Saya Zawgyi
Encyclopedia
Zawgyi born in Pyapon
, Irrawaddy Division
, real name U
Thein Han , was a distinguished and leading Burmese
poet
, author
, literary historian, critic
, scholar and academic.
He was one of the leaders of the Hkit san (Testing the Times) movement in Burmese literature searching for a new style and content before the Second World War, along with Theippan Maung Wa
, Nwe Soe and Min Thu Wun
. His first hkit san poetry,Padauk pan (Padauk flower), was published in Hantha Kyemon pamphlet.
His most memorable work was a play titled Maha hsan gyinthu, an adaptation of Molière
's Le bourgeois gentilhomme
, published in 1934. His most famous poem was Beida lan (The Hyacinth's Way) that traces a journey through life's ups and downs, published in 1963.
's "The Character of a Happy Life
". He went on to the University of Rangoon, passed the intermediate level with credits in Burmese
and won the "Tha Doe Aung" prize.
After graduating with a B.A.
in 1929, majoring in Burmese literature, English literature
, Oriental and Far East
History, Zawgyi became a tutor in the Burmese
Depปartment at the university. In 1931, Zawgyi returned to the Myoma School to teach until 1934. After achieving the M.A
degree from the Rangoon University in 1936, he became a tutor in Burmese
at the Mandalay
Intermediate College until 1938 when he went to England to study at the University of London
and then at the University of Dublin
for the Diploma in Library Science
.
at the University of Rangoon. He married a teacher from the Myoma School, Daw Saw Yin (B.A., B.Ed.). During World War II
Zawgyi became Deputy Director General (Literature and Libraries Division) at the Ministry of Education. After the war he returned to his old job as Librarian at the University of Rangoon, then from 1947 to 1948 Special Officer for the Legislative Council
and Elections Office. He was awarded the honour of Wunna kyawhtin for distinguished service by the government.
Between 1950 and 1952, Zawgyi travelled as part of a delegation to Indonesia
, Britain, United States
, Mexico
and Canada
. From 1951 to 1957 he was Director of the Textbooks Committee at the Ministry of Education. In 1955 Zawgyi won the Sapei Beikman "variety in literature" (sa padetha) prize for Thakin Kodaw Hmaing
htika. He then became Chairman of the Burma History Commission in 1959.
The year 1961 saw him as Emeritus Professor of Burmese
at the University of Rangoon and was awarded the honour of Thiri pyanchi by the government. He was also President of the Technical Terms Committee and the National Literary Awards Selection Committee. He retired as Librarian of the Universities Central Library in 1967. He was then appointed First Special Officer for Education, President of the Burma Research Society
and Adviser for the Burma History Commission.
In 1976 he visited India
with U Khin Zaw (the author and translator K) where he read a paper on the Ramayana
. In 1979 Zawgyi won the National Literary Award
for "Nin-la-hè chit dukkha (Damn You, Broken Heart) and Other Short Stories", and in 1987, another for "Ancient Bagan
and Other Poems".
Saw Yin and their three daughters, Dr. Khin Myo Han, Dr. Khin Hla Han and Dr. Khin Ohn Han. His family, students and colleagues created the "Zawgyi prize" and "Ganda Lawka Thingaha prize" for outstanding diploma students in Library and Information Studies and Masters students in Burmese
.
Pyapon
Pyapon is a town and seat of Pyapon District in the Ayeyarwady Division of Myanmar, along the Pyapon River, a tributary of the Ayeyarwady River. It is located about 15 km inland from the Andaman Sea, about 75 miles south of the capital, Yangon. It has a population of approximately 300,000 in...
, Irrawaddy Division
Ayeyarwady Division
Ayeyarwady Region is a region of Myanmar, occupying the delta region of the Ayeyarwady River . It is bordered by Bago Region to the north, Bago Region and Yangon Region to the east, and the Bay of Bengal to the south and west...
, real name U
Burmese name
Burmese names lack the serial quality of most modern names. The Burmese people have no customary patronymic or matronymic system and thus there is no surname at all. In Burmese culture, people can change their name at will, often with no government oversight, to reflect a change in the course of...
Thein Han , was a distinguished and leading Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, literary historian, critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, scholar and academic.
He was one of the leaders of the Hkit san (Testing the Times) movement in Burmese literature searching for a new style and content before the Second World War, along with Theippan Maung Wa
Theippan Maung Wa
Theippan Maung Wa , born in Mawlamyaing and real name Sein Tin, was a Burmese writer who pioneered the literary movement of Hkit San that searched for a new style and content in Burmese literature before the Second World War starting with Hkit san pon byin .-Early works:He started writing...
, Nwe Soe and Min Thu Wun
Min Thu Wun
Min Thu Wun was a Mon - Burmese poet, writer and scholar who helped launch a new age literary movement called Hkit san in Burma.-Distinguished career:...
. His first hkit san poetry,Padauk pan (Padauk flower), was published in Hantha Kyemon pamphlet.
His most memorable work was a play titled Maha hsan gyinthu, an adaptation of Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's Le bourgeois gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme is a five-act comédie-ballet—a play intermingled with music, dance and singing—by Molière, first presented on 14 October 1670 before the court of Louis XIV at the Château of Chambord by Molière's troupe of actors...
, published in 1934. His most famous poem was Beida lan (The Hyacinth's Way) that traces a journey through life's ups and downs, published in 1963.
Early life
Zawgyi was the eldest in a family of nine and educated at the Myoma National High School in Rangoon. He won the Thitsawardi Prize (5 gold sovereigns) from the Thitsawardi newspaper for the poem "Sittathukha Linga", translated from the English poet Henry WottonHenry Wotton
Sir Henry Wotton was an English author and diplomat. He is often quoted as saying, "An ambassador is an honest gentleman sent to lie abroad for the good of his country." -Life:The son of Thomas Wotton , brother of Edward Wotton, 1st Baron Wotton, and grandnephew of the diplomat...
's "The Character of a Happy Life
The Character of a Happy Life
"The character of a Happy Life" is a poem is composed by Sir Henry Wotton. It talks about a virtuous man. The poet says he is lucky man who enjoys an independent willpower. He does not serve the will of others. He possesses honest thoughts in his mind and does not perform evil and bad deeds. He...
". He went on to the University of Rangoon, passed the intermediate level with credits in Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
and won the "Tha Doe Aung" prize.
After graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1929, majoring in Burmese literature, English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, Oriental and Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
History, Zawgyi became a tutor in the Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
Depปartment at the university. In 1931, Zawgyi returned to the Myoma School to teach until 1934. After achieving the M.A
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the Rangoon University in 1936, he became a tutor in Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
at the Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
Intermediate College until 1938 when he went to England to study at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and then at the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
for the Diploma in Library Science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
.
Distinguished career
In 1941, Zawgyi became LibrarianLibrarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
at the University of Rangoon. He married a teacher from the Myoma School, Daw Saw Yin (B.A., B.Ed.). During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Zawgyi became Deputy Director General (Literature and Libraries Division) at the Ministry of Education. After the war he returned to his old job as Librarian at the University of Rangoon, then from 1947 to 1948 Special Officer for the Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and Elections Office. He was awarded the honour of Wunna kyawhtin for distinguished service by the government.
Between 1950 and 1952, Zawgyi travelled as part of a delegation to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Britain, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From 1951 to 1957 he was Director of the Textbooks Committee at the Ministry of Education. In 1955 Zawgyi won the Sapei Beikman "variety in literature" (sa padetha) prize for Thakin Kodaw Hmaing
Thakin Kodaw Hmaing
Thakin Kodaw Hmaing is considered one of the greatest Burmese poets, writers and political leaders in the 20th century history of Burma. He is regarded as the Father of Burmese nationalist and peace movements as well as a literary genius...
htika. He then became Chairman of the Burma History Commission in 1959.
The year 1961 saw him as Emeritus Professor of Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
at the University of Rangoon and was awarded the honour of Thiri pyanchi by the government. He was also President of the Technical Terms Committee and the National Literary Awards Selection Committee. He retired as Librarian of the Universities Central Library in 1967. He was then appointed First Special Officer for Education, President of the Burma Research Society
Burma Research Society
The Burma Research Society was founded on 29 March 1910 at a meeting held at the Bernard Free Library in Rangoon by J S Furnivall, J A Stewart, Gordon H Luce and Pe Maung Tin....
and Adviser for the Burma History Commission.
In 1976 he visited India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with U Khin Zaw (the author and translator K) where he read a paper on the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
. In 1979 Zawgyi won the National Literary Award
Literary award
A literary award is an award presented to an author who has written a particularly lauded piece or body of work. There are awards for forms of writing ranging from poetry to novels. Many awards are also dedicated to a certain genre of fiction or non-fiction writing . There are also awards...
for "Nin-la-hè chit dukkha (Damn You, Broken Heart) and Other Short Stories", and in 1987, another for "Ancient Bagan
Bagan
Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
and Other Poems".
Family
When Zawgyi died at the age of 83, on 26 September 1990, he left wife DawBurmese name
Burmese names lack the serial quality of most modern names. The Burmese people have no customary patronymic or matronymic system and thus there is no surname at all. In Burmese culture, people can change their name at will, often with no government oversight, to reflect a change in the course of...
Saw Yin and their three daughters, Dr. Khin Myo Han, Dr. Khin Hla Han and Dr. Khin Ohn Han. His family, students and colleagues created the "Zawgyi prize" and "Ganda Lawka Thingaha prize" for outstanding diploma students in Library and Information Studies and Masters students in Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
.
Zawgyi in Burmese myth and culture
- Magician's Caves
- Folk Elements in Burmese Buddhism: The Cult of Alchemy
- Zawgyi in Burmese Puppet Theatre
External links
- Sittathukha linkar in Burmese, Zawgyi
- Maha Sanchinthu radio drama BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Burmese, Retrieved 2006-10-17 - Padauk pan in Burmese, Zawgyi, The University College Magazine, Rangoon, March 1928
- Pahn pan lyet pè (The Hyacinth's Way) in Burmese, Zawgyi, The Owei University Magazine, 1960
- A Study of the Rise of the Burmese Novel Zawgyi, Journal of the Burma Research SocietyBurma Research SocietyThe Burma Research Society was founded on 29 March 1910 at a meeting held at the Bernard Free Library in Rangoon by J S Furnivall, J A Stewart, Gordon H Luce and Pe Maung Tin....
, June 1968 - His Spouse a short story by Zawgyi 1937 inc. audio
- Now as the Padauk (For Zawgyi) Win Pe
- Interview and Poetry of U Tin Moe Radio Free AsiaRadio Free AsiaRadio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation that operates a radio station and Internet news service. RFA was founded by an act of the US Congress and is operated by the Broadcasting Board of Governors . The RFA is supported in part by grants from the federal government of the United States...
, September 2000