I Remember the Britain-Burma Society

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

I remember the Britain-Burma Society

I tried to attend its parties and celebrations

Held in the 1960s in Royal Overseas Society’s building

Situated near the Green Park Underground Tube Station

BBS members, Burma lovers and Burmese scholars attending

They all enjoyed fun friendship and food served in the meetings.

(Green Park Near Royal Overseas Society Building, London, Where

the BBS functions Were Held in the late 1960s) (victoriaweb.com)

I was first introduced to one of its functions then

By Betty Paddon of BBS by inviting me to attend

When the famed writer Maurice Collis descended

He talked about his experiences that transcended

Colonialism and nationalism of the 1930s in Burma

He was a just and unbiased British colonialist officer.

(Maurice Collis, 1889-1973)

I had read many of his books on Burma

Trials in Burma, Foreign Mud and Sanda Mala

Land of the Great Image, Last and First in Burma

We Burmese loved him as an anti-colonialist writer

Many of his books have been translated as such

He was an Irish and a dutiful British officer as much.

(John Okell, Burmese Professor, SOAS, London)

I enjoyed his talk that day and clapped

A Briton sitting next looked at me and said

“It’s good talk, Is it not?” in Burmese

His pronunciation was clear and correct indeed

I replied,” Yes, it’s also your Burmese!”

“Kyezu Bar,” he smiled and said pleased

He was John Okell of the SOAS London

He became a great friend of us in England.

(Latest Cover of Dr Htin Aung's Burmese Folk Tales

Part of Which Was Prescribed for Our Premedical

Matriculation Examination in 1955)

Another time, I listened to Dr Htin Aung

He was talking about history of the Konbong

He said British historians had not been kind to Burma

They painted gloomily of our kings and commoners

This was stated by historian G.E. Harvey in his 3 letters

Bequeathed to Oxford University that Dr Htin Aung shared

He already had written “A History of Burma”

And ‘In Defence of the Burmese Chronicles” to defend

His aim was to present real Burmese history as it happened.

(L to R: Dr Ba Maw, Thakhin Mya, Dr Thein Maung and General

Aung San Going to Japan During WW II On the Path Trodden By Saya San)

A former Brigadier of the British Army also talked

In one lecture about his exploits in Burma’s north

He was stationed in Kalaw of the then Shan States

He said it was cold quiet leisurely and just parades

Except when Saya San stormed the British barricades

When the police failed and people began to exaggerate

He had to lead the fights against him in the later dates.

(Prewar Mandalay Near Zegyo; Note the Clock Tower and Tram Car)

He said his fight was easy militarily

As Saya San had no modern means army

His men were just brigands wielding swords and spears

They were no match for the modern army of British Empire

He pitied Saya San and his men for their follies

They should have resorted to modern weaponry.

I did not applaud his talks for obvious reason

So were many of my compatriots at the function

I was indignant that he did not talk about patriotism

That Saya San and his men were brigands just bullying

He knew as we know now he was out gunned by the British

But he succeeded in awakening patriotism before he perished.

(Lord Mountbatten of Burma, First President of BBS)

There were also just food and fun parties

That Britain Burma Society held occasionally

I attended its Thadingyut and Christmas Parties

People ate, drank, danced and dallied happily

I remember one dancing with Betty particularly

She was of my mother’s age and led me well ably

The audience thought I knew ball room dance really

Her husband Percy delighted applauded me equally.

(BBC U Nay Win & Dorothy Woodman)

Paddons invited us to their home frequently

They fed us and showed us the English country

Dorothy Woodman was Betty’s best friend and classmate

She made Betty work in the BBS for her sake;

(Percy and Betty Paddon With Burmese Ambassador U Maing Maung Gyi)

Dorothy also invited us to her home

She treated us with food and drinks all alone

But she introduced us to young British students

We sang together as fast friends being very jubilant.

We also met other British people who had been to Burma

Professors Kermode, McMinn, Woodruff, Anna Allot etc.

(Dr Hla Pe, Professor of Burmese at SOAS and Anna Allot, Lecturer

Writer and Past Secretary of BBS)

I remember attending a talk given by an English curator

He helped sent back the Burmese royal throne and paraphernalia

He was treated well by the then Head of State U Ne Win

We were glad and proud of our royal relics and grateful to him

Many BBS members contributed to Britain Burma friendship

I’m still proud of being educated in the UK and still miss it.

(MMN and Professor Bowden at Her Christmas Party in London)

The best party was the Burmese New Year or Thigyan

It was held in June or July to make it warm in England

I remember attending it in 1969 before my departure

I was finishing my thesis to sit for viva at this juncture;

(Governor Sir Hubert Rance and General Aung San)

Sir Hubert Rance and many former Burma Officers were there

They talked, they doused water and they tussled with one another

They mixed with us and we exchanged emotional elated expressions

It was a joyous and jubilant celebration on this auspicious occasion.

(Britsh Parliament Building on the Thames Where the Tenth Anniversary

of BBS was Held)

The most memorable was the Tenth Year Anniversary

Of the Britain Burma Society that's celebrated solemnly

It was held in the historic high British Parliament Building

I remember Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma attending

He was dressed distinctly with decorations and dazzling

Former colonial officers and old diplomats were admiring.

(Buckingham Palace, London, England)

Many British MPs and Burma lovers also attended the meeting

HE U Hla Maung spoke about Britain Burma Friendship and Cooperation

He explained why Burma did not join British Commonwealth of Nations

It was due to the initial rule that British Queen be Head of all States within

Burma was establishing a sovereign republic before the India’s admission

It was not that Burma wanted to be an isolated anti-British rebellious nation.

(Governor Sir Hubert Rance and President Sao Shwe Thaike on the

First Independence Day of Burma, 04.01.1948)

The Britain Burma Society was first established in 1957

To foster the two nations’ friendship and cooperation then

Presided by Earl Mountbatten of Burma and fellow men

Sir Huber Rance, the last Governor of Burma, was its Chairman

They were aided ably by admirable journalist Dorothy Woodman

I was fortunate to have met and talked with them in person

They had good heart to do good to us budding blooming Burmans

I gave credit to them for their good will, good work and helping hand.

(The Lion Throne of Mandalay Returned to Burma from UK)

I have good opinion of the Britain Burma Society’s functions

It has forged the Britain Burma friendship and cooperation

I gained a lot of friends and fun at the BBS’s functions

I also learned a lot about our past told by the first persons

Like Maurice Collis, Sir Hubert Rance, Dr Hla Pe and others

I say it benefited us state scholars to Great Britain rather better

I’m glad it still exists and insists for important cultural activities

I wish it succeeds in its endeavors for eternal Britain Burma amity.

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

M.B., B.S. (Rgn, 1961), Ph.D. (London, 1969)

17.03.2009(original)

Note: Thanks to the BBS Website for Many of its Photos Posted.