Doctor Writer Movie Actor Maung Thin

Maung Thin alias the A.J. Cronin of Burma

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

Epilogue

During our high school days, we had to compare our Burmese writers with the world's literati and we used to say, " U Pon Nya is the Shakespeare of Burma." and " Shwe U Daung is the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Burma." etc. following in this vein, I would like to say, " Maung Thin is the A.J.Cronin of Burma" for having written so many popular novels and short stories about the physician and the patients based on many common diseases and ailments in Burma.(Maung Thin was his pseudonym as well as his own name.)

A.J. Cronin

I first read about A.J. Cronin in the Shumawa Magazine

(Now defunct) written by the late Saya (Writer)Tint-De, the famous Burmese writer, editor and broadcaster (He broadcast from BBC in the 1950s and 1960s). He was writing about Dr A.J. Cronin before translating the latter's autobiography, "Adventures in Two Worlds".

In it, Tint-De stated that A.J. Cronin was of humble origin, self-made, tried hard and became a doctor after graduating from the University Of Edinburgh Medical School. He had high ideals in life, sacrificed for the poor at first, but succumbed to the lure of money, glamour and power later. He made his life a plot for the famous novel "The Citadel" he wrote later that has been reprinted several times. Cronin's first book was the "Hatter's Castle".

He regretted about his deviations from his original aim of medical research by the lure of money and material wealth later that he wrote about it including other experiences for the lay people. He became an instant best seller for his writings. He therefore gave up medical practice, resorted to writing only as his profession although he was MB, Ch.B., DPH, MRCP, MD (Glasgow). He thus became famous and rich in England.

He then migrated to USA and died there studying Scientology and spiritualism. A Canadian friend told me in Michigan, USA, in 1975 that one of A.J. Cronin's sons (He had three sons) became a medical doctor and then a dean in one of the Canadian medical schools. He died in Switzerland.

Maung Thin of Burma

Dr Maung Thin was also like A.J. Cronin. He attended the medical school in Rangoon before the Second world war, got a licentiate in medical practice and joined the Burma Army headed by General Aung San in the fight against Japanese Fascists in 1942. He took part in the independence struggles and he was posted to various parts of Burma including such outlying areas like Mongton in the Southern Shan State near Thai_Burma border and Naga Hills in the Sagaing Division near the India-Burma border treating many patients, both army personnel and civilians. He himself got injured and wounded in Mongton during the fight against the KMT( Kuo Min-Tang, the white Chinese brigands).

He wrote about his experiences in short stories first in the Shumawa Magazine and later in other magazines like The Thwe-Thauk and Myawaddy Magazines. They were very popular. He later wrote novels and novelettes about his experiences as a doctor. They were instant hits too.

I met Maung Thin for the first time in between 1956 and 1958, at Mandalay Medical College called the Branch Medical Faculty (BMF). He was attending the condensed course for M.B., B.S. degree of the University of Rangoon. But he would show us- me, Naing oo, Yoke Ngaung alias Win Hlaing his short stories in his long hand draft for comments.

At that time, Naing Oo and I were Burmese literary buffs. I was the most earnest. So, we would discuss about his stories, medical personnel in the army, art and medicine etc. We were feted by him when his first short story appeared in the Shumawa Magazine. His story was a hit with the public as it was written about a common disease suffered by a patient and how he treated. In no time, he became a famous writer.

One day, Maung Thin told us he was leaving the army for good although due for promotion to major. He was leaving for Rangoon to write full time and practice medicine privately. He introduced me to the next army medical doctor inside the Mandalay fort, Captain Kaung Hla Pru as I liked to join the army after passing the second MBBS examination. I heard that Maung Thin succeeded in his medical practice in Rangoon too as many of his reader audience especially the ladies visited his clinic just to see him and pay!

Before long, Maung Thin appeared as an actor in one movie. I think it was "Chit-thway-thit-sar"(Loyalty by blood)that was directed by Saya Thukha, the eminent movie director, actor and author. The movie won acclaims and Maung Thin became a famous actor. Not only that, his stories became so popular that the Shumawa publishers printed a collection of his short stories that sold like hot cake. And then, he won the movie academy award for that year and also the national literary award for short stories given by the "Sar-pay-beikman". Maung thin was thus successful in both literature and film.

He won five literary awards and also the movie audience award for best actor called the "Thura-Thadi award". I met Dr Maung Thin once at No.7 Station hospital, now called No.2 Military Hospital on the Godwin Road, Lanmadaw Township in Rangoon visiting his old friend Major Kyaw Nyunt, later Colonel and Director of Burma Army Medical Corps and now retired. He greeted me cordially and he said he was glad I joined the Burma Army Medical Corps (I retired from it in 1972). I met him again at the Saya-Puja (Teachers Kdaw-Pe) given by Dr Tin Tun Oo, another medical writer and publisher at the Strand Hotel in 1998. We were on the stage to be paid respects by Dr Tin Tun Oo.

He later moved to Loikaw, Kayah state where his son, Dr Shwe Maung Thin, was practising. He died at the age of 78 years from acute bronchopneumonia.

Epilogue

He was the first and foremost popular medical writer in Burma. The most popular book by Maung Thin is "Sayah Zatlan Sone ( The Miscellaneous Doctor's Stories) in five volumes all awarded for the National Literary Prize.