Myanmar National Literature Award
Myanmar National Literature Awards are awards presented to a Burmese author who has published a particularly lauded piece or body of work. There are awards for forms of writing ranging from poetry to novels. Many awards are also dedicated to a certain genre of fiction or non-fiction writing. Most literary awards come with a corresponding award ceremony.
Background
The Myanmar National Literature Awards have been presented since 1970. They are for the best works published in the previous year in each category as determined by a selection committee from Sarpay Beikman, a division of the Ministry of Information that is concerned with promoting books in Burmese and other national languages.Sarpay Beikman also gives the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards for unpublished works that are submitted in manuscript.
In recent years the genres covered by Sarpay Beikman Manuscript and National Literary Awards have been gradually extended and the number of awards increased.
As of 2007 there were twelve types of award, of which the recently instituted lifetime achievement award was the most prestigious.
The awards complement the privately sponsored Sayawun Tin Shwe Award, Pakokku U Ohn Pe literary award, Thuta Swesone literary award and Tun Foundation award.
The award has been given since 1962 for distinguished work in categories that include:
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Fiction
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Collected Short Stories
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Translation
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Collected Poems
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Political Literature
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Historical Documentary
- Myanmar National Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement Award
Awards by year
1972 awards
- Mya Than Tint, Translation: War and Peace
1978 awards
- Mya Than Tint, Translation: Gone with the Wind
1979 awards
- Saya Zawgyi for Nin-la-hè chit dukkha and Other Short Stories
1986
- Moe Moe for Moe Moe's Short Stories
- Maung Nyein Thu for Mya Ah Phuutwe Thit Thit Waie and Youth Short Stories
1987 awards
- Saya Zawgyi for Ancient Bagan and Other Poems
1988 awards
- Mya Than Tint, Translation: Dream of the Red Chamber
1989 awards
- Saw Mon Nyin, Myanmar Women’s Clothing and Hairstyles
1992 awards
| Category | Author | Work |
| Collected Short Stories | Nay Win Myint | Hset-na-kyo |
| Poems | Nyunt Wai | Seik Bya-tin kabyar-myar |
| General Knowledge | Tekkatho Htin Gyi | Myanmar NaingNgan Thadinzar-mya Ahnyun |
| General Knowledge | U Pe Thein | Hlyat-sit Pyin-nyar Thabaw-taya hnint Let-twe |
| Translation | Mya Than Tint | City of Joy |
| Children's Literature | Theikpan Soe Myint Naing | Nyi-htwelay atwet Khalay Kabyar-myar |
| Myanmar Culture and Arts | U Kyaw Nyein | Bagan Myohaung Myingaba Gu-byauk-gyi Paya |
| Belles-Lettres | Maung Hkun Nwe | Pa-O |
No awards were made for Novels, Drama, Youth Literature, Translation, General Knowledge or Political Literature.
1995 awards
2003 awards
Awards for 2003 were presented in December 2004.The Lifelong National Literary Award was won by writer Htay Maung.
Other winners of National Literary Awards were Hsaung Win Lat, Khin Khin Htoo, Salin Phone Kyaw, Daw Mi Mi Lay, Maung Thit Sar, Myinmu Maung Naing Moe, Than Aung, Hlaing Thin, Maung Tun Thu, Ma Kyan, Kyaw Oo, Naing Shwe Moe, Kyu Kyu Thin and Dr Ma Tin Win.
2005 awards
Award winners in 2005 were:| Category | Author | Work |
| Lifetime Achievement | Daw Yin Yin | |
| Novel | Hsinbyukyun Aung Thein | |
| Collected short stories | Yin Yin Nu | |
| Belles-letters | Maung Moe Yan | |
| Myanmar culture and fine arts literature | Minshin Aung | |
| Child literature | Tin Lin Zaw | |
| Translation | Nan Mya Kay Khine | |
| General knowledge | Ma Kyan | |
| General knowledge | Aye Kyaw | |
| Political | Pe Thein Tin |
2007 awards
The 2007 award winners included:| Category | Author | Work |
| Lifetime achievement | Saya Hsinbyugyun Aung Thein | |
| Belles-letters | Tekkatho Sein Tin | Biography of Grandma U Zun |
| Youth Literature | Linkaryikyaw | Voice of a crane’s flapping |
| Translation | Saya Tin Maung Myint | Black dream, green love, written by Henry Denker |
| Collected Short Stories | Nay Win Myint |
2008 awards
The 2008 awards were presented at the Ministry of Information on 31 December 2009. Winners were:| Category | Author | Work |
| Life-Time Achievement | Sayagyi Dr Kyaw Sein | |
| Belle-letter | Yein Nwe Par | |
| Selected short stories | Kyu Kyu Thin | |
| Myanmar culture and fine arts literature | Myat Wai Toe | |
| Child literature | Yenanmye Maung Manug Kyi | |
| Youth literature | Kyunsinmye Saw Khet | |
| Translation | Taw Kaung Min | |
| Translation | Win Htut Zaw | |
| General knowledge | Dr Dagon | |
| General knowledge | Dr Kyaw Tint | |
| General knowledge | Aung Soe |
2009 awards
The 2009 awards were presented at the hall of the Ministry of Information in Nay Pyi Taw on 31 December 2010.The Lifetime Achievement for National Literary Award was presented to Dr Khin Maung Nyunt.
Other winners of literary awards were Linka Yi Kyaw, Maung Cheint, Maung Ni Win, Maung Khin Min, U Kyaw Than, Min Shwe Min, Ye Tint, Ma Kyan, Pho Swe and U Saw Aung Hla Tun.
2010 awards
2010 award winners were:| Category | Author | Work |
| Lifetime achievement | Dr Thaw Kaung | Many articles and ten books including From the Librarian's Window: View of Library and Manuscript Studies and Myanmar Literature and Aspects of Myanmar History and Culture |
| Translation | Nay Win Myint | Yekantha Kyataingaye, translation of The Glass Palace by Amitah Gosh |
| Collected Short Stories | Ye Shan | Budayongale |
| Collected Poems | Myinmu Maung Naing Moe | Alwan-thadin Pan-ta-khin |
| Belles-letters | Tint Swe | Kyawpoeikalayko Chikalwe |
| Youth Literature | Tin Myint | From Shinma Mountain to Ayeyarwady |
| Translation | Boe Hlaing | Discovery of India |
| General Knowledge | Dr Aung Myint Oo | Research on Language |
| General Knowledge | Sayagyi U Han Tun | Narathukha Treatise and Prose Treatise |
| General Knowledge | Saw Ngu Wah | IM Bio-technological Agriculture |
| Political Literature | Ko Than | The Secret Journey of a Myanmar Youth Group to the Battlefield of Vietnam |
| English Language | Kyaw Latt | Art and Architecture of Bagan and Historical Background |
2011 awards
2011 award winners were:| Category | Author | Work |
| Lifetime achievement | Min Yu Wai | |
| Translation | Tin Maung Myint | Myaw translation of Waiting by Ha Jin |
| Translation | U Kyi Myint | |
| Collected Short Stories | Ye Myat Tin | |
| Collected Poems | Pyinmana Maung Ni Thin | |
| Belles-letters | Kaythipan U Hla Myint | |
| Translation | U Kyi Myint | |
| General Knowledge | Dr U Win Naing | |
| General Knowledge | Khin Maung Swe | |
| General Knowledge | Thaung Nyunt Thit | |
| Political Literature | Ko Ko Maung Gyi | |
| English Language | U Thet Tun | |
| Drama | U Nyein Min | Tapin Kyo Hlyin Naut Hna Pin |
| Myanmar Culture and Arts | Natmauk Tun Shein | |
| Children’s Literature | Maung Seinn Naung |
2012 awards
The 2012 awards was presented at the National Theatre, Yangon on 3 December 2013. 2012 award winners were:| Category | Author | Work |
| Lifetime achievement | Khin Swe Oo Aung Thin Theikpan Hmu Tin | |
| Translation | Tin Maung Myint | Pyit Hume Ne Pyit Dan, translation of Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky |
| Translation | Maung Myint Kywe | Myanmarpyi Hma Naeyet Myar, translation of Burmese Days by George Orwell |
| Collected Short Stories | Khin Mya Zin | Kaungkin Moe Tain Wuttu-to Mya |
| Collected Poems | Ko | Mya Kan Thar Kabyar Poung Chok |
| Belles-letters | Dr Khin Latyar | Pae Pae Bo Let Ya |
| General Knowledge | Maung Hon Won | Min Thu Wun Hint Kabyar |
| General Knowledge | Kyaw Oo | Yae Kyi Ta Pauk |
| General Knowledge | Dr Khin Sann Maw | Tilikesan Myar Hma Lu Ko Kuset That Taw Yawgar Myar |
| Political Literature | Kyaw Win | Myanmar Naing Nyan Yaw Lelar Sansit Chat |
| English Language | Myint Aung | Revealing Myanmar's Past: An Anthology of Archaeological Articles |
| Novel | Htet Naing | Ma Pyaw Pyit Kae Tae Sagar |
| Myanmar Culture and Arts | Stephen Ni Kio | Chin Yin Kyae Hmu Dalae Htone Tan |
| Children’s Literature | Shwe Myaing Pyone Lei Maw | Aryone Oo Hmar Pu Tae Pan Nae Kalay Kabyar Myar |
2013 awards
The 2013 awards were presented at the National Theatre, Yangon on 22 November 2014. 2013 award winners were:| Category | Author | Work |
| Lifetime achievement | Dr Khin Aye Sithu U Tin Hlaing U Myint Kyi | |
| Translation | Tun Tint Aung | |
| Collected Short Stories | Wai | |
| Collected Poems | Maung Lwan Naing | |
| Belles-letters | Maung Yint Mar | |
| General Knowledge | U San Win | |
| General Knowledge | Dr Kyaw Than Tun | |
| General Knowledge | Dr Ye Win Tun | |
| Political Literature | Thein Oo | |
| English Language | Ye Dway | |
| Novel | Naing Zaw | |
| Myanmar Culture and Arts | Myat Wai Toe | |
| Children’s Literature | Than Aung |