Ba Shin
Family
Ba Shin's parents were Principal U Hein and Daw Saw Yin. His wife Daw Khin May Gyi is a Lecturer at the Zoology Department (now retired), Yangon University. He received the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) class degree, specializing in Inscription and Oriental History from Yangon University.
Career
=Education=
From 1935-40, he worked under Professor Gordon H Luce 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 China – 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.Naing Min Naing page 37. paragraph 4. line 4.
=Military=
During the Japanese occupation, Ba Shin 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" (Fourth Military Division) newspaper and wrote a book for the soldiers called European Economic History, explaining the emergence of Capitalism.Ko Min Lwin page 41. paragraph 3.
He wrote a Burmese history book for the Army that was published on 4 January 1948, Burma's Independence day. The Education Ministry prescribed that book as a high school textbook."Zeya 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.
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.
=Post WW2=
After the war, he worked in the War Office as commanding officer of Records Office, Burma Army. He was later appointed the Burmese Military Attaché to London, UK where he also met with international researchers and historians.Naing Min Naing page 38. paragraph 1. line 3&4.
Research works
In 1957, Ba Shin 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 worked 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. Their 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. A complete comparison of the various Buddhist scriptures found in ancient Bagan was included. Studies of ancient Mon and Austro Asian languages and Mon grammar and spellings were mentioned.Naing Min Naing 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. Professor Luce praised Major Ba Shin for his contribution of invaluable edits to his thirty years of research. Luce even commented that Ba Shin had even corrected his overlooked mistakes.Naing Min Naing 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."Naing Min Naing 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.Naing Min Naing 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.Naing Min Naing page 39. paragraph 1. line 2-7.
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 page 42. paragraph 2.
He was an active member of the Myanmar Orthography (Spelling) Commission.Bhomhu Ba Shin page 40. paragraph 1 He helped and acted as advisor to final year history students and History Master students’ research papers.Bhomhu Ba Shin page 40. paragraph 2.
Journalist
Since he was in the university, he was active in journalism. He was the Yudathan (Judson) College reporter of Myanmar Alin (Light of Myanmar) and Thuraya (The Sun) newspapers."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.Bhomhu Ba Shin page 41. paragraph 1. line 4
He wrote in the Yudathan (Judson) College magazine and was the Burmese section editor. He was the editor of the Mosquito hand written magazine.Bhomhu Ba Shin 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.Bhomhu Ba Shin page 41. paragraph 2
His pennames 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 the Pyannya Padethar journal published by the 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
Early Myanmar History was the last article he was still writing for the Myanmar History Commission. The last article he finished was Myanmar before Anawrattha, published in sections, in the Pyannar Tazaung magazine from June to November 1968. However, he could not finish the second part of that book, Bagan era Myanmar book.Bhomhu Ba Shin page 42. paragraph 5
As a Muslim, he served as the Secretary General in the Myanmar Islamic Religious Affairs Council until his death on 7 January 1970, at 5.50 p.m. of heart disease."Zeya Kyawhtin Bhomhu Ba Shin" by Naing Min Naing. Al-Balag Journal, published by Ko Min Lwin. In Burmese. November–December 2001{{Cite web |url=http://www.lib.washington.edu/asp/myanmar/Bio/colBaShin.htm |title=Biography |access-date=2007-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011182309/http://www.lib.washington.edu/asp/myanmar/Bio/colBaShin.htm |archive-date=2008-10-11 |url-status=dead }}
Religion and languages
Ba Shin was a Burmese Muslim.Naing Min Naing page 37. paragraph 3. line 1 He could speak all the languages of Myanmar ethnic minorities.Naing Min Naing page 37. paragraph 3. line 2&3. He could also speak Mon Khmar, Tibet Bama, Thai, Chinese and many dialects of Indian language.Naing Min Naing 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.Naing Min Naing page 37. paragraph 3. line 5,6&7.
Publications
U Ba Shin (1962). The Lokahteikpan. Rangoon: Burma Historical Commission, Ministry of Union Culture, Revolutionary Govt., Union of Burma.
See also
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040106023436/http://hikmah.info/ Myanmar Muslim Information Centre(MMIC)]
- Selective Works On Myanmar History, Culture, Archaeology And Literature After Independence—Biographies. Col. Ba Shin (1914 - 1970)[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181817/http://www.lib.washington.edu/myanmar/biographies/colBaShin.html]
- {{cite journal |last1=Hla |first1=Nai Pan |title=Bohmu Ba Shin 1914-1970 |journal=Artibus Asiae |date=1971 |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=165–166 |jstor=3249771 }}
- The World-Wide Web Virtual Library. Online Burma/Myanmar library [http://www.burmalibrary.org/show.php?cat=907]
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Category:20th-century Burmese historians
Category:Burmese studies scholars