Dear Sayas and Colleagues,
The first section is a supplement to the "Background" of the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe [as currently posted in the "Reunion Pages".
The second section is a brief profile of Dr. Ohn Myint who will be attending the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe with his spouse. They will [most likely] be staying at the Embassy Suites Hotel.
The third section is a selection of feedback that I received these days.
The last section was written originally as part of the editorial for the Special Issue. Space limitations [only 16 pages are allowed] plus the number of excellent articles by Sayas and alums dictate that I should cut it out from that editorial. It has personal significance, but has no direct bearing on the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. ========================== Previous [Known] Reunions ==========================
Several mini-reunions and reunions have taken place. Some are documented in the "Photo Gallery" section.
============================================================ To Dr. Ohn Myint (Civil 63) and other beloved Sayas and Sayamas ============================================================
Saya Ohn (Dr. Ohn Myint) is an ex-faculty member of RIT in two ways. (1) He was briefly employed by the Civil Engineering Department, RIT (if I am not mistaken). He won a state scholarship award from [the now defunct] USSR. After his return from USSR with a Ph.D. [C.Sc.] degree, he was supposed to work for the Irrigation Department. However, his devotion/hobby in teaching did not stop there. (2) Hence he came back to RIT as a part-time lecturer (on top of terribly busy schedules including field trips - he then was an Executive Engineer, Planning and Design, ID, Burma) to teach M.E (Water Resources Development and Planning Engineering) course. He is one of the most beloved and respected teachers of us all, the M.E.(WRDE) students. Without Saya Dr. Ohn Myint, Saya Dr. Win Thein, Saya U Thein Dan, SayaGyi U Min Wun, SayaGyi U Ba Toke and other sayas and a sayama from Math. department, M.E. (WRDE) course would not have been a success. As a consequence I won't be here today and telling the Water World what is best for the ordinary peoples of Burma and what is their best interest - how they can help. I adore and worship all my teachers. Indeed, the achievement I have today is not mine AT ALL. It is all their noble craftsmanship and hard work done on and invested in me. After all, I am just an instrument. In this context, I pay my humblest respect to all my teachers from the Civil Engineering Department and other departments such as Burmese, English, Physics, Chemistry, Workshop, Machinery, Electrical and Mechanical. Having said that, I will forward saya Dr. Ohn's request [to find an ex-ID buddy/associate] to my circle since I also am an ex-ID employee. With metta and Respect, Ni Ni (a) Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein (Civil 77)
Saya Ohn (Dr. Ohn Myint) is an ex-faculty member of RIT in two ways.
(1) He was briefly employed by the Civil Engineering Department, RIT (if I am not mistaken). He won a state scholarship award from [the now defunct] USSR. After his return from USSR with a Ph.D. [C.Sc.] degree, he was supposed to work for the Irrigation Department. However, his devotion/hobby in teaching did not stop there.
(2) Hence he came back to RIT as a part-time lecturer (on top of terribly busy schedules including field trips - he then was an Executive Engineer, Planning and Design, ID, Burma) to teach M.E (Water Resources Development and Planning Engineering) course. He is one of the most beloved and respected teachers of us all, the M.E.(WRDE) students.
Without Saya Dr. Ohn Myint, Saya Dr. Win Thein, Saya U Thein Dan, SayaGyi U Min Wun, SayaGyi U Ba Toke and other sayas and a sayama from Math. department, M.E. (WRDE) course would not have been a success. As a consequence I won't be here today and telling the Water World what is best for the ordinary peoples of Burma and what is their best interest - how they can help. I adore and worship all my teachers. Indeed, the achievement I have today is not mine AT ALL. It is all their noble craftsmanship and hard work done on and invested in me. After all, I am just an instrument. In this context, I pay my humblest respect to all my teachers from the Civil Engineering Department and other departments such as Burmese, English, Physics, Chemistry, Workshop, Machinery, Electrical and Mechanical.
Having said that, I will forward saya Dr. Ohn's request [to find an ex-ID buddy/associate] to my circle since I also am an ex-ID employee. With metta and Respect, Ni Ni (a) Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein (Civil 77)
=============== Some feedback ===============
One alumnus wrote: "We feel young [at heart] to learn about the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. We realize however that several of the entries in the GBNF [Gone But Not Forgotten] include our classmates and even our students."
Another one wrote: "I feel overjoyed to be able to meet our beloved Sayas while they are still in good health. Thanks also for bringing together long lost friends."
Yet another one wrote: "The Sayas have made a huge impact on my life. Without their coaxing and cajoling, I would not be where I am today."
Numerous alumni and associates have donated money and presents to the "Saya Pu Zaw Pwe" fund. We are indebted to all our sponsors.
Several alumni also pooled their resources to invite the Sayas over from abroad.
When we started the project, some people [jokingly] said that each would have to "chip in" $500. Some time later, people were given an option of backing out after chipping in $200.
As it turns out, we may [on the long run] be able to raise enough funds to give memorabilia not only to the attending Sayas and alumni, but to other Sayas and Sayamas that could not make it to the Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. ================= Poetry in Motion =================
I received 17 e-mail responses after I wrote the "Saya Pu Zaw Pwe" poem. All of them mentioned about my "hidden talent". Only a few knew that I had written articles/translations with pseudonyms such as "Tekkatho Ga Ga Na Na" [first published in the "Set Hmu Thadin Zin", "Hlaing Phyo" [articles in the Burmese magazine named "Pan"], ...
It was a fashion in Burma [now Myanmar] to use pen names. Or, may be I was just dabbling with the idea that I might some day became a real big-time writer.
In many of my columns on the web site, I reiterated that "What one man can dream, others can fulfill" [with a reference to Jules Verne]. In July 1969, men landed on the moon. Since there was no TV then in Burma, we had to tune in to the radio to hear "The Eagle [lunar module of the Apollo 11 mission] has landed [on the moon]."
To commemorate the event, I wrote a few stanzas: MEN ON THE MOON ------------------------ The Eagle made a soft descent And perfect rendezvous Does not the module represent A fantasy come true. To travel through that cold void space To have that faith in science To face death squarely in the face Yes, man acted with defiance. Man set foot on an alien world In July, sixty nine That small step from the bravest man Was a giant leap for mankind. The walk in one sixth gravity Rock samples from the moon Three men who spoke with brevity For science what a boon. Oh, three courageous gentlemen We give you our salute To countless other helping hands We humbly pay tribute. No event can ever equal This sublime unique mission The Apollo's triumph will make the people Extend their own vision. Are we not brothers here on earth? So let us all unite. There will be heaven here on earth If we all cease to fight.
To my surprise and delight, "Men on the Moon" was published by the Guardian daily. Some time later, the Sunday Supplement Editor of the Working People's Daily coaxed me to translate "Still So Young" -- a short story by the well known writer, actor and movie director Saya U Thu Kha. Thanks to people (notably my teachers and my parents) who believed in me more than I [believe in myself]. =============================================================== That's all for now. With metta, Hla Min
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