July

by Hla Min

Update : May 2026

Background

• Fifth month in the old Roman Calendar, and it had 30 days. The month was given an extra day and renamed in honor of Julius Caesar.
• Seventh month in the Gregorian Calendar.

My father’s birthday

• Born on 1st July.
• Passed away in his 80s.

Men on the Moon

• Apollo 11 Mission
• Eagle (Lunar Module) landed in Tranquility Bay on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
• Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) was the first to land on the moon.
• Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) was the second to land on the moon.
• Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot) circled the Moon and waited for his crew mates to return from the Moon.
• I wrote a poem “Men on the Moon”. A copy was sent by Mr. Hall (Information Officer, USIA) to NASA. The poem was published in the Guardian.
  

US Independence

• 4th of July

Martyrs’ Day

• July 19, 1947
• Bogyoke Aung San, six ministers, a Secretary and a bodyguard were assassinated.

Nine Arzanis were gunned down on July 19, 1947. Eight perished that day. One succumbed a day later.

• Bogyoke Aung San passed away at the tender age of 32
  Children : U Aung San Oo, Aung San Lin (GBNF), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
• Thakin Mya. : Considered as Deputy Prime Minister
• Deedoke U Ba Cho : Minister, Journalist ; Grand children : Dr. Khin Hla Cho, Daw Khin Myint Cho
• Mahn Ba Khaing : Transported Bogyoke (saved & brought by Marie Hla Taw) back; Daughter : Sayama Daw Myint Myint Khaing
• Mong Pawn Sawbwa Sao San Htun : passed away in the hospital on July 20, 1947; has a hospital named after him; Son Sao Hso Holm
• U Ba Win : Bogyoke’s elder brother; Son Dr. Sein Win
• U Razak : Nominated by monks; Former Principal of National School; Sons U Tin Myint & U Hla Kyi
• ICS U Ohn Maung : Dy. Secy; Was asked to report on behalf of his minister; Sons U Tin Maung Thein, Francis & Dr. Min Min
• Yebaw Maung Htwe : U Razak’s bodyguard

There are books (e.g. “Who killed Aung San?”, Eliminate the Elite” by Kin Oung) and documentaries (e.g. “Who really killed Aung San?” by BBC program) about the fateful event.

Dark days in July 1962

• According to the newspapers, 17 died on July 7, 1962.
• Ko Aung Khin was stuck by a stray bullet as he was returning from RUBC to his home in Windermere Road. He was listed as the 17th victim.
• Anniversary celebration of 7th July in 1963 ended with the closure of Universities with the exception of the Faculties of Medical and Engineering.

• The revered Student Union was demolished on July 8, 1962.

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