Burma National Literature Award
Date1970
CountryMyanmar

Myanmar National Literature Awards (Burmese: အမျိုးသား စာပေဆု) are awards presented to a Burmese author who has published a particularly lauded piece or body of work. There are awards for forms of writing ranging from poetry to novels. Many awards are also dedicated to a certain genre of fiction or non-fiction writing (such as science fiction or politics). Most literary awards come with a corresponding award ceremony.

Background

The Myanmar National Literature Awards have been presented since 1970. They are for the best works published in the previous year in each category as determined by a selection committee from Sarpay Beikman ("Palace of Literature"), a division of the Ministry of Information that is concerned with promoting books in Burmese and other national languages. Sarpay Beikman also gives the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards for unpublished works that are submitted in manuscript.[1] In recent years the genres covered by Sarpay Beikman Manuscript and National Literary Awards have been gradually extended and the number of awards increased.[2] As of 2007 there were twelve types of award, of which the recently instituted lifetime achievement award was the most prestigious.[3] The awards complement the privately sponsored Sayawun Tin Shwe Award, Pakokku U Ohn Pe literary award, Thuta Swesone literary award and Tun Foundation award.[4]

The award has been given since 1962 for distinguished work in categories that include:

Maung Wuntha, a member of the selection committee for the National Literary Awards and a veteran journalist died on 11 August 2013.[5]

List

Main article: List of Myanmar National Literature Awards

1972

1977

1978

1979

1986

1987

1988

1989

1992

National Literary Awards for 1992 were announced on 2 December 1993. They were:[6]

Category Author Work
Collected Short Stories[7] Nay Win Myint Hset-na-kyo
Poems Nyunt Wai (Katha) Seik Bya-tin kabyar-myar
General Knowledge (Arts) Tekkatho Htin Gyi Myanmar NaingNgan Thadinzar-mya Ahnyun (History of the press in Myanmar)
General Knowledge (Applied Science) U Pe Thein Hlyat-sit Pyin-nyar Thabaw-taya hnint Let-twe
Translation Mya Than Tint City of Joy (သုခမြို့တော်)
Children's Literature Theikpan Soe Myint Naing Nyi-htwelay atwet Khalay Kabyar-myar
Myanmar Culture and Arts U Kyaw Nyein Bagan Myohaung Myingaba Gu-byauk-gyi Paya
Belles-Lettres Maung Hkun Nwe (Innlay) Pa-O

No awards were made for Novels, Drama, Youth Literature, Translation (general knowledge), General Knowledge (science) or Political Literature.

1995

Category Author Work
Fiction Khin Hnin Yu Mya Kyar Phyu မြကြာဖြူ White Lotus
Translation Mya Than Tint Beyond Love (အချစ်မိုးကောင်းကင်)

Fiction|| Saya Pe Myint ||

2003

Awards for 2003 were presented in December 2004. The Lifelong National Literary Award was won by writer Htay Maung. Other winners of National Literary Awards were Hsaung Win Lat, Khin Khin Htoo, Salin Phone Kyaw, Daw Mi Mi Lay, Maung Thit Sar, Myinmu Maung Naing Moe, Than Aung (Anyamyay), Hlaing Thin, Maung Tun Thu, Ma Kyan, Kyaw Oo, Naing Shwe Moe, Kyu Kyu Thin and Dr Ma Tin Win.[8]

2005

Award winners in 2005 were:[9]

Category Author Work
Lifetime Achievement Daw Yin Yin (Saw Monnyin)
Novel Hsinbyukyun Aung Thein
Collected short stories Yin Yin Nu (Mandalay)
Belles-letters Maung Moe Yan
Myanmar culture and fine arts literature Minshin Aung (Twantay)
Child literature Tin Lin Zaw
Translation Nan Mya Kay Khine
General knowledge (arts) Ma Kyan
General knowledge (science) Aye Kyaw
Political Pe Thein Tin (ambassador)

2007

The 2007 award winners included:[3]

Category Author Work
Lifetime achievement Saya Hsinbyugyun Aung Thein
Belles-letters Tekkatho Sein Tin Biography of Grandma U Zun
Youth Literature Linkaryikyaw Voice of a crane’s flapping (Kyokyar Taungpan Khathan)
Translation Saya Tin Maung Myint Black dream, green love, written by Henry Denker
Collected Short Stories[7] Nay Win Myint

2008

The 2008 awards were presented at the Ministry of Information on 31 December 2009. Winners were:[10]

Category Author Work
Life-Time Achievement Sayagyi Dr Kyaw Sein
Belle-letter Yein Nwe Par
Selected short stories Kyu Kyu Thin
Myanmar culture and fine arts literature Myat Wai Toe (Institute of Education)
Child literature Yenanmye Maung Manug Kyi
Youth literature Kyunsinmye Saw Khet
Translation (general knowledge) Taw Kaung Min
Translation (aesthetics) Win Htut Zaw
General knowledge (arts) Dr Dagon
General knowledge (science) Dr Kyaw Tint
General knowledge (applied science) Aung Soe

2009

The 2009 awards were presented at the hall of the Ministry of Information in Nay Pyi Taw on 31 December 2010. The Lifetime Achievement for National Literary Award was presented to Dr Khin Maung Nyunt. Other winners of literary awards were Linka Yi Kyaw, Maung Cheint, Maung Ni Win, Maung Khin Min (Danubyu), U Kyaw Than (Phekon), Min Shwe Min (Insein), Ye Tint, Ma Kyan, Pho Swe (Timber Enterprise) and U Saw Aung Hla Tun.[11]

2010

2010 award winners were:[7]

Category Author Work
Lifetime achievement Dr Thaw Kaung Many articles and ten books including From the Librarian's Window: View of Library and Manuscript Studies and Myanmar Literature (2008) and Aspects of Myanmar History and Culture (2010)
Translation (Aesthetic) Nay Win Myint Yekantha Kyataingaye, translation of The Glass Palace by Amitah Gosh
Collected Short Stories Ye Shan Budayongale (A Little Railway Station)
Collected Poems Myinmu Maung Naing Moe Alwan-thadin Pan-ta-khin (Melancholic News and a Bed of Flowers)
Belles-letters Tint Swe (Pyapon) Kyawpoeikalayko Chikalwe (A Bag Riding on Me)
Youth Literature Tin Myint From Shinma Mountain to Ayeyarwady
Translation (General Knowledge) Boe Hlaing Discovery of India
General Knowledge Dr Aung Myint Oo Research on Language
General Knowledge (Science) Sayagyi U Han Tun Narathukha Treatise and Prose Treatise
General Knowledge (Applied Science) Saw Ngu Wah (Pyinmana) IM Bio-technological Agriculture
Political Literature Ko Than (Kyimyindine) The Secret Journey of a Myanmar Youth Group to the Battlefield of Vietnam
English Language Kyaw Latt Art and Architecture of Bagan and Historical Background

2011

2011 award winners were:[12][13]

Category Author Work
Lifetime achievement Min Yu Wai
Translation (Aesthetic) Tin Maung Myint Myaw translation of Waiting by Ha Jin
Translation (General Knowledge) U Kyi Myint (Lathar)
Collected Short Stories Ye Myat Tin
Collected Poems Pyinmana Maung Ni Thin
Belles-letters Kaythipan U Hla Myint
Translation (General Knowledge) U Kyi Myint
General Knowledge (Art) Dr U Win Naing
General Knowledge (Science) Khin Maung Swe
General Knowledge (Applied Science) Thaung Nyunt Thit
Political Literature Ko Ko Maung Gyi
English Language (General) U Thet Tun
Drama U Nyein Min Tapin Kyo Hlyin Naut Hna Pin (Two Trees Grow where One Falls Down)
Myanmar Culture and Arts Natmauk Tun Shein
Children’s Literature Maung Seinn Naung

2012

The 2012 awards was presented at the National Theatre, Yangon on 3 December 2013. 2012 award winners were:[14]

Category Author Work
Lifetime achievement Khin Swe Oo
Aung Thin
Theikpan Hmu Tin
Translation (Aesthetic) Tin Maung Myint Pyit Hume Ne Pyit Dan, translation of Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Translation (General Knowledge) Maung Myint Kywe Myanmarpyi Hma Naeyet Myar, translation of Burmese Days by George Orwell
Collected Short Stories Khin Mya Zin Kaungkin Moe Tain Wuttu-to Mya (Clouds Over the Sky and Others Short Stories)
Collected Poems Ko (Tekkatho) Mya Kan Thar Kabyar Poung Chok (Mya Khan Thar Collected Poems)
Belles-letters Dr Khin Latyar Pae Pae Bo Let Ya (My Father, Bo Let Ya)
General Knowledge (Art) Maung Hon Won(Kahtika) Min Thu Wun Hint Kabyar (Min Thu Wun and His Poems)
General Knowledge (Science) Kyaw Oo Yae Kyi Ta Pauk
General Knowledge (Applied Science) Dr Khin Sann Maw Tilikesan Myar Hma Lu Ko Kuset That Taw Yawgar Myar
Political Literature Kyaw Win Myanmar Naing Nyan Yaw Lelar Sansit Chat (1948-1988) (Analysis on Political History of Myanmar (1948-1988))
English Language (General Knowledge) Myint Aung Revealing Myanmar's Past: An Anthology of Archaeological Articles
Novel Htet Naing (Talok Myoth) Ma Pyaw Pyit Kae Tae Sagar
Myanmar Culture and Arts Stephen Ni Kio Chin Yin Kyae Hmu Dalae Htone Tan
Children’s Literature Shwe Myaing Pyone Lei Maw Aryone Oo Hmar Pu Tae Pan Nae Kalay Kabyar Myar

2013

The 2013 awards were presented at the National Theatre, Yangon on 22 November 2014. 2013 award winners were:[15]

Category Author Work
Lifetime achievement Dr Khin Aye (Maung Khin Min-Danubyu)

Sithu U Tin Hlaing (Ledwinthar Saw Chit)
U Myint Kyi (Tekkatho Myat Soe)

Translation (General Knowledge) Tun Tint Aung (Myanmar translator)
Collected Short Stories Wai (University of Economics)
Collected Poems Maung Lwan Naing (Sabeingon)
Belles-letters Maung Yint Mar (Kyaunggon)
General Knowledge (Art) U San Win (History Research)
General Knowledge (Science) Dr Kyaw Than Tun (Guangdong Medical University)
General Knowledge (Applied Science) Dr Ye Win Tun
Political Literature Thein Oo
English Language (General Knowledge) Ye Dway
Novel Naing Zaw
Myanmar Culture and Arts Myat Wai Toe (University of Education)
Children’s Literature Than Aung (Anyamyay)

See also

References

  1. ^ Chee, Tham Seong (1981). Essays on Literature and Society in Southeast Asia: Political and Sociological Perspectives. NUS Press. p. 10. ISBN 9971-69-036-5.
  2. ^ "Recreation and Mass Media: PRINTING AND PUBLISHING ENTERPRISE". Myanmar Online Data Information Network Solutions. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  3. ^ a b Nilar Win (December 8–14, 2008). "Myanmar national literary awards for 2007 declared". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  4. ^ "Myanmar strives for press media development in new gov't era". Xinhua. 2011-09-01. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  5. ^ "Tributes flow for journalist Maung Wuntha". 2013-08-18.
  6. ^ "National Literary Awards" (PDF). BURMA PRESS SUMMARY. December 1993.
  7. ^ a b c Zon Pann Pwint (December 19–25, 2011). "National Literary Awards announced". Myanmar Times. 31 (606). Archived from the original on 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  8. ^ "Secretary-1 attends prize-presentation to National Literary Award winners". The New Light of Myanmar. 13 December 2004. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  9. ^ "Secretary-1 presents literary awards to literati" (PDF). The New Light of Myanmar. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  10. ^ "Patriotic literati including monks help preserve and promote literary heritage Secretary-1 attends ceremony to present literary awards to winners for 2008". New Light of Myanmar. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  11. ^ "Literati to discharge bounden duty through literary strength to enable the entire people to correctly know internal and international progress in serving the national interest Literati to participate in building a Union in line with political, economic and social objectives of the State". New Light of Myanmar. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  12. ^ Zon Pann Pwint (3 December 2012). "Cultural norms trump literary merit at state-run book awards". Myanmar Times. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  13. ^ Staff writer (December 4, 2012). "Burmese National Literary Awards". complete review. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  14. ^ The New Light Of Myanmar. 17 November 2013 http://www.moi.gov.mm/npe/newspaper-journal/content/17/11/2013/id-7724. Retrieved 17 November 2013. ((cite news)): Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "Winners in Sarpay Beikman Manuscripts Award announced". The Global New Light Of Myanmar. 2 November 2014. p. 9. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
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