2 December 2024
National Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement, National Literature Awards and Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards for 2023 were presented at the ceremony held at MICC I in com-memoration of the Diamond Jubilee National Literature Awards here this morning.Chair man of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla attended the ceremony and presented awards.
Present together with the Senior General and wife were SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC members and wives, union ministers and wives, union level officials and wives, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, mem bers of award selection committee, award winners, literati, artists, literature enthusiasts and officials.
The Senior General and wife formally opened the Diamond Jubilee commemorative exhibition by pushing a button.
The Senior General and wife and attendees looked around the exhibition, biographies and photos of the award winners, award-winning works, books and periodicals, exhibition showing the Myanmar literature development in Inwa period and literature exhibitions.
Then the ceremony began, and the Senior General and attendees enjoyed the song honouring the diamond jubilee ceremony staged by artists of MRTV and a video clip on enhancing the prestige of the nation and people through the power of literature.
In his address, the Senior General said as a cultural tradition, the country has observed the Sarsodaw Day ceremony on the first waxing day of the Myanmar month, Nataw, since 1944 in honour of the literature works of the well-versed literary scholars and men and women of letters who had served the interest of the nation and people with the might of pen.
From Bagan period till now, Myanmar literature has the thousand years of history. Efforts for the development of literature world that is the main stem of the various branches of Myanmar culture and art during the periods from Bagan period, Pinya period, Inwa period, Taungoo period, Nyaungyan period, Konboung period, and colonial period to the present age deserve honour and respect.
Literature is the source of all branches of culture and arts, apart from ideas, habits, behaviors, customs, religion, relationships. Literature is the cultural pillar and various kinds of books are the mirror of the successive ages of mankind. Books are people’s good friends, and the improvement in literary knowledge and the national pride has direct relations. As literature reflects the standard of civilization of a country, literary scholars, individual persons, organizations and new generations who value literature must protect, preserve and the hand down the fine traditions of Myanmars’ honourable values of literature.
The practice of selecting the valuable works of literary scholars created for the benefit of the country and people for national level literature awards and holding of annual prize-presentation ceremony on Sarsodaw Day is the nation’s priceless tradition. The tradition that began in 1948 has reached its diamond jubilee now.
Sarpay Beikman, established in August 1947 under the leadership of General Aung San, the architect of Myanmar’s independence, aimed to promote international knowledge among ethnic communities through the publication of translated literature. In 1948, the institution presented the first-ever “Sarpay “Sarpay Beikman Contemporary Novel Beikman Contemporary Novel Award” for the Development of Myanmar Literature.
The “Sarpay Beikman Award for Contemporary Novels” for Contemporary Novels” has undergone several name changes over the years, including “Sarpay Beikman Award” “Arts and Literature Award” and Literature Award” and 19 “National Literature Award.” Along with these changes, the scope of subjects and the prize amounts have been periodically expanded and enhanced. For the 2023 National Literature Award, prizes will be presented in 19 categories.
The “Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award” is presented annually to recognize and promote outstanding manuscripts by authors whose works remain unpublished for various reasons. This year, awards will be given in 13 categories.
Furthermore, the “National “National Literary Awards for Lifetime Literary Awards for Lifetime Achievement” has been presented annually since 2001 to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Myanmar literature, as well as to the nation and its people, through their lifelong dedication and service.
For this year’s National Literary Awards, winners were chosen for 15 out of the 19 specified categories from a total of 1,050 books first time published in 2023. Similarly, for the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award, 30 outstanding manuscripts were selected across 13 categories from a pool of 284 submissions. The awards will be presented at this ceremony.
The award selection committee has determined that the authors, books, and manuscripts honored with the National Literary Award and the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award encompass works by emerging writers, mid-career writers, and seasoned writers. These works reflect contemporary ideas and perspectives, promote goodwill and empathy, and incorporate modern technologies and sciences—both domestic and foreign—that contribute to national development and security. Additionally, the selected works include scientific content presented in a way that is accessible and easily understood by the public.
The National Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement was also presented as part of an effort to honor distinguished literary figures and expand the number of awards given each year. From 2001 to 2011, only one person was awarded each year. Later, the number of recipients increased to two or three per year. During our tenure, we honored up to four individuals annually. This year, we will honor up to six literary scholars. The Senior General said he took pride in activity of the State in deservedly honouring all doyen literati as National Lifetime Award winners for Literary Achievement.
The State Administration Council is striving for shaping a peaceful and prosperous future and good present of the State and the people. In so doing, the Senior General firmly believes that strength of literati will be reliable and beneficial for the State. The government fulfills the needs of scholars from literary and fine arts sectors so as to show off their fine arts qualification and creation. Now, Sarso Beikman building which will benefit literati and literary realm is being built in cooperation with the Indian government.
In the book publishing sector, the government provides necessary aid for literary arena to exchange literary culture with international community. Moreover, outstanding persons in the literary and fine arts realms are being offered with honorary titles.
Fake news, hate speech and unaccredited information with ethics are destroying peace, stability and development momentum of the country. These can disintegrate the national solidarity. These disturb the goal of peace all the people aspire to.
It is necessary to turn out well-versed human resources in undertaking overall development of the Union, forging durable peace and building the Union based on democracy and federalism as part of shaping a future democratic new nation.
Hence, now is time to uplift capacity of youths who are strength of the future State. As such, they have to read good literature of doyen literati to accumulate knowledge.
As books which were not published and read many years ago are new for all readers, good literature must be republished for new generation youths. Hence, guidance has been given to the Ministry of Information to republish Public Science treatise volumes published by the Myanmar Translation Society and other proper books. Now, Myawady Literature House is also publishing proper books.
The State Administration Council is implementing the roadmap and objectives in order to build the Union aligned with the aspiration of the people. To be able to achieve success in these measures, it is necessary to turn out well-versed human resources and shape a knowledgeable society. In this regard, the knowledge and life guidance of books and literature can contribute a great deal to emergence of the prosperous society.
Honouring and pay respect to monk authors and literati who served interests of the country with the strength of literature and uplifted prestige of the State in Myanmar history are an honourable fine tradition of Myanmar. Doyen literati have to pass such fine tradition on new generations. Those new generations have to follow literary ethics and create fine literature for the readers to serve interests of the nationality, language and region and polish image of the State. The Senior General then urged all to participate in measures to develop the Myanmar literary realm.
The Senior General and his wife presented medals, cash awards and gifts to National Lifetime Award winners for Literary Achievement: literati Sayagyi Dr Min Tin Mon (Paragu Min Nanda), literati Sayagyi Dr Toe Hla, literati Saya gyi U Nyunt Swe (Maung Swe Thet), literati Sayagyi U Than Swe (Maung Than Swe-Dawei), literati Dr Kyaw Win (Retired Professor of History) and literati Sayagyi U Nyunt Tin(Maung Nyein Thu-Gyobingauk) respectively.
Union Minister for Informa tion U Maung Maung Ohn presented gifts to mark the diamond jubilee celebration to the Senior General and his wife.
Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Aye, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, General Nyo Saw, Union Ministers U Win Shein and U Maung Maung Ohn awarded winners in the national literature award and Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Contest respectively.
National Lifetime Award winner for Literary Achievement Sayagyi U Kyaw Win (Professor of History Department-Retired) spoke words of appreciation.
Artistes from Myanma Radio and Television under the Ministry of Information and artistes from the Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture performed choral dance with the title of “literary goodwill and wishes” and a drama with the title of “light of literature”.
The Senior General, his wife and attendees posed for documentary photos with award winners.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and his wife and party had the lunch together with the award winners.
After the lunch, the Senior General and his wife cordially greeted the award winners, artistes and literary scholars.
