The Greatness of General Aung San

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

(General Aung San and Ever Lasting Star of Revolution)

I knew greatness of Aung San since I was young
We saluted him at Bogyoke Column in Monywa
Martyr's Day in July of every year rain or sun
After procession and standing at attention to hear
Speeches of elders and eulogy by political leaders
Aung San had brought forth Independence of Burma.

(Independence Monument in Yangon, Myanmar, Fruit

of Bogyoke's Labour)

So he was great as a leader, Father of the Nation
He led the anti-Japanese resistance with determination
Fighting them in the front like a foot soldier on duty
Not caring for his life shooting his carbine at the enemy
King of Devas Marga marauding the menacing Asura Army
He was a soldiers' general at the forefront of ferocious activity.

(General Aung San as a Japanese Soldier)

He could face the enemy in cool confrontation
He met General Slim to talk about his mission
Independence from the British after Japanese expulsion
Slim threatened to arrest him for Japanese collaboration
He said British soldiers were gentleman not doing such things
Slim was impressed and became his friend with admiration.

(Field Marshal Slim of the British Army)

Mountbatten was also impressed with him
For his courage, honesty, sacrifice and vision
Dorman-Smith wanted him hanged for murder
For personally bayoneting a headman on entering Burma
Aung San said it was done on order of BIA administrators
Mountbatten waived it and it was not a crime to be invoked for ever.

(Lord Admiral Louis Mountbatten Inspecting Asian Troops)

Mountbatten defended Bogyoke both politically and militarily
He paved the way for forming a real Burman Army easily
By incorporating the BIA soldiers to the British Burma Army
He even offered Brigadier post to Bogyoke for his leadership qualities
Bogyoke refused it as a ruse for side tracking Burma's Independence
Mountbatten admired at Bogyoke's shrewd intelligence.

(Governor Sir Hubert Rance and General Aung San)

Bogyoke was honest with the British Governors
He looked upon then as friends for favour
But he refused to cooperate with them without independence
For him it was the single most important factor for his attendance
So he told them to grant it without fighting to remain as friends
But he was ready to fight for it as enemies if situation worsened .

(General Aung San With Ethnic Leaders in Panglong, Daw Khin Kyi Sitting

Second from Left, Aung San sitting 4th from Left)

What had he got to challenge the British almighty?
He was just only 30 years of age, unruly and shabby
He wore ragtag PVO uniform and ate rice and Ngapi
He spoke English with a Burmese accent as an Anyarthar
He had no home, no car and no personal possession whatever
But he had the support of the whole nation as his followers.

(General Aung San Signing the Panglong Agreement at Panglong)

In fact he had united the Burmese masses behind him
Communists, Socialists and Rightists were in his team
Shan, Chin, Kachin and other ethnic groups in admiration
They trusted him more than the British administration
He was leading many people much older to him as a prince regent
Thakhin Mya, Dedoke U Ba Cho etc dancing to his music lent.

(General Aung San Speaking At the City Hall in Yangon with U Nu

Acting as President of the Meeting Looking On)

He achieved unity of the people by consent
Not a bullet was fired to achieve this present
Yes, this gift was granted to him as a weapon
He wisely used it to gain independence without firing upon
Only jealous jittery jaundiced U Saw spoiled the sermon
Bogyoke was murdered not to be the first Premier of free Burma.

( Bogyoke Aung San Statue at Kandawgyi, Yangon)

Now I know he was greater than we knew before
He had defeated the ferocious Fascists fatally you know
He was David vanquishing Goliath with guerrilla blows
As Marshall Tito, Zhukov and Ike defeated giant Germany
He talked for his country like De Gaulle, Nehru and Gandhi
Burma's Independence was peacefully won ultimately.

(General George Washington, First President of USA)

Historians easily compared Bogyoke to General George Washington
Yes, true both fought for independence of each country concerned
But Washington was supported by European lieutenants and soldiers
They were called Americans for national identity to be sure
And he fought against the British Army that he was familiar
Our Bogyoke was young fighting two Colonialists one after another!

(Joseph Broz Toto of Yugoslavia During WW II)

Sad thing is blood of him and his colleagues flowed unexpectedly
The British and Burmese Brutus had acted so cowardly and callously
Bogyoke was thus gunned down on the eve of independence nearly
He was prevented to be the first Premier of free Burma in history
Still he was greater than we thought of him previously
Hail Bogyoke for his sacrifice and incomparable qualities!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo
19th July 2009 (original)