Hundred Myanmar Classic Book Series launched

Hundred Myanmar Classic Book Series launched

UNION MINISTER for Information Dr. Pe Myint attended a ceremony to launch the three volume 100 Myanmar classic book series at the Sule Shangrila Hotel in Yangon yesterday afternoon.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Information Dr. Pe Myint said the Ministry of Information is making efforts for literature development and encouraging reading by holding paper reading sessions, book fairs and literature festivals.

Meanwhile, libraries in townships have established book clubs and organizing literature talks inviting those who are knowledgeable as part of efforts for development of public talks in the country, he added.

He continued to say that Literature talks led by authors are always included in the literature festivals held nationwide. It is known to all that the State Counsellor also held a literature talks with youths.

The Union Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Information will hold a literature festival later in December in Nay Pyi Taw to encourage more extensive reading.

He also expressed thanks to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, region and state governments for success of the nationwide literature festivals.

Regarding the efforts for development of literature, Ministry of Information has carried out the tasks considering them as a good legacy from ancestors and has innovated new ideas for development of the literature the country, he added.

“For example, there are two significant programs of the Sarpay Beikman. We are working hard to republish the Myanmar Encyclopedia after editing and amending. Myanmar Encyclopedia is one the achievements of the Sarpay Beikman in its glory days from 1950 to 1960,” said the Union Minister.

The working on publishing the Myanmar Encyclopedia started in 1950s and came to a circulation in 1960s-1970s.

The encyclopedia brought pride to the people of Myanmar and it is still being reliable for reference.

However, the time demands to amend and edit facts and figures in the book as it turned 50 to 60 years.

“To fulfil this needs, the Tun Foundation offered its assistance in doing the work, and at present, the Tun Foundation and the Printing and Publishing Department are working together for updating the Myanmar Encyclopedia,” said the Union Minister.

The encyclopedia is expected to come out in the near future, he added.

Hundred Myanmar Classis series introduced to the people today is one the achievements of the Sarpay Beikman and is a compilation of outstanding literary works that emerged from the early days of Myanmar literature to the year 2000.

It includes books and papers which were relied upon by Myanmar literature communities and were influential in those days.

Publishing the hundred Myanmar classic series is aimed at providing opportunities to our next generation to get easy access to the influential books and to develop their spirit of book loving through reading and enjoying literature.

Besides, the move is also aimed at providing international researchers with ready information for doing their research work on Myanmar people’s experiences, knowledge, intelligent, thinking, characters, culture, customs, language and standard of literature.

However, it was found that publishing such kind of a book series needs collective efforts from all in reality though just thinking for publishing is easy.

“Just Sarpay Beikman and Ministry of Information cannot carry out such huge task. Therefore, we formed a committee chaired by Sayargyi U Thaw Kaung with members literature experts who can find and search outstanding and influential novels, short stories, poems and plays,” said the Union Minister.

The Union Minister also expressed thanks to those who contributed their works in publishing the book series.

He also requested the experts to continue to contribute towards the remaining tasks as their expertise was playing an important role in publishing the books.

The Myanmar classic book series was arranged by Sarpay Beikman of the Printing and Publishing Department under the Ministry of Information.

Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar Classic Books Series committee Dr. Khin Aye (Maung Khin Min-Danubyu) made an opening remark concerning the Myanmar classic book series.

Union Minister Dr. Pe Myint presented a set of books as a token of appreciation to the authors who wrote the preface and who assisted in writing the Myanmar classic book series. Saya U Aye Cho (M.A) accepted them on behalf of the contributors.

Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung presented payment for copyright and honourarium of “Maung Yin Maung and Ma Me Ma” by James Hla Kyaw to the family members of the writers. Deputy Director-General (Rtd) U Maung Win accepted the honourarium on behalf of the successor of the honourarium, Saya U Aye Tun.

Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung presented the payment of an honourarium and copyright of “Ta Nan Pyaw Yin Thway Taw” by Sayagyi U Latt to successor U Ko Ko Naing; the payment of an honourarium and copyright of “Yadanabon” by Sayagyi Shwe Oo Daung to member of Sayagyi Shwe Oo Daung’s Literary works committee U Nyein Chan (Saya Nyi Pu Lay); and the payment of an honourarium and copy-right of “Hmar Taw Pone ” by Sayagyi Thakhin Kodaw Hmaing to successor Sayama Daw Mya Mya Aye.

The Director General of Printing and Publishing Department U Aung Myo Myint presented complementary books to the committee members for publishing the three volumes of Myanmar classic book series, and Saya U Kyi Win ( Lawka Ah Mon) accepted it on behalf of the committee members.

Following this, Union Minister Dr. Pe Myint and attendees took commemorative photo-graphs. The ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Information, members of the committee for publishing the Myanmar classic book series, authors who wrote introductory chapters and assisted with the edition, family members of the writers, departmental heads and others. The first volume of the Myanmar classic book series includes “Maung Yin Maung and Ma Me Ma (1904)” by James Hla Kyaw, “The Roselle Leaves seller, Maung Haming (1904)” by Wunsaye U Kyi, and “Chit Yoe Ah Hman (1907)” by Ma Aye Khin.

The second volume contains “She Pyi Soe (1914)” by U Latt, “Yadanabone (1917)” by Shwe Oo Daung, and “Eternal Love or B.A. Maung Ba Lwin (1920)” by Maung Ba Than. The third volume includes “Ta Nan Pyaw Yin Thway Taw (1920)” by U Latt, “Nay Ye Ye (1920)” by P Moe Hnin, and “Hmar Taw Pone (1921)” by Thakinkodaw Hmaing. Each volume is 700 pages, and will be distributed throughout the country by the Sarpay Beikman books shops in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. These books are being sold for Ks. 12000.

MNA

Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun and Win Ko Ko Aung

PHOTO: MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar