by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
Shwe YaDu Lann
Let it be rough [but it’s tough]. Flowers are blossoming again.
Fear not the summer
Care not the rain [drops]
or the thick fogs & darkness
or if winter’s not true to its form
Shwe YaDu Lann
Let it be rough. No gentle stream flowing
Fear not high winds
Care not dense clouds
Topsy turvy [come what may]
Can paddle upstream
With strong mind & conviction
Place where heroes [Thu Ye Kaungs] are produced.
Swel Daw Myaing Dann
Shwe YaDu Lann
is a start [of a journey]
To raise the Banner loftily
to the skies, to the Zenith
displaying our thitsar (vow of truth and integrity)
HLA MIN (Editor, Newsletter Updates, USA)
Kabyar is animate
But [it’s life is] not just a [fleeting] morn
Kabyar is a weapon
But not for destroying the world
Kabyar is key
For liberation and independence
But not devoid of principles [and morals]
Kabyar has power
Hidden but efficient & effective
Like sharp-pointed spear-head
Can thrust into [the heart of] a power-maniac
Cause trembling, shivering, throbbing & anguished pain
Poem in Burmese by Tekkatho Moe War (Saya U Moe Aung)
in memory of “Shwe Duo” : Saya U Tin Shwe (EP66) and Saya U Hla Shwe (T69)
“TO THE SHWE DUO”
by Tekkatho Moe War
SHWE duo
Blossom in unison
Disappear together
Free from complaint
Even with thin breath
Showed mark [of courage and wisdom]
Never wavered …
Pressed by burden
At the awaited turn [of journey’s end]
Body — inheritance [from previous lives]
Succumbs [to failing health]
Yet, “Wei-nyin” is fresh, alive and hovering.
Saya U Nyunt Htay (Met73) is a distinguished poet. He is Chief Editor and/or Publisher of Myanmar Mudita. He composed an excellent poem for SPZP-2012.
One cannot forget the history and sweet memories of one’s alma mater, and one feels that most alumni — near and far — still yearn for the good old days.
In front of A Hall, B Hall [C, D, E, F, Halls] friends would tease and prank, yet do no harm. They do not care to find weaknesses in others, and will remain loyal friends. In front of Uttra (North or G) Hall — usually in the evenings — aspiring Ah Nu Pyinnya Shins serenade with love songs aided by guitars, harmonicas and violins.
Hear the bells in Building One, Two [Three] ringing once more. Many rush to the classrooms [some spend time on the corridors to enjoy the belles go by]. At night, some “count the numbers” (perhaps playing cards, or actually studying and doing home work).
RIT students do not feel outnumbered by RASU [with Burma selected] or Eco at any kind of sports [soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, water polo …]. RIT has staunch loud-voiced fans [like “Ajala” Moe Hein].
Assembly Hall hosted not just presentations and debates. It also is the home of Geeta See Sar [Musical Evening Extravaganza] with outstanding musicians, composers, vocalists and dancers. Swel Daw Yeik Troupe and Ah Nyeint, Pyazat, … melt our hearts.
Cartoon Box [former telephone kiosk] nurtured many cartoonists to share their humor, satire and ideas with the readers searching for Sacca (Truth).
Aw Bar Lann (precious memories to the graduates attending the graduation ceremony) is known not also for applause but also for the tongue-in-cheek comments and unruly claps and shouts to the unwary treading the Lann.
“Nwe Aye”, “Aung Theik Pan”, “Kan Thar Ya”, “U Chit” …
Memories from those who spend six years or more.
As the examinations near, most try their best [by borrowing books and notes from their friends, by attending crash sessions] to pass the hurdle. On the desks are notes [not neat and tidy] scattered all over. Times and systems change, but most RITians are able to decide the essentials (“Ah Hnit”) from the inessentials (“Ah Kar”).
Swel Daw Yeik
One can never forget the history and [priceless] memories.
Burma/Myanmar has a sizable number of race and ethnicity.
The following are some prefixes of my sayas, sayamas and friends.
In most countries, the Father’s lineage is used for the Family Name. Long ago, in some Matriarchal society, the Mother’s lineage is used for the Family Name.
A name may have a prefix.
Prefixes for
Old Burmese passports were issued with the prefix included. This created confusion when matching names from other documents (e.g. birth certificate).
Dr. U Win was called “Hey, U (pronounced as You)” by his friends, who did not realize that “U” (pronounced as Oo) is a prefix for a Burmese name.
A name may have a suffix.
Suffixes include
Some monks names may have “abhivamsa” or “alankara” as suffixes.
Sayadaw U Silananda the prestigious monk examination (conducted in Mandalay) before the age of 27. So, he is often referred to as U Silanandabhivamsa.
There are several distinguished Sayadaws named Ashin Janakabhivamsa.
U Neimeinda and U Siri (Thiri) passed the “Lankara” religious examinations as novices. They may suffix their names with “alankara”.
Monk names may be suffixed with one or more of the following:
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
Ko Soe Win (EC70, UCC, PTC) passed away in Yangon.
GBNF #151 : Intake of 64
by Dennis Mackey
Updated : September 2026
In the early 70s, New Zealand had an intensive technical training program with the Burmese government, namely the NZ Polytechnic sector and our GTI. One direct, international flight to Myitkyina with staff, teaching equipment and machinery was even made accessible to the NZ government. There is no such program that we know of at University level. However, there have been several at professional level with visits by Myanmar engineers and geologists in the Energy (Oil and Gas, Electricity) sector.
Graduate engineers from Myanmar also arrived in New Zealand in the early-to-mid 1970s. Almost all have settled in the North Island, particularly in Auckland, the City of Sails, which is also known as the gateway to NZ, where it is easier to secure jobs and the weather is relatively warmer. Currently, there are 27 alumni; 4 are architects and the rest, engineers. The most senior member graduated in 1967 and the youngest in 2003. Six are female and notably, two of them (both single) who used to live in Auckland are now working in Australia; one is in Perth, Western Australia working in the mining sector. Just as we are particularly proud of these two remarkably enterprising female alumni, we also take pride in our younger members who are pursuing post-graduate studies in their related fields in NZ.
In terms of Myanmar community functions, we are abreast with our counterparts in Australia, North America (USA) and SE Asia (Singapore). It is our engineering alumni who have, for the past 20 years, spearheaded the annual Thingyan celebrations in Auckland, and more recently, championed other socio-cultural events at our Buddhist monasteries. Although we do not have a formal engineering association per se, we have organized and enjoyed several summer get-together picnics in Auckland. On more than one occasion, our members have attended Myanmar Engineers’ gatherings in Sydney, Australia. In February this year, we successfully organized and celebrated our first “Get Together Auckland 2012” for Myanmar Engineers and Professionals. Of the 44 who attended, 4 were from Australia and 2 from Singapore. We envisage and sincerely hope that more RIT alumni will be able to join us in our future get-together.
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
by Hla Min
Update : September 2026
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
I have three kinds of Facebook Pages.
Not all postings are of equal importance. They can be grouped as follows:
Hope the postings will be of interest to historians — professional or amateurs.
I have two web sites.
Paying respect to Sayas for their metta and cetana is a tradition that is unique to Burma/Myanmar.
The tradition is alive and well.
There have been SEVEN world wide SPZPs :
Many alumni are active in the following:
Saya U Aung Hla Tun suggested that the Book should be revised/updated (e.g. every five years or so).
HMEE-2018 (follow up project to HMEE-2012 is headed by Saya U Aung Hla Tun. Some new members joined the HMEE-2018 project.
The project was established as a requirement for the Accreditation of YTU.
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
I have created albums. Members are requested to
The following is a sampling:
Notes :
The first volume has poems by U E Maung (later Burmese Professor) and Daw Khin Saw Mu (mother of Daw Khin Saw Tint and U Nay Oke Tint).
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
Photos
Kabyars
both originals and reprints (e.g. from the Philosophy Magazine and Pu Zaw Pwes)
Memories
First-hand accounts of the various closures of the schools
by Hla Min
Updated : September 2026
There are several HCFs. They include :
There has been some changes with to the Health Care of Sayas and Sayamas.
There are natural languages (e.g. English, French, German) and programming languages (e.g. Java, Scala).
A language has
We had to study English Grammar books (e.g. Wren and Martin) and Myanmar Thaddar မြန်မာသဒ္ဒါ by U Pe Maung Tin.
The Burmese language has a structure similar to the Japanese language, but has a structure quite different to the English language.
The meaning of words can change with time.
In the early days, a computer is a person who computes (e.g. tables for firing artillery). Even in some NASA projects, astronauts ask expert mathematicians (including a black female) to compute trajectories to check against the calculations made by electronic computers in the space capsule.
Also, a compiler is a person who compiles data (e.g. historical data).
During our UCC days, several computer books were ordered through the Trade Corporation (and related departments). Some one sent a book “Compiler Construction for Digital Computers” to the Ministry of Construction, and another book “The Anatomy of a Compiler” to the Institute of Medicine.
iPad and iPhone are designed and manufactured by Apple.
The trademark iPad belongs to Fujitsu. Former colleagues of mine worked on Fujitsu’s Intelligent Pad (iPad). The trademark was transferred to Apple.
The trademark iPhone belongs to Cisco, which experimented with “Internet Phone” (or equivalent). The trademark was transferred to Apple.
Children are not shy and tend to pick up words — often in multiple languages — quickly and easily.
As people grow older, most tend to live within their comfort zone.
Such people probably add only 10 – 20 new words a year.
To expand or refine one’s vocabulary, one must take extra effort.
In our younger days, we learn from a Reader’s Digest section “It pays to increase your word power” by Wilfred Funk, co-compiler of a dictionary.
We read Vocabulary Books which cover a lesson a day for three to six weeks. We also get tested along the way.
With the rise of Broadcasting and Internet, it is much easier to grow one’s vocabulary.
We can
The Lu Ye Chun (Outstanding Student) Program was established in 1964.
Eligible students from 7th Standard to 10th Standard were chosen to attend the Ngapali Lu Ye Chun Camp.
The Lu Ye Chuns include
The Lu Ye Chun Program was extended in 1965 for eligible students from Universities and Institutes.
There were three Camps
(a) Inlay Camp for high school and university students
(b) Ngapali Camp for middle school students
(c) Rangoon “Combined” Camp
I was selected as RIT Lu Ye Chun for the Inlay Camp along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ko Zaw Min and Ma Khin Than Myint Tin (Margaret).
Grapevine says that a 3rd BE student had schedule conflicts to attend the Lu Ye Camp.
As a senior student, Ko Sein Shwe was given one Bar. I received three Stripes. Margaret received two Stripes.
Ko Kyaw Sein Koe (Victor, GBNF), Ma Anita Aye Pe, Ko Khin Maung U and Ma Than Than Tin (Cherry) were selected as Lu Ye Chun for IM(1).
Ko Soe Aung (IM2, elder brother of Ko Soe Myint [UCC], Ko Aung Kyee Myint (Agri), Ko Tun Naung (BDS), Ko Min Oo (Mathematics), Ko Ye Myint (Chemistry), Ko Myint Thein (Physics), Ko Soe Lwin (Physics), and Ko Tin Hlaing (Lay Dwin Thar Saw Chit, Burmese) were Lu Ye Chun for their respective disciplines.
Those from Matriculation include Ko Win Myint, Ko Aung Win, Uttam Singh, and Ma Pwint Than. They joined RIT.
Others include :
Ko Aung Shwe (brother of Tekkatho Phone Naing), Ko Than Sit (GBNF), Ko Aung Kyaw Nyunt, Ko Aung Myint, Ko Thein Lwin, and Nelson Kaw.
Some were selected Lu Ye Chun for two or more years. They include
In the beginning some officials from “Lu Nge Ye Yar” လူငဇယ့်ရေးရာ served as Camp Commander and staff (for Logistics).
Selected University teachers (e.g. Dr. Daw May May Yi, Daw Po) and High School teachers (e.g. U Aung Gyi, U Khin Aung) were assigned to manage the Lu Ye Chun students. Some (e.g. U Than Tun Aung Hlaing, U Khin Maung Htwe) were chosen to lead some activities (e.g. Volleyball).
A medical doctor (e.g. Naing Tint San) was assigned to take care of the health of the Camp attendees.
Later, Sayagyis (e.g. U Ba Toke) served as Camp Commander.
U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and Dr. Nyi Nyi are among the Visiting Lecturers for our Inlay Camp.
In 1988, I was invited to be a Visiting Lecturer at the Ngapali Camp along with Saya U Kyaw Myint (Physics, DHE).
The Lu Ye Chun Program ended in 1988.
A few years back, a formal Reunion of Luyechuns from 1965 – 1988 took place.
I met Saya Ko Aung Win at Yangon SPZP.
I had phone contact with Dr. Uttam Singh (known as Uttam S Gill, NASA).
I had a surprise reunion with Ko Win Myint at the dinner hosted by Ko Wai Lwin and Ko Nyan Tun U for Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and selected sayas attending the SPZP in Yangon. Ko Wai Lwin invited Ko Ohn Khine and me to attend the gathering.
Bogyoke Win Myint was then Deputy Minister of Construction. He told me that he was inspired by Ko Sein Shwe to join RIT and that he had published some books.
