Maung Thin

dear stanley,

during our high school days, we had to compare our Burmese writers with the world's literati and we used to say, " U Pon Nya is the Shakepeare of Burma." and " Shwe U Daung is the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Burma." etc. following in this vein, i would like to say, " Maung Thin is the A.J.Cronin of Burma" for having written so many popular novels and short stories about the physician and the patients based on many common diseases and ailments in Burma.

I first read about A.J.Cronin in the Shumawa magazine written by Tint-de, the famous Burmese writer,editor and broadcaster (he broadcast from BBC).He was writing the preface about Dr A.J.Cronin before traslating the latter's autobiography, "Adventures in Two Worlds" in it, Tint-de stated that A.J.Cronin was of humble origin, tried hard and became a doctor after graduating from the University of Edinburgh medical school. He had high ideals in life, sacrificed for the poor at first, but succumbed to the lure of money, glamour and power. A.J.Cronin made his life a plot for the famous novel " Citadel" he wrote later that has been reprinted several times. He regretted later and wrote about his experiences in lay magazines, became a best seller author.He then migrated to Canada and died there studying Scientology and spiritualism. A Canadian friend told me in Michigan, USA, in 1975 that one of A.J.Cronin's sons was a medical doctor and became a dean in one Canadian medical school.

Dr Maung Thin was also like A.J.Cronin.He attended the medical school in Rangoon before the Second world war , got a licentiate in medical practice and joined the Burmaarmy headed by General Aung San in the fight against Japanese fascists. He took part in the independence struggles and he was posted to hither and thither lands of Burma, treated many patients, both army personnel and civilians, and himself got injured and wounded in Mongton during the fight against the KMT( Kuo-Min-Tan, the white Chinese brigands).He wrote about his experiences in short story form, each story telling about a disease, the patient and the drama surrounding it. 

I met Maung Thin in Mandalay Medical College, at that time in 1956 to 1958, called the Branch Medical Faculty (BMF). He was attending the condensed course for M.B.,B.S. degree of the University of Rangoon.Buthe would show us, myself, Naing oo, Yoke Ngaung alias Win Hlaing, his short stories in his long hand draft for comments. At that time, Naing Oo and myself were Burmese literature buffs.I was the most earnest. So, we would discuss about his stories, medical personnel in the army and art and medicine etc.We were feted by him when his first short story appearred in the Shumawa magazine.It was a hit with the public. In no time, he became a famous author.

One day, Maung Thin told us he was leaving the army for good although he was due for promotion to  be a major.He said he was leaving for Rangoon to write full time and practise.He introduced me to the next army medical doctor inside the Mandalay fort, Captain Kaung Hla Pru as I liked to join the army after passing the second MBBS examination. In those days, only the clinical students could apply for medical corps cadetship. I heard that Maung Thin succeeded in his medical practice in Rangoon too as many of his reader audience especially the ladies visited his clinic just to see him and pay!

Before long, Maung Thin appearred as an actor in the movie. I think it was "Chit-thway-thit-sar"(Loyalty by blood)directed by saya Thukha, the eminent movie director, actor and author.The movie won acclaims and Maung Thin became a famous actor.Not only that, his stories became so popular that the Shumawa publishers printed a collection of his short stories that sold like hot cake. And then, he won the movie academy award and also the national literary award for short stories given by "Sar-pay-beikman".Maung thin was thus successful in both literature and film.He won five literary awards and also the movie audience award for best actor called "thura-thadi award". I met Dr Maung Thin once at No.7 Station hospital, now called No.2 military hospital at Lanmadaw road in Rangoon. He was visiting his old friend major Kyaw Nyunt,later colonel director of Burma army medical corps and now retired. He greeted me cordially and he said he was glad I joined the Burma army medical corps (I retired from it in 1972.) I met him again at the Saya-puja (Teachers kadaw-pwe) given by Dr Tin Tun Oo at the Strand hotel after 1988.He,myself and another literati were on the stage to be kowtowed by Dr Tin Tun Oo and the audience.We had a good chat.

He later moved to Kayah state where his son, Dr Shwe Maung Thin, was practising.He died there at the age of late 70's. We lost a good army doctor, an artist, and a writer per excellence. 

Burmese Physician-Writers 

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