Nay Pyi Taw November 20
A ceremony to present Natio-nal Lifetime Awards for Literary Achievement, National Literary Awards and Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards for 2024 was held at MICC-I here this morning, attended by Acting President of the Re-public of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, who presented prizes.
Also present were SSPC member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw and wife, SSPC member Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dway and wife, SSPC members and wives, union ministers and wives, union level dignitaries and wives, senior military offcers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief 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.
First, the Senior General and wife and attendees looked aro-und the biographies, photos, award-winning works of the award winners for 2024, and books and periodicals.
At the ceremony, the Senior General and attendees enjoyed the play entitled “Literature, the light of life” staged by artists of Fine Arts Department, Mini-stry of Religious Affairs and Culture, and a video clip “Break the darkness with the light of literature; appreciation of Myanmar literature from its beginning.”In his address, the Senior Ge-neral said Myanmar designated the first waxing of Nataw as the annual Sarsodaw Day, on which ceremonies and talks on literature are held in honour of the literati who compiled books that could provide intellectual and general knowledge and wisdom on a grand scale.
In honour of the virtues of men and women of letters, who strive to ensure benefits for the nation and people, the country has been observing the Sarsodaw Day as a Myanmar tra-dition for over 80 years since 1944.
As the saying goes, “Litera-ture holds wisdom” literature gives knowledge and wisdom that serve as the foundation for the progress and prosperity of human society. Hence, litera-ture is praise worthy and in recognition and honour of the persons who create it, the Sarsodaw Day is held to pay respects to them.
The State Security and Peace Commission has adopted three slogans for national develop-ment, and they include the slogan “Let us ensure the education sector for the deve-lopment of the Nation.” Educa-tion encompasses intellectual knowledge, technological knowledge and school education.
He stated that for this reason, every developed country prioritizes literature and honors the literary scholars who write and compile excellent works. He noted that just as literature in stilled patriotism in the public during the struggle for indepen-dence, informational and non-fiction literature (Thuta literature) also emerged, relevant to the era, during the period of national reconstruction following independence. He mention-ed the emergence of literature beneficial to workers and far-mers, and literature promoting ethnic solidarity, adding that the Sarpay Beikman Award, the Arts and Literature Awards, and the National Literary Award presented by the State Govern-ment, as well as literary awards and competitions sponsored by private organizations, along with associations for writers and the Myanmar Literary Workers’ Association, have all served as backgrounds suppor-ting the development of literature.
He stated that the State Government, prioritizing the wel-fare of the nation and the people, selects outstanding literary works—including informational non-fiction (Thuta literature) that disseminates modern knowledge and skills, and ima-ginative fiction (Yatha litera-ture) that inspires respect for and appreciation of the nation’s culture and traditions—from distinguished writers and annually honors them with the National Literary Award on Sarsodaw Day. He noted that this excellent tradition began in 1948 and has been upheld for over 70 years.
He also stated that the Sarpay Beikman, which was founded in August 1947 under the guid-ance of the nation’s independ-ence leader, General Aung San, with the name Myanmar Tran-slation Society, began the work of compiling and publishing translated and other literary books to increase the interna-tional knowledge of the ethnic people, and also instituted the “Sarpay Beikman Modern Novel Award” in 1948 to promote Myanmar literature.
He noted that the name of the award was changed multiple times—from the “Sarpay Beik-man Modern Novel Award” to the “Sarpay Beikman Award,” the “Arts and Literature Awards,” and the “National Literary Award”, with the award cate-gories and prize money being increased, resulting in 19 award categories for the 2024 National Literary Award.
He then stated that with the aim of encouraging the publica-tion of excellent manuscripts by writers that have not yet been printed for various reasons, the “Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award” was established, and for this year, awards will be given to selected manuscripts across 14 categories.
Furthermore, he noted that the State has been recognizing the outstanding lifetime liter-ary contributions made for the benefit of Myanmar literature in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by annually pre-senting the “National Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement” since 2001, and that a total of 48 distinguished literary scholars had received it as of last year.
He stated that in presenting the National Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement, they have progressively increased the number of recipients each year as a mark of respect for the distinguished literary scholars, and that this year, the award will be conferred upon up to five scholars. He affirmed that all the honored teachers and scholars are individuals who fully possess merit in both knowledge and literature and deserve respect and honor. He wished to express his immense pride and joy that the State has been able to worthily honor all these great literary scholars as recipients of the National Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement.
He also stated that out of the 959 books first printed and published for 2024, selections were made in 14 out of the 19 categories designated for the National Literary Award, and for the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Award, a total of 30 deserving manuscripts were selected from 247 entries across 14 categories, and that the awards would be presented at today’s ceremony.
He stated that the nation’s multi-party democracy gene-ral election will commence on December 28, 2025, and every-one is aware that preparat-ions for holding a free and fair election are being carried out step by step. He added that the State is striving to ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots, and the election will be held in phases, with townships where the election cannot be held for various reasons being addressed and held whenpossible.
He concluded that as the election period approaches, national stability and peace are also crucial, and while the State Government strives for political stability and the systematic and successful holding of the elections, he urged the public to participate and assist as a national duty to ensure the successful holding of the elections, which he called a turning point for the country, and to strive for a better future by exercising unity and patience among fellow citizens.
In implementing the multi-party democracy system by placing emphasis on the inter-ests of the country, cooperation of the people is very important for all-round development of the union, internal peace, sustainable socio-economic deve-lopment of the people as well as the success of the multi-party democracy general election process. The people must be guided and trained through lite-rature to enable them to have good practices of democracy, to be instilled with wisdom and to gain modern knowledge.
Literature can make mind subtle and deepen compassion. Furthermore, it can instill the people with patriotism, the love for the people and sense of responsibility. I would like to reiterate that I am glad to have the opportunity to present prizes to the literati who have created literary works that can bring about great benefits for the country and the race on the Sar-sodaw Day today. I would like to urge all to continue to protect the Myanmar literary pillar, which has a strong foundation in its history, from falling apart through concerted efforts and to exert efforts to leave the precious literary and cultural legacy to future generations and to strengthen the consistently flowing Myanmar literary trend in line with the changing and evolving eras.
I would like to pray that the literati who won prizes will be healthy and live longer in physical and mental happiness and create literary works that will serve the interests of race and religion and enhance the image of the country.
I would also like to express thanks to the literati, literary award winners, members and chairmen of the National Literary Awards Scrutiny Committee and the Sarpay Beikman Manu-script Award Scrutiny Committee and scholar, who held various meetings by spending their private time, out of literary goodwill to be able to present prizes today. I would also like to request them to continue to offer help for prosperity of Myanmar literary world.
Then, the Senior General and his wife presented certificates of honour and cash rewards con-fered by the State and special honorary gifts confered by the Senior General and his wife to winners of National Lifetime Awards for Literary Achievements (2024) including U Than Nyunt, (Zin Min -Tha-mainhtaw), U Ko Ko (Ko-University), Dr Daw Po (Ma Lay Po), Daw Tin Yi (Tin Yi Ma-Nyaung-U), Dr Daw Khin Than Oo (Ma Moe Myay).
Then, the Senior General and his wife accepted the comme-morative gift for the prize pre-sentaion ceremony presented by Union Minister for Informat-ion U Maung Maung Ohn.
Afterward, Member of the commission U Nyo Saw, Member of the commission Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dway, members of the commission General Maung Maung Aye, U Than Swe, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Chief of General Staff (Army, Navy, Air) General Kyaw Swa Lin, union ministers U Tin Aung San and U Maung Maung Ohn presented awards to National Literary Award winner and Sarpay Beikan Manuscript Award winners.
Then, National Lifetime Literary Award Winner Sayagyi U Ko Ko (Ko-University) spoke words of thanks. Afterward, artists from the MRTV of the Ministry of Information enter-tained the attendees with “Wa-HtaKaLaTha” song.
Afterward, the Senior General and his wife and attendees posed for documentary photographs with literary award winners.
Then, the Senior General and his wife cordially greeted liter-ary award winners, artist and the literati.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and his wife and party enjoyed the honorary luncheon with literary award winners, artists and the literati.
