Ba Shin

Colonel Ba Shin, a noted historian, was a member of The Myanmar History Commission and Islamic Religious Affairs Council. U Ba Shin was born in Ywarkauk, Pyinmanar in 1914. His parents were Principal U Hein and Daw Saw Yin. His wife was Daw Khin May Kyi (retired Lecturer from Zoology Department, Yangon University). Before the Second World War he studied in the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) class specializing in Inscription and Oriental History in Yangon University.

He worked under Professor Gordon H Luce from 1935-40, at the Rangoon University Eastern and Burmese History Division. ["Wanna Kyawhtin Bhomhu Ba Shin" by Naing Min Naing. "Al-Balag Journal", Published by Ko Min Lwin. In Burmese. November-December 2001. page 37. paragraph 4. line 2&3 ] He carried out research in Chinese – Myanmar relations of the Middle period and the history of Chinese – Myanmar inscriptions. He was promoted to an Assistant Lecturer in that department in 1940. [ibid page 37. paragraph 4. line 4.]

In the military

During the Japanese occupation he was the Academic officer in the Asian Youth Organization. He also worked as the Education Officer of the Burma Defense Army. ["Bhomhu Ba Shin". "Al-Balag Journal", published by Ko Min Lwin. In Burmese. November-December 2001. page 41. paragraph 3, ]

Later he became a Lt. Col. in the Military Division (4) of the Burma Army. He published Tine 4 (Forth Military Division) newspaper and wrote a book for the soldiers, "European Economic History", explaining to the soldiers about the emergence of Capitalism. [ibid page 41. paragraph 3.]

He wrote a Burmese history book for the Army and was published on 4 January 1948, Burma's Independence day. The Education Ministry prescribed that book as high school textbook. ["Wanna Kyawhtin Bhomhu Ba Shin" by Naing Min Naing. "Al-Balag Journal", published by Ko Min Lwin. In Burmese. November-December 2001 page 38. paragraph 1. ]

After the war, he worked in the war office as the registration officer. After that he was appointed as the Burmese Military Attaché to London and could meet with international researchers and historians. [ibid page 38. paragraph 1. line 3&4.]

While serving in military, he wrote military, cultural and history articles in "Sit Nha Lone" ("Military Heart") journal and "Myawaddy" journals. He also wrote articles for children in "Kha Lae" ("Children") journal and "Light of Myanmar" newspapers. He wrote military articles in "Military Education" journal. ["Bhomhu Ba Shin". "Al-Balag Journal", page 41. paragraph 6.] He worked in the Myanmar Army until 1956.

Research works

In 1957 he joined the Burma Historical Commission as a Compiler. He wrote many English and Myanmar research papers in "Bulletin of the Burma Historical Commission" and many articles about racial and ethnic groups of Myanmar were written for the "Myanmar Encyclopaedia". He wrote Lawkatheikpan in English and Myanmar before Anawrahta. One of his duties was to do detailed studies and research about Burmese history from AD 1300-1752. ["Wanna Kyawhtin Bhomhu Ba Shin" by Naing Min Naing. "Al-Balag Journal" page 38. paragraph 2. line 3. ]

He was a Burmese Indian Muslim. [ibid page 37. paragraph 3. line 1] He could speak all the languages of Myanmar ethnic minorities. [ibid page 37. paragraph 3. line 2&3. ] He could also speak Mon Khmar, Tibet Bama, Thai, Chinese and many dialects of Indian language. [ibid page 37. paragraph 3. line 3&4.] He could even understand the ancient Burmese and ancient Mon languages. Although he was a Muslim he was fluent in Pali language and especially Buddhist literatures written in Pali. [ibid page 37. paragraph 3. line 5,6&7. ]

He worked together with Professor Luce for quite a long time in Bagan at Myin Kabar Gu-pyauk Pagoda built by Raja Kumar (Yazakumar, son of Kyansittha) in AD 1113. That research paper was published in "Burmese History Commission Journal" volume 2 in 1961 from page 227-416. Not only the background history of the pagoda but the architecture, Buddhist scriptures and all the stone inscriptions with the translations were included in the article. Complete comparison of the various Buddhist scriptures found in ancient Bagan was also included. Studies of ancient Mon and Austro Asian languages and Mon grammar and spellings were mentioned. [ibid page 39. paragraph 2. line 1-7. ]

He was an important person in the team, which had done comparative studies of Sanskrit, Pali and ancient Mon. Even Professor Luce praised that his comrade Major Ba Shin had contributed an invaluable edits for his thirty years of research and got his help in the first or fresh readings. Luce even commented that Ba Shin had even corrected his overlooked mistakes. [ibid page 39. paragraph 2. line 7-12.]

In an article written to honour Ba Shin in relation to the Wetkyi Inn and Gu-pyauk Pagodas in Bagan, Professor Luce wrote, "He is one of the best researchers, expert in History and Stone Inscription." [ibid page 39. paragraph 3.]

One of Ba Shin’s best efforts was seen in the article about Bagan Pagoda Lawka Hteit Pan (Rangoon, 1962) which indicated the ancient Burmese civilization. Nai Min Nai had written an article together with A.B. Grisworld about the comments and review in "Artibus Asiae" volume 33, page 228-233. [ibid page 39. paragraph 4.]

He was the editor of the article “Essays offered to G.H.Luce by his colleagues and friends in Honour of his Seventy-Fifth Birthday.“ in two volumes "Artibus Asiae" supplementum XXIII, Ascona, Switzerland, 1956. He wrote the "Buddha Images of Tai Yuan Types Found in Burma" in that publication. [ibid page 39. paragraph 1. line 2-7. ]

While working as a research officer, he wrote research papers in English and Burmese in "Thamine Tagun" journal. One of Ba Shin’s best efforts was seen in the article which was written in English about Bagan Pagoda Lawka Hteit Pan (Rangoon, 1962) which indicated the ancient Burmese civilization and Burmese language of earliest Bagan period. Nai Min Nai had written an article together with A.B. Grisworld about the comments and review in "Artibus Asiae" volume 33, page 228-233. [ibid page 39. paragraph 4. ]

He wrote about the Ink duplicate copies of ancient Bagan stone inscriptions in the Bagan Ink duplicate copy research journey report book. Both were published by the Burmese History Commission. ["Bhomhu Ba Shin". "Al-Balag Journal" page 42. paragraph 2.]

He was an active member of the Myanmar Orthography (Spelling) Commission. [ibid page 40. paragraph 1. ] He used to help the final year history students and History Master students’ research papers. [ibid page 40. paragraph 2. ]

As a journalist

Since he was in the university, he was active in journalism. He was the Yudathan College reporter of "Myanmar Alin" ("Light of Myanmar") and "Thuraya" ("The Sun") newspapers and had written a lot of reports and articles. ["Bhomhu Ba Shin". "Al-Balag Journal", published by Ko Min Lwin. In Burmese. November-December 2001. page 41. paragraph 1, line 1-3. ]

He wrote a book, "Khit Thit Marga" (Modern Tha Gyar Min or Sakya) in 1937 about the rebuilding of rural villages. [ibid page 41. paragraph 1. line 4 ]

He wrote in the Yudathan College magazine and was the Burmese section editor. He was the editor of the "Mosquito" hand written magazine. [ibid page 41. paragraph 1. line 5&6.]

In 1939 he wrote an article about the modernization of Burmese rural villages together with Dr Thar Saing and Dr Andrab. [ibid page 41. paragraph 2. ]

This pen-name were (1) San Aung (2) Thutethi (3) Bohmu Nyanna (4) Taing Lay Yebawhaung (5) Lt. Colonel Ba Shin (6) U Ba Shin (7) Wari San (8) Maung Pinti (9) Scott Boy and (10) Bo Mhu.

He wrote articles in "Pyannya Padethar" journal published by Directorate of University Education. He also wrote research papers and articles in the magazines published by Rangoon Arts and Science University, University Burmese literature magazine, Zoology magazine, Burmese Muslim University Students’ magazines, "Ngwe Taryi" magazine, "Pyinyar Tazaung" magazine, "Working peoples’ daily" (English and Burmese. ["Bhomhu Ba Shin" by Naing Min Naing. "Al-Balag Journal" page 42, paragraph 3]

Earliest Myanmar History was the last article he was still writing for the Myanmar History Commission. The last article he could finished was Myanmar before Anawrattha, published in sections, in Pyannar Tazaung magazine from June to November 1968. But he could not finished the second part of that book, Bagan era Myanmar book. [ ibid, page 42. paragraph 5. ]

As a Muslim he worked as the Secretary General in the Myanmar Islam Religious Council until he died. He died on 7 January 1971, at 5.50 p.m. of heart disease. ["Wanna Kyawhtin Bhomhu Ba Shin" by Naing Min Naing. "Al-Balag Journal", published by Ko Min Lwin. In Burmese. November-December 2001] [ [http://www.lib.washington.edu/asp/myanmar/Bio/colBaShin.htm Biography ] ]

See also

*Famous Burmese Muslims
*Islam in Myanmar
*Rohingya People
*Burmese Chinese
*Panthay
*Burmese Indians

References

External links

* [http://www.hikmah.info Myanmar Muslim Information Centre(MMIC)]