{"id":800,"date":"2016-05-30T04:00:15","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T04:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eng.moemaka.net\/?p=800"},"modified":"2016-05-30T04:00:15","modified_gmt":"2016-05-30T04:00:15","slug":"once-upon-a-time-in-the-bbs-by-tekkatho-shwe-yi-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2016\/05\/once-upon-a-time-in-the-bbs-by-tekkatho-shwe-yi-win\/","title":{"rendered":"ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE BBS By Tekkatho Shwe Yi Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"13-2<\/a><\/p>\n

ONCE UPON A TIME \u00a0IN THE \u00a0BBS\u00a0By\u00a0Tekkatho Shwe Yi Win<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

( Translated by Dr Khin Maung Win . From Ah Twe A \u00a0Myin ( \u00a0 \u00a0Thought \u00a0Magazine ,May, 2016 )<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It used to be called \u00a0BBS,Burma Broadcasting \u00a0Service.That \u2018s now history, as people today say.This year,2016 \u00a0the BBS \u00a0celebrates its \u00a070 th anniversary,which coincides with my own anniversary.It shows that I am old \u2013 quite old.Being old,I have come across many anniversaries like \u00a0the \u00a0centential,the bi-centential, the 25 th anniveryary.<\/p>\n

Having come across these anniversaries also makes me realize that I \u00a0am no longer young.<\/p>\n

Not so long ago in 2015 , our family has celebrated the 100 th anniversary \u00a0of my parents-in-law Saya U Khin Maung Latt and Daw Khin Myo Chit.Returning<\/p>\n

to the subject of BBS , as \u00a0I have said at the beginning,the anniversary of the 70 th anniversary \u00a0of \u00a0BBS which is \u00a02016 \u00a0coincides with my own.So obviously I was born on the same year that the BBS was established.<\/p>\n

To-day the \u00a0the English alphabet is used \u00a0everywhere and by everyone.Whenever \u00a0they talk about what they do,where they go , what school<\/p>\n

they \u00a0are attending , what work they do ,they use \u00a0the alphabets \u00a0A,B,C ,\u2026. \u00a0 \u00a0which makes me confused. \u00a0Couldn\u2019t \u00a0understand what they meant.That\u2019 \u00a0part of getting old,I guess.This is the \u00a021 st century.<\/p>\n

In our time also we must have used the words that the old people could not understand . It\u2019s \u00a0natural.We too have used the words like \u00a0BBS,VOA, All India, \u00a0and so on.<\/p>\n

Now,regarding the BBS, it is known the that the parents of my husband Dr. Khin Maung Win have been very intimate with the BBS.The whole family used to do a lot of play-reading \u00a0in the English programme.( My husband expresses his view that no one except the players and their intimate friends and family really listened to \u00a0these programmes.) Intimate friends,family, members of the staff of the English Department \u00a0of Rangoon University and students of my father-in-law \u00a0 participated.<\/p>\n

One of the most well-known \u00a0 \u00a0radio plays ( to the participants \u00a0and families) was \u00a0 \u2018Oggasena\u2019.I have heard my parents-in-law talk about \u00a0it all the time.The play is about \u00a0a rich \u00a0man\u2019s \u00a0son who married a dancer .<\/p>\n

In the radio play U Khin Maung Latt played the role of \u00a0the dancer\u2019s \u00a0father ,sayama Daw Khin May \u00a0,lecturer of English Department \u00a0played \u00a0the dancer and my husband played Oggasena . At first my husband was a bit shy because \u00a0the one who played the dancer had been his teacher.But he managed to overcome his shyness and according to his own admission,he gave his greatest (and only) \u00a0performance \u00a0for the BBS.The narrator of the play<\/p>\n

who plays \u00a0a vital part \u00a0 was U Win Pe,writer Mya Zin, who also wrote the play.My husband says that the audience of the radio plays in English was not as great as that of those in Myanmar language.But the enthusiasm of those who participate are the same.<\/p>\n

During my time I used to listen to the radio plays in English \u00a0language read by Win Oo,Nyunt Win,Tin Moe Khine, and others.<\/p>\n

The \u00a0BBS also had other \u00a0interesting programmes like :story-time for children,rural radio plays in which the names of rural characters \u00a0 like Ko Say Yoe,Ko Thar San lived in the hearts of the listeners.There was also the programme called \u2018Let me tell you something\u2019 \u00a0by Daw Yi Kyein which had a lot of listeners.There was also \u201cthiri gayhar\u201d a family saga,birthday songs,theatre plays,dramatization of stories in which all parts are assumed by a single narrator and other programmes.These programmes were played during our time.There must have been many other interesting programmes during the time of our parents. During their time,the director of BBS \u00a0was U Khin Zaw (K), and later U Pe Thaw, dear friends of my parents as well as my in-laws.I heard my parents-in \u2013law \u00a0talk about U Khin Zaw,his wife Daw Than Hnit,U Pe Thaw,Daw Yi Kyein,Bo Ba Ko, and others.<\/p>\n

In those times there were programmes of talks on various subjects.I have heard about talks of U Gon Ban \u00a0on Burmese music.There were also talks on Buddhism by Sunlun Shin U Viniya.<\/p>\n

When the BBS was first established the location was Wintermere Cresent.The elders talked about that location in remembrance. Later in our time,the location was moved to Pyay Road.For me,I still remember that U Khin Zaw lived in the house at Wintermere Cresent.I remember visiting the house with my parents-in-law.At that time my twin children,boy and girl,were sitting for \u00a0the 8 th standard examination.The examination was at Mayangyan school which was near U Khin Zaw\u2019s house.At that time we alse visited \u00a0Aunty Saw Mon Nyin\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know what they have done with the old BBS building at Wintermere Cresent.The last time I visited there was when U Khin Zaw passed away.During my time,I remember U Kyaw Nyein( Mardali),U Kyaw San,U Tin Oo, U Than Myint which were once great names in the BBS.My father was also a great friend \u00a0of U Khin Zaw.I remember my father asking \u00a0U Khin Zaw \u00a0a birthday song for me.I also remember U Kyay Nyein\u2019s daughter Than Than Nyein telling stories for children on the BBS.I also remember that our family friend Shwegu May Hnin used to work for the BBS.In the English Programme,Allyson Tun Wai,Joyce Win (Nwe Yi Win) are also names to remember.<\/p>\n

In the time of my youngest brother \u00a0Mg Soe Nyunt,the stereo songs and music became very popular \u00a0and \u00a0Bo Bo Han, Thein Dan,Soe Paing,L Khun Yi,Tin Moe Khine,Kayjar Nu,Saing Hti Saing, \u00a0etc \u00a0\u2026 were names to remember.So, in addition to classical songs,modern songs, stereo songs \u00a0became part of the BBS.However I must admit that we have little appreciation for stereo music which made my youngest brother displeased.He said that one needs to listen again and again ,and you will come to appreciate it. \u00a0And so it came to pass that the number times it is needed to listen to a stereo song \u00a0to be appreciated \u00a0became a method of categorizing the steoro song.It proves that what my youngest brother said was true.Some songs needed \u00a0three times of listening to get appreciated ,some needed more.So we categorize the stereo songs as 3-time song,4-time song \u2026\u2026 and so on.Now we have come to like all the stereo songs although we have forgotten the number times it had taken to appreciate a particular song.<\/p>\n

With the coming of stereo songs there came \u00a0cassettes the owning of which became a kind of status symbol for the young.Then came stereo radio plays,and also such songs and plays in cassette tapes and also talks on Buddhism . Among the stereo radio plays , the one we still remember is one called \u2018 The hunter becomes the prey,and the prey also the hunter\u2019.It was ,I think , back in 7974.In it ,we could hear the voices of our favourite \u00a0singers like BoBo Han,Kayja Nu,Soe Paing, Tin Moe Khine and others.<\/p>\n

In 1970 \u00a0 the age of radio was still in full swing( which is now ancient history).<\/p>\n

Every Sunday our family ( me,my husband and twins,Mg Yit and Yunior Win) used to visit my parents\u2019 house in South Okkalapa. We stayed there the whole day.When we hear the old-time favourites programme \u00a0on the radio,it meant the time had come to return home.We heard the old songs of Pyay Hla Pe,May Shin,Khin Mg Yin,and many others.This happened every Sunday.<\/p>\n

I still remember hearing the \u00a0songs of Mar Mar Aye,Ko Mya Gyi , Ko Than Hlaing,Tin Tin Mya,Htar,Yi Yi Thant,Cho Pyone .When We were young \u00a0we still \u2018 \u00a0remember how we liked Mar Mar Aye\u2019s song \u2018Let\u2019s play on the rainbow\u2019.I still remember singing and copying that song on the tape recorder \u00a0 . \u00a0That was back in the 1960s<\/p>\n

,another ancient history .There was also the broadcasting of reading topics like Tekkatho \u00a0Phone Naing\u2019s \u00a0\u2018Moe Nya Ein Met Nyo\u2019(Rainy-night Dream).I can still remember hearing the words like \u2018Of course,Ma Ma Yi,you do not know,but how can Mg Nyo Hmaing who knows you ever forget?\u2019 In one of the radio plays called \u2018The One I Love\u2019, I can still hear the words \u00a0\u2018 Impossible ? But no, I killed my brother myself,don\u2019t you see ? \u2018<\/p>\n

All that is now ancient history,and I am not even sure if the modern young people of to-day will understand my felings.I have heard old students of father \u2013in \u2013law<\/p>\n

reciting the English quotations that they have learnt during their student days.In the same way I find myself reciting what I have heard on the radio.I have a feeling of shyness \u00a0in doing so.But I enjoy doing it.<\/p>\n

To-day it is time of my \u00a0children.I can hear the BBS broadcasting the childrens\u2019s stories with the voices of children from the Social Welfare Department.My children love these stories.We also listened to the \u00a0weather report regularly.It was around 1974 \u00a0 to 1976.<\/p>\n

When the songs of the BBS \u00a0became very popular they were made into \u00a0 \u00a0gramophone records .( Young people of to-day may not even know what they are.) \u00a0 \u00a0 People \u00a0loved to \u00a0 listen \u00a0 to the records.There were also special programmes for indigenous races,letters to the soldiers on the frontline,songs most loved by the people,songs for the birthday. We loved to listen to them .<\/p>\n

Regarding the programme \u00a0for birthday songs,there is one incident I still remember.My father once asked Director U Khin Zaw \u00a0to broadcast a birthday song<\/p>\n

for me. U Khin Zaw not only arranged a special \u00a0birthday song to be broadcasted \u00a0but also sent a card \u00a0with \u00a0birthday wishes written by his own hand.The card would have made \u00a0a good item to be shown in Junior \u00a0Win\u2019s book \u00a0A Memory of My Grandparents.I also remember that in the time of my parents,they used English language in writing.<\/p>\n

At that time,our house used to be at Newlyn Road(now Zagawar Road),near that road there used to be \u00a0the Rangoon central jail,facing our road was Pegu Club \u00a0, at the crossing of our road and \u00a0 \u00a0Prome Road(Pyay Road) \u00a0was the Foreign office,as one continues \u00a0to the north along Pyay Road,one arrives at what used to be \u00a0place \u00a0of the marching ceremony \u00a0on the west of Shwe Dagon Pagoda, then came Myenigone , Hanthawadi roundabout (which is still \u00a0there),on the south- west \u00a0of which used to be \u00a0Sarpaybeikman office building, then came \u00a0the new BBS building,and then the building which used to be known as tortoise back roof building,what used to be medical college (1),later Institute of medicine,as one continues \u00a0there used to be workers\u2019 \u00a0appartments,then Yangon University .<\/p>\n

Some of these are ancient history. These are the memories of whats\u2019s left of the 70 th anniversary \u00a0of BBS.<\/p>\n

———- \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ————- \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0——————-<\/p>\n

Translator\u2019s note ; \u00a0–<\/p>\n

Now I want to relate to the readers the play \u201cOggasena\u201d .<\/p>\n

The radio play began with a soliloquy by Oggesana , the rich mans\u2019s son.With a soft music in the background the soliloquy ran as follows ;-\u201cThe air is her element.As she dances in the skiey spaces on the tip of the pole ,she does not leap ,dwells like a high cloud on a summer morning.How she manages her supple body with grace and skill just as she manages this heart of mine to throb with the ache of longing.\u201d The girl in question was Maya,the top dancer of a travelling troupe of performers. Maya agreed to marry Oggasane under the conditions that he come and stay with her and travel with the troupe \u00a0and she be free to continue her dancing career.<\/p>\n

One of the highlights of the performance was dancing on top of a thirty foot pole performed by Maya. To prove to the world that he was the greatest,Oggasena \u00a0decided that he would dance on a sixty foot pole.The final climax of the play came \u00a0the day Oggesane gave his greatest performance.At the very moment when he was about to give his gretest performance,the Lord Buddha came.Everyone who was watching the show \u00a0went to pay respects to the \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Buddha.Oggasena thought : why at this very moment does the Lord Buddha have to come to spoil \u00a0what would have been his greatest performance? The Lord Buddha whose wisdom is infinite,unbounded \u00a0and without limit ,knew what was passing is the mind of Oggasena addressed to him thus :- \u201c Oggasena,tumbler of mighty strength,king of the performers,Oggasena the Great,perform for the crowd, perform for Me,for I am one of your audience .\u201dHearing these words,Oggsena \u00a0performed as he had never done fefore.Oggasena turned fourteen summersaults in the air,lighting on his feet on the top of the pole,balanced himself once more. Even while Oggasena was performing his act,The Lord Buddha addressed to him as follows :-<\/p>\n

\u201c A far greater glory awaits you , my son,<\/p>\n

Touch and awareness ,be mindful of these two,<\/p>\n

For that is the way to end all suffering,<\/p>\n

For he who is mindful<\/p>\n

Of the awareness of touch,sensation \u00a0and knowing,<\/p>\n

Shall be free,<\/p>\n

Never to be reborn<\/p>\n

Never to suffer,<\/p>\n

Never to die. \u00a0 \u201c<\/p>\n

Hearing these wordsmOggasena became of the awareness of the touch of his foot on the top of the pole , and the touch, the sensation .The mindfulness,sensation and knowing \u00a0all integrated into one.He became free from desire,anger,ignorance and attained Enlightenment . The play ended with the Dhamma music.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ONCE UPON A TIME \u00a0IN THE \u00a0BBS\u00a0By\u00a0Tekkatho Shwe Yi Win ( Translated by Dr Khin Maung Win . From Ah Twe A \u00a0Myin ( \u00a0 \u00a0Thought \u00a0Magazine ,May, 2016 ) It used to be called \u00a0BBS,Burma Broadcasting \u00a0Service.That \u2018s now…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[29],"tags":[79,81],"class_list":["post-800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-the-records","tag-dr-khin-maung-win-math","tag-shwe-yi-win"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/13-2-KM-17-1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3RDLm-cU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=800"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":802,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800\/revisions\/802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}