Ceremony to present National Lifetime Awards for Literary Achievement, National Literary Awards, Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards for 2022 held Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Daw Kyu Kyu Hla grace the ceremony with their presence
Nay Pyi Taw December 13
A ceremony to present National Lifetime Awards for Literary Achievement, National Literary Awards and Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards for 2022 was held at MICC2 here this morning, attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla.
Also present were the Joint SAC Secretary and wife, SAC members and wives, union ministers and wives, union level officials and wives, senior military officers and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, National Literary Award Selection Committee members, award winners, literary scholars, artists, literary enthusiasts and officials.
Before the start of the ceremony, the Senior General and attendees looked around the biographies, photos, awardwinning works of the award winners, and books and perioperiodicals displayed on the ground floor of MICC2.
At the ceremony, the Senior General and attendees enjoyed the song entitled “national cultural heritage” in honour of the ceremony, and a video clip “move forward towards the goal with the might of pen.” In his address, the Senior General said the Myanmar month of Nattaw, which is also called “Hemanta ratu” is a time to hightlight the essence of the works of the men of letters of the successive periods and to honour them. Men of letters have created an endless array of works with good intentions.
The results of today’s national developments stand witness to the fact that books are the main source of knowledge and skills. Literature is also the provider of a large variety of priceless knowledge and aesthetic value. As an acknowledgement of the virtues of the veteran writers, ceremonies honoring the men of letters or the Sarsodaw Day are held in Nattaw.
As literature is the birthplace of art from where music, movie and dramatic art branch out. So, it is the source of all the branches of national culture, and a medium to showcase the nature of Myanmar internationally.
Myanmar literary world has shined and served the interest of the country and people throughout the successive years of the country’s long history till now. The might of pen was a force to be reckoned with in the history of Myanmar. Men of letters have aroused patriotism, nationalistic fervour, the love for Myanmar literature and endurance of the people.
The poem composed by men of letters, Shin Maha Ratha, a Buddhist monk, is a teaching for the people to continuously read and study all kinds of poems and songs. The poem and the works of other men of letters are a valuable heritage that the test of time.
Sarpay Beikman established under the directive of General Aung San, the father of country’s independence, in August 1947, has published translated works as a door for national people to study international knowledge, and the Sarpay Beikman modern novel award was initiated in 1948 for progress of Myanmar literature.
The award was also presented under various titles such as Sarpay Beikman Award, Literary Award, National Literary Award. Till now, the prize money and the categories of awards have been increased. This year marks the Diamond Jubilee of the award presentation ceremony. Nineteen genres of National Literary Awards and 13 genres of Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards have been presented annually.
In addition, the "National Literary Lifetime Award" has been presented every year since 2001, in recognition of great literary scholars who have served the benefit of Myanmar literature in the country with great excellence and who have worked tirelessly to write and develop literature throughout their lives. The prize money awarded to literati has increased year by year. To be able to choose the truly worthy books and manuscripts and present awards deservingly, the scholars carried out three stages: preliminary selection, nomination and confirmation.
Out of the 754 books published for the first time in 2022, 11 of the 19 subjects specified for the National Literature Award were screened. Moreover, 29 manuscripts worthy of being awarded for all 13 subjects out of the 277 manuscripts entered in the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award were selected, so these awards will be presented at the ceremony today.
Studying the authors and books that have won the National Literature Award and the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award, there were novice penmanship, medium penmanship and doyen penmanship. The award selection committee considered and chose the works of contemporary thoughts, fictions reflecting the views of the times and increasing sympathy with a generous mind, domestic and international modern technologies that should be provided for the country's development and security, and scientific literature written in a way that is easy for the public to understand but written at a high level of literature. Among the award winners are nationally known writers, departmental staff, doctors, military personnel and retired civil servants as well as literature enthusiasts who are trying to enter the field of pleasure based on their hobby.
In awarding the National Literary Lifetime Award, the number of awardees has been increasing year by year, in respect for doyen literati. This year, up to four doyen literati will be awarded. All the National Literary Lifetime Award-winning doyen literati are great scholars who are full of academic and literary qualities.
Sayagyi Dr Than Oo is a great figure in Myanmar's academic world, and he is a great scholar who is still striving for the development of Myanmar's education sector even at the age of 96. Sayagyi Dr Chit San is also a literary scholar who has constantly written and given lectures on the development of Myanmar literature and literary research.
Sayamagyi Daw Kyu Kyu Thin is a writer who has consistently written fiction and worked diligently in the development of Myanmar literature. The SAC government is trying to build a peaceful and prosperous future for the country and the people. In building a modern developing country, it is very important to have a high level of education and critical thinking of the citizens.
Particularly in the rural areas where the majority of the population lives, there was a lack of education. Along with the weakness of education, there were needs in thinking. To fulfil these needs, a comprehensive education system and illiteracy eradication activities are also being carried out, he said.
To develop ways of thinking keeping up with the times, attendees including literary scholars, writers, publishers, distributors, libraries and well-wishers are especially requested to make concerted efforts to make books and literature accessible in the entire country and to encourage the people to study literature.
Literature is a pillar of the culture of the people and books are the mirror of the history of humans. Books and literature are friends of the people and high standards of literature are the pride of the people. Literature can enhance cultural standards and national spirit. I would like to caution that it is the responsibility of all citizens to continue to make efforts to prevent disappearance of the culture and to preserve it by observing the saying "Disappearance of a culture amounts to disappearance of its people."
In conclusion, the Senior General expressed thanks to literary experts, prize winners and chairmen, members and scholars form the prize selection committees for national literary awards and Sarpay Beikman manuscript awards, who exerted efforts to select winners successfully and urged them to create fine literature that enhance the image of the country by serving the interests of race and religion.
Then, the Senior General and wife presented lifetime literary awards, cash rewards and honorary gifts for 2022 to winners including scholar Dr Tun Tint (Dr Tun Tint-Myanmarsar), scholar Dr Chit San (Chit San Win) and scholar Daw Khin Than Win (Kyu Kyu Thin) and Secretary U Aye Kyaing of Than Oo Foundation, who accepted the award on behalf of scholar Dr Than Oo (Pyi Soe Min).
Afterward, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Aye, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, and Lt-Gen Nyo Saw of the SAC, and union minister U Win Shein and U Maung Maung Ohn presented awards to winners of national literary awards and Sarpay Beikman manuscript awards.
Then, scholar Dr Tun Tint (Myanmarsar) spoke words of thanks while the message of thanks sent by scholar Dr Than Oo (Pyi Soe Min) was read out by the master of ceremonies.
Afterward, staff from Myanmar Radio and Television performed music and dances honoring literature. Then, the Senior General and wife and attendees posed for documentary photographs with the award winners. After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife and party enjoyed luncheon together with the award winners, artists and scholars.
After the luncheon, the Senior General and wife cordially greeted the award winners, artists and scholars.