Maung Sein Win (Puti Kone) - Traces of longing from the Suetaw Valley

Chapter (1)

I put the magazine I had just read on the table. The words "Technical University Annual Magazine (1965-66)" were written in bold. The book I had bought when I paid my school fees. The book published last year. Their academic year was 66-67. I looked at the clock and it was already past ten. I didn't want to sleep yet so I went downstairs to the dormitory.

As I was descending the stairs, I saw the night watchman, U Lay Mya, dozing on a chair at the entrance to the dormitory. Straight ahead at the top of the stairs, there was only one dim light in the dormitory lobby. The lobby was closed at ten o'clock, so it was quiet. As I walked out the door, I looked into the lobby. In the dim light, I saw a person sitting in front of a radio, and I stopped. The National Radio was next to the lobby set. When I looked closely, I realized that a person was sitting in front of the radio, turning the knobs to tune in. I could hear a whisper from nearby. I knew that it was a long-haired, thin student secretly listening to the radio.

“Hey, Khin Maung Toe”

"Ha.. I was so scared."

The sound startled me and I turned around and looked around. I sat down next to him. Sitting on the floor, I asked, "What line are you holding?"

“These days, foreign channels are playing music. I come here every night to listen. I can’t stand it, so I have to listen quietly to it because I’m afraid of being interrupted by the dormitory manager.”

Adjacent to the palace is the house of the lodge manager's family.

"Why did you come down?"

"I'm so homesick because I'm smoking in front of the dormitory, and I'm just a little bit tired."

He stood up. Khin Maung Toe turned on the radio. When he reached the front of the building, he saw the moon. The moon was almost full, and its light was shining brightly. He stood in front of the building and lit a cigarette.

I looked up at the dorm name sign from the top of the dormitory porch.

"Natmauksaung"

The dormitory is under the University of Education. The Education Department is a place where second-year students and teachers studying for a B.Ed degree are housed. The Inle Hall is adjacent to the University of Technology dormitory. Since Inle Hall was full, some students from the University of Technology had to stay at Natmauk Hall.

At Natmauk Saung, there is Pyinmana Maung Ni Thin, a national literary award winner. He is a second year B.Ed student. For a Saru Peru, I think it is a blessing to be close to Koni.

“Even though we are staying in a dormitory that belongs to someone else’s university, it is a great honor. A dormitory that honors the General’s birthright. The blood of the General in this dormitory will be close to our souls.”

I listened to the Rakhine language spoken by the Rakhine people, who spent a lot of time reading and studying with a small portable radio.

The distant sound of a knock on the door told me it was eleven o'clock. Although some rooms were lit, most were dark. Taking a deep breath, I extinguished my cigarette and went back into the dormitory.

It was as if I had entered the bosom of the spirit of the general, as the Rakhine chief had said.

When I looked into the living room, Khin Maung Toe was still in front of the radio.

Chapter (2)

If art were a crystal clear drop of water,

The ocean where rivers flow...

If art were the fragrance of flowers

A garden where beautiful, fragrant flowers bloom...

If art were a mountain

The foot of the mountain where the climbers are

I, Khin Maung Toe, have already reached those places.

I've thought about it before.

You must cross the stormy sea.

The fragrant flower garden must be pollinated.

You must climb the steep mountain peak.

The university is like a sea to you.

The university is a garden.

The university is in the mountains.

Where their dreams and aspirations lie

I believe it's a place again..

 

In the tenth grade, I read Saya Jawana's 'College Student' and wanted to go to university.

While reading Saya Pho Naing's "Naing", one of the two pages of the book returned to my dream. I automatically dreamed of the Institute of Technology called Swe Taw Taw.

In the ninth grade, I wrote poems for magazines, and in the tenth grade, I wrote poems like "Den Daw, Ngwe Tari, and Chu Ma Wa". Before I went to university, I was even happier when I got my poems published in Moe Wai than when I passed the tenth grade.

As I returned from school and cleaned up my room, my thoughts kept flowing.

"My friend is here. He's waiting for me in the lobby. I said I'd take you to your room, but I'll wait here..."

Than Win Naing came into the room and said.

"There's no need to come to me."

As he spoke, he couldn't imagine who it was. He quickly went downstairs. He saw the person sitting there waiting for him. A tall, fair-skinned man who looked like an ethnic minority. He was wearing a loose shirt and carrying a large bag.

"Is it Sein Win?"

He was surprised when someone he didn't know stood up and greeted him. His voice was quite low.

“Of course.”

“Maung Sein Win, Putikone.”

“Yes”

“I am so happy, bring me a million, bring me a million in Kachin land”

“When did you arrive in Yangon? Sit down.”

We sat together on the settee.

“I’ve been in Yangon for about two weeks now.”

"I'm finally coming down"

He and I were in the same magazine for the same month, and it was both our first published manuscript. We also worked together in magazines and were close friends.

"At home?"

“There is nothing. Teacher Thawta Swe’s funeral was held and I have come down. I am so excited that I can arrange it. I have been at Teacher’s house for three or four days now and I am working at Teacher’s place.”

He must be close to Teacher Thawtar Swe, as he also writes monthly manuscripts.

I remembered the thought of the evening.

Did he also arrive in his own way, where there is an ocean, where there is a garden, where there is a mountain?

"I wanted to come to you, and it happened. When the rain came, I sent you a book with your poems and a manuscript."

"Manuscript"

I know that magazines usually only pay for the manuscripts they publish, but if you're inside, you only pay for the books.

"Teacher Nat said, 'I've given you ten poems starting this month.'"

I was thrilled to finally receive the manuscript.

As we talk, we become intimate, just like you and me.

That night, the two of them shared dinner in the dormitory. At night, they drank tea and talked at a nearby restaurant. He spent the night in the dormitory.

I've never been to Kachin State, so far away, and I don't have a single acquaintance. How did you find the courage to come to Yangon? The art craze is amazing.