Introducing ‘A Memory of My
Grandparents’
 |
| (My grandparents in 1954.) |
My book, ‘A Memory of My
Grandparents’ appeared on 1st May of 2015 - the same date of the 100th
anniversary of my grandmother, Khin Myo Chit – writer of Colourful Burma. It
was a very happy and exciting coincidence that it appeared on my grandma’s 100th
birthday!
(“A Memory of My
Grandparents” appeared on 1st May of 2015.)
History
I wrote this book to mark the
hundredth anniversary of my grandparents – U Khin Maung Latt, and (Daw) Khin Myo
Chit. However I planned this book to appear on the April, and introduce the
book on the 9th May of 2015, I met unexpected and unseen problems that
delay my book as Mr. Fogges met a thousand obstacles in Round The World in Eighty Days.
As Luckily as Mr. Fogges arrived
in time to his final destination twenty-four hours ahead of time; my book now
appeared on 1st May of 2015 on my grandma’s 100th
birthday.
As for me, look at the book with
my both hands seemed a dream. There are 7 Parts, and each Part contains 6 or 7
chapters.
All the photos and
information came from my mother who is the special collector of old memories. My
father recalled his old memories to me, and they are valuable for my writing. I
asked my brother for some drawings, which are useful for the book. I gathered
all the information as much as I could have, and messaged the short notes of
their yearly life. I wanted to write them all, and did not want to miss a bit
of their long eventful life.
Although it was difficult for
me to dig out their old memories before I was born, by the help and
encouragement of my family I felt never lonely, or I was not a lonesome writer
during my writing. When I reached the Third Part of the book, we twins were
born in this part; I could imagine and remember their love and regards to us.
These memoirs gave me more helpful, and sometimes feel sad to see their poor
olden days.
(Grandpa chose his life as a
teacher.)
(Grandma chose her life as a writer.)
Review
The first part contains their
childhood, their early life, their meeting, and their wartime experience, and grandma
meeting H.G. Wells at Rangoon University with other Burmese young writers. To
know their olden days, I reread my grandma’s pieces of ‘Quest for Peace’ in
their 1960s Guardians, and Working People’s Daily newspapers. I tried to learn
my grandma’s heart at that time she wrote. I recalled my memories back to grandpa’s
words as his childhood memoirs. I was going to meet General Tin Oo who was at
that time (1945) a soldier in the army while my grandma served as Staff Officer
to General Aung San. I listened carefully what he related to me the story about
grandma the way he had seen as it happened yesterday. I also met Daw Than Khin
whose mother gave a shelter to grandpa, grandma, and their son at their house
during difficult wartime. Their family still lived at Thandatar street, and we are still closed friends
more than relatives. She passed away a month ago at the age of 92. I included
this Part their education, and introduced grandma’s first English book, ‘Three
Years Under The Japs.’ and their family life with their only son.I was deeply
sad when I wrote about their poor life in wartime Burma, and worked with
politicians during the Burmese historical events.
(Grandma met H.G.Wells.
Grandma (left), Dagon Khin Khin Lay (writer) (middle), and H.G. Wells (right).)
I opened Second Part their
life in the Peaceful Villa, called ‘Aye-Yeik-Thar’ house. It was a very
well-known place especially for Burmese readers and book lovers. It became
well-known because there, writers, poets, and even politicians spent their time
together free and happy. Some writers including my grandmother portrayed Aye-Yeik-Thar,
how happy and enjoy life they had met in this peaceful villa. I only have an
old photo of Aye-Yeik-Thar (wooden, and flat) house. The photo was very old,
but full of spirit, and alive. I also added the story of Writers’ Theatre,
played by Burmese writers. Some rehearsals (1950) were held at Aye-Yeik-Thar
house. I wrote more about their contemporaries, and their life of literary and
teaching life.
(Aye-Yeik-Thar or Peaceful
Villa.)
I concluded this Second Part their
life in ‘Pyay-Yeik-Thar’ house where they lived for the rest of their life.
There, I introduced my readers with Sayadaw U Vinaya (SunlunSayadaw) who was
their old friend at Aye-Yeik-Thar. Now they met Him again as a monk in 1957,
and requested Him to stay at Pyay-Yeik-Thar house as a meditation master.
Sayadaw U Vinaya resided at Pyay-Yeik-Thar for 12 years, until 1968-69.
(Sayadaw U Vinaya resided at
Pyay-Yeik-Thar house for 12 years.)
I began Third Part their long
eventful life. We twins were born in this part, and my grandparents chose their
life peace and quiet, decided to quit from complex, and difficult life at the Working People’s Daily, and say goodbye to their
politician-friends. Although grandpa was offered the post of Embassador, he
preferred working as a teacher, and stayed with his family happy, and ideal
life. Spending their life with their son, daughter-in-law, and their twins
grandchildren – a boy and a girl, and they published the family magazine called
‘Pyaw-Taw-Zet’ with the help of their friends –writers, journalists, and
artists. But the magazine ended tragically because of some unseen problem.
The Part Four includes their
writer life, and teacher life mixed with joy and woe as the life goes. Here I
mentioned some non-Burmese writers, namely Richard Armour and Peter Townsend who
were my grandma’s friends. Their handwritings I added there which were found in
my grandma’s old desk. I also added grandma’s non-Burmese friends who frequently
came and visited Pyay-Yeik-Thar house, and shared their research, and enjoyed
their talk with my grandma. Their life in 1984, the awards they received for
their ‘Patriotic Work’, what I wrote was why she valued this.
(Grandpa, grandma and their
only son at Pyay-Yeik-Thar house.)
In Part Five, our Burmese
traditional festival called Harvest festival held in every year in Pyay-Yeik-Thar
garden for almost 13 years until 1996 in which I showed many more colourful
photos. This Part introduced the reader with my grandma’s younger brother – U
Thein Aung - who was communist, and went underground during wartime, and was
coming back, and stayed with us in 1991 until he passed away. I still
remembered when I met him for the first time at our house; he was an old weak
man but his eyes were as sharp as my grandma, looked so friendly. He showed his
old photos when he was in Russia, and China. He gave me a cute doll, and a Lenin-statue-paperweight
for my brother. He brought his panting too.
(U Thein Aung ( 1921 -1994))
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| (U Thein Aung 's one of old photos.) |
The last part called Part
Five includes their life still going with adventure and excitement. As the
country goes changing, their life still goes seemed never ending. Start from
the First Part since I have been writing, I have never felt like before while I
was reaching the final part. I knew their ending was coming soon. I have to
write their final part with my heart sad. As I planned what I was going to
write, I wrote what I felt, I dreamt what I thought.
Conclusion
The book completed their
Literary Life, their Political Life, their Family Life, and their work and the
historical and political background of Burma with hundreds of photos I have used.
I have done my hard and tough work with my heart and soul by the help and
encouragement of my parents, and my twin brother. I believed I completed it by
the helpful hands of my grandparents who are now in heaven. I, their stupid
granddaughter, I know with their love, and care, this book successfully comes
out.
(I believed they both meet in
heaven, and their love and regards still warm and tender to us.)
Information for book;
If one who comes to interest
my book, or to order, can contact my brother’s email address as maungyit@gmail.com, or moemaka.org@gmail.com, or his phone number as Maung Yit @ Phone - 0925-4200-606 on
his web; www.colorful-people.blogspot.com or www.colorfulpeople.moemaka.net
Or one can order online here;
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