To My Dear Chum (Chit Te’ Thu Nge Lay)

To My Dear Chum
(Chit Te’ Thu Nge Lay)
My dear chum, workers and friends,
On July seven nineteen forty seven
Our beloved Bogyoke, people’s leader, had fallen
Murdered by merciless hell hound heathens
Remember, repent and render it as a lesson.

Let victory beget victory
Don’t conceal their sacrifices for the country
We owe a great debt of gratitude for eternity
Do not waver and have unity
To preserve our union’s stability
We must be imbued with honesty and sincerity
We must march forward with certainty
With zeal zest and unity
It’s your duty, my dear working people!

My dear chum, workers and friends,
Our independence then is our life blood
We cherish it in our bosom and heart
Nobody should endanger it or smear it with dirt
It must be kept clean as first gold unscathed unhurt.

We must discard wrong beliefs and mental butts
Level the uneven ground in our path
Destroy any impediment that obstructs our journey
Educate the profiteering capitalist minority
Till our land, plant our land and feed people with efficiency
Work hard in our workshops and factories
People must own businesses for their utility
Build our economy strong for any eventuality.

If we change ourselves we’ll see every thing right
Then, we can march forward without losing sight
Of our goal of a good life or paradise
Let’s strive forward, singing the chorus thrice united.

Ze Ya
(19.7.1964)
Translation Dr Maung Maung Nyo
(4.6.2007)