IT was assumed that Shwedagon Pagoda which has been a symbol of Yangon City was built more than 2,600 years ago. In fact, Shwedagon is an ancient building in Buddhism as well as a magnificent religious gold monument.
At a time when the pagoda was built on Theingoktara Hill, the environs of the pagoda were surrounded by forests. As urban area in Yangon City has been developing in successive eras, archways and stairways were built in four wings of the pagoda.
Among them, Martyrs’ Mausoleum is the most significant located between the western and northern archways of the pagoda. Likewise, everybody can see the graves of First Queen Suphaya Latt of King Thibaw and Peace Leader Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, former Secretary General of the United Nations U Thant, and Daw Khin Kyi, wife of national leader General Aung San.
Suphaya Latt (1859-1925 AD)
Suphaya Latt, First Queen of King Thibaw, was born of King Mindon and Queen Hsinphyumashin of middle royal palace on 12 April 1859. Queen Hsinphyumashin with title of Thiri Pawara Tilawka Mingala Maha Yatana Devi was daughter of King Sagaing and First Queen Nanmadaw Mei Nu. In Myanmar history, Phwa Saw was the most prominent in Bagan era and Nanmadaw Mei Nu and Suphaya Latt in Konbaung era.
King Thibaw was on the throne for seven years. In 1885, British colonialists dethroned and sent him to India. So, First Queen Suphaya Latt went along with him to India. At that time, King Thibaw was 27 years old and First Queen Suphaya Latt, 26 years old.
The two lived in India for 30 years. King Thibaw passed away in Yadanagiri of India in 1916. As British government did not allow conveying of the king’s remains to Myanmar, the remains of the king was cremated in India. British government allowed Suphaya Latt to return to Myanmar in 1919 and to live in Yangon but did not allow her to go to Mandalay.
66 years old Suphaya Latt passed away in Yangon on 24 November 1925. The corpse was buried at the aforesaid grave. The ceremony was attended by 90 members of the Sangha and British Commissioner Sir Harcourt Butler. At the ceremony, the corpse was honoured by eight white umbrellas and 30- gun salute.
The graveyard of Suphaya Latt was surrounded by brick script posts of six royal relatives who had passed away.
Thakin Kodaw Hmaing (1876-1964 AD)
Myanmar’s prominent peace leader Sayagyi Thakin Kodaw Hmaing was born of U San Dun and Daw Ohn in Wahle Village of Shwedaung Township in Pyay District on 23 March 1876. His childhood name was Maung Lwan Maung. In his childhood, he learned education at Kyeethe Layhtet Sayadaw. He was initiated into novice with title of Shin Pandita in pursuing education in Sagaing, ChaungU, Ahlon, Maunghtaung, Budalin and Kani regions. He arrived in Yangon in 1900 and married in 1903.
He wrote 80 books of dramas and compiled articles in Thuriya daily with pen-name Mister Maung Hmaing. He resigned from the post of editor from Thuriya daily in 1920 and lectured Myanmar literature and history at Bahan national college.
He refused to write the set of Ratu poems with K1,000 honoraria offered by U May Aung as a gesture of honouring Crown Prince Wale of British in 1921. At that time, one tical of gold was worth ten kyats only. Hence, it should take pride of Thakin Kodaw Hmaing for his act without changing a large sum of money with a poem to honour the foreigner.
He wrote Galon Dipani articles in Thuriya daily in 1930 when farmer uprisings were led by Saya San, to stand with farmers.
The first Thakin conference elected him as patron of Doh Bamar Asiayone in 1934. He changed his title Mister Maung Hmaing to Thakin Kodaw Hmaing who gave talks about anti-colonialists and national freedom throughout Myanmar.
Thakin Kodaw Hmaing toured China, Mongolia, Hungary and Soviet Union in 1953 as part of performing peace activities. He attended the peace conference in Ceylon and India in 1957. Hamburg University of Germany conferred honorary doctoral degree on him in 1960.
Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, father of internal peace process, passed away on 23 July 1964 and was buried at the foot of southern archway of Shwedagon Pagoda.
U Thant (1909-1974 AD)
U Thant, who discharged duty of the third Secretary General of the United Nations in two terms from 1961 to 1971, was a diplomat bringing honour to Myanmar.
U Thant was born of U Pho Hnit and Daw Nan Thoung in Pantanaw of Ayeyawady Region on 22 January 1909. As father U Pho Hnit learned education in Kolkata of India, he had opportunities of learning English and literature from his father.
He became principal of the national school in Pantanaw after pursuing education at Yangon University. In 1948, when U Nu became Prime Minister, U Thant was assigned as director of broadcasting department. Later, he became secretary of the Ministry of Information and attended the international meetings. He took out duty of secretary at the First Afro-Asian Conference to establish the non-aligned movement held in Bandung of Indonesia.
U Thant was appointed as Myanmar Ambassador to the United States from 1957 to 1961. The UN General Assembly elected U Thant as Secretary General of the United Nations with the recommendation of the Security Council, starting from 3 November 1961.
In the first term, UN Secretary General U Thant successfully solved the Cuba’s missile problem and Congo civil war issue. He was elected as the UNSG for the second term on 2 December 1966. In his second term, U Thant solved the Arab-Israel Six-Day War in 1967 and India-Pakistan War in 1971.
U Thant passed away in New York of the United States of America on 25 November 1974, and then his remains was conveyed to Myanmar. His corpse was buried at the foot of Shwedagon Pagoda on 11 December 1974.
Daw Khin Kyi (1912-1988 AD)
Maha Thirithudhamma Daw Khin Kyi, wife of national leader General Aung San, was born of U Moe Hnyin and Daw Su in Myaungma of Ayeyawady Region on 16 April 1912. After discharging duty of volunteer teacher at Myaungmya national high school, she chose nurse as her career. Before the Second War, she was on duty at Yangon General Hospital.
As Japanese troops stationed at Yangon General Hospital, Diocesan Girls’ School on Irish soldier hillock was shifted into Yangon General Hospital in the time of Chancellor Dr Ba Maw. While at the hospital, Daw Khin Kyi met with General Aung San and married to him on 6 September 1942.
After General Aung San had been assassinated, Daw Khin Kyi was elected as MP in the constituency of her husband.
She was appointed as Director of Myanmar Women from 1947 to 1953 and Chair of Social Welfare Project Commission from 1953 to 1958. She was elected as Chair of Colombo Conference by leading Myanmar delegation while working for health and social tasks.
She was appointed as Myanmar Ambassador to India and Nepal in 1960 and took retirement in 1967. She was the first Myanmar female ambassador. She passed away in Yangon on 27 December 1988.
The graveyard of four prominent persons in Myanmar is located at the foot of Myanmar’s significant Shwedagon Pagoda. The compound of graves is kept open daily for observation of locals and foreigners.
Reference: Myanmar Enclopaedias Translated by Than Tun Aung
