Writers not only from Arakan State but also hailing from mainland Myanmar competed over the weekend in the Tankhoe Saya Tun Literary Awards, which aim to promote Arakanese literature and culture.
“The Tankhoe Saya Tun Literary Awards have spread beyond Arakan State to other parts of Myanmar, because people from other parts of Myanmar contested in the literary competition,” said writer Lwan Pyay Aung (Sittwe), general secretary of the award selection committee. “It is a very proud event for the Arakanese people and the whole of Arakan State is proud of it as the highest literary prize in Arakan State.”
The eighth Tankhoe Saya Tun Literary Awards presentation was held in the village of Tankhoe, the hometown of Saya Tun in Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township, on Saturday. The works of writers from across Arakan State and Myanmar were judged, with awards presented for several categories including lifetime achievement, musical composition, article, novel, poem, and children’s poem, according to the organising committee.
Writer Phoe Kyawt won the lifetime achievement award; Arakanese composer Ko Tun Hlaing won the musical composition award; Maung Gyi (Developmental Science) won the poem award; female writer May Hline Phyu won the novel award; Zaw Lwin Oo (Hinthada) won the article award; and Zen Hein (Myaungbwe) won the children’s poem award.
Zaw Lwin Oo (Hinthada), a writer from Ayeyarwady Region who won the article award, said he competed in the competition because he loved literature and was very proud to receive the award.
“I was so excited about the literary award that I tried to win it. In fact, I tried so hard to appreciate the value of winning this prize from afar. I am so happy to receive this award,” added Zaw Lwin Oo (Hinthada), whose award-winning article was a compilation of writings by the author while on a motorcycle tour of Arakan State about eight years ago.
May Hline Phyu said she worked hard to write her novels, and the work appears to be paying off: This year’s award was her third in a row at the Tankhoe Saya Tun Literary Awards.
“I am very happy to have won the award three times in a row. Knowing that the winners can be crowned an unlimited number of times, I have the courage to compete in the competition next year,” she added.
The Tankhoe Saya Tun Literary Awards is the only showcase of its kind in Arakan State.
Saya Tun was a distinguished man of letters in Arakan State during British colonial rule. He wrote more than 60 books, including novels and plays, and died at age 70. The Tankhoe Saya Tun Literary Awards presentation has previously been held seven times since 2011.
