Burma — Firsts

by Hla Min

Update : 7th November 2026

President of the Union of Burma

• There were three Presidents in the Union of Burma.
• Sao Shwe Thaik served as the first President of the Union of Burma. A few consider him as the Provisional President. Burma gained Independence on January 4, 1948.
• Dr. Ba U succeeded Sao Shwe Thaik as President. In his book “My Burma”, he mentioned himself as the first Elected President.
• Mahn Win Maung succeeded Dr. Ba U as President. On 2nd March, 1962, Coup d’etat took place and he was detained along with Prime Minister U Nu and high ranking officials.
• Sama Duwa Sinwa Naung was designated to succeed Mahn Win Maung, but the Coup prevented him from becoming President.
• Mie Mie Thaik, son of Sao Shwe Thaik, passed away during the Coup.

Prime Minister of the Union of Burma

• There were five Prime Ministers in the Union of Burma. U Nu was Prime Minister three times.
• U Nu (formerly known as Thakin Nu) served as the First Prime Minister.
• When U Nu took Sabbatical, U Ba Swe (Dawei, Kyar Gyi) served as the Second Prime Minister.
• U Nu served as the Third Prime Minister, but was forced to handover to the Caretaker Government led by Bo Ne Win in 1958. Some refer to the event as a Soft Coup.
• Bo Ne Win became the Fourth Prime Minister and served for 18 months despite the initial request for 6 months to prepare and hold Election.
• U Nu became the Fifth and Last Prime Minister before the fateful Coup d’etat on March 2, 1962.

Medical doctor to study medicine in the West

• Dr. Shaw Loo was the first doctor to study medicine in the USA.

Compilers of the English-Burmese Dictionary

• Mekkhaya Mintha (Prince) & Mr. Lane translated Dr. Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary into Burmese.

• Subsequent Lexicographers include Dr. Judson, U Tun Nyein, Dr. Ba Han and U Ohn Pe (Tet Toe).

Science and Technology Author

• Yaw Mingyi U Pho Hlaing was the first Burmese author to write about Science and Technology.

Ahmyotha Kaw Leik Graduate

• U Razak was the first to graduate from Ah Myo Tha Kaw Leik အမျိုးသားကောလိပ် (National College)
• Served as Principal of the Ah Myo Tha Kyaung အမျိုးသားကျောင်း (National School) in Mandalay.
• Minister of Education in Bogyoke Aung San’s Cabinet.
• Assassinated on July 19, 1947.

Engineer

• Phan Chet Wun U Shwe Oh was the first Burmese engineer.

Political Prisoner

• Sayadaw U Ottama was the first Political Prisoner (Prisoner of Conscience) in Burma. “U Ottama Pan Chan” ဦးဥတ္တမပန်းခြံ is a park named in his honor.
• Sayadaw U Wisara was another famous Political Prisoner. “U Wisara Kyauk Taing” ဦးဝိစာရကျောက်တိုင် was erected in his honor.

Social Service Performer

• Phwa Oo Zun (Mandalay native) was the first Burmese female to perform Social Service for the public.
• Established the Home for the Aged.
• Details can be found in Ludu Daw Ah Mar’s book “Mandalay Thar & Mandalay Thu”.

Actor

• U Nyi Pu was the First leading male actor in a Burmese movie.
• Siblings : Daw Khin Myint, A1 U Tin Nwe, U Maung Maung Soe / U Tin Pe, and A1 U Tin Maung
• The siblings and their extended families founded several film companies.
• U Nyi Pu founded Maha Weikzahto Film. The “Thamankyar” သမန်းကျား movie was shot and produced at U Nyi Pu’s studio. A1 Than Htut and A1 Thein Htut directed the movie based on the novel by Than Win (T70). Actors : Toe Nyunt, Ko Myint / Aung Myint (Min71), Sai Wunna, Win Hlaing, Myo Thant, and Toe Chit

Producer and director

• London Art U Ohn Maung founded a company to produce Burmese films
• Served as Director.

Best Male Actor

• Kyaw Soe won the inaugural award for Best Male Actor.
• The awards were known as “Shwe Sin Yoke Su” ရွှေစင်ရုပ်ဆု
• The winners prefix their names with “Academy”.

Best Female Actor

• Kyi Kyi Htay won the inaugural award for the Best Female Actor.
• Won the award several more times.

Best Child Actor

• Aung Tun Lay won the inaugural award for the Best Child Actor.

Best Male Supporting Actor

• U Kyauk Lone / U Aung Gyi won the inaugural award for the Best Male Supporting Actor.
• Son : Sway Tin / Kyauk Pyar

Best Female Supporting Actor

• Daw May Nwe won the inaugural award for the Best Female Supporting Actor.

Best Director

• U Thu Kha won the inaugural award for the Best Director.
• Also wrote, acted and sang.
• My translation “Still So Young” of U Thu Kha’s short story was published in the Sunday Supplement of Working People’s Daily. I received K50 for the translation. U Thu Kha received an honorarium of K50 for his short story.

Overseas Tour by Saing Saya

• Sein Beda was the first Saing Saya to perform overseas.

Novelist

• James Hla Kyaw wrote the first Burmese novel “Maung Yin Maung Ma Mae Ma”.

Female journalist

• Independent Daw San was the first Burmese female Journalist.

Lecturer at RU English Department

• Dr. Ba Maw was the first Burmese lecturer at the Department of English at the University of Rangoon.
• Later became Adhipati during the Japanese Occupation.

Principal

• U Pe Maung Tin was the first Principal of the University of Rangoon.
• Professor of Oriental Studies (including Pali).
• Proposed to have a separate Department for Burmese.
• Three outstanding students — ICS U Sein Tin (Theikpan Maung Wa), U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and U Wun (Minthuwun) — founded the “Khit San Sar Pay” movement.

Rector

• Dr. Htin Aung was the First native Rector of the University of Rangoon
• Vice-Chancellor, RU
• Ambassador to Ceylon
• Author, Historian, Folklorist

Stereo Khit / Era

• Tekkatho Tun Naung (BDS, Luyechun) was the first vocalist of the Stereo Khit (Era).
• Others include Accordion Ohn Kyaw and Min Min Latt.
• Former performers of BBS Local Talent and Variety Show also became professionals.

Aerial acrobat

• Mee Bone Byan U Kyaw Yin was the first aerial acrobat to perform stunts from a Hot Air Balloon.
• He was featured in a text book that we studied in Middle School.
• Son : Cartoonist U Kyaw San / Ka Sa

Robotics

• U Kyi constructed the first robot.

Roving Troupe

• Great Po Sein founded the first Nei Hlei Zat Tha Bin (roving troupe for performing plays).
• Sons : Kenneth Sein and Thet Thet Sein also performed

Chief Justice of High Court

• Dr. Mya Sir Bu studied in France and Germany
• Served as the first Burmese Chief Justice of High Court.

Atomic Energy Commission

• Dr. Tin Hlaing founded the Department of Atomic Energy
• Served as the first Director General.

Cartoonist

• U Ba Galay / U Shwe Ta Lay was the first Burmese Cartoonist.

History Commission

• Sithu U Kaung served as the first President of Burmese History Commission.
• Children : U Thaw Kaung, Dr. Yee May Kaung and Daw Kyi May Kaung.
• The History Commission was later merged with the Burmese Language Commission.

Computer Systems and Applications

• Dr Chit Swe is the Computer Pioneer in Burma.
• Saya founded the Universities’ Computer Center (UCC) with the help of Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min and Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF) and served as the Founding Director
• Saya established the academic and training courses at UCC with the help of Professor Dr. Harry D. Huskey (Past ACM President) and visiting professors from US, UK and Europe.
• Enabled the academic courses at UCC to have degrees conferred by the Department of Mathematics at Rector of Rangoon Arts and Science University.
• Became Rector of RASU.
  He never lost his passion about UCC and the dissemination of Computer Science and Applications.

• Dr. Chit Swe was succeeded as Director of UCC by Dr. Tin Maung (Mathematics Lecturer at RASU).
• During Dr. Tin Maung’s tenure, the Department of Computer Science (DCS) and the Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST) were established.
• U Tun Aung Gyaw (EC69) and I were members of “Generation Zero” at UCC. We taught at UCC, DCS and ICST.

President of Burma Students’ Union / Ba Ka Tha

• U Raschid (also known as M. A. Raschid) served as the first President of Ba Ka Tha (All Burma Students’ Union).
  He was also President of Ta Ka Tha / Rangoon University Students’ Union
• Served as Minister in the AFPFL Government
• Son : Saya Bilal Raschid (Architecture)

Checkers

• Chit Oo Nyo, a prolific writer, wrote the first book on how to play “Kyar” / Checkers.

Distinguished Social Service

• Hajeema Pyinmana Daw Pu was the first female to win Lu Hmu Htoo Chun Su Pathama Sint (First Class for Distinguished Social Service).
• Donated for the founding of some hospitals.
• Son-in-law : Saya U Ba Than Haq (Retired Professor of Geology and Pro-Rector of RASU)

Florence Nightingale Award

• Major Daw Khin Ohn Mya was the first recipient of the Florence Nightingale Award [for outstanding Nursing].
• Pen name : Mya Marlar

Body Donor

• U Win Myint (Mandalay) was the first Burmese to donate his body.

United Nations Secretary General

• U Thant succeeded Daj Hammerjold as UNSG (United Nations Secretary General).
• He was the Third UNSG and the First Asian UNSG
• Served two terms
• Passed away in 1974
• “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin” (In December 1974) is a sad event in the history of Burma.

Nobel Laureate

• Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was the first Burmese to receive the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

Most Entries were compiled by Minthuwun / U Wun

• Retired Professor of Burmese at Rangoon University
• Head of the RU Translation Department
• Compiler of the Myanmar Abhidan (Burmese Dictionary)
• Co-compiler of the Japanese-Burmese Dictionary
• Visiting Professor of Burmese at Osaka University at the invitation of Professor Harada (“Chit Mann Nwe”)
• Co-founder of “Khit San Sar Pay” with U Thein Han (Zawgyi) and ICS U Sein Tin (Theikpan Maung Wa)
• Laureate Poet
• Children : Edgar Wun (U Nyan Soe), Peter Wun (U Htin Kyaw, former President of Myanmar) and Rosalind Wun (Daw Htar Cho)