| By KO HTWE | Thursday, July 15, 2010 |
Nan Nyunt Swe, aka Aung Thein, a well-known Burmese writer and the father of imprisoned comedian Zarganar, passed away in Rangoon on Wednesday at the age of 87.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Thursday, Zarganar's sister-in-law Ma Nyein said that before Nan Nyunt Swe died, he left a letter for his son Zarganar. She could not comment on the details of the letter, saying that it had not yet been opened.
Zarganar, 48, was sentenced to a 35-year prison term in remote Myintkyina prison, over 900 miles from Rangoon, for his involvement in delivering humanitarian assistance to survivors of Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
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| Nan Nyunt Swe. |
“Nan Nyunt Swe passed away peacefully in his sleep at 5 p.m. yesterday,” Ma Nyein said. “I informed Myintkyina Special Branch about his death, and asked them to pass on the message to Zarganar.”
Although Nan Nyunt Swe mostly penned articles pertaining to classic literature and music, Burma's notorious Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) frequently censored his work because he gave a talk at the opposition party National League for Democracy headquarters in Rangoon.
Nan Nyunt Swe was born in Yathar village, in Pyay District, Pegu Division, in 1923. In 1947, he began writing under the pseudonym “Pyay Maung Nyunt” in Myanmar Alin newspaper. His first works were poems.
In 1950, he started using the pen name “Nan Nyunt Swe”in Hantharwaddy newspaper.
He served in the Information Department from 1948 to 1953 before joining the Ministry of Culture. He was also joint-secretary of Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association and executive member of Burma Research Society. He also wrote a thesis about ancient Burmese music and biographies of artists.
In 1955, Nan Nyunt Swe married writer Yuwaddy Kyi Oo, aka Hla Kyi, who competed in the 1990 general election. The couple had three sons: Wunna, Tay Za and Thura, aka Zarganar. They also had two grandsons.
Later in life, he used the secret pen name “Thukhamain” and wrote under that name until he died.