Shans living both inside and outside Burma are celebrating today the 60th birthday anniversary of Sai Fa, one of the best-known Shan literary figures, better known as Maw Sawn Long (Great Teacher) who has been teaching Shan literature to thousands of new generation youths across the country for decades.

The ceremony held inside the country took place at Aung Myay Bontha Monastery aka Nine Mile Shan Monastery in Rangoon, coinciding with the opening ceremony of the Nine Mile Shan library.

“We open the Shan library on his birthday in order to honor his efforts at preserving and promoting Shan literature and culture,” a Shan youth in Rangoon said.

Hundreds of people from the whole Shan State: North, South and East including people from Kachin State, Sagaing and Mandalay divisions are reportedly participating in the event.

At the same time, the Shans in Thailand are holding Sai Fa’s birthday ceremony at Wat Tha Kradard of Northern Thailand’s Chiangmai.

“Sai Fa has been doing not only teaching but also has been training hundreds of youths to become teachers like him,” Nang Mwe, a former student of Sai Fa told SHAN. 

Sai Fa has reportedly been touring and teaching Shan language and literature to people in several areas in Shan State, Kachin State, Sagaing, Mandalay and Rangoon divisions where Shans reside beginning 1969. In his Shan classes, there was not only the Shan nationality but also other nationalities such as Indian, Chinese and even Burmese.

“Some Indian, Chinese and Burmese in Shan State became influent in Shan language after attending his classes,” Sai Harn, another former student of him said.

Sai Fa was born in 1950, in Wankhun Namla village, Panghai village tract in Shan State North’s Namtu Township.  He received B.Com (Industry and Trade), C.P.A. (Certified Public Accountancy) in Rangoon.

He has also written dozens of books relating to cultural, traditional and political affairs from different parts of the world.

“One thing that I have noticed about him is his high degree of self denial. I have never seen any others who can match him here,” well-known Shan singer Sa Kha Ha said.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament under the banner of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), which came out second in the 1990 polls. The party, like the National League for Democracy (NLD), was deregistered by before the 7 November elections.