Mandalay College founder immortalised with statue

Mandalay College founder immortalised with statue

By Khin Su Wai   |   Sunday, 29 September 2013

A statue of Mandalay University founder U Ko Lay has been unveiled at the university, one month after what would have been the noted scholar's 100th birthday.

The statue of U Ko Lay is unveiled on September 23. (Khin Su Wai/The Myanmar Times)

The 1.2-metre (4-foot) copper statue was installed on September 23 outside the university's main building. It cost about K4.5 million to cast, more than half of which was donated by Dae O Sayadaw.

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

With U Ko Lay as its inaugural vice chancellor, Mandalay University was established as Mandalay College in 1947. 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.

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.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/10/01/mandalay-college-founder-immortalised-with-statue/