Malayalam - Pe Maung Tin or Ba Thet Shai

Malayalam Father Maung Tin or Ba Thet Shai

Born on July 19, 1935, in Pathein, a native of the Delta, his father was U Chit Htun, the principal of a Burmese-Christian high school, and his mother was Daw Saw Tin. His real name was Ma Khin Thein Swe, the third of six siblings. He excelled in academics, literature, and sports at Pathein Christian Missionary ABM High School, Skaw Karen High School, and Rangoon Kamaryut Daw Thar Htet High School. At the age of 15, while in the 10th grade, he suffered a stroke due to a heart attack and had to stop his education.

While receiving medical treatment, he was given more access to reading literature in both English and Burmese, and began writing from the hospital, and began publishing short stories under the pen name Malayalam Long in the “Taiyan May Journal,” and was in poor health.

However, she wrote short and long stories in the magazines "Yuwaddy Cho Te Than", "Ngwe Tari", "Myawaddy", "Shumawa", "Ma Hay Thi", "Pe Phu La Tha Pyay", "Ka Sap Phyu", "Myanmar Taman", and "Lonmalay". She is a novelist. She published 35 short stories, "Pe Maung Tin or Ba Thet Sya" (1955) in a limited edition. She won the 1963 Fine Arts and Literature Award for her novel "Pwint", and the 1963 National Literary Award for her novel. She made some of her novels into films. Despite her poor health, she founded "Lonmalay Women's Magazine" in 1985 and published it as the editor-in-chief until her death. She was a member of the Mayangone Township Literature and Press Executive Committee, helped establish the Township Reference Library, and participated in the literary activities of the Myanmar Council of Christian Churches and the University Christian Literature Association. She died on February 28, 1991 at her home in Nantha Myaing, Mayangone Township.

Zawgyi's order

In this first volume, you can read about the life of U Pe Maung Tin, a Burmese scholar who was active from his birth until he began serving as a professor in the Department of Oriental Studies (especially Pali and Burmese Literature) at Yangon University. There are 29 chapters.

The highlights of chapters 1 to 10 include how he taught Burmese at an Insein Myanmar school, how he loved horses, how he experienced student life when he transferred to Yangon High School, and how he continued his education at Yangon College. Through these life events, we can gain a glimpse into the teacher's childhood mentality, the attitudes of his relatives, and some of the conditions at the beginning of the 20th century.

Then, in chapters 11 to 18, the highlights are how he met his younger sister, who was the same age as him, during his visit to Dawei, how he was moved by his teacher, how he focused on the world of education and literature, how he excelled in Pali literature, how he enjoyed working as a school teacher after graduating with a master's degree, how he wrote research articles and literary criticism in the Journal of the Myanmar Research Association, and how he began to translate the Atthasalini and Visuddhimagga and the History of the True Dynasty into English. Along with these life events, we can also get a glimpse of the English-Burmese intellectual community of that time.

Then, in chapters 19 to 25, the highlights are how he continued his education in Bangladesh as a government scholar, how he met the London Pali Devi while studying at Oxford University, how he came from Burma under the influence of the Wansanu spirit, how he boldly gave his opinion on Harvey's Myanmar History (English Religion) manuscript, how he obtained a B.A., how he attended Dr. Blackgard's Mon language course at the University of London, how he went to France and Czechoslovakia, how the London Pali Society printed the English translations of the Atthasalini and the Visuddhimagga (Silabha), and then how he returned to his motherland, Burma.

Through these events, we can gain a glimpse into the lives of Burmese students like us studying in London, the London-Burmese Association, and the views of Europeans towards Burma.

Then, in chapters 28 and 29, the difference is how Burmese literature was promoted at the university when he moved from Rangoon College to Rangoon University. We can see how he interacted with Burmese intellectuals during that period of his life. We can also see how his marriage began at that time.

(2)

A short biography of U Pe Maung Tin was published about thirty or forty years ago. In that short biography, there are only a few details about the life of the master and they are simple. The writing style is also simple. In this biography, the details are many. The biographer, Malaylong, often met the master and wrote down what the master said.

Then the teacher checked it. It is also based on such factors. Therefore, I would say that the facts of the teacher's life are quite complete. Again, the way the biography is written is also a novel style in modern terms, so this Attapatti can be called a novel-style biography. This is because the story-building style, the time, the environment, and the human nature that are common in novels are seen to be subtly included in this biography. Examples are as follows.

If we look at the 29 chapters in this volume as a whole, we can see that they are written in a novel-like style, as if describing the events of the teacher's desire for knowledge and his efforts to spread it. Each chapter has its own narrator, and that narrator is

It is as if he had sent the story to the Baaw, forming a circle. This arrangement is thought to be similar to the way the story of the story is told in the form of a climax and a climax.

Again, the depiction of the rain, wind, and then the sun appearing at the time of the birth of the Master is as if it were arranged in a chaotic manner. This arrangement is thought to be similar to the way the time and place are arranged in the Vutthu.

Again, the way the teacher's father's patience and the teacher's uncle, U Htun Nyein, are depicted is designed to be noticed. This design is believed to be similar to the way human nature is depicted in the novel.

Therefore, this Attakapatti has been called a novel-style biography. Therefore, this biography can provide not only knowledge and memories, but also feelings and emotions related to the situation of the teacher's time and the teacher's life.

That's it.

In this second issue, from Chapter 31 to Chapter 51, you can read about the events in the life of Master U Pe Maung Tin, starting from his love affairs and marriage, until his death.

The highlights are chapters 30 and 31, where he describes his experiences while traveling in Europe, how his first love affair broke up when he returned to Burma, and how he later met his soulmate and got married.

Chapters 32 and 33 describe the efforts made by the Simon Commission in 1929-30 to promote Burmese literature teaching at Rangoon University and the efforts made to develop the Burmese Department.

Chapters 34 to 38 describe how he became the university principal in 1936-35, how he answered the first re-examination, how he wrote a history of Burmese literature, and how he participated in the oilfield uprising.

How he managed to calm down the student movement, how he overcame the anger of the chemistry professor, and how he resolved the unresolved issues.

Chapter 39 describes how the university was reestablished during World War II and the Japanese era.

- Chapters 40 to 42 describe how the teacher retired, how he became an honorary professor at Yangon University, how he wrote the Myanmar Sentence Composition Book, the Myanmar Grammar Book, and how he served as the chairman of the Vocabulary Bank Committee of the Literature Museum.

Chapters 43 and 44 describe how he taught Buddhist literature at the University of Chicago in the United States, how he traveled to Malaysia and China, and how he participated in the silver jubilee celebrations of Yangon University.

In this second volume, as in the first volume, May Lay Long continues to use the novel style in writing this biography, and I believe that it is as enjoyable as the first volume and can effectively present the events of the teacher's life.

October 1975.

The " beginning " of his life

The rain continued to fall heavily all day long.

Even the traditional saying, "The grass is covered with grass, and the rain is falling," is disappearing, and the axe is falling.

The strong wind and rain also helped him and waved at him.

Due to the balance of power between rain and wind, the Pauk Taw neighborhood, a Burmese neighborhood in Insein Township, a suburb of Yangon, is almost deserted, with almost no pedestrians.

I wonder if the residents of the neighborhood are huddled together in their own yards, yards, and homes, safe and warm, in the cold rain.

All the doors are closed and quiet.

However, the family of U Pe, the chief clerk at the Insein Veterinary Department, who owns a large yard of three acres next to Pauktaw Road, is warm and busy, with no sleep or wakefulness.

They were my father's mother-in-law, his sister-in-law, and two other female companions. They were making their way to a bedroom inside the house and to the kitchen at the back of the house.

At that moment, the owner of the house, U Pe, was pacing back and forth alone in the front living room.

He reached the open window and looked out at the raindrops outside the house, which had slowed down after a long day of heavy rain and now, as if it was evening, he was exhausted. He also looked up at the sky, which was covered with a thick blanket of dark clouds, and the horizon, which was still dark.

Then, as he walked back inside, U Pe would look up at the large grandfather clock in the middle of the room.

U Pe's facial expression and movements showed that he was seriously thinking about something, waiting for it.

U Pe looked up at the clock. The pendulum was swinging and the two hands of the clock showed that it was 5:15 PM.

It's actually still early, after 5pm, on the Kason moon, when the days are already starting to get longer. There will still be plenty of light.

However, now, due to the unusually heavy rain, the whole world was dark and gloomy, as if it was about to end early.

The entire neighborhood was as quiet as the dead of night. Even though the residents of U Pe's house were moving around, there was no noise or disturbance, and it was so quiet that no one could hear anything.

However, if you listen carefully, you will be able to hear a faint, low

U Pe listened carefully for a faint moan that had just come out again, and then turned around and walked towards the window again.

Then, having reached the window once more, U Pe was unable to immediately turn back inside to where the clock was.

He stared in amazement at the vast horizon that he could see in the distance. The horizon, which had been dark and gloomy earlier, was now breaking apart, as if someone had suddenly pulled it open.

The red sun, which had been hiding all day, now burst forth amidst the strangely broken, dark clouds.

From the edge of the sun, which was blazing with energy, the warm golden rays of light rushed to U Pe, who was still in the dark and misty sky on the other side, and greeted him with a warm smile.

U Pe was cold and reserved, but suddenly became lively and refreshed under Nae Chi Nwe's warm embrace.

His serious, determined expression was suddenly softened by a sudden sense of joy and peace.

U Pe was so absorbed in the extraordinary sight that he forgot about other matters for a moment.

But it didn't take long. Suddenly, the faint cry of a newborn baby from the room inside the house woke up U Pe, who had been quietly sitting there. U Pe turned around and looked up at the large grandfather clock.

The sunlight streaming through the window made it clear to U Pe that the two large hands of the clock beneath the clear glass were exactly half past five.

"A young man, a young man, a white, fat man, a big man."

The loud words of the pregnant woman, mixed with the cries of the child from the silent interior, rushed into the ears of U Pe, who was wide awake. U Pe's face shone brightly against the setting sun in the far west. He walked briskly to his desk under the large clock.

Then, Father took the large Christian Bible that he had been reading and meditating on daily and carefully read, and opened its black leather cover.

Then an extra blank page appeared, separating the cover of the Bible from the text inside.

There were no printed words on that blank sheet of paper, but there was a birth certificate meticulously written in U Pe's handwriting.

U Pe added a new number to the birth certificate under the four eldest children named Maung Barin, Ma Kyi, Maung Ba Thin, and Ma Che.

Then, U Pe continued to fill in the birth chart, wondering if his new baby, who had just been born to his wife, Daw Myaing, would become a precious child, a child who would be able to overcome darkness and bring light, with talent and excellence in some aspect of race, religion, education, etc., according to the signs that had coincidentally come to him when he was born.

The fifth son, Maung Ba Tin. Born on April 24, 1888, the 1250th year of the Burmese calendar, the full moon of Kason, Tuesday. He was born at 5:30 PM in Pauk Taw, Insein.

Maung Ba Tin to Maung Tin

When Maung Ba Tin was three years old, his mother, Daw Myaing, gave birth to a younger brother for him.

Then, Maung Ba Tin, who had only been receiving compliments from his older brothers and sisters, was extremely happy to have a younger brother to compliment him in return.

Maung Ba Tin, who was so happy to have a little brother, was completely unaware that his older brother, Maung Barin, who always pampered him, suddenly disappeared from the bathroom.

Maung Ba Tin Kaley had only vague memories of his brother's disappearance.

As their family often had relatives from Yangon visiting them, that day, U Htun Nyein, the uncle of U Pe's younger brother, Maung Ba Tin Kaley, also arrived.

U Lay Oo Htun Nyein talked to his father, U Pe. He looked at his little brother, who was still carrying him. Then U Lay Oo Htun Nyein took his older brother, Maung Brin, by the hand and led him into the courtyard under the house.

From that time on, Maung Ba Tinkalay never saw or heard from his older brother Maung Barin again.

On the day he last saw his older brother, Maung Ba Tin had a special feeling in his heart.

That day, U Lay U Htun Nyein and his older brother Maung Brin went down to the yard, and a moment later, I don't know what happened. Everyone in the house was running around in a panic.

Then, Maung Ba Tin, who could not leave his little brother's side, was surprised to see his mother and sisters, grandmothers and aunts all crying and sobbing.

And then, their big house was bustling with people coming and going. Many guests and relatives came.

The guests, their relatives, and their families were still praying at their house. However, Maung Ba Tinkalay could not find his elder brother Maung Barin among their family.

While the elders were busy, Maung Ba Tin's heart yearned to be close to his older brother. He wanted to receive his older brother's care.

However, it was difficult for Maung Ba Tin Kaley to find his older brother anywhere in the house.

Where will his big brother go? Maung Ba Tinkalay wants to know. "Mom, it's short, it's short."

Finally, Maung Ba Tin ran to his mother, who he thought would be able to answer his curiosity, and asked, "Oh, my son!"

Maung Ba Tin's mother used to answer every question he asked with a smile and a gentle voice. Now she hugged him and cried. His mother, his grandmother, and his aunts also cried.

Then, as his mother, who was sobbing and crying, held him in her arms, Maung Ba Tin also wanted to cry.

So, after he left his mother's arms, he ran to his father and started asking again, crying like a child.

"Where is Daddy Shorty?"

"Hey, Dad, you're so cute, even though you're short."

Maung Ba Tin, who was getting impatient with the waiting, grabbed his father, who was looking different from usual, with both hands and shook him, and reluctantly asked him again.

At that moment, his father, who had been sitting quietly, moved. "Son, are you short?" Maung Ba Tinkalay thought that his father's voice was not his usual voice. "Son, God has taken you short." "Where did God take you, father?"

Maung Ba Tin, as usual, pondered his own curiosity and asked again.

Then his father replied in his usual way: "God has taken my little boy, Toto, to his heavenly home."

“Yes, we will follow this sweet little boy, Dad.” “Oh, we have to follow, we have to follow.” “Hey, we have to follow, huh?”

When his father agreed with his suggestion, Maung Ba Tin, with satisfaction, began to clap his hands and laugh.

At that moment, his father, who was holding him in his arms, spoke to his mother, who was still in tears, not far away.

“Now, now that our eldest son, Maung Barin, is gone, let’s remove the letter ‘ba’ from the names of the remaining sons. From now on, instead of Maung Ba Thin, Maung Ba Tin, Maung Ba Khin, we will call them Maung Thin, Maung Tin, Maung Khin.” His father spoke to his mother and then leaned down to Maung Ba Tin again.

"Did you hear what Dad said, son? Starting today, my son's name is no longer Maung Ba Tin, it's Maung Tin, right?"

"Yes, father," Maung Ba Tin easily accepted his father's words and was satisfied.

Then his father, as if pleased, hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Then he asked him a question.

"Now tell me, father, what is your name?" Without hesitation, Maung Ba Tin answered his father's question immediately. "Maung Tin."