Khin Hnin Yu

Infobox Writer
name = Khin Hnin Yu
_my. ခင်နှင်းယု


caption = Khin Hnin Yu
pseudonym = Khin Hnin Yu
birthdate = birth date|1925|9|7|df=y
birthplace = Wakema, Wakema Township, Ayeyarwady Division, Myanmar
deathdate = death date and age|2003|1|21|1925|9|7|df=y
deathplace = Yangon, Myanmar
notableworks = Hmwe (1959) Mya Kyar Phyu (1995)
occupation = writer
genre = Romance, short story
period = 1952-2003
influences =
influenced = Khin Khin Htoo
spouse = Kyaw Thaung (1950-1970)
awards = Myanmar National Literature Award (1961), (1995)
website =

Khin Hnin Yu (Burmese: _my. ခင်နှင်းယု) (7 September 1925 – 21 January 2003) was a two-time Myanmar National Literature Award winner and is considered one of the most influential Burmese women writers.cite journal |author=U Thaung (Aung Bala) | title=Contemporary Burmese Literature | journal=Contributions to Asian Studies | volume=16 | pages=81-99 | year=1981 |accessdate=2008-08-24] Her stories are known for their realistic portrayals of life in post-World War II Myanmar. Almost all her over 50 published novels involve young heroines who have to struggle for their survival.

Khin Hnin Yu was a cousin of and the personal secretary for the former Burmese Prime Minister U Nu for more than 20 years. She died in 2003 at the age of 78. [cite web|title=VOA Myanmar| work=A Tribute To Renowned Author Khin Hnin Yu|url=http://www.voanews.com/burmese/archive/2003-01/a-2003-01-25-2-1.cfm|accessdate=25 January|accessyear=2003]

Biography

Khin Hnin Yu was born Khin Su, the fifth of seven children, to Daw Thein Tin and school teacher U Ba in Wakema in the Irrawaddy delta. A cousin of U Nu, she served as the former Prime Minster's personal secretary for more than 20 years. She married Kyaw Thaung, a colonel in the Burmese army, in 1950.

Her first short story "Ayaing" (The Wild) was published in "Sar Padaytha" magazine in 1947. In 1950, her first novel "Nwe Naung Ywet Kyan" (ေႏြေႏွာင္းရြက္က်န္) (Remnant Leaf of Late Summer) was published in "Shumawa" magazine. She wrote over 50 novels and most are known for her political views of the parliamentary and military socialist eras (1948-1980s). For example, her 1955 short story "Mhyawlint Lo Phyint Ma Sohn Naing De" (Still Hoping) covers the social stigma still faced by a daughter of former pagoda slaves.cite web | url=http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/Perspective/persp2003/12-2003/mya.htm | title=Myanmar Short Stories (Part 1) | author=Thaw Kaung | accessdate=2008-08-25] A semi-biographical novel "Kyunma Chit Thu" (ကၽြန္မခ်စ္သူ) (My Lover) was banned by Gen. Ne Win's government, and the themes of her later books changed to religion.

Khin Hnin Yu died in Yangon on 21 January 2003 at Yangon General Hospital of a heart attack.cite book|title="Ziwa Soe San Eing" in Burmese inc. |year= 2003|publisher= Seikku Cho Cho Books|location= Yangon|pages= 3-5]

Works

Khin Hnin Yu wrote over 50 novels and about six volumes of short-stories collections. Her famous works include:

Most of her novels are adapted into the famous films. Her novella "Pan Pan Lhwet Par" (Still Wearing Flower) was made into film of the same name in 1963, starring Kawleikgyin Ne Win, Myat Lay and Kyi Kyi Htay. It was very successful, running over 25 weeks and become highest grossing film in history of Myanmar Cinema.

Awards

Khin Hnin Yu won top Myanmar National Literature Award twice.
*1953: Popular Reader Choice (Myawaddy Magazine), "Tharahpu"
*1961: Myanmar National Literature Award for Collected Short Stories, "Kyemon Yeik-Thwin Wuttu-to Myar"
*1995: Myanmar National Literature Award for Fiction,"Mya Kyar Phyu"

References

Persondata
NAME=Khin Hnin Yu
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Khin Su
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Writer
DATE OF BIRTH=7 September 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH=Wakema, Myanmar
DATE OF DEATH=21 January 2003
PLACE OF DEATH=Yangon, Myanmar