Thein Pei Myint

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Thein Pei Myint or Thein Pe Myint (10 July 1914 – 15 January 1978), also known as Thakin Thein Pe, was a Burmese politician, writer, journalist and a movie director. He was born in 1914 in Butalin. In 1935, he earned a BA (Arts) degree from the Rangoon University. He was a leading Marxist of Burma during the Second World War in Burma.

1 Life as a Writer
2 Life as a Politician
3 Personal life and death
4 References

[edit] Life as a Writer

He worked as a secretary in Do Bamar Association from 1935 to 1936. In 1937, he published a book named Tet Phone Gyi ("Modern Monk").Tet Phone Gyi was a controversial novel.It deals with scandalous sexual liaisons of monks. When it was first published, it was opposed by Young Monks Association. The novel was based on U Nu wrote the introduction of the book. They were threatened by many people and the book publishing company also received threats; however some writers welcomed the book including Saya Zawgyi.

He wrote many books including "Tet Khit Nat Soe" (A Devil In A Developing Period), Thepait Mauk Kyaungthar (A Revolting Student), Thakin Ko Taw Mhine (A Biography of Thakin Ko Taw Mhine). He wrote several books in English including What Happened in Burma and Over the Ashes. A movie was also directed by him Yaukkyar Goneyi (Characteristics of A Man). He worked in the Red Dragon Book Association and wrote several plays. His works Like the Sun Coming from the East and The History of Chin State won two famous Burmese book awards. His works are still being republished to this day and among them Wartime Traveller is one of the bestsellers. The whole book has been translated into English as by Dr. Robert H. Taylor.

He also founded "The Botahtaung Newspaper" in 1958 and worked as an editor for his newspaper. In 1964, his newspaper company was taken over by the Socialist Government led by General Ne Win as part of his Burmese Way to Socialism. But he later worked in Ne Win's cabinet as his vice advisor in 1970.

[edit] Life as a Politician

His political life started when he was still in university. He protested against the British Government during the uprising of 1300. Thein Pe Myint was one of the finest spokesmen of the Left movement in Burma. While studying in the college, he became a student leader and news correspondent of New Light of Burma. This was good seedtime for him and he soon blossomed into a writer while completing his law studies.[1]

As one who was sympathetic towards the British during the Second World War, he had to go underground to avoid the Japanese. There were dramatic turns in his political life. He was sent by Myanmar leaders to India to obtain help from the Allies, India and China for the fight against the Japanese. He played a leading role in propaganda and liaison activities between some of the wartime Myanmar leaders like Bogyoke Aung San and the British Force 136, the special operations and intelligence unit.[2]After the war, he worked in many associations and parties including the Burmese Communist Party, Sino-Burmese Friends Associations, People Peace Association, Burmese Writers Association. In 1946, he became the first minister of Agriculture and Forestry in General Aung San's government during the war. He was jailed in 1948 but released in 1949. He traveled to many countries for political purposes and he frequently traveled to China and India.