Theippan Maung Wa
Encyclopedia
Theippan Maung Wa (1899–1942), born in Mawlamyaing (Moulmein) and real name Sein Tin, was a Burmese
writer
who pioneered the literary movement of Hkit San (Testing the Times) that searched for a new style and content in Burmese literature before the Second World War starting with Hkit san pon byin (experimental tales, 1934, 1938).
Waziya Tint. Soon after he began his studies in Rangoon College in 1920, the first university student strike
in the history of Burma broke out, and he left university to teach at the first of the National Schools that came into being, as an act of defiance against the colonial
education system, until 1923. U Sein Tin resumed his studies later and graduated B.A.
Hons. with distinctions in Burmese
in 1927, the first student in Burmese history to do so.
Theippan Kyaungtha Maung Mya Thwin (College Student Maung Mya Thwin) was the pen name he used in the Campus magazine and in the Ganda Lawka (World of Books) magazine established by J S Furnivall where the Hkit San movement joined by such writers as Zawgyi
and Min Thu Wun
began to take shape. He then started to write under the name Theippan Maung Wa in the Dagon magazine published by Ledi Pandita U Maung Gyi and the Kyipwa Yay (Progress) magazine published by U Hla
; both of these became a platform for the Hkit San movement. He also wrote plays in the Kyipwa Yay assuming a woman's name, Tint Tint, besides literary critiques and other articles.
in 1929, served as a district officer in rural Burma during the colonial period
. He wrote a series of small sketches based on his observations of rural life, many of which were critical of political and economic institutions, both colonial and indigenous, such as the following examples.
A collection of 36 of these short stories, published between 1929 and 1941 mostly in the Ganda Lawka, became prescribed school text
in the 1960s published by the Sapei Beikman Books. His letters to Kyipwa Yay U Hla between 1933 and 1942 were published by the latter, subsequently known as Ludu U Hla
, 3 decades later. U Hla also published Tint Tint Pyazat (Plays by Tint Tint); he had been instrumental in the search for and the eventual publication of Sit Atwin Neizin Hmattan (War Diary) in 1966.
soon after the Japan
ese invasion in 1942. Many writers subsequently took over his mantle which established the new form of literature after the War, portraying in semi-fictional sketches the day to day life of ordinary people in simple language eschewing verbosity
and rhetoric
.
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...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who pioneered the literary movement of Hkit San (Testing the Times) that searched for a new style and content in Burmese literature before the Second World War starting with Hkit san pon byin (experimental tales, 1934, 1938).
Early works
He started writing newspaper articles whilst still in high school assuming the pen namePen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Waziya Tint. Soon after he began his studies in Rangoon College in 1920, the first university student strike
Student strike
A student strike occurs when students enrolled at a teaching institution such as a school, college or university refuse to go to class. This form of strike action is often used as a negotiating tactic in order to put pressure on the governing body of the university, particularly in countries where...
in the history of Burma broke out, and he left university to teach at the first of the National Schools that came into being, as an act of defiance against the colonial
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
education system, until 1923. U Sein Tin resumed his studies later and graduated 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...
Hons. with distinctions 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...
in 1927, the first student in Burmese history to do so.
Theippan Kyaungtha Maung Mya Thwin (College Student Maung Mya Thwin) was the pen name he used in the Campus magazine and in the Ganda Lawka (World of Books) magazine established by J S Furnivall where the Hkit San movement joined by such writers as Zawgyi
Saya Zawgyi
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....
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:...
began to take shape. He then started to write under the name Theippan Maung Wa in the Dagon magazine published by Ledi Pandita U Maung Gyi and the Kyipwa Yay (Progress) magazine published by U Hla
Ludu U Hla
Ludu U Hla was a Burmese journalist, publisher, chronicler, folklorist and social reformer whose prolific writings include a considerable number of path-breaking nonfiction works...
; both of these became a platform for the Hkit San movement. He also wrote plays in the Kyipwa Yay assuming a woman's name, Tint Tint, besides literary critiques and other articles.
Civil servant and writer
U Sein Tin went on to Oxford University to study for the Indian Civil Service exam and on his return from BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1929, served as a district officer in rural Burma during the colonial period
British rule in Burma
British rule in Burma lasted from 1824 to 1948, from the Anglo-Burmese Wars through the creation of Burma as a province of British India to the establishment of an independently administered colony, and finally independence...
. He wrote a series of small sketches based on his observations of rural life, many of which were critical of political and economic institutions, both colonial and indigenous, such as the following examples.
- Pyissandarit (The Backwaters or Limbo, 1933 Ganda Lawka) was a glimpse at life in a small Burmese fishing village before World War II. It depicts the harsh circumstances in the village and the petty feuds that arose among its inhabitants.
- Leilan Pwè (The Auction, 1933 Ganda Lawka) took place during the colonial period. The story is a depiction and implicit critique of a fishery auction, a Western economic institution not particularly well-suited to the Burmese as the story shows.
- Ma-yway Mi (Eve of Election, 1932) took place before World War II during the colonial period. It describes the political factionalism that was arising among Burmese politicians even at this early date and which would only increase in post-independence Burma.
A collection of 36 of these short stories, published between 1929 and 1941 mostly in the Ganda Lawka, became prescribed school text
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
in the 1960s published by the Sapei Beikman Books. His letters to Kyipwa Yay U Hla between 1933 and 1942 were published by the latter, subsequently known as Ludu U Hla
Ludu U Hla
Ludu U Hla was a Burmese journalist, publisher, chronicler, folklorist and social reformer whose prolific writings include a considerable number of path-breaking nonfiction works...
, 3 decades later. U Hla also published Tint Tint Pyazat (Plays by Tint Tint); he had been instrumental in the search for and the eventual publication of Sit Atwin Neizin Hmattan (War Diary) in 1966.
Legacy
Theippan Maung Wa met an untimely death at the hands of dacoits (armed robbers) near ShweboShwebo
Shwebo is a city in Sagaing Division, Myanmar, located 113 km northwest of Mandalay between the Irrawaddy and the Mu rivers. The city, also called Ratanasingha , was the capital of Myanmar from 1752 to 1760 during the Konbaung period....
soon after the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese invasion in 1942. Many writers subsequently took over his mantle which established the new form of literature after the War, portraying in semi-fictional sketches the day to day life of ordinary people in simple language eschewing verbosity
Verbosity
Verbosity in language refers to speech or writing which is deemed to use an excess of words. Adjectival forms are verbose, wordy, prolix and garrulous.-History:...
and rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
.