File
picture of writer Dagon Taryar, speaking with journalists. He is one
of Myanmar's most active and respected peace activists. Photo: Mizzima
Dagon
Taryar, one of the fathers of the new-age Myanmar literature passed
away at his residence in Aungban in Shan state at about 1:15 p.m. on
August 19.
His niece and writer Thin Mya Sandi said, “We
took him home from Aungban hospital at about 9 o’clock in the morning.
He died of natural causes and did not suffer pain before his death.”
‘May’
his most famous novel was published in 1947. He won the Sarpay Beikman
Literary award for his collection of short stories ‘Sabe Oo’ (The
First Jasmine Blossom) in 1961. He was also awarded the Pakokku U Ohn
Pe, Life Time Achievement award in 2001.
Some of his famous works are
May,
Irrawaddy-Yangtze-Volga, Kyar Pan Yay Sin (Sacred Water on Lotuses),
Literary Theory, Literary Criticism, Literary Movements, Profiles
(sketch biographies), Our Age Will Certainly Come One Day, Bewildered
Spring Nights, Profiles Sketches at a Glance, Words, A Patch of Oil, A
Harp String and
Velvet Curtain.
Dagon
Taryar's real name is Htay Myaing. He was born to U Ba Ohn and Daw
Phwar Shin on Saturday May 10 1919, in Htaiku Myittan village in
Kyaiklak Township, Ayeyarwady Division. He studied at the Myanmar medium
Aung Zeya Mingala School in 7th Street of Yangon. He continued middle
school at Kyaiklak National School from 1927 to 1936 and high school at
the Yangon Yegyaw Methodist School from 1936 to 1937. He passed his
matriculation exam in 1937 and studied at the Yangon University from
1937 to 1940.
He met Thakin Aung San, Thein Pe Myint, Kyaw
Nyein, Ba Swe, Bo Zeya, student dictator Hla Shwe, etc. at the
university. Thakin Ba Hein, the Communist leader, became his most
intimate friend.
He loved paintings, music and poetry
since his childhood. He started writing poetry at the age of 14. His
early poems were written in classical forms, namely Ratu, Lutar,
Ei-chin and Tayhtat. They were published in the
Dagon Magazine.
His first short story
‘Hmoe Pyar Yi’
(Misty Scenery) was published in the February 1934 issue of the
Tekkatho Theitpan (University Science) magazine under the pseudonym
Myaing Thazin. He took up the pen name Dagon Taryar later. He started
the
Taryar magazine in December 1946 where he published
Sarpay Thit (New Literature). He also worked as an editor for the magazine, while he was the editor at the
Gandawin Journal (Classic Journal).
He
used pseudonyms Myaing Thazin, Maung Nan Nwe, Saw Htut, Saw Tin Mu,
Htay Myaing, Maung Thit Sar, Maung Ba Tint, Maung Sa, Banya Thiha,
Maung Sein Mya, U Dagon, Maung Lin Htet, and Maung Kyar Nyunt, for
writing articles and essays on a variety of subjects such as
literature, literary criticism, poetry, paintings, films, music, art,
etc. He also wrote a number of critical essays on issues such as human
behavior.
Dagon Taryar worked as the representative of the
All Burma Students’ Union, oilfield workers’, Executive Committee
member of the University Students’ Union, editor of the Owei Magazine
and Chairman of the Myanmar Writers’ Club. Moreover, he was also an
Executive Committee member of Sino-Myanmar Friendship Association,
Soviet-Myanmar Cultural and Friendship Association, Vice-Chairman of
Standing Committee of World Peace Council and Chairman of Myanmar
Poets’ Union.
Dagon Taryar was a close friend of Myanmar
freedom fighters including the independence architect General Aung San.
Later he devoted his life to literature together with writers such as
Mya Than Tint, Kyaw Aung, Kyi Lin, and Bahmo Tin Aung. He published the
Taryar (Stars) magazine with them.
He also
devoted his life to campaigns for peace under the leadership of the
great peace campaigner, poet Thakin Kodaw Hmaing. He worked in
international and domestic peace campaigns actively. Even in the
twilight of his life, bedridden Dagon Taryar released numerous
statements and appeals for peace on earth.
When the
Revolutionary Council led by General Ne Win took over power through a
coup in 1962, many dissident politicians, workers, students and writers
were detained. Dagon Taryar was also detained in Insein prison for
three years and three months.
