Lut Sein Win - Gentlemanly Mind and Other Articles

Many readers are amazed by the constant writing of articles in journals and magazines, saying, “You can write so much.” Journalists often ask, “Where do you get the material to write, not to mention the fact that you can’t even leave the house?”

One who does not waste time 

To everyone who asked, he answered, “Because I grew up under the guidance of U Lay Hla.” U Lay Hla was not one to waste any of his time. As soon as he woke up in the morning, he had a long list of tasks to do. There were also a lot of meetings to attend. He attended the Ba Htoo Kwin meeting, the badminton meeting, the meeting at the nursing home, and the university senate meeting, and he never had a rest.

Meanwhile, the fields in the Matha area were flooded, so I wrote to ask for a suspension of the alms tax. I received and spoke to the farmers who came to me. I met the monks who asked me to write about the lack of water in the Sagaing mountains. I asked which monks from which school were sick, and I was always busy with the need to take them to the doctor to see them.

Keep your ears open.

Meanwhile, when someone from the outside told me that the fort at the top of Sagaing Bridge was unguarded and had become a cattle farm, my uncle immediately called a photographer and went to see for himself. When he returned, he called his friend, U Thein Han, the secretary of the Cultural Department in Yangon, and U Sein Maung Oo in Mandalay, and they were busy. At night, I wrote an article about that one line. When my uncle returned from the outside, he would say, “I don’t know where he brought the straw.” The young people in the village would listen with trepidation to my voice. Every time my uncle returned, he would bring some news, although not always, but usually. When he came, he would call a photographer and a reporter.

The inner joker

Whenever I call, there is usually no one there. There are no reporters, photographers, or special guests during the day. So I am the only one who is always in the editorial room. Natmauk Ko Htun Shein holds the day pen and Maung Thit Lwin (the public) holds the night pen. Shwe U Daung also says, “Writing is writing to make people aware of something to say. If you have nothing to say, don’t write.” When I read a piece of writing and it doesn’t make sense, the editor often gets very angry and says something harsh. I never read that writer’s writing again.

Third eye

We were fortunate enough to grow up under the shadow of great people like Master Shwe U Daung and Uncle Hla. That's why I don't take writing lightly. I do it with respect. I spend all my time writing and reading. When there are so many journals, I write two articles a day. It's tiring. But I try to write with the intention of helping young people. When a newspaper is published, it's like a third eye is opened for people.

He who sees sees.

Even if I write two articles a day, I don’t know what to write. As the saying goes, “He who sees sees,” I have no idea what to write about. I also find things to write about while watching football matches. I read about actors, actresses, and singers in the entertainment industry and see things to write about. I also see things to write about while watching Korean movies. I also have things to write about while talking to young people from various magazines. Even though I can’t leave my house, I know more than those who do. Young people from various magazines come and go to Udaan. In addition, five or six foreign friends, journalists, writers, and teachers come to visit me every month. They often bring books and magazines as gifts, so I know a lot about the world. I also surf the Internet whenever I have time.

I wrote it because I knew.

So there is not much to write. There is also not much to say. If it were not for health reasons, I could write three or four paragraphs in two paragraphs. Whatever I write must be true. It must be good. But in all my writings, there is never a single one that does not have something to say or give. I grew up under the teachings of Shwe U Daung and U Lay Hla, who said, “If you have nothing to say, don’t write.” Also, I never write to impress people with something that I don’t know about or know about. Everything I write is written because I know it well and believe it well. Even though I write many letters at the rate of two letters a day, I have never had to explain or apologize for it. Because I don’t write without knowing it well, I never write because I want to be famous, to be seen, or to have a chance. When I write reviews and reviews, how can those who do it in the hope of a chance be satisfied? It doesn’t matter. I will continue to write what I should write.

(I am writing to welcome the centenary of the birth of U Lay Luthu U Hla, who was born on January 19, 1910).