December 16, 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy Karen New Year!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

I’m used to enjoying the Christmas Dinner

Since I was invited by my indulgent mentor

In London each year when I lived there

Professor Bowden feasted me with care.


(Dr Maung Maung Nyo at Professor Bowden's Christmas Dinner)


I have been out of London for over forty years

Professor Bowden has left us to shed tears

I still mourn for her death since 2002

I myself am over seventy to follow her due.


(Dr Saw Aung Hla Win and Dr Lucy Kyaw Mya in Their Apartment)


Lucy invited us to her Christmas Dinner

To be held today on 16th December

Only the Burmese friends in Kuching are invited

So we can talk freely on any topic without regret.


(L to R: Dr Lucy, Katie, Dr Ba Kyaw Dr SAHW, Dr MMN, Dr NOM)


Lucy Kyaw Mya wears a Karen dress

A red Longyi and Thindaing black

She is sweet, smiling and gorgeous

Her husband too is gregarious and generous.



(Dr Lucy, Mrs Sw Win, Dr SAHW, Dr Saw Win)


We take photographs at the start

Single couple and group as such

All smiling speaking cheering and care free

We all forget we are away from home over sea.


(L to R: Lucy, Katie, Dr Ba Kyaw, Dr SAHW)


They entertain us to dinner

Roti Canan and chicken ginger

Fish soup and pea vegetables curry

We all eat like ravens in a hurry.


(All the Guests are smiling)


Lime and onion salad is my favourite

Lucy and Nan Ommar did it for my sake

Four or five helpings of Roti I ate

It’s a memorable Christmas Dinner to date.


(Dr Nan Ommar and Dr MMN)


Professor Bowden was my mentor and master

I taught Lucy to be a teacher and researcher

I have one Christian above and one below me

I’m fortunate to be able to enjoy their charity.


(Father and Son Are Medical Graduates of IM 2)


Many Burmese came to enjoy what they offer

Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Chinese and Bamar

No one talks about race or religion ever

All are congenial and courteous to each other.


( Dr Saw Aung Hla Win and Dr Lucy Kyaw Mya in Karen National Dress)


What a simple sumptuous dinner today we have!

We all have delicious food and peaceful mind set

Neither difference in religion or race has any effect

Christmas spirit and Karen New Year make our hearts at rest.


Dr Maung Maung Nyo

16.12.2009 (original)

December 9, 2009

The Traveler

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

I’m a traveler since I was born

Crying and clad in nature’s gown

Mother’s milk and nurture aplomb

Father taught me how to walk along

Now both father and mother are gone

People think I’m still going strong.


(Entrance Gate to Thambuddhay Pagoda, Monywa)

However, I’m tired after traveling a long journey

From kindergarten to high school and university

Reading writing playing praying and prying for maturity

To educate myself and reach the goal successfully

Overcoming the obstructions and obvious oligarchy

I have been on my own since joining the military.


(L to R: Professors Daw Hla Kyi, Kyee Paw, Thein Thein Myint, Ye Myint)

I worked in hospital day and night

No monetary award for saving a life

Satisfaction enriched my heart all right

But I have to mourn for any loss of life

A surgeon’s life is full of fun and fight

But your life has to go on upright.


(Kandawgyi or Royal Lake, Pyin Oo Lwin or Maymyo)

I saw one surgeon operating day and night

He spoke honestly of his opinion forthright

He had fought the KMT at the risk of his life

Once cut off from own army several nights

Only an old Danu couple saved him in Shan State

Another socialite surgeon was given a higher grade.


(Mongton, Eastern Shan State)

I also was transferred to the front line

I took it as a solemn sacred duty of mine

To defend my country against aggression

To repel the aggressors back to the origin

I’m not the first to shoulder this duty

Bala Minhtin and Kyaw Zaw had soldiered it duly.


(GoekHteik Railway Bridge over the Viaduct)


I learn a lesson for being a good soldier

Bala Minhtin was scorched and tortured

For supporting peace treaty with China

When Minister Mahasithu did it for Burma

Kyaw Zaw also removed from Burma Army

Without trial as he belongs to the CPB..


(Centre with Blue Tunic: Ex-Brigadier Kyaw Zaw on 90th Birthday)


In those days Socialist Party ruled the country

Those against it were put in the quandary

Many anti-Socialists disappeared day or night

Some were killed by their thugs in broad day light

Thakhin Hla Din Gyi of Pyinman gave up his life

Myeik Ma Po and Min Hla’s four disappeared likewise.


(Panglong Column in Southern Shan State)


I was fortunate not being in the midst of the fight

Between the SUF Tat Oo and DSO might

It was a proxy fight between the Red and White

Red were rebellious students and White’s the right

Meaning Socialist supported scheming socialites

They were lured with luxuries and jobs for life.


(General Aung San Speaking in Panglong in February 1947)


I was grieved by suicide of some students

Who could not afford school requirement

For lack of enough fund and family insurance

I remember Ma Tin Hla at Rangoon University

Tin Maung Lay at Mandalay medical faculty

They committed suicide as escape from poverty.


(Dr MMN and Dr Nan Ommar)


I have supported SUF for student rights and equality

Never belonging to their inner side or outer periphery

I know some were not true to student cause and activity

They became turncoats to grab the opportunity

N.Z. and K. M. their names I remember for treachery

Tun Kyi, Ba Swe Lay etc gave up their lives for pure policy.


(Dr MMN with Ph.D. London Gown)


I have served my country for thirty seven years

Twelve for military and twenty five for academia

Not including ten years for UNIMAS Malaysia


(Professor MMN and A/P Dr Nan Ommar at UNIMAS, Kuching)


Teaching hundreds of medical students each year

Opening up postgraduate courses and diplomas

Not to please the government or superiors

I did it as my duty to my country’s future.


(Convocation Hall, University of Rangoon)


I have met so many fellow travelers on my way

Some have overtaken me though they were snail

A fast ferry or flying friend pulled them away

Some ran fast but were hampered by high gale

They do not know how to hide or avoid the sways

I’m fortunate I could trudge on in my own way.


(Institute of Medicine 1, Prome Road, Yangon)


Three score and a decade is quite long

Not as long as a hundred years forlorn

Not as short as forty years to begin life

But enough time to watch the demise

Of my parents, teachers and friends

Hooray! Only enough time left for my ends

To wind up and achieve my life's objective

That is to make my self worthy and patriotic!


(L to R: Dr Tin Moe Nwe, Dr NOM, Maung Swan Htet, Dr MMN, Dr Soe Lwin)


Dr Maung Maung Nyo

9.12.2009 (original)

November 28, 2009

It’s a Pity!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

I’m a fan of Ledi Pandita U Maung Gyi

A sage from Monywa up country

He said “Tut..Tut..Tut..” as reward

To those who could not utter a word

About their origin occupation or birth

I also feel pity for them as such!


(Ledi Stone Inscriptions Where Ledi Pandita U Maung Gyi Studies)


I’m an admirer of Dr Than Tun

Who said a person is doomed

If he does not know history

To be so naïve as an idiocy

Not worthy of a dutiful citizen

He can’t even sing national anthem.


(Ledi Sayadaw D.Litt., Teacher of Ledi Pandita U Maung Gyi)


I do not wish to be a pitiable man

A subject of censure and scam

Not knowing this and that of the land

Where born and brought up to stand

As a man and dutiful citizen, Nay!

I must read and treat all, so to say!


(Map of Burma Showing Ledo or Stilwell Road Passing Through the

Hukong Valley that connects India and Tagaung Near Bhamo))


I always thought doctors are learned men

Capable of treating and educating them

When his patients or masses need him

When disease, discrimination or oppression sting

Or suppressed by oligarchs and others' scheme

Doctors should help them to relieve as a mission.


(Jade Naga or Dragon of Burma)


However, doctors themselves are helpless

They do not know where their ancestors have

Settled down, come from or originated as

Mimicking the ridicules and rants of the West

That all are descended from recent migrants

They’re no more native or naturals than vagrants.


(Archaeological Map of Tagaung now Situated on the East Bank of

the River Irrawaddy)




(Map of Old Tagaung Being Excavated)


They laugh at the story of Tagaung and Naga

“Burma began at Tagaung” is just a fabled saga

“Sakyan Connection” is an inflated mere invention

To upgrade the lineage of the Burmese king

Burmese History is nothing, but a fiction

I feel indignant when hearing such derision.


(Lion Throne, Thihathana Palin, of Konbaung Dynasty at Mandalay)


But anthropologists say Naga are not snakes

They are people of remote Indian states

That worship sinuous snakes and dragons

As powerful beings human can look upon

By Just ordinary peasants and villagers

They are indeed Burmese originators.


(The Nagayon Pagoda or Buddha Protected by a Snake Dragon)


It’s possible Indian immigrants invade

Through Hukong valley to Old Burma state

Rishis royals and roughnecks of all grades

Mixing managing and marrying local maids

Thus a new city state of a mixed race is born

It could be the famed and fabled Tagaung.


(RGH or The Rangoon General Hospital Where Many Burmese

Doctors Train)


Some complained of writing about the past

Even role model doctors of old already passed

Drs Ba Than Min Sein Yin May Shwe Tin and all

They don’t want to honor or recall

Forgetting medicine is full of past heroes

Hippocrates Galen Fleming Ziwaka etc glow.


(First Batch M.B.,B.S. Graduates of IM2 with Profs Shwe Tin and

Dr Khin Myint Myint)


Take examples from Burma and others living or dead

Sun Yat-sen Che Guavara and Mahathi Mohammad

Leading the people for peace democracy and liberty

Health is just one facet of a multifaceted society

I salute all those doctors sacrificing for the people

Why can’t one emerge from our country too?


(Myanmar Medical Association Building on Theinbyu Road, Yangon)


I read in one blog about peoples of Burma

That Bamar are no more entitled to her

Than the Indian, Chinese and Rohingya

As they are also new comers to the area

The latter can also love her really dear

You give equal opportunity to be clear!


(Bust of Hippocrates, Father of Modern Scientific Medicine)


Some doctors still say possessively

That they have left the country

Not on their own accord, but forced

By the cruel conditions of Masala Period

They are now new citizens of the new land

Yet, they claim the country still belongs to them.


(Hippocrates Oath for Medical Doctors)


I’m not an historian or high court lawyer

But according to the Burmese laws altogether

Certain people do not belong to be here

Not entitled to a full citizenship dear

Of mixed races, Chinese, Indian and Rohingya

Some may claim it as Bamar with concord later .


(Map of Burma with States and Divisions)


Burmese speakers constitute 75 % of population

Enough to call it as the Burmese nation

So Burma or Myanmar is an appropriate name

Like France and Germany Michael Aung-Thwin claims

Why is the rest making noises for name change?

Burma or Myanmar is an historic honorable name!


(The Great Shwedagon Pagoda, a National Symbol of Burma/Myanmar)


I’m not a politician either

But a dutiful citizen fighter

Born and brought up in Burma

Voted and voiced for it wherever

I have a chance and duty together
“Burma is for its citizens for ever”


(Dr Ba Than, Father of Burmese Medicine, and a Patriot)


This is not a racist view

It’s nationalist as it’s due

Burmans have been looked down

From the 88 upheaval to now

But we’re an invincible race

We’ll regain our honor if we face

Our problems with courage and grace

Then, we’ll achieve our rightful place!


Dr Maung Maung Nyo

29.11.2009 (original)