Khin Myo Chit


Khin Myo Chit was a Burmese author and journalist, whose career spanned over four decades. She began her career writing short stories in Burmese for Dagon Magazine in 1934. She worked on the editorial staff of The Burma Journal during anti-colonial movements. After the war, Khin Myo Chit wrote for The Oway, a Burmese newspaper.
Her birth name was Khin Mya. She was given her pen name in 1932 or 1933 when she translated Walter Scott's "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" for a university magazine. She signed the translation "A Patriotic Lady", and her editor translated the attribution as "Khin Myo Chit".

National activism

She started her work in Burmese culture, literature and politics in the 1300 Movement. She acted as deputy head of the Women's Front of the 1300 Movement which demanded self-rule at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon on 29 January 1939. Starting from that moment, she adopted the name, Khin Myo Chit.

Journalism

After the 1300 Movement, Khin Myo Chit started writing in many patriotic Burmese papers, including the Deedoke Journal.
She graduated from the University of Rangoon in 1952, and served as an editor for The Guardian Daily, when she began writing short stories and articles in English. Her story, "The 13-carat Diamond", which appeared first in The Guardian Daily, was featured in Fifty Great Oriental Stories, published by Bantam Classics. Other stories, including "Her Infinite Variety" and "The Four Puppets", won acclaim in Asia. During her career, Khin Myo Chit wrote many English publications, including a historical novel on King Anawrahta.
Khin Myo Chit also served as an editor in the Working People's Daily, voicing her political opinions and also her nationalistic spirit. She also wrote many books on Burmese culture – such as the Wonderland of Burmese Legends, where she documented famous myths, legends and folktales of Myanmar, and the Colourful Burma series.

Death

Khin Myo Chit died on 2 January 1999 at her home in Yangon. Her son, Khin [Maung Win (mathematics)|Khin Maung Win] and daughter-in-law Tekkatho Shwe Yi Win are Burmese writers.

Literary career

  • 1932 – "Patriotism"
  • 1936 – College Girl
  • 1945 – Three Years Under the Japs
  • 1955 – "13 Carat Diamond"
  • 1963 to 1968 – Heroes of Old Burma and Quest for Peace
  • 1969 – 13 Carat Diamond and Other Stories
  • 1970 – "Her Infinite Variety". "The Four Puppets". Anawrahta of Burma
  • 1976 – Colourful Burma
  • 1981 – "A Pagoda Where Fairy Tale Characters Come to Life"
  • 1984 – A Wonderland of Burmese Legends
  • 2005 – ''Stories and Sketches of Myanmar''