Ceremony to mark birth of Mandalay University founder

Ceremony to mark birth of Mandalay University founder

By Khin Su Wai   |   Monday, 08 July 2013

The founder of Mandalay College – which later became Mandalay University – would have been 100 years old in August and celebrations are being planned to honour his memory.

U Ko Lay, the first vice chancellor of Mandalay College when it was re-established in 1947. Photo: Supplied

U Ko Lay, whose hard work in the aftermath of World War II helped to secure tertiary education for generations of Myanmar, passed away in 1993.

But his life will be marked at an event on August 23, said U Nyunt Maung, chairman of the centenary celebration's organising committee.

Mandalay University was established as Mandalay College in 1947, with U Ko Lay as its vice chancellor. A similar institution had been founded by the colonial administration in 1920 following student protests but closed in 1942 because of the war.

U Ko Lay had been undertaking a PhD in London when then-Minister for Education U Razak, one of Myanmar's most prominent Muslims, called him back to Myanmar to establish the college.

The challenges he and the other 23 founding teachers overcame to get the college up and running were significant, U Nyunt Maung said.

"When U Ko Lay arrived [to start the college] there were no funds, no infrastructure, no students and no teachers," said U Nyunt Maung. "But U Razak believed U Ko Lay could make it happen. As he expected, Mandalay residents donated enough money to establish the college."

U Tin Mg, vice chairman of the organising committee and a relative of U Ko Lay, described the university founder as "his idol and hero".

U Ko Lay was also renowned for his translation of Buddhist and lay literature into English, including the Glass Palace Chronicles and the works of Thakin Kodaw Hmine.

"He received many literature prizes and wrote a White Paper that was issued by British government. He was very fluent in both Myanmar and English," U Tin Mg said. "When he died he donated all of his property to Pali University [in Yangon]."

U Nyunt Maung said organisers hoped that the event will not only teach younger people about U Ko Lay's achievements but also about the history of the institution.

Since then, many students have graduated from the university and achieved renown in various fields - from academia to politics and law, as well as business. Its alumni include the writer Mg Thar No, director Maung Moe Thu and the poet Tin Moe, along with U Mg D – a former deputy minister of education – U Khin Mg and U Robert Tun Mg, who were well known in the education field.

A pre-centenary birthday ceremony was held on June 23.

U Nyunt Maung said the only disappointment was that religious tension meant that authorities were reluctant to let organisers hold the ceremony as they originally planned but refused to elaborate.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/13/ceremony-to-mark-birth-of-mandalay-university-founder/