also photos about the Summer Camp for children and young adults.
There are two cabinets of books: one for dhamma dana distribution, and another for sale.
Newsletter
The “Dhamma Bell Newsletter” was edited by volunteers (U Theikdi & Maureen O’Brien).
It was published quarterly.
It featured dhamma talks given at TMC and also recipes (e.g. vegetarian spring rolls).
Sayadaws
Panditarama Sayadaw
Panditarama Sayadaw
Sayadawgyi conducted Annual Meditation Retreats.
Later, he assigned Sayadaws to conduct the Retreats on his behalf.
Beelin Sayadaw
Beelin Sayadaw
Spent over a decade as Chief Resident Sayadaw at TMC
Back in Myanmar, Sayadaw resided at Hse Mile Gone and Panditarama
Passed away on June 18, 2025.
TMC will have a ceremony on July 19, 2025 starting at 2 PM to honor Beelin Sayadaw.
U Dhammika (Tharmane Kyaw Sayadaw)
Sayadaw taught Pali courses at TMC
He wrote “Pali Sikkha ပါဠိသိက္ခာ” (Practicing Pali) texts.
Saya is the eldest of five siblings. Youngest brother & youngest sister predeceased him. Younger brother is in Yangon. Younger sister in the US East Coast.
Thingyan
Thingyan
C58
Graduated with Civil Engineering in 1958
Classmates : Dr. San Hla Aung, Dr. Win Thein (GBNF), Khin Mg Win (Sid, GBNF), Oscar Sharazee
C58
RIT Saya
Joined Civil Engg Dept as Assistant Lecturer
Masters from Harvard; Also took courses at MIT (e.g. “SCHEME” / Lexically scoped Lisp)
Programmed his calculator using Reverse Polish Notation
Promoted to Lecturer
President, RIT Photography Association
Supervised C73 Final Year project, where his students — Dennis Mackey & George Peters — used UCC computer.
UN Project
Advisor in Bengladesh
SF Bay Area
SF Bay Area Alumni Group
Leader of SF Bay Area Group, which formed “RIT Alumni International”
SF Bay Area Alumni
Founding member & President of RIT Alumni International
SPZP-2000 Organizers
Core Organizer of SPZP-2000. His article “Brother, can you afford $500 and more?” saved the organizers from U Nyo Win’s Act.
Took me to BAPS picnic. Demonstrated “Burmese Goodbye” by taking an hour to greet alumni on the way back to his car.
To avoid monotony, he took a different route going out and coming back. He did not mind missing an exit; he would simply make a turn at the next one.
He, Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt, U Ko Ko Aye (GBNF), Ko Thein Naing (Patrick) and me would meet monthly to have Coffee / Tea & Dosa တိုရှည် and chat.
Sometimes, Dr. San Lin would come down from Santa Rosa to see Saya U Soe Khaw (GBNF). Saya Allen & I would join them for lunch gathering, which extended until dinner.
With Dr. San Lin
Saya is interested in Comparative Religion & Culture. Saya U Aung’s anecdote mentioned Saya’s visit to a mosque & Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore.
Saya retired twice.
Was coaxed by his former students to un-retire twice. Saya U Thein Aung (Met72) requested him to work at the Lawrence Livermore Lab at UC Berkeley. Later, Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) requested him to work as Consultant for CalTrans.
Passed away before his final retirement.
Health
Survived two Strokes.
Succumbed to the Stroke at the MEHS Reunion in Las Vegas. He accompanied his spouse Daw Mu Mu Kin (MEHS57) to the Reunion.
Did not live long enough to see his four grandsons. Two have “Allen” in their names.
May he rest in peace.
Donations
In Saya’s memory, Daw Mu Mu Kin donated Sayas’ books to YTU Library. She also offered scholarship to eligible YTU students via NorCal RITAA.
Two Sayas
Brief Bio
Saya Allen Htay and Daw Mu Mu Kin
Born in Mandalay, attended St. Joseph English Convent and St. Peter’s Boys’ School in Mandalay and the Methodist High School in Rangoon.
Graduated B Sc (Engg) in Civil Engineering in 1958 from Rangoon University and joined the Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer in the same year at the invitation of Prof T Ba Hli, then Dean of Engineering.
Awarded the Burmese Government State Scholarship for study in the United States from 1960 to 1963, and the US Government Fulbright Travel Grant.
Received the degree of Master of Engineering from Harvard University in 1963, specializing in Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Returned to Burma and joined the newly formed Rangoon Institute of Technology in Gyogon.
Served as Lecturer in Civil Engineering from 1964 to 1975, except from 1966 to 1968 which was spent on advanced study in Hydraulics Engineering in the Netherlands at Delft Technical University under UNESCO assistance program for Burma.
Immigrated to USA in 1975. Currently working at the California Department of Transportation as Project Engineer.
Married to Mu Mu Kin in 1971 and have two surviving children, Myo Lynn and Thuzar Kin. Mu Mu works at TIBCO Software Inc in Palo Alto to supplement the family income.
Work Experience:
Soils Engineer: Mueser Rutledge Wentworth and Johnston, New York, NY, 1975-1978.
Washington DC Metro Subway Project. Civil Engineer: International Engineering Company, Inc, San Francisco, CA, 1978-1983.
USAID Bangladesh Fertilizer Warehouses Construction Project.
Senior Staff Engineer: Morrison Knudsen Corporation, San Francisco, CA, 1984-1996.
DOE Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project.
Principal Research Associate: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 1997.
DOE Yucca Mountain High Level Radioactive Materials Repository Project.
Transportation Engineer: California Department of Transportation, Oakland, CA, 1999-.
My dear parents gave me birth and brought me up to be a good son. My teachers taught me everything else I know. My land of birth, Myanmar, through the sweat and hard work of its citizens supported and paid for my engineering education and my studies abroad. To each and everyone I am obligated and I give my thanks. For it is narrated in Al-Hadith that one who does not thank one another in this life even for little favors is unworthy to thank the Lord for the big favor.
Civil 1958
Class photo was sent by Saya Allen
Dr San Hla Aung helped to identify classmates
U Khin Maung Win (Sidney Chen, GBNF) supplied the photograph.
Class of Civil 58
Sitting: (1) U Pu (2) Dr. Aung Gyi (3) U Min Wun (4) U Ba Hli (5) Mr. Redpath (6) U Ngwe Thein (7) Mr. Eswara (8) Mr. Num Kock
1st Row: (1) Khin Maung (2) Than Aung (3) Htay Aung (4) Khin Maung Lwin (5) Kyaw Tin (6) Win Thein (7) Chit Pe (8) Shwe Tun Maung (9) Win Maung (10) Thein Lwin (11) Tun Yi (12) Than Pe
2nd Row: (1) V. Kumar (2) Kyaw Hoe (3) Allen Htay (4) Ba Hnin Chit (5) Kyaw Mya (6) Kyaw Din (7) Irwin Myaing (8) Chit Aye (9) Maung Maung (10) Nolan Wu (11) Morgan Singar
3rd Row: (1) Patrick George (2) Oscar Shirazee (3) Hla Shwe (4) Aung Par Thein (5) Saw Lwin (6) San Hla Aung (7) Shwe Win (8) Douglas Hoe (9) Sidney Chen
Notes
There was a mini-gathering at SPZP-2000. The attendees include
Mr. Num Kok (Portland, Oregon, GBNF)
Dr. Aung Gyi (Ottawa, Canada)
U Min Wun (Los Angeles, California, GBNF)
Allen Htay (Mountain View, California, GBNF)
Dr. San Hla Aung (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Oscar Shirazee (Middle East)
When Sidney Chen’s health was failing, his daughter requested us to let his classmates and friends know that he was eager to regain contact with them. Sadly, he passed away.
Mr. Oscar and U Aye Win Hlaing used to work in Iran many years ago. Mr. Oscar’s spouse is the sister of U Ngwe Zoe (Peter, SPHS57, GBNF).
Due to schedule conflicts, Saya Dr. San Hla Aung could not attend some SPZPs. He retired at the age of 80. He is now free to attend many SPZPs.
Saya Dr. Win Thein (GBNF) succeeded Saya U Min Wun as Professor & Head of the Department. Except for a warning sign from an early Medical check up, he was healthy. He passed away in Yangon. His sister has donated Saya’s Garawa money to selected Charities.
Brother, can you afford Five Hundred Dollars?
And many weekends spent away from your family as well? If you can then you probably are a member of the RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe organizing committee.
It all began one day several months ago when we met over lunch at Benny Tan’s home in Hillsborough. Ko Hla Min and Ko Khin Maung Zaw among the lunch party had started the RIT Alumni website and were receiving enthusiastic responses. Hearing that the duo were carrying on the project all by themselves we decided to throw in our moral and financial support to assure its survival, realizing that it was providing a needed service for the RIT alumni to locate and communicate with each other. Every one present, ten of us at that time, took out our checkbooks and wrote out one hundred dollars each, with promises of more as needed. We informally called ourselves the RIT Alumni Bay Area Group. I was asked to be the group leader.
After that fateful event we continue to have regular meetings, hosted in turn at the homes of some among group members: Ko Hla Min, Maurice Chee, Ko Myat Htoo, Ko Thein Aung, and most recently Dr Nyo Win. Did I leave out any one? Ah yes! Ko Myint Swe and San San Swe. All the while the membership continues to grow and our objective keeps on changing from support of the website to some vague dream of a future RIT alumni organization on a global scale and finally settled on a plan for RIT Alumni Grand Reunion at the beginning of the 21st Century. Ko Hla Min broached the idea to include Saya Pu Zaw Pwe as part of the Grand Reunion in keeping with the Myanmar custom of honoring one’s teachers. As our plan jelled we got carried away by our own excitement and started talking about holding the reunion before the end of the Year 2000. After all, ending one millennium successfully augers well for success in the next millennium.
Before we fully realized what we were up to we have found an ideal site, the Embassy Suites Hotel conference hall near the San Francisco International Airport, and found ourselves making a commitment for a definite date, 28 October 2000 and a attendance fee of fifty dollars, a modest amount to encourage maximum number of Alumni to participate. The minimum capacity of the conference hall is 200 seats and we were required to make down payment and sign a rental and service agreement based on 200 seats. Our most optimistic estimate at the time was 100 attendees. If the attendance is low that means the Bay Area Group, as the Organizing Committee was not in force at the time, will have to make up the short fall. Which could amount to as much as five thousand dollars, or five hundred dollar from each group member. We hesitated a moment to reflect on what that means to us individually in terms of diminished spending power. But, in the end our attachment to RIT and the engineering profession, our sincere desire to meet the Sayas and class mates from whom we were separated for long over came us. We will accept the risks.
Thus was born the preparations in full swing for the Grand RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Others must tell the rest of the story – of struggles, compromises, and elations along the way and from participants themselves what it means to be present at the defining moment in the history of RIT Alumni.
Allen Htay, RIT Alumni International – Bay Area Group RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe Organizing Committee
Appreciation of SPZP-2000
Hello All:
Thanks and Congratulations for a well organized and well executed event. I believe we all went to bed early Sunday night irrespective of the change back to Standard Time (from Daylight Savings Time according to the rule “Spring forward, Fall back”) , and no doubt slept soundly and very happy, knowing full well what happened during the past three days is more than what we dared to dream. I for one took the Monday off and forgot lunch because I woke up so late. But what is one missed lunch!
Allen Htay
____
Dear Ko Maung Maung Than (M79):
Thanks for your note of appreciation for the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Everybody chipped in: the sayas, organizers, committee members, helpers, supporters like you which we were very fortunate to have, the alumni and general guests and well-wishers. We won’t be able to host an event of this magnitude and importance if any of the components were missing.
Success belongs to everyone.
Thanks again for your generous support
Allen Htay
Remembering Saya Allen Htay
From Saya U Thit
Dear Colleagues and students
I am very sad to hear that Allen Htay passed away.
I have known Allen Htay since the early 1950s when we were both students at Methodist High School, Yegyaw, East Yangon. He was one year junior to me.
We were together again in the late 1950s when we were both Assistant Lecturers at B.O.C. Engineering College. During that time he and I together with Saya Num Kock and Saya U Aung Khin went for an excursion to visit Lawpita Hydroelectric Plant construction site near Loikaw, in Kayah State.
While I was living on the R.I.T. campus in the early 1960s he moved to a house just across the street from us.
I will always remember him coming to our house many times in the evenings for a chat with my family.
The last time I saw him was at the 2004 Saya Puzawpwe in Yangon.
He will be sadly missed by many of his friends and students.
May his soul rest in Peace.
Maung Thit (Metallurgy) Melbourne, Australia
From alumni in Australia
By Ko “Henry” Thet Tun
Our sincere and deepest condolences to Saya U Allen Htay & family for the demise of Saya.
From the RIT Alumni Australia & Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia Inc.
From Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62) & Lily (T72)
Dear Ko Hla Min,
We are very much saddened by the departure of Saya Allen Htay. Please convey our heartfelt condolences to Daw Mu Mu and family. His good nature and kind demeanor will always live in our memory and that of those who loved him.
While we will all miss Saya Allen very much, I hope all his loved ones can find some slight comfort in knowing that his suffering has ended.
Very Sincerely, Tin Win and Lily.
From Ko Kyaw Thu (Dennis Mackey)
Dear Ko Hla Min,
Without the RIT Alumnu Updates, I would not have known about the passing of our (me and George Peters) final year thesis supervisor Saya U Allen Htay.
Thank you for your regular as well as supplement updates.
Please convey our deepest condolences to Daw Mu Mu and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time of great loss and sadness.
Best regards, Dennis (Kyaw Thu) (C73) & Alice U
Editor’s Notes: Dennis & Alice moved to Canada.
From Saya U Soe Paing & Daw Saw Yu Tint
My friend Allen Htay (GBNF)
Some years ago I wrote an article for the ex-RIT.org about my saya friends at RIT which included Allen Htay.
I met Allen Htay when I joined the 1st Year BSc (Engg) class at the Faculty of Engineering at Leikkhone in 1958 .Ko San Hla Aung was our drawing instructor for the main majors (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical), and Allen Htay was the instructor for the rest.
In December1958, I went on State Scholarship to Stanford University. When I returned home after completing my studies, I found myself on the same ship S S Warickshire from Liverpool to Yangon with Allen Htay, Ko Tin Maung Nyunt (Agri Eng) and Ko Ko Lay (UCC). There was also another Myanmar Ko Than Pe, a Chartered Accountant, on the ship. Those days it was customary for the Government to send the returning scholars by ship.
We normally had our meals together seated at the Chief engineer’s table. After dinner we would play bridge to spend the time. Ko Ko Lay partnered with Ko Tin Maung Nyunt and Allen Htay and Ko Than Pe took turns as my partner against them. We played almost every night after dinner and all of us became very good friends.
We got back to Yangon in October 1963. Allen Htay rejoined RIT. I was posted to RIT in January 1964 and Ko Tin Maung Nyunt in March 1964 and so we were together again. When I got married and moved into the RIT staff quarters I was at 16F, Allen Htay at 16E and Ko Tin Maung at 16D. We visited each others house very often. We also became friendly with Allen Htay’s brothers and sisters.
I have attached a photo taken during Thingyan 1966 with Allen Htay (2nd from left) and his youngest brother (extreme right).
I left RIT for UCC and the UN, and Allen Htay and Ko Tin Maung Nyunt went to the United States. All of us met gain in the Bay Area in 1985, 2001 and 2010. I saw Allen Htay at the RIT reunions in 2004 (Yangon), 2007 and 2010 (Singapore).
He could not make it to the 2012 reunion in Yangon because of his health. He was a mild mannered soft spoken gentleman and we will all miss him. May he rest in peace.
Daw Mu Mu Kin (Saya’s Spouse)
“Let me count the ways [to love]” by Elizabeth Browning is a poem present by Ma Ma Mu to Saya Allen.
Donations in Saya Allen’s Memory
In memory of Saya, Daw Mu Mu Kin
donated Saya’s books to YTU Library
provided cabinets for Saya’s books
sponsored scholarships for eligible YTU students
Ko Maurice Chee (M75) coordinated the donation of books.
NorCal RITAA and some volunteer alumni from Yangon coordinated the selection of scholarship recipients.
Less than 10% passed the Matric exam in the early days.
A few (e.g U Ba Khin who stood First in Burma) chose to work instead of attending RU.
It was an honor to prefix one’s name with Tekkatho တက္ကသိုလ် or University.
Khin Nyo wrote: Absolutely right. I think in 1957 only 2% Passed and the total is 20000. Even dancer AmarSein was conferred with the title Thekkatho Amar Sein by the Rector Dr Tha Hla.
Tekaktho Moe War (U Moe Aung)
U Moe Aung
Student Days
Matriculated from St. John’s Dio.
EC, RU Kalaung Ah Thin
RU Association
Editor, RUESU Annual Magazine for 1960 – 61
RUESU Magazine
RIT Days
Electrical Engineering Saya at RIT
EE SayasU Moe Aung & U Sein Maung
Chief Editor, RIT Annual Magazine
Editor, Hlyat Sit Sar Saung
Co-leader, Swel Daw Yeik Troupe (Ah Nyeint, Htee Yein, Ta Bin Daing Ah Ka) at RU Golden Jubilee in 1970
Singapore Days
Worked in Singapore
Chair, SPZP-2002 & SPZP-2010 (in Singapore)
Editor / Publisher, Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 & SPZP-2010
Organizer, Alumni Activities (e.g Thingyan)
Post Retirement
Moved back to Myanmar
Taught refresher courses (e.g. Electrical Saftey) at Electrical Inspectorate
Kept mind alert by writing poems & articles in weekly publications
Patron, SDYF; Composed & performed SDY Song
Entertainment for SPZP-2012 & SPZP-2016
Publications
Distinguished Writer, Poet, Editor & Publisher
Editor, RUESU Annual Magazine
Chief Editor, RIT Annual Magazine for more than a decade
Chief Editor, Hlyat Sit Sar Saung
Chief Editor, Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung for SPZP-2002, SPZP-2007 & SPZP-2010 in Singapore
Chief Editor, Swel Daw Yeik Magazine for Shwe YaDu in 2014 & SPZP-2016 in Yangon
Kabyars — solo; with RIT poets; with former EC members of RU Kalaung Ah Thinn
Book 1Book 2Book 3Book 4
Books — Collection of articles; Collection of poem
HlaMin 