HlaMin

Tag: History

  • U Tin U & U Ba Than

    U Tin U & U Ba Than

    by Hla Min

    Update : Sept 2025

    HMEE

    Association of Engineers in Burma after World War

    • Told by Saya U Tin U — Interview for HMEE Project
    • Recorded by Saya U Ba Than
    • The Association was re-instituted about 1955-56.
    • President :
      Sayagyi U Ba Hli (Dean of Engineering, University of Rangoon, GBNF)
    • Honorary Secretary :
      Saya U Soon Sein (Professor, Mining, GBNF)
    • Honorary Treasurer :
      Saya U Tin U (Part time Lecturer, Civil)

    U Tin U

    U Tin U at SPZP-2012

    Highlights

    • Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1946.
    • Attended Rangoon University before going for studies in the USA.
    • Represented RUBC in the Independence Day Regatta at Kandawgyi in 1948 along with Dr. Pe Nyun, Dr. Pe Thein and Khin Maung Wint (Bobby).
    1948 Independence Day Regatta
    • Received BCSE from the University of Oregon and MCSE from Yale University.
    • Upon his return to Burma, he worked in the industry and taught part-time at the Civil Engineering department.
    • Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club
    • Oldest & Most Senior Past Captain of RUBC

    Three Losses

    • Lost his spouse Dr. Daw Khin Kyi Nyunt in November 2019
    • Lost his elder son Dr. Khin Tun (Peter) in April 2020
    • Lost his son-in-law U Tin Tun in May 2020
    U Tin U & Family
    U Tin U 3

    U Ba Than

    U Ba Than

    Highlights

    • Matriculated from St. John’s Dio in 1947, and won the Collegiate Scholarship.
    • In 1949, he won Gold Medal for scoring highest marks in the Intermediate of Science exam.
    • RUBC Full Green
    • Studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College, London University
    • Joined Faculty of Engineering as Assistant Lecturer
    • As a requirement for promotion, he did Masters at Imperial College.
    • Retired as Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
    Mech Engg Sayas
    • Saya is an early supporter of the HMEE-2012 project.
      Donated his photo albums.
      Cooperated with U Thaw Kaung to allow U Soe Paing & team to access the archives of Rangoon University Central Library.

    Birthdays

    • Celebrations
    Birthday
    Soon Kyway
    • Before the pandemic, he invited colleagues and former students to his Birthday Soon Kyway at Yaw Sayadaw’s Monastery.
    • U Tin Htoon (A60, younger brother) compiled a Photo Album for Saya’s 90th Birthday
    U Ba Than
    • Donated all of the Garawa Money to various social & religious associations.
    • Passed away peacefully after his 94th birthday.
    U Ba Than & Daw Mya Mya
    U Ba Than & Family

    Updates

    • Four of the nine siblings are members of the 90+ Club like their mother.
    • U Tin U (eldest) passed away on Aug 19, 2025 — a few weeks after his 96th birthday. He was the most senior Past Captain of RUBC. He was also the oldest Yale University alumni from Burma.
    • U Ba Than (2nd oldest) passed away after his 94th birthday.
    • Dr. Daw Win Hlaing (Ruby, 3rd) celebrated her 93rd birthday on Aug 31, 2025.
    • Daw Myint Thwe (Betty, 4th) passed away two months before her 91st birthday.
  • History — Footnotes

    History — Footnotes

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Negotiation

    • In 1958, Brigadier Generals Maung Maung & Aung Gyi negotiated with Prime Minister U Nu to handover to a Caretaker Government for six months.
    • The Caretaker stayed for 1.5 years.
    • It was the first Broken Promise by the Adhamma practitioners.

    No Appreciation

    • BG Maung Maung was asked to retire and become an Ambassador.
    • BG Aung Gyi was rewarded as 2IC and later exiled to Ma Chan Baw.
    • The Purging (in order to promote Boot Lickers) continued for decades.
  • MahaGandayone Sayadaw & U Ba Kyi

    MahaGandayone Sayadaw & U Ba Kyi

    by Hla Min

    Updated : Aug 2025

    Video Broadcast on January 5, 2010

    U Hla Min

    Illustrated History of Buddhism

    YMBA

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

    TBSA

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

    Missed Opportunity

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

    Miscellaneous

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

    U Ba Kyi

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

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