Translation is done from a Source Language into a Target Language.
Burma Translation Society was formed primarily to translate reference and text from English to Burmese.
Pali Text Society in the UK publishes selected English translations of Pali texts.
One of the Objectives of the Sixth Buddhist Council was to translate the Scriptures (including Commentaries and selected Sub-commentaries) from Pali into Burmese. Mahasi Sayadaw and his team (including Sayadaw U Silananda) compiled a Pali-Burmese Abhidan (Dictionary) to aid the translation of the Tipitaka.
Lexicographers
Reverend Judson and his team compiled the “English to Burmese” and “Burmese to English” dictionaries. They translated the Bible into Burmese.
There are several Dictionaries compiled by Burmese. The early works were done by
U Tun Nyein
Dr. Ba Han
Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe)
U Hoke Sein took two decades to complete his Pali-English-Burmese Dictionary.
Lost in Translation?
Some meaning can be lost in Translation.
Grapevine says that the Japanese were given an ultimatum by the US. The response supposedly had two meanings : (a) We will consider (b) We don’t care Due to miscommunication or “wrong” translation, the second meaning was taken, and the first A-bomb was released over Hiroshima.
Interpreters find it difficult to translate jokes or puns. One interpreter pleaded : “The dignitary is making a joke. If you want to help me retain my job, please applaud loudly and laugh heartily.” His job was saved.
WPD Sunday Supplement
Working People’s Daily (WPD) carried a Sunday Supplement. It carried the translation of renowned authors and scholars.
They include
MMT (former Chief Justice U Myint Thein)
Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe)
ZMT (former Ambassador U Zaw Myint Thein)
Sao Hso Holm (English First Class Honors, son of Arzani Sao San Htun)
The Assistant Editor Daw Khin Swe Hla (formerly “Dawlay” at Guardian) wanted some fresh blood. She assigned me to translate a short story “Nge Thay Lo” by Sayagyi U Thu Kha. I tried my best to come up with “Still So Young” and received a remuneration of fifty kyats. Sayagyi was given fifty kyats.
My experience
Translator and Interpreter at Meditation Retreats and selected events
Loose rendition of articles and poems by Sayas and alumni
Known fondly as “Mon Sayadaw”, DPZ Sayadaw U Thilawunta built pagodas in Burma/Myanmar, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and several other countries.
Sayadaw visited the United Nations and U Thant. He build the first Burmese pagoda in the Allegheny mountains near New York.
He served as the Chief Abbot of the Dat Paung Zon Aung Min Gaung monastery on Windermere Road, Rangoon, Burma from 1949.
At the invitation of U Thant, Sayadaw traveled to the US (via the ocean liner – predating the days of air travel) and build a pagoda on the Allegheny Mountains.
In 1958, Leslie Dawson, Canadian of Irish and Scottish descent, asked Mon Sayadaw to be his mentor. Dawson traveled to Bodh Gaya, India to rejoin the Sayadaw and received ordination as a samanera (novice monk). He continued on to Burma where he was ordained as Anandabodhi bhikkhu at the Shwedagon temple, Rangoon (21 Dec 1958). Ananda Bodhi had followers in Canada and New Zealand, most of whom have visited Sayaadaw and the Dat Paung Zon pagoda. Two of them also ordained as Buddhist monks with Mon Sayadaw as preceptor.
Ananda Bodhi became a Tibetan Master with the name Namgyal Rinpoche in 1971, but continued to preach dhamma from Theravada, …
Mon Sayadaw built pagodas in the several countries including US, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Details of Sayadaw’s dhamma duta missions can be found in the official biography (in Burmese and English) and the web pages of his disciples.
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60) was the top Paulian in his class, but the Brothers were disappointed when he missed the top five positions by a mark each. He founded the group “Alumni of the Institute of Medicine in Myanmar (Overseas)” and wrote about his mentors and other trail blazers.
Dr. Kyaw Win (Robin Ban, SPHS61) stood 2nd in Burma.
Dr. Khin Maung U (SPHS63) stood 1st in Burma. He was the first student to have almost perfect score in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics with 299 marks out of the possible 300. Grapevine says that one Chief Examiner gave him 100 and then reluctantly took back a mark. Dr. Min Oo (2nd in Burma) pursued a Doctorate in Mathematics. Dr. Myo San (Freddie, 3rd, GBNF), Dr. Nyunt Wai (Victor, 4th), Dr. Thein Wai (5th), Dr. Aung Kyaw Zaw (Johnny, 9th), Dr. Khin Maung Zaw (17th) studied Medicine. U Hla Min (7th) studied Engineering and Computer Science. U Maung Maung Kyi (11th) studied Dip. Ing in Chemical Engineering (specializing in Pulp and Paper). U Aung Thurein (Brownie, 13th, GBNF) studied Electrical Communications.
Dr. Aung Win Chiong (SPHS64, USA) had the second highest “raw” score behind Dr. Cherry Hlaing and Dr. Lyn Aung Thet. He had a perfect ILA score of 50 and was admitted to IM(2) as Roll Number One. He is now retired. His spouse Dr. Winnie Tan is co-founder of USA Con-Bro Association.
Dr. Winston Sein Maung (3rd in Burma, GBNF), Dr. Yi Thway (UK, 5th in Burma, Roll No (1) for IM1) and Dr. Paing Soe (retired Deputy Minister, Roll No (2)) were among the top students from SPHS65 (the last batch before Nationalization). Due to the rules, Bernard Khaw (who stood first in Burma) could not apply for professional studies and then left for USA and Canada. Maung Aye (who stood second in Burma) and his twin brother left to study Doctorates in the USA.
The photo was taken in Std VIII (A) in SPHS (St. Paul’s High School).
Many have now retired.
The photo was annotated mainly by Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint with minor revisions by me.
The teachers include Brother Peter, Brother Gerald, U Nyunt Maung and Mr. George Chapman.
Front Row: Robert Ba Maung (Chief Engineer, Mercantile Marine, now living in Liverpool), Commander Myint Ngwe (Burma Navy DSA 6th. batch), Robert Gale@Khin Maung Oo (BE (EC), Biomedical engineer BPI, now in Charlotte, North Carolina), Dr. Khin Zaw (PhD (Moscow), Retired Rector, Institute of Education, third cousin of TOKM), Wilbert Hoe@Dr. Thein Myint (Senior Ophthalmologist London)
Second Row: Dr. Harry Kyaw Tun (DDS – Dental Surgeon studied in East Germany but now in united Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall), Dr. Ho Shak Lim (FRCP, Senior Physician Hong Kong), Dr. Kyaw San Win (Retired Medical Superintendent, Yangon Orthopedic Hospital), Dexter@Thaung Lwin (BE (EC), Senior IT Engineer IBM Rangoon & Singapore, Retired, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC), Dr. Myo Aung Khin (Retired Manager, Immunization Programme, Dept. of Health)
Third Row: Prof. Saw Naing (Professor of Medicine, IM1), Tin Maung Aye (Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, younger brother of Dr. Aye Maung Than, DSMA), Col. Hla Myint@Michael (OTS 31st.batch, Retired Colonel (Infantry) & Chief of Security (Police, Secretariat)), Home Ministry), Dr. Myint Tun@Henry Cho Tun (PhD Birmingham, in Chemistry residing in LA, winner of Matthew Hunter Medal RASU), Prof. Min Lwin (Professor in Orthopedics), Dr. Herbert Liou (Hong Kong)
Fourth Row: Prof. Than Toe (Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine. RGH), Lt. Cmdr. Aung Shwe (Burma Navy)
Last Row: Myo Myint (BE (EC), RUBC Gold, Mathematical Genius, Retired from PPIC, elder brother of Dr. Ba Han Texas), Than Htut (BE (Mech), RUBC Gold, Heavy Industries & Defense Industries), Mor Eng Way@Aye Ngwe (Retire d. Senior Radiologist, Former Commander. US Navy, Walter Reed Hospital), Nyunt Tin@ George Chiong (Retired Prof of Paed. Anesthesiology, Chicago – he is the second of four brilliant Chiong brothers, the eldest Chiong Boo Chiong @ Dr. Hla Shwe, Ph.D in Nuclear Physics, College Dean)
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60, IM1 67) had a replica of U Ba Kyi’s painting of Kisagotami in his office in the Children’s Hospital. It helped him in consoling parents who lost their child.
Our Families
Our families were close Dhamma friends and supporters of Dat Poung Zon Aung Min Gaung Pagoda and Mon Sayadaw U Thilawuntha.
He took care of my sons when they were young.
His Writings
He contributed posts about the Seven Siblings
U Tin Tut
U Kyaw Myint
U Myint Thein
Dr. Htin Aung
Daw Khin Mya Mu
Daw Khin Saw Mu
Daw Tin Saw Mu
He chronicled the Medical pioneers and/or his mentors.
His Book
He acknowledged the success of his colleagues and former students.
He air-mailed me a book (compiled and published by his colleagues and former students) from Australia. The postage cost a lot more than the price of the book.
Sad Loss of Manuscripts
Before U E Maung [Professor of Burmese, University of Rangoon] died, he asked me to bring out exercise books with writings by [my paternal aunt] Daw Khin Mya Mu. In the books were transcript of many “Kyauk sar” and translation into Burmese of hundreds of stone scriptures from all over Burma. When I asked him why they were not published, he told me that no printing press [in those days] have fonts for the ancient writings. [Thus] they were all unpublished.
The sad thing was when Dr. Htin Aung [Rector, University of Rangoon, Ba Dway] left Burma, he had also left not only his books but drafts of books he wanted to finish and publish, mainly in history.
U E Maung donated his house and belongings to Tipitaka Sayadaw. When he passed away Dr. Tha Hla was given the task of selling the property and have as cash donation for Sayadaw. We were not informed but later on when I asked, I was told that except for some books, the handwritten documents were not saved anywhere. Felt very sad about losing the handwritten books.
Only some books were chosen to be donated to the Burmese Department of Rangoon University.
His Classmates from Std. VII(A) in SPHS
The photo was taken in Std VIII (A) in SPHS (St. Paul’s High School).
Many have now retired.
The photo was annotated mainly by Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint with minor revisions by me.
The teachers include Brother Peter, Brother Gerald, U Nyunt Maung and Mr. George Chapman.
Front Row: Robert Ba Maung (Chief Engineer, Mercantile Marine, now living in Liverpool), Commander Myint Ngwe (Burma Navy DSA 6th. batch), Robert Gale@Khin Maung Oo (BE (EC), Biomedical engineer BPI, now in Charlotte, North Carolina), Dr. Khin Zaw (PhD (Moscow), Retired Rector, Institute of Education, third cousin of TOKM), Wilbert Hoe@Dr. Thein Myint (Senior Ophthalmologist London)
Second Row: Dr. Harry Kyaw Tun (DDS – Dental Surgeon studied in East Germany but now in united Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall), Dr. Ho Shak Lim (FRCP, Senior Physician Hong Kong), Dr. Kyaw San Win (Retired Medical Superintendent, Yangon Orthopedic Hospital), Dexter@Thaung Lwin (BE (EC), Senior IT Engineer IBM Rangoon & Singapore, Retired, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC), Dr. Myo Aung Khin (Retired Manager, Immunization Programme, Dept. of Health)
Third Row: Prof. Saw Naing (Professor of Medicine, IM1), Tin Maung Aye (Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, younger brother of Dr. Aye Maung Than, DSMA), Col. Hla Myint@Michael (OTS 31st.batch, Retired Colonel (Infantry) & Chief of Security (Police, Secretariat)), Home Ministry), Dr. Myint Tun@Henry Cho Tun (PhD Birmingham, in Chemistry residing in LA, winner of Matthew Hunter Medal RASU), Prof. Min Lwin (Professor in Orthopedics), Dr. Herbert Liou (Hong Kong)
Fourth Row: Prof. Than Toe (Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine. RGH), Lt. Cmdr. Aung Shwe (Burma Navy)
Last Row: Myo Myint (BE (EC), RUBC Gold, Mathematical Genius, Retired from PPIC, elder brother of Dr. Ba Han Texas), Than Htut (BE (Mech), RUBC Gold, Heavy Industries & Defense Industries), Mor Eng Way@Aye Ngwe (Retire d. Senior Radiologist, Former Commander. US Navy, Walter Reed Hospital), Nyunt Tin@ George Chiong (Retired Prof of Paed. Anesthesiology, Chicago – he is the second of four brilliant Chiong brothers, the eldest Chiong Boo Chiong @ Dr. Hla Shwe, Ph.D in Nuclear Physics, College Dean)
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint matriculated from SPHS in 1960. Stood Sixth in Burma. Won Collegiate Scholarship.
MBBS from Institute of Medicine (1) in 1967.
MRCP from the UK
Founded the Alumni of Myanmar Institutes of Medicine.
Historian for Medical Education & Practice in Burma/Myanmar.
Connections
He treats me like a family member. Our parents were Dhamma friends and sponsors of Dat Paung Zon Aung Min Gaung Pagoda and Sayadaw U Thilawuntha (Mon Sayadaw).
He was the teacher of my spouse. He took care of my then young sons.
He and his team from Rangoon Children Hospital would visit UCC to help conduct some survey (e.g. Perinatal Survey), perform computations to interpret the results.
His name was one of the candidates for determining the length of the name field used for the Burma Population Census in the 70s.
In 2006, I visited Sydney, Australia to attend three Reunions (a) RIT (b) UCC (c) SPHS. He came from Brisbane to attend the SPHS Reunion at Olympic Park. The host was Dr. Than Naing (Bonny Kywe, SPHS66, Geology).
There are several Postsabout his extended family : his father, uncles, aunts, cousins, colleagues and students.
Book Present
He mailed me from Australia a copy of the book “Tribute to Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint : The Journey of a Peripatetic Paediatrician“.
The book was published by a group of his former students (including my cousin nephew Dr. Khin Tun (Peter Tin U, UK, GBNF) and/or colleagues as a present for his 70th birthday.
There are almost a hundred articles covering 600 pages.
5 articles on “Lest we forget”
6 articles on “Tributes”
33 articles on “Family and friends”
52 articles on “Words of tribute by friends, colleagues, and former students.
In 2006, he came from Canberra to the Olympic Park in Sydney to attend the Old Paulian’s Lunch Gathering hosted by Dr. Thann Naing (Bonny Kywe, SPHS66).
HlaMin 