Blog

  • Lwin (Names)

    Lwin (Names)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    Arthur Lwin, Dr. (U Myo Min, EENT)

    Aung Lwin : Academy award winner, Director, Script writer and Actor

    Aung Lwin (C70) : Secretary of RIT Rowing Association

    Aye Lwin

    Aye Lwin (M69, GBNF) : Secretary of the RIT Mechanical Engineering Association; Secretary of RIT Annual Magazine; Attended 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Ba Lwin (Myoma) : Headmaster; Chief Boy Scout of Burma; Ambassador to Ceylon

    Dr. Ba Lwin

    Ba Lwin, Dr. (EE59) : He and U Myo Kyi (EE59) are the senior sayas (by seniority) at the EE Department

    Chit Lwin : attended UCC

    Khin Maung Lwin, Dr. : FAME

    Khin Maung Lwin (Kyet Taw) : M87-91 Group

    Kyi Lwin (George, C67)

    Kyin Lwin (M69, GBNF)

    Kyaw Lwin (Seated 2nd from Right)

    Kyaw Lwin (George Saw Lwin, EC64, GBNF) : Saya, Pianist & Rower

    Kyaw Lwin (C) : Minister; Former DG

    Kyaw Lwin Hla : RIT English; Joined UNDP

    Lwin Aung, Dr. (A59) : Former Professor & Head of Architecture Department; Retired as Pro-Rector of YTU; Monk for several years

    Dr. Lwin Aung

    Lwin Mar Oo : Winner Inn, W Bistro

    Lwin Swe, Bo (EE61) : Great Grandfather

    Bo Lwin Swe

    Lwin Oo : Dhamma friend

    Maung Lwin : Former MI Chief and Ambassador to Germany.

    Maung Lwin : Minister; Father of Toe Lwin & Soe Lwin

    Maung Lwin : Minister; Founding member of NLD; Father of Su Su Lwin

    Maung Lwin (Dawei) : Owned a schooner. Hla Moe (Han Shein), his second son, perished when the schooner sank.

    “Maung Mae Thit Lwin Kyo So Pwe” : Welcome party for freshers

    Mya Lwin

    Myat Lwin

    Min Lwin, Dr. (SPHS60) : Orthopedic Surgeon

    Min Lwin (2nd from Right)

    Min Lwin (Maurice Hla Kyi, SPHS64) : Fifth in Burma in Matric. Admitted as Roll No. (2) to IM(2)

    U Myint Lwin (Standing)

    Myint Lwin (Charlie, UCC) : Burma Judo Champion; German Diploma from IFL

    Myint Lwin Thein, Dr. : His department offered DAG (Diploma in Applied Geology) courses.

    Myo Lwin : RUBC

    Myo Lwin : RIT, GTI Saya

    Myo Lwin : Dhamma friend & organizer

    Myo Lwin : Entrepreneur

    Pyin Oo Lwin : Maymyo

    San Lwin, Dr. (Ronald Lwin, GBNF) : RUBC Gold; Cardiologist

    Saw Lwin : Director General at the Department of Higher Education

    Saw Lwin : He and Su Su have three daughters: Hazel, Olive and May

    Sein Lwin (GBNF) : Professor of Zoology

    Sein Lwin (Raymond Ba Phyu, GBNF) : Vocalist. Perished in an air plane crash

    Soe Lwin, Dr. : Dhamma teacher

    Soe Lwin (EC66) : Railways

    Soe Lwin : Physics, Luyechun

    U Soe Myint Lwin

    Soe Myint Lwin (EC68, GBNF) : Burma Selected in Soccer

    Than Lwin (Eric Lwin, GBNF) : Economics Lecturer; Librarian at the Faculty of Social Science

    Thaung Lwin (EC66) : RUBC Past Captain & Gold

    Thein Lwin (EE, GBNF) : Saya at RIT & Singapore Poly; President of RIT Badminton Association

    Thein Lwin (M71) : Phyu

    Thet Lwin, Dr. : Statistics Saya

    Thet Lwin : Registrar, RIT; Director, DHE

    Thet Lwin (Henry, EC72)

    Thet Lwin (EE, UCC)

    Tin Maung Lwin (RUBC) : Brother of U Tin Maung Latt

    Tin Maung Lwin (Kenneth Lwin, RUBC)

    Tin Maung Lwin (TBSA)

    Tin May Lwin (UCC, DCS, ICST)

    Tint Lwin (Daniel, M69) : Retired as Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering from NTU; Attended SPZPs and took part in the Entertainment Program as a vocalist. Plays guitar with Albert Kyaw Min & Robert Win Boh at the 69er gatherings.

    Wai Lwin (RIT)

    Wai Wai Lwin (Emma Lwin, TBSA)

    Win Lwin (M69) : Secretary of the RIT Hiking & Mountaineering Association. Climbed Mount Victoria with students from other Universities & Institutes.

    Zaw Lwin : Actor

  • Nigara Falls, Inlay & Ngapali

    Nigara Falls, Inlay & Ngapali

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    Niagara Falls

    • Visited Nigara Falls twice
    • First : from the US side
    • Second : photos taken on the trip in 2015 from the Canada side
    Niagara 1
    Niagara 2
    Niagara 3
    Niagara 4

    Ngapali

    • Visited Ngapali three times
    • First : with cousin & friends
    • Second : with my family
    • Third : Guest Lecturer at the Luyechun Camp
    • My poem was published in the Forward Magazine
    Ngapali

    Inlay

    • Visited Inlay four times
    • First : as RIT Luyechun
    • Second : with Peter Pe & Mg Mg Aye (SPHS classmates)
    • Third : with a Tour Company
    • Fourth : with PSA
    • My poem was published in the Thadinkyut Supplement.
    Inlay 1
    Inlay 2
    Inlay 3
    Inlay 4
    Inlay 5
    Poem
  • Class of 68

    Class of 68

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    လျှပ်စစ် Electrical

    Daw Mya Mya Than ဒေါ်မြမြသန်း (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဆရာမ ငြိမ်း

    Daw Mya Mya Than

    U Soe Myint Lwin ဦးစိုးမြင့်လွင် (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဘော်လုံး

    Soe Myint Lwin

    U Tun Aung ဦးထွန်းအောင် (Jeffrey, ကွယ်လွန်) — BASES

    Tun Aung

    U Saw Win ဦးစောဝင်း (ကွယ်လွန်)

    Saw Win

    U Thein Zaw ဦးသိန်းဇော် (Joe, ကွယ်လွန်)

    Thein Zaw

    Dickey Paul (ကွယ်လွန်)

    He passed away in Australia.

    U Myo Myint ဦးမျိုးမြင့် — လျှပ်စစ်စာဆောင်

    Myo Myint

    U Aung Khin ဦးအောင်ခင် — Gawpaka, BASES

    Aung Khin

    U Min Maung ဦးမင်းမောင် Gawpaka

    • Seattle Monastery

    မြို့ပြ Civil

    U Myat Htoo ဦးမြတ်ထူး — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း၊

    Founding member, RIT Alumni International
    Organizer, SPZP-2000
    Founding member, NorCal RITAA

    Myat Htoo

    U Myint Soe ဦးမြင့်စိုး (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း

    He is SPHS 62.

    C68 — Class Photo

    C68

    C68 — Status

    15 ယောက် ခန့် — ကွယ်လွန် GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten)

    GBNF

    စက်မှု Mechanical

    U Yu Swan ဦးယုစွမ် —ဒုံမင်း Don Min

    Yu Swan

    U Khin Maung Nyo ဦးခင်မောင်ညို — ကြက်တောင်

    Member of the RIT Badminton Team which won the Inter-Institute Trophy

    U Ngwe Tun ဦးငွေထွန်း — Dio

    Provided comments for several posts

    ချည်ထည် Textile

    U Khin Maung Lay ဦးခင်မောင်လေး (Henry)

    ပြေးခုန်ပစ်၊ Secretary, RIT Track and Field
    ဘော်လုံး၊ RIT Soccer
    လှေလှော်၊ RIT Rowing
    President, BASES
    Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Khin Maung Lay

    ဓာတု Chemical

    ဦးအုန်းမောင် (Anthony) — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း

    ပိသုကာ Architecture

    Sai Yee Laik စိုင်းရီလိတ် (ကွယ်လွန်) — ဆရာ ငြိမ်း

    Worked for the company that won the Burmese Buddhist Temple project in Singapore.

  • TOKM — Posts

    TOKM — Posts

    by Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint

    Updated : June 2025

    My Father (U Kyaw Myint)

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    U Kyaw Myint’s Brief Biography
    U Kyaw Myint
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    Mesopotamia (Action during WWI)

    My father had a very chequered life.

    Short stay at Rangoon College

    He stood first in the Matriculation examination at the age of sixteen. He had distinction in all subjects including shorthand and typing. He got scholarship when he entered Rangoon College in June 1914 but was expelled from the College in July 1914.

    There was going to be a scholarship exam to enter Calcutta University. The Principal of Rangoon College, Mr. Mathew Hunter had chosen two bright young men to take the exams to enter medical college in Calcutta. The two students for this exam were my father and Sayagyi U Ba Than. They were very close friends.

    Just before the exams, my grandmother passed away in upper Burma where my grandfather was working. Father went to the Principal to give him leave to attend his mother’s funeral. But the dates would clash with the exams and Mr Hunter refused his permission. Father was told that if he went without the Principal’s agreement, he would be expelled on return.

    My father went in time for the funeral but on return, as told to him earlier he was expelled from the College.

    Self Support

    My grandfather was very angry with my father being expelled. Father was told not to come back to the family.

    Father supported himself by doing a unique job. He traveled from Pegu passing through small towns and villages. At that time, there were many Burmese women who had children by Englishmen, and were common law wives. The Englishmen had left Burma, but they did not money regularly.

    On behalf of the women, father wrote letters in English to the men in England. He was offered food, small amounts of money, and a place to stay.

    He continued doing this, going up the country till he reached Myitkyina some months later.

    Bombay Burma Company

    Due to father’s expertise in short hand and typing, a young English man from Bombay Burma Company gave father a job as a clerk and secretary. Father told me about the kindness of the English couple who let him stay with them.

    Apart from Secretary work, he had to go with workers to the teak trees that had been cut down and later sent them down the Irrawaddy to Rangoon. Father had to supervise that the Bombay Burma Company seal was hammered deep at the end of the logs. The logs were floated down the Irrawaddy river. Logs with the seal were collected and exported to England.

    Illness

    A year later father had cerebral malaria and it was the young couple who looked after him during the illness.

    Enlistment and Assignments

    Father stayed on with the English couple till the end of 1916. By that time the war that was said to last only one year had to gone into its third year with no resolution. There were many casualties and new fronts for the conflict. The English government intensified their recruiting efforts.

    The young Englishman and his wife returned to England. The husband joined the army.

    Father did not want to continue working in Myitkyina. He also thought of enlisting for the war.

    He first went to Pegu to reconcile with his father. Grand father was doing a job what would be equivalent to a District Commissioner (DC) but being Burmese was given the post as Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) but doing the same job.

    Burmese doctors were appointed as Sub Assistant Surgeon (SAS). They had to work like surgeons and civil surgeons.

    NB: the status of Burmese doctors before Independence can be read in the books by Dr. U Myint Swe.

    In spite of my grandfather telling him not to enlist, father went ahead for enlistment.

    The place for enlistment was the at the Cantonment (which Burmanized as “Kan Daw Min” Park). It is the place with a small lake near the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

    At that time, no Burmese would be accepted. One must either be an Anglo-Burman or and Anglo-Indian.

    When asked, father gave his name as “John Henry Wilson”. He could be taken for an Anglo because he was very fair with sharp facial features.

    Next he was asked to go against the wall to measure his height. Father was only five foot two inches. When the sergeant cane to measure him, he stood up on his toes so that it would be five foot four (the required height for a soldier.

    The sergeant asked him whether he really wanted to serve, and getting an affirmative, the sergeant write down on his enlistment as “John Henry Wilson, Anglo-Burman, five foot six”. Father became a soldier.

    NOTE:

    Since, the English keeps excellent records, there must be enlistment records for the regiment that above item written down above, would still be there in their archives.

    I visited the Middle Temple Inn in London, from where my father was called to the Bar. I wanted know about my father, the Librarian asked me for date of being called, went in, back in about 15 mins and gave me a copy of information of my father as recorded in their archives.: Will write more about this in a later post “My father: the Barrister”

    I tried to remember but still could not get the place in India where he was sent. I only remembered that it was in a cantonment not far from Dehli.

    Father was sent to where the Gloucester Regiment, the 12th Battalion was billeted. He got his training, stayed there for some time rising to the rank of corporal.

    Mesopotamia Campaign and “the war to end all wars”

    At the start of the war, the British army and its allies thought that it would be a short war lasting for a year or so. But it didn’t as the allies were fighting on different fronts. When the Turkish Ottoman army joined the war, that opened a new front of the war: the “Mesopotamia Front / Campaign”. Father’s regiment was sent to that front.

    Germany had sent a fleet of submarines to attack British ships carrying either troops or cargo.

    Although not entirely, the British army and navy were depending on oil from Burma Oil Company in Yenangyaung. But when their ships sailing from Burma were being sunk, they looked for an alternative.

    Apart from Burma, the oil fields from Mesopotamia were near to England and likely to have less loss during transport.

    Just like Burma Oil Company (BOC), there was another company that could offer the required crude oil. Like BOC, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (AOC) was owned by an Englishman. Both BOC and AOC were taken over by the British government for the war efforts.

    The Mesopotamia Campaign happened mainly to save and have access to AOC refineries.

    For some years now, whenever I heard about Iraq, Iran, Syria, two words often appeared: Basra and Mosul.

    Mesopotamia was the area between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. It covered what would later become most of Iraq, parts of Northern Arabia, Eastern part of Syria and South East Turkey.

    The oil rigs were in Basra and Mosul within Mesopotamia.

    And that was where my father’s regiment was sent: to guard the oil fields from the Germans.

    As the German army was engaged in other fronts, it was the Turkish (Ottaman) soldiers and Nomadic Arabs attacking these two areas.

    It was mainly skirmishes and attacks mainly by the nomadic Arabs who were given arms by the Germans. The disciplined regiment could repel the poorly planned attacks and thus England still had access to the oil.

    Armistice: 11-11-11 11AM

    Father and did comrades stayed on in that area till Armistice, the end of the war at: “the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th. month of the year”.

    President Woodrow Wilson in his speech said, “the war to end all wars” had ended, using H.G . Wells’ words from the book “The War of the Worlds”. How ironic it was as only three decades later the Second World War happened.

    Return Home

    Not too long after that soldiers including my father were demobilized and could return to their home countries.

    Father returned home to be with his family.

    Study at Cambridge University

    Since he was expelled from the College, he had never given up his hope to gain a good education. The demob and savings from his salary and other benefits on leaving the army, he now had enough money to go to England to get what he had wanted to do since 1914.

    He applied to be admitted to Queens’ College Cambridge, where his elder brother had attended gaining MA, LLB.

    Father landed on the shores of England in the spring of 1919. He was twenty one years old.

    After spending time in London for a week or so he got to Cambridge to seek admission. Father told me that it was a vibrant time to be as there were so many young men like him, veterans of the war, some who had left their studies and had left to fight the war as well as those like him who had come to be admitted for the first time. He wanted to study at Cambridge as this was where his elder brother studied for his BA (later MA) and LLB.

    Both Oxford and Cambridge gave dispensation for veterans, so that they did not have to undergo a strict entrance exam but only had to take what was known as “the little go”.

    Father went to the College with all that he had was his matriculation certificate from Burma. He had to go through an interview first to see whether he should be admitted. Father impressed the examiners that he was admitted without the need to take entrance exams.

    Finally he thought he was going to get the education he had missed before. He had enough money to sustain him for the four years at the university.

    During the two years he was in Cambridge, he actively participated in debates conducted by the Cambridge Union, where he sharpened not only his oratory but also would help him at the courts when he became a practising barrister in Burma. It also helped when he became a well known politician in Burma.

    Two things happened that would affect his ambition to be a college graduate.

    First when he was in the second year, U Tin Tut arrived. He was sent to Oxford to do his training for the Indian Civil Service (ICS). He was to be the very first Burmese to be admitted to the Service. And unlike the others who later joined, he was the only Burmese to be admitted by nomination and not by selection examinations.

    In December 29th 1920, there was a nation wide students strike against the British government. Schools and the Rangoon University was closed down.

    U Myint Thein was then studying in the junior BA class at the University. Not knowing when the university would be reopened, even without telling my father he traveled by ship to England. This he did without any funds for tuition fees. He arrived and requested my father to pay for his tuition and upkeep in Cambridge.

    U Tin Tut gambled a lot on the races and he also was asking father to help pay some of his gambling debts.

    Father decided to leave Cambridge so that he could support his younger brother. He searched for a job to sustain the three of them.

    For the second time in his life, his education had to be postponed.

    At that time, there was Burma Club. Many years later — at the time when Saya U Maung Nyo was studying in London — there would be the Britain Burma Club. And Prof. Woodruff, who was a visiting professor of tropical medicine in Rangoon, was a Patron.

    The Burma Club was for the people who have served in Burma both before and during the war. Father got a job as the secretary of the Club. It enabled him to sustain the needs of his two brothers and allowed him to prepare for the barrister examinations.

    I have titled this part of my post as “Cambridge — here I come”, but for father in 1920 was “Cambridge — here I leave”.

    Yet again he was thwarted from gaining a university degree.

    P.S. In spite of all the obstacles, in 1948, on gaining independence, my father, the college dropout, was appointed as one of the first three Supreme Court Justices of our country. And also later became the very first Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Rangoon University.

    Four brothers and Inns of Court

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    The complete series of articles have been posted in Facebook and archived in hlamin.com

    Magnum Opus

    • Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint e-mailed me a soft copy of “Who’s Who in Heath and Medicine (in Burma/Myanmar)” (Second edition).
    • It is the Magnum Opus of Professor Mya Tu and his wife Daw Khin Thet Hta.
    • There was an attempt to update it, but did not happen.

    Dr. Tin U

    Saya U Tin U was the pioneer of child health and paediatrics in Burma. He was the first Burmese doctor to pass the MRCP (Paediatrics), the first professor of Child Health, the first medical superintendent of the Rangoon Children’s Hospital, the first Principal of the postgraduate school of child health. He was the only Burmese Paediatrician to serve as WHO Professor of Paediatrics in India (Calicut) and Bangladesh (Dhaka).

    Saya called our medical disciple as “child health” rather than Paediatrics as he would like to focus on keeping children healthy rather than looking after them when their are unwell. Saya pioneered the use of Oral Rehydration Solution for diarrhoea in children, setting up center for childhood malnutrition; standardization of treatment of Dengue Haemorhagic Fever. He authored seven books on child health, all of which went into multiple reprints and Saya was awarded the National Literary Prize (Ahmyo Thar Sapay Su). Saya also served as the Member of the parliament for Dagon Township for one term. Saya was the elder brother of Saya U Sein Win (RIT EE).

    Before You Judge People (2015)

    Dr. Su Mon, daughter of Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint, used her strong mental prowess to overcome adversity.

    She posted on Facebook in 2015:

    Dear world, I just want you to know that I am more than the sum of my diseases and limitations, I am more than my usually failing body, I am more than my brains and IQ, I am more than just a person with disability. I am more than my limp and my strange gait (yes it would be good if you stop staring at me when you see me) and I am more than my many scars. And I am definitely stronger (mentally) than you can possibly imagine. Please don’t think my life is easy, that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, that all that I have achieved so far came to me easily. I worked damn hard for every little thing, every step forward is hard fought with all that I have in me. I may not meet your definition of success or beauty, or intelligence but I am ok with that. I love who I am, many flaws and all. All I ask before you judge me or dismiss me is that you spend an hour in my shoes. I will do the same for you.

    Dr. Myo Khin (C70) wrote :

    Heartfelt appreciations to your strong spirit and will, all the best. May lord Buddha bless and keep you. Your god uncle, MK.

    Cecilia James wrote :

    A fighter against all adversaries and a risk-taker is to be admired. The world makes way for a person who knows where she / he is going. May God bless you and may you be successful in all your endeavors !

    Historic photo of Burmese Doctors

    Saya Ko Gyi, Ophthalmologist and Medical Superintendent of EENT Hospital, is the father of Dr. Thein Wai (SPHS63, Fifth in Burma) and U Aung Khin (SPHS63, DSA, GBNF).

    Sayagyi Col. Min Sein is the father of Dr. Thein Htut (RUBC Gold).

    Sayagyi U Maung Gale was Dean of the Rangoon Medical College from1959 to 1962. Per Saya Dr. Maung Nyo, “He was our dean, very quiet and peaceful. He translated Grey’s Anatomy to Burmese and he handed over the manuscripts to Dr Norma Saw.”

    Prof. U Khin Maung Win was Pathologist and DG ME. At one time, he headed the Medical Board to examine the people chosen for States Scholar.

    Garawa

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    Garawa means paying respect (especially to elders and mentors).

    U Myint Thein (“MMT”, former Chief Justice of the Union of Burma, former Ambassador to China, and author) paid respect to his elder brother U Kyaw Myint (Barrister, Head of the Tribunal which tried Galon U Saw, and former Dean of the Faculty of Law).

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :

    It was on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration of [my Ba Dwe] U Myint Thein at the residence of the British Ambassador Mr. Charles Booth.

    Father [U Kyaw Myint] was the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Rangoon. He took classes in constitutional law as he explained why it was important to have a comprehensive constitutional law. He also lectured on criminal law.

    One anecdote about father: I was very curious when father marked the answer books of BL students. I once saw father giving pass to a student who answered only one question. Father showed me the book which the single answer almost fill. Father told me that although it was only one answer, he wrote as though it was a real lawyer’s brief while others “regurgitate” what they had learned from lectures and books. Father followed the career of his student. As father predicted he became one of the best lawyers in Burma (sorry, have forgotten the name)

    The Prime Minister was the Chancellor of the Rangoon University. U Nu followed by U Ba Swe were Chancellors. [Ba Dwe] Dr. Htin Aung was Vice Chancellor. It was during U Ba Swe’s time that father was conferred LLD (in honoris causa), together with Emperor Haile Salasi of Ethiopia.

    Among his students was Guardian U Sein Win and Sao Hso Holm.

    Father defended U Sein Win when he was arrested and charged for writing articles about the then government. The trial went on till the last day of summation by both sides. Uncle Sein Win told me about what father did. In that day, father stood up and announced that U Sein Win himself would present the summation. U Sein Win was aghast as he had not been told if this. He turned to my father who said “You can do it. If not you are not my student of law”. U Sein Win gave a very impressive summation of the case which was reported full in both national and international papers. And he was acquitted.

    “Sawbwalay” Sao Hso Holm (Son of Arzanee Sao San Htun) together with [my Ba Dwe] U Myint Thein, was the first to be arrested and last to be released from custody. [He was the Legal Advisor to the Sawbwas.] He visited my father in his office. Father told his former student that he could join their chambers if he was looking for a job. But he was offered a job by UN ending his career as Assistant Resident Representative in Fiji covering the Pacific islands. I recently bought “Burma, My Mother” by Saw Kaemawadde (Ma Ma Biddy, Sawbwalay’s spouse) her autobiography. Very touching narration of her life. You can get a soft copy from Amazon.

    At present is U Mya Thein, senior adviser on the constitution to the present government. He is the son of a brilliant lawyer U Kyin Htone, and also my father’s student. [He is a younger brother of advocate U Tun Tin.]

    Dr. Hla Yee Yee wrote :

    “ Uncle Monty” to everybody

    Dr. Myat Soe wrote :

    I know well about your uncle U Myint Thein Saya [TOKM].

    He was former Myanmar Ambassador to China, and he was a good friend of (Late) Chinese P.M Mr. Chou-Eng-Lai.

    The Student who taught me

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    In the book of tribute to me, that Prof. Aye Maung Han, Prof. Nyunt Thein, Prof. Ye Myint Kyaw published for my seventieth birthday, many of my former students wrote about what they learned from me when I was teaching and working with them over two decades as a teacher in our medical college.

    I would like to share with whoever gets to read this, learning is not one way but two ways: while the students are learning from the teacher, the teacher himself learn from his students Some of the lessons that I learn from them are work related but many more lessons are about being a good person, being dutiful, respect for people, compassion, humbleness, gratitude, integrity and religiosity. For a significant number of them, being either a medical student, a house surgeon and later as a qualified doctor or specialist, life was never a bed of roses.They juggled to fulfill their professional role as well as the role as the bread earner for either their young families or in support of elderly parents.

    The student who taught me has written and published significant number of books ranging from fiction (based on his life experiences) to belle letters and articles mainly of which are not only sharing knowledge but also inspirational.

    The last time I went back home, he kindly gave me a book of his.

    I have read his book more than once. I go back to each chapter of his book repeatedly , especially when I come across an incident or experience, which relates very much to a relevant chapter of his book.

    And through this book, my student teaches me.

    I had a strong affinity with my colleagues and students and previously when my memory was better than now, I could remember most of whom I taught by their names and the year they graduated. The author, although I knew him well, was not close to me as student, intern and in service,as unfortunately he was either in units other than where I was in or he did postgraduate studies only I had left the country.

    Some years back, at the request of Prof. U Aye Maung Han, I gave a talk about my experiences of working in UNICEF, which were so different from my life as a paediatrician. I had titled the talk as “Shades of Mediocrity” as I felt that what I would talk about might seem both to the audience as well as to myself as my having gone through a state of mediocrity, as someone who moved from being a clinician to being an UNICEF staff responsible for public health, nutrition, water and sanitation, emergencies and the broader aspects of interventions to ensure that the the rights of children would be fulfilled. I did genuinely wonderd many times, whether I had contributed significantly beyond mediocrity, to areas of work which I had never worked in.

    I had used the title from Simon and Garfunkel’s Homeward Bound lyrics:

    “All my words came back to me
    In shades of mediocrity”.

    And I also quoted the vow in Burmese that appears on the front page of every book written by the well known author Tetkatho Phone Naing. The following is my own translation, more correctly my “transliteration” as I will never be able to give a precise translation of of Saya Phone Naing’s poem:

    THE VOW

    If you should not gain, by reading what I have written,|
    You cannot lose, if it helps to overcome ennui
    If at least a word or a para will make you thoughtful
    If you should find such in my writings, I the slave of writing
    Will feel that my duty is done.

    I will never claim that my writings are to be cherished by the reader,
    Nor through my writing I will claim as being more learned than the readerI will not go over your head, nor claim to enlighten you

    I make this my vow.

    Tetkatho Phone Naing

    (The original “vow” by the author, I have added as a photo as I do not know how to write in Burmese on Facebook)

    After I had just recited the first few lines, someone from the audience stood up and finished the poem for me, the whole passages and vow that had been made by the author..

    On top of that he said the “mediocrity or mediocre” need not be seen as permanent nor to be disparaged, as he himself was once a mediocre student during his college life.

    The person who said that he was “mediocre” was far from being mediocre, he was already a writer of renown and at the time my talk, he had not only acquired more accolades both as doctor and a writer than most of us but also held a senior teaching position at the medical college.

    I must come back to the book he gave me. I want to tell how my ” mediocre” student, whom I know that is never so, with his writings taught me to be a better person.

    The book is “Mingalar shi thaw aung myin gyin” or “Auspicious acts conducive to success”

    I have looked at how the word “mingalar” could has been translated. In the version of Paritta Protective Verses in Pali, Burmese and English, Sayadaw Silannadabhivamsa translated “mingalar” as “highest blessing”. But, I would like to use “auspicious acts” because according to the Oxford English Dictionary, auspicious means “conducive to success” , and thirty eight auspicious acts in the Mingalar Sutta lead towards the highest blessings. Maybe those who are more conversant with Pali may question my translation. But it would be appropriate for the book, to be translated as “auspicious acts that lead to success”

    The author himself has translated “mingalar” as “rules for good and auspicious conduct”

    The writer has written a chapter for each of the Mingalar (act or conduct) with erudite explanation on each of the mingalar, quoting each in Pali and Burmese. He has based these not only by rote or learning but from lessons given by eminent sayadaws of Burma. References are made to books on dhamma and sermons by Ledi Sayadaw, Dr. Pyinneikthara, Sayadaw Seikienda, Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw and many more. He shows not just learning and knowing but how much he has internalized and practiced each of the auspicious act, by referring to his life lessons.

    The fourteenth stanza of the Mingala sutta describes the first three auspicious acts:

    “Asevana ca balanam,
    Panditanan ca sevana,
    Puja ca pujaneyanam”

    “Not to associate with fools,
    to associate with the wise
    And to honor those who are worthy of honor.”

    From: translation by Ashin Silanandabhivamsa

    As I read, I learn and am so impressed not just by the narratives of his life experiences but also by seeing the depth of understanding of Mingalar Sutta. While starting life as a simple young student, he gets to where he is now by following the various tenets of Buddhism. I use the word “erudite” for him as again Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning of “erudite” as “having or showing great knowledge or learning” as those who have read the book would agree with me that he has not only understands and learns but also practices what he has learned.

    His third chapter is on the third auspicious conduct “pujaca pujaneyyanam” : he wrote about me, as one of the persons whom he considered as his “guru”‘ among those he honors as being worthy of honor. I was very touched on reading this chapter as well as it makes me feel humble to be among those he honored the most as I may not deserve such honor, as I did not have as much contact with him during both his student years nor later as a paediatrician.

    Each chapter of this book carries with it the precise meaning of each mingalar and how he has conducted himself according to his deep understanding of each.

    After the third reading of the book, I feel as though he are saying the words to me and guiding me towards not only just understanding but also ensure that my conduct are within the tenets of each of the mingalar.

    Ko Ye Myint Kyaw, with your book, you have taught me and I would like to thank you for this.

    I have only one wish to ask of you: the wish is to ask you to write a similar book on “Metta Sutta” my favorite sutta in the paritta, as I know the extent of metta (compassion) that you have for the patients, their families and your students.

    May all the highest blessings be upon you.

    With metta,
    Thane Oke Kyaw-Myint
    20 June 2015.

    Sad Loss of Manuscripts

    Daw Khin Mya Mu’s work

    Before U E Maung died, he asked me to bring out exercise books with writings by [my aunt] Daw Khin Mya Mu.

    In the books were transcript of many “Kyauk sar” and translation into Burmese of hundreds of stone scriptures from all over Burma.

    When I asked him why they were not published, he told me that no printing press [in those days] have fonts for the ancient writings.

    [Thus] they were all unpublished.

    U E Maung donated his house and belongings to Tipitaka Sayadaw. When he passed away Dr Tha Hla was given the task of selling the property and have as cash donation for Sayadaw. We were not informed but later on when I asked, I was told that except for some books, the handwritten documents were not saved anywhere. Felt very sad about losing the handwritten books.

    Only some books were chosen to be donated to the Burmese Department of Rangoon University.

    Dr. Htin Aung’s works

    The sad thing was when [my Ba Dwe] Dr. Htin Aung left Burma, he had also left not only his books but drafts of books he wanted to finish and publish, mainly in history.

    Two Fallen Comrades

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint shared his memories about two fallen comrades. The first one was about Dr. Myo Myint. The second one was about Dr. Mya Thein (nicknamed “Win Oo” for his mustache and for appearing beside Win Oo in singing “Mee Pone Pwe”).

    Dr. Mya Thein was barely fourteen when he passed the Matriculation examination in 1957. His parents pleaded with Saya Dr. Htin Aung (Rector, Ba Dwe of Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint). Sayagyi had returned the favor he received from the Principal of Rangoon College to let him (then underage) attend college.

    Plan A failed when Dr. Mya Thein missed the cut to study Medicine by a couple of marks. Plan B succeeded when he passed the Bachelors examination with high marks overall (and especially 60+ marks in Biology) to be attend 2nd MBBS.

    For details, read Dr. TOKM’s blog.

    Books

    Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote :

    I am so fortunate that books written by my former students are either given to me by the authors or bought for me by my niece Hnin Wit Yee or Min Thet Aung.

    I got a signed copy of “The Female Voice of Myanmar” by Nilanjana Sengupta, translated into Burmese, by Myae Hmone Lwin. It was given to me by Ma Thida.

    The book consist of articles about and by four eminent lady Burmese writers and activists: Ludu Daw Ah Mar, Daw Khin Myo Chit, Daw Aung San Su Kyi and my “daughter writer” Ma Thida (San Gyaung).

    Please do not say that I am biased towards my daughter but I read the articles on Daw Ah Mar, Daw Khin Myo Chit and Daw Sung Dan Su Kyi once only but read and reread the articles by and on Ma Thida about three times or more.

    Coming from a family whose members were at different times and at different lengths of incarceration by the military government, each article about Ma Thida in prison brought back sad memories of my own family. I had to pause even in the middle of each article as such memories flooded my mind.

    From a very young age Ma Thida stand out among her contemporaries . A multifaceted person with deep attitudes and understanding of right and wrong, justice and injustice, tears welled up in my eyes reading what she went through in prison, and had to stop reading after going through some incidents described by her in the book.

    I am happy and very proud that she can be what she is now, an activist, feminist, author and running PEN Myanmar and many more.

    This book must be read in Burmese as in any other language, much would be lost in translation.

    P.S. Although she left the book for me in May, due to circumstances, I happily received the book only last month.

    Posts

    • Alumni from Myanmar Institutes of Medicine
    • Early Doctors
    • Medical Research
    • SPHS60
    • The Empty Tomb
  • Calendar

    Calendar

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    Video Broadcast

    Types of Calendar

    • Solar Calendar
    • Lunar Calendar
    • Luni-solar Calendar
    • Religious Calendar
    • Civil Calendar
    • Fiscal Calendar
    • Academic Calendar

    Burmese Calendar

    I wrote an article on the Burmese Calendar for the BAPS Newsletter.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is burmese-calendar.jpg

    Months

    January

    • First month of Gregorian Calendar
    • Named after Janus, two-faced God (symbolic to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new year)
    • Jan 1 : New Year’s Day
    • Jan 4 : Independence Day in Myanmar
    • Martin Luther King’s Day in US
    • Sometimes : Lunar New Year

    February

    • Second month of the Gregorian Calendar
    • Has 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is our-unity.jpg
    My poem for Union Day Supplement in WPD

    Burma/Myanmar

    February 12 : Pyidaungsu Nay (Union Day) is a public holiday in the Union of Burma. Commemorates the signing of the Pinlong Sar Choke (Panglong Agreement) on February 12, 1947.

    February 13 : Bogyoke Aung San was born on February 13, 1915. Named Htain Lin. Changed the name to rhyme with that of Aung Than (elder brother). Centennial celebrations for Bogyoke were held in 2015. Feb 13 is also as Khalay Myar Nay (Children’s Day).

    Tabodwe Festival (Occasional)

    The Full Moon of Tabodwe often falls in February. Two celebrations are held.

    • Htamane Pwe (Sticky Rice Festival)
    • Ovada Partimauk Day (Exhortation)

    USA

    February 14 : Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday, but many people send greeting cards and presents.

    Presidents’ Day : In the early days, there were two holidays. One to celebrate George Washington’s birthday and another to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
    Later a single holiday in February to honor all US Presidents was proposed. Some states continue to celebrate the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln.

    Canada

    “Family Day” (holiday) is observed on the 2nd Monday of February in Ontario.

    Family Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of February in British Columbia.

    Lunar New Year

    Some countries (including China and Vietnam) observe the Lunar Year.

    Lunar New Year occurs at the end of January or the beginning of February. The date is not fixed in the Gregorian Calendar.

    It fell in February in 2018 and 2019.

    Days

    February is the shortest month in the year with 28 days in a Common Year and 29 days in a Leap Year.

    • A common year has 365 days, while a Solar year has 365.2422 days.
    • A year which is not a Century year is a Leap Year if it is divisible by 4. The discrepancy of .9688 days is rounded up to a day.
    • A year which is a Century year is a Leap Year if it is divisible by 400. This ensures that there are 97 leap years in four centuries.

    February had 30 days, but one day each was transferred to July (honoring Julius Caesar) and August (honoring Augustus Caesar) to have 31 days in those months (worthy of Roman Emperors). February was left with 28 days.

    Ripley’s “Believe it or not” illustrated a grave stone which had February 30.

    March

    • First month of old Roman Calendar
    • Third month of Gregorian Calendar
    • Mar 2 : Peasant’s Day was moved from Jan 1 in order to celebrate the Coup D’eat
    • Phone Maw Day
    • Burma’s Human Rights Day (celebrated by Berkeley)
    • Mar 27 : Resistance Day was renamed as Armed Forces Day
    • First Day of Spring : Persian New Year

    April

    • Second month of old Roman Calendar
    • Fourth month of Gregorian Calendar
    • Thingyan : Three or four days of Water Festival
    • Myanmar New Year
    • The deadline for filing taxes in the USA is around mid-April

    May

    • Third month of old Roman Calendar
    • Fifth month of Gregorian Calendar
    • May 1 : May Day in some countries
    • May 5 : Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother’s Day in the US

    June

    • Fourth month old Roman Calendar
    • Sixth month of Gregorian Calendar
    • Jun 6 : D Day
    • Jun 6 : Ah Loke Thamar Ah Yay Ah Khinn
    • Father’s Day in the US

    July

    • Fifth month of old Roman calendar; Had 30 days
    • Renamed July in honor of Emperor Julius Caesar and was given an extra day
    • Seventh month of Gregorian Calendar; Has 31 days
    • My beloved father was born on 1st July
    • Jul 4 : Independence Day in the US
    • Jul 7 : Students’ protest that was brutally crushed
    • Jul 8 : Demolition of the Rangoon University Student’s Union
    • Jul 19 : Arzani Nay
    • Apollo 11 landed in Tranquility Bay on the Moon in July 1969. Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) & Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) stepped on the Moon. They set up the US Flag. They collected lunar rock samples. Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot) circled around the Moon and waited for the return of the Lunar Module.
    • My poem “Men on the Moon” was forwarded by USIS to NASA.
    • The poem was published in the Guardian Daily.

    Dark day in July 1947

    Nine Arzanis — seven Ministers, a Secretary and a body guard — were gunned down on July 19, 1947. Eight perished that day. Sao San Htun succumbed a day later.

    • Bogyoke Aung San
    • Thakin Mya
    • Deedoke U Ba Cho
    • Mahn Ba Khine
    • Mong Pawn Sawbwa Sao San Htun (passed away in the hospital on July 20, 1947)
    • U Ba Win
    • U Razak
    • ICS U Ohn Maung
    • Yebaw Maung Htwe

    There are books & documentaries on the “unsolved mystery”.

    Two dark days in July 1962

    According to the newspapers, 17 died on July 7, 1962.

    Ko Aung Khin, who was stuck by a stray bullet as he was returning home from Rangoon University Boat Club, was listed as the 17th victim.

    The revered Student Union was demolished on July 8, 1962.

    The celebration of the 7th July in the following year (1963) ended with the closure of Universities (with the exception of Medical & Engineering).

    August

    • Sixth month of old Roman calendar; Had 30 days
    • Renamed August in honor of Emperor Augustus Caesar and was given an extra day.
    • Eighth month of the Gregorian Calendar; Haas 31 days.
    • 8-8-88 : start of a long struggle to restore Democracy in Myanmar

    Anniversaries

    There are several birthdays in my extended family.

    Two sisters, my grand daughter, several cousins and I are August born.

    In August 2016, Maurice Chee (M75) organized a birthday soon kwyay for me at the Dhammananda Vihara in Half Moon Bay, California. The sayas and alumni presented me an Appreciation award.

    Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa passed away on August 13 in 2005.

    Three of my in-laws : Father-in-law, Mother-in-law and Brother-in-law passed away in August.

    Daw Mu Mu Kin (spouse of Saya Allen Htay (C58)), U Myint Swe (EP74, NorCal RITAA) and U Thein Naing (Patrick, La Phet Yay Waing member) are also August born.

    One of them hosts an August-born Birthday Party. In August 2018, Patrick and Mie Mie hosted a lunch gathering for the August born at Moss Beach Distillery. They also presented a book for us.

    Is 8 lucky?

    8-8-88 (August 8, 1988) and the following days mark the hope and then despair of the people longing for the end of the Adhamma Era.

    The event was inspired in part by numerologists who remembered the historic event (about Mingyi Yan Naung) in 888 Burmese Era and extrapolated the magic of No. 8 from three 8’s to four 8’s.

    Most Chinese think that the number 8 is lucky. For example, Beijing Olympics was opened on 8-8-08 (August 8, 2008).

    September

    • Seventh month of old calendar. “Sept” means Seven.
    • Ninth month of Gregorian calendar.
    • Crushed the hopes of Multi-party Democracy in 1988
    • Occasionally : End of Burmese Buddhist Lent

    October

    • Eighth month of old calendar.
      “Oct” means Eight
    • Tenth month of Gregorian calendar
    • Occasionally : End of Burmese Buddhist Lent (Thadinkyut)
    • “Deepavali” or “Diwali” celebrations are celebrated around October. Known as the “Festival of Lights”.
    • “Halloween” occurs every year on October 31 (the day before “All Saint’s Day”). Celebrated with “Trick or Treat” by children & optional “Halloween Costume Party” by adults.
    • Due to differences in the calendars, the Bolshevik Revolution is [wrongly] referred to as the “October Revolution”.
    • Ocktoberfest is a festival held in October.
    • The Annual Pumpkin Festival with the bragging rights to the “heaviest” Pumpkin is held along Highway 92 in Half Moon Bay in Northern California. The traffic is really bad in the area for most of October. The 7-mile strip takes an hour or more during the Festival period.
    • Dr. Aung Gyi’s birthday is October 1.
    • U Ba Than’s birthday is October 2. Sayas, former students & friends are invited to his soon kway. 69ers usually offer Garawa at Sayagyi’s place (Winner Inn).

    November

    • Ninth month of old calendar.
      “Nov” means nine.
    • Eleventh month of Gregorian calendar.
    • Anniversary of my beloved parents
    • Tazaundaing often fall around November
    • Kathein robe offering often take place in early November.
      Must be held during one month following the Full Moon Day of Thadinkyut.
    • November 1st is “All Saints Day”. Preceded by Halloween (which falls on October 31st).
    • DST (Daylight Savings Time) requires resetting the clock according to “Spring forward. Fall back.” Currently, DST is set back in Fall (Autumn) on the Sunday following Halloween.
    • The second Tuesday of November is scheduled for US Elections at the various levels. (a) Presidential Elections occur every four years. (b) Mid-term elections occur every two years. House of Representatives serve two year terms. (c) Senators serve six year terms. To ensure continuity in the Senate, the election of the Senators is staggered into three groups.
    • Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November.
    • Black Friday and Cyber Monday following Thanksgiving have massive sales. Some companies start their “Black Friday” early in November.
    • Several English words (e.g. November, Black Friday) have lost their original meaning.
    • November 11 is celebrated as Veterans Day in the USA.
    • It is celebrated as Armistice Day in the UK and France.
    • A hundred years ago, Truce was called between the Allied Forces and Germany. The Truce occurred at 11 AM, marking the event with three 11s.
    • First World War officially ended a year later with the Versailles Treaty.
    • Elections in the US (Local races & Resolutions every year, House of Representatives every two years, One third of Senators every two years, President every four years)
    • Nov 22 : JFK assassinated (Conspiracy Theory survives)
    • Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the US

    December

    • Tenth month of old Calendar.
      “Dec” means Ten.
    • Twelfth & last month of Gregorian Calendar
    • U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khinn : dark day in the history of Burma
    • Apollo 8 orbited the Moon on December 1968
    • Dec 25 : Christmas
    • Dec 31 : New Year’s Eve

    Holidays

    Some holidays

    • have fixed date
    • have relative dates
    • are designated as Public holidays
    • are religious

    Some holy days are preceded by some fun events.

    • Halloween (October 31) precedes “All Saints Day” (November 1).
    • “Mardi Gras” (“Fat Tuesday”) falls on the day before “Ash Wednesday” signifying the start of the Lent.
  • NorCal RITAA & SoCal Guests

    NorCal RITAA & SoCal Guests

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    • The main photo was from the Dinner.
    • Other photos cover various times & events.

    David Ko (U Tin Myint, M67, GBNF)

    David Ko
    • Entrepreneur
    • Golden Sponsor for SPZP-2000.
    • Donated $3000 to SPZP-2012.
    • Supported Norcal RITAA. Sponsored a table at the Annual Dinner to invite selected sayas & alumni from Southern California

    Saya U Myo Myint Sein (A58)

    NorCal RITAA Dinner
    Saya Myo
    • First batch of Architecture graduates
    • Masters from Michigan University
    • Professor at RIT
    • Published books on Architecture
    • President of RU ConBro association. He and his brothers attended De La Salle Schools.
    • Played Soccer

    Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62)

    Dr. Tin Win
    • Matriculated from St. John’s Dio.
    • Won a Gold Medal in 1958 for Joint Highest Score in Maths in I.Sc (both years)
    • Youngest in the Class of M62
    • Doctorate from Melbourne University
    • Past President of BASES
    • Core Organizer for 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Daw Khin Htar Yee (Lily, T72)

    Lily (Rightmost)
    • Founding member & Secretary of BEA
    • Spouse and supporter of Saya Dr. Tin Win & his projects; Financial support for eligible students; Fundraiser for SPZP-2007 by running the LA Marathon
    • Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    U Thura Thant Zin (M76)

    Thura (Seated Right)
    • Goalkeeper for All Universities & Institutes’ Hockey Team
    • RUBC Gold with Dat Pon Sann Aung (GBNF), Win Khaing (GBNF) & Phyo
    • Past President of BASES
    • Organizer, SPZP-2000
    • Organizer, 2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66)

    Saya George
    • Founding member of RIT Alumni International
    • Organizer, SPZP-2000
    • Founding member & First President of Norcal RITAA
    • Fundraiser for the Training Component of YTU Library Modernization project

    Daw Khin Khin Kyu (Ann, A67)

    Ann (2nd from Right)
    • Supporter of RIT Alumni international & Norcal RITAA
    • Classmates include Saya Dr. Koung Nyunt (GBNF) and U Tun Thein.
    • Brother : Saya U Thein Han (Maths, Burma selected in Basketball)

    Notes

    • BASES invited alumuni from Norcal to attend Annual Dinner. One was hosted by U Tin Htway (M59, co-founder).
      Most others were held at restaurants.

    Posts

    • Alumni
    • BASES
    • Gatherings
    • NorCal RITAA
    • RIT Sayas
  • RIT Alumni Gatherings (2015)

    RIT Alumni Gatherings (2015)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    2015 RIT Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles

    Organizers

    • Saya Dr. Tin Win (M62)
    • Saya U Tin Htut (M60, Financial Controller)
    • U Thura Thant Zin (M76, Organizer for Breakfast Gathering)
    • U Khin Maung Lay (Henry, T68, Entertainment)

    Sponsors

    • Steeve Kay (Thaung Sein, EC70) and Kay Family Foundation provided a matching fund of US$30,000.

    Attendees

    • Sayas & Alumni from USA, Myanmar, and Japan
    • Family members & friends

    Entertainers

    • Saya U Myat Htoo
    • U Khin Maung Lay (Henry)
    • Daw Mya Than Win (Golden Jubilee Swel Daw Yeik Minthamee)
    • Steeve (singing “Shwe Mi”)
    • May Win Maung and daughter
    • Ni Ni Win Shwe.

    Photo : George Wong (LA)

    L to R : Ni Ni Win Shwe, Dr. Naing Naing Aung (Met), May Win Maung, Ko Thein Ngwe (RITAJ)

    SF Bay Area Dinner Gathering

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Sea-Food-Restaurant.jpg
        Welcoming Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi 

    After attending the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles, Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi visited the SF Bay Area.

    The dinner gathering at a sea food restaurant was attended by sayas and alumni. 

    They include :

    • Percy Lao (part-time Saya)
    • Dr. San Lin (part-time Saya)
    • Saya U Kyi Kong Tham (C63)
    • Saya U Maung Maung (George, ChE66)
    • Victor Wong (King Wong, C66)
    • Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)
    • U Nyan Shein (Henry, C68)
    • U Hla Min (EC69)
    • Benny Tan (M70)
    • Walter Tan (M70)
    • Patrick Fong (C70)
    • Saya U Thein Aung (James, Met72)
    • Maurice Chee (M75)
    • U Aye Tun (Anthony, M76)
    • Daw Khin Mya Yee (Sarah, C77)
    • Daw San San Nyunt (Sandra, M77)
    • U Khin Maung Tun (T78, President, SDYF)
    • U Aung Kyaw (Alex Khoo, C81)
    • U Yu Ket (Edward Saw, EC85)
    • U Tin Maung Win (C86)
    • U Tin Oo (M86)
    • U Nyunt Than (M86)

    iNapa Winery

    • Lunch, Dinner & Live Music
    • Guest of Honor : Dr. Aung Gyi
    • Welcome Sayas U Win Kyaw (Met71), U Nyunt Htay (Met73) from Myanmar
    iNapa Winery
    Attendees

    Posts

    • Alumni
    • Gatherings
    • iNapa Winery
  • Metallurgy Education in Myanmar

    By U Thit
    (Melbourne, Australia)

    Updated : June 2025

    U Thit

    The Metallurgy Department was established in 1954 with the assistance of contract staff from India. Mr. H.S. Shastri was the first head of department and Mr. A.C. Agrawal was an assistant lecturer.

    I was awarded a government scholarship to study Metallurgy at Lehigh University in 1954, when I was a second year student of Civil Engineering in Rangoon. (Incidentally, it was at Lehigh that I first met Sayas U Aung Khin and U Pu.), I returned home in 1957 after completing my bachelor’s degree and joined the department as assistant lecturer. Saya U Saw Pru joined the department as an assistant lecturer in 1958.

    I was awarded a Colombo Plan Fellowship in 1959 for further studies at the University or Queensland, Australia, and came back in 1961 after finishing my master’s degree. I was promoted to lectureship in 1962,

    Saya U Than Tin joined the department in 1960 and left for U.S. after a few years. There were visiting lecturers from U.S.S.R., namely, Mr. Charlichev from 1961 to 1963 and Mr. Chalpanov from 1963 to 1965.

    Sayas U Aung Hla Tun, U Pe Win and Dr. Khin Maung Win joined the department in 1965, 1966 and 1967 respectively. There were also part-time teaching staff from time to time from UBARI, such as U Khin Maung and U Nyunt.

    I left the department in 1968 to go to Australia.

    The continuing history of the Metallurgy Department after 1968 can best be written by Saya U Aung Hla Tun,

    Notes (by Hla Min)

    • Saya taught “Materials and Processes” in our 2nd BE class in 1964. He attended some SPZPs & Metallury gatherings in Myanmar. He moved to Melbourne, Australia.
    • Saya’s successors include Dr. Saw Pru (GBNF), U Than Tin & Saya Dr. Khin Maung Win (GBNF).
    Pon Tu of Dr. Khin Maung Win

    Updates (by Hla Min)

    • Saya U Aung Hla Tun (GBNF) was the lead author for HMEE projects.
    U Aung Hla Tun
    • Sayas U Win Kyaw (Met71, RUBC), U Thein Aung (Met72, Mr. RIT68) & U Nyunt Htay (Met73, Poet/Editor) had a micro-reunion in 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles and at the iNapa Winery in Northern California.
    iNapa Winery
    • Metallurgy is taught as “Materials Science” in the US.

    Posts

    • Education Systems
    • Gatherings
    • HMEE
    • Metallurgical Engineering
    • RIT Sayas
  • Myo Win

    Myo Win

    by Sayas & Colleagues

    Updated : June 2025

    U Myo Win (3rd from left) in 2006

    From Sayagyi U Aung Khin

    Dear U Hla Min,

    Please allow me to use your forum to express my great sorrow on learning of Saya U Myo Win’s demise.

    We certainly lost a valuable person while engaged in his professional life. His exuberance and optimism knew no bounds. I had the privilege of enjoying U & Mrs Myo Win’s hospitality at Wagga Wagga on my tour of Australia.

    My deepest condolences to Noreen and family.

    [Sayagyi U] Aung Khin
    Canada

    From the Teoh family

    On behalf of the Teoh family, and the rest of MEHS schoolmates, we offer our sincere condolences to Melvin’s family.

    Melvin and Pearl Ba Tin are fellow graduates of the original Methodist English High School (MEHS) of Rangoon.

    In 1972, when I was leaving for the U.S., my mother-in-law recommended/sponsored me to be a monk at Mahasi Sayadaw’s Sasana Yeiktha, Rangoon for 10 days.

    Started meditating there, I was surprised to meet Melvin who was also in monkhood. The two of us, the evil two, caused much consternation with some senior monks, because we presented them with provocative and/or audacious (Western style) questions.

    We were summoned to the presence of the Mahasi Sayadawgyi himself. We explained that as young engineers, we were naturally precocious (and suspicious) of any assumptions and beliefs unless backed up by solid proof research data. We could not design machinery, without knowing the qualities and of steel, etc.

    The Sayadawgyi advised us to attain wisdom and the truth of Nirvana for ourselves thru further meditation. He gave us the example of a tortoise trying to explain to the rest of the fishes, the phenomena of a desert dry land. Seek further and ye shall find.

    I really remember and thankful for that my life changing 10 day retreat and Melvin was part of that.

    Melvin, my friend, I miss you. May you attain Nirvana soon.

    Edward Teoh (M 64) & Khin Thein Yi (Chem 65), Houston, Texas

    From Saya Dr. San Hla Aung

    Dear U Hla Min,

    I am so saddened by the unexpected news of Saya Melvin U Myo Win’s passing away. I met and talked with him briefly during the 2016 SPZP in Yangon and he was looking just fine then. I have known Melvin’s family for a long time and am now joining them in their sorrow.

    Kindly convey my heartfelt condolences to Melvin’s wife Noreen, sister Pearl, and their families on the recent loss of a beloved husband, brother, and head of the family.

    My prayers also for Melvin to reach a higher abode in his next existence.

    Thanking you,
    [Saya Dr.] San Hla Aung [C58]

    From Saya Dr. Nyo Win

    I’m saddened to learn about Melvin’s passing away. Melvin and I were from the class of 65 ME. We both joined the faculty after graduation. He taught in the Agri Dept and I in the ME. I remembered well his smile and friendly chats wherever we got together. I want to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to Melvin’s family. May you Rest In Peace.

    [Saya Dr.] Nyo Win [M65]

    From Saya Dr. Tin Win

    Dear Ko Hla Min,

    I am very sad to learn that U Myo Win had left us. I was away visiting my eldest sister who is in Hospital in Houston, TX, and was very much surprised to see the sad news when I got home last night.

    I spent over a year sharing an apartment with Ko Myo Win, Ko Aung Soe (Math), and Dr. Ko Lay (Mandalay MC) in 1968-9 while he studied for M.Sc. at Melbourne University, Australia. We also worked together in the ME Department at RIT until 1976. He then pursued a successful academic career in Australia. He put in a lot of effort to help bring/apply Australian Technology to Agricultural practices in Myanmar while he was working, and after retiring.

    He was always optimistic, had a very good nature, and was liked by everyone. He was a good husband and father, and a very proud grandfather. He was also very friendly and always ready to help anyone. I remember him always enjoying tinkering with his cars as well as those of his friends.

    He will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.

    My deepest condolences to Noreen and family.

    [Saya Dr.] Tin Win [M62]

    From Maurice Chee

    We are saddened to learn the passing away of saya U Myo Win.

    He was our saya for the fluid mechanics lab.

    Please convey my deepest condolences and sympathy to sayakadaw and family.

    May saya rest in peace.
    Maurice Chee, M75

    From Saya Charlie Hla Myint

    Ko Tin Aung Win,

    Can you please pass our heartfelt condolences to Saya U Myo Win’s family?

    The sad news came in yesterday from an early morning call from Ko Henry Thet Tun.

    It came in as a shock because I never heard of U Myo Win’s condition prior.

    Melvin, Dr Kyaw Sein, U Kyaw Sein et al are class mates of mine & we graduated in 1965 and our group joined Mechanical Engineering Dept same day.

    Our prayers for a transition to a higher plane of existence to U Myo Win’s soul.

    Saya (Charlie) Hla Myint (M65)
    Sydney

    From Stanley Saw

    I am deeply saddened to learn of Saya U Myo Win passing away.

    We remember the several RIT functions in Sydney where we discussed interesting developmental projects.

    Our heartfelt condolences to Ma Ma Nu and family, Ko Tin Aung Win and Dorothy.

    Stanley [Saw, M71] and Sandra
    (Auckland. New Zealand)

    From Saya Dr. Kyaw Sein

    I am very much surprised and shocked to learn that my best friend Melvin Ba Tin had passed away so suddenly. When I last met him at SPZP 2016 he seemed to be in very good health alert and energetic.

    We were together and very intimate since the time we started studying at Yankin College. He is two months younger than me.

    I just called Noreen Aung Kyaw (Nu Nu Yee) and felt so sorry with an aching heart.

    I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy and most deepest condolences to Noreen and family.

    May his soul rest in peace.

    From U Hla Oo

    Saya U Myo Win taught us a couple of subjects in our third and fourth year mechanical classes. He was the patron of our Automobile Club at RIT Mechanical Engineering Dept and he left RIT for FIJI in 1978. The attached was the group photo taken at his farewell party given by our Automobile Club.

    I still remember when we asked him if he would be coming back to RIT and Burma he showed us the visible star sign on the success line on his left palm and said he was going to achieve better future overseas. We were all surprised that we did not know he knew Palmistry well too. Later I found out he became a lecturer or a professor at Charles Sturt University in Waga Waga of Australia.

    I ended up in Australia in late 1980s but I never had a chance to meet him again as he was in Waga Waga at 700 km away from Sydney where I used to live. When I had to visit Charles Sturt in late 2000s I didn’t meet him there as he was already retired and living in Canberra by then.

    Rest in Peace Saya,

    Hla Oo (Mech 1980)

    Updates (by Hla Min)

    • Saya U Kyaw Sein is now GBNF.
    • The receipt from Saya U Myo Win’s farewell has been shared by readers of various FB groups.
    Receipt
  • 2018 Gathering

    2018 Gathering

    by Hla Min

    Updated : June 2025

    Monthly BFG

    • Before the pandemic, 69ers had Monthly Breakfast Gatherings usually at Taw Win Hnin Si (Royal Rose).
    • Some celebrate Birthdays & Wedding Anniversaries at the gathering.
    • Han Sein, Uzin Bobby and several 69ers took photos and shared them on FB.
    • 20 classmates left us in 2021. Some in the group photo — Toby, Thein Swe, Aye Lwin, Han Sein, Aung Gyi Shwe — are GBNF.
    69er Group
    David, Aye Lwin, Oscar, Tin Maung Aye, Aye Thein
    • Aung Min & team organized a monthly meeting .
    • Win Boh (Robert, Australia) was a special guest at the meeting. Surinder Singh (Australia) had a schedule conflict.
    • Kyaw Nyunt brought back presents given by Fred Thetgyi (Philadephia) to the meeting, and organized a “Lucky Draw”.
    • Han Sein was happy testing special effects (e.g. to create “twins”) with his phone camera.
    • Tin Aung Win offered me car rides : to the meeting and back. On the way back, we chatted with Aye Lwin and Kyaw Zin on the car.
    • Aye Lwin was Secretary of RIT Mechanical Association and RIT Ah Nu Pyinnya Ah Thin. He was a member of the committee for printing and publishing Set Hmu Magazine (by Mechanical Engineering Association) and RIT Annual Magazine. He attended the 2015 Alumni Reunion in Los Angeles with his daughter and son.
    • Harry Tin Htut, Oscar, Aung Min, Uzin Bobby and Tin Maung Aye posted photos in “RIT69ers” and “RIT Updates” Facebook pages.

    Posts

    • 69er
    • Gatherings
    • GBNF
    • Memories