National Literary Lifetime Award Winner, Librarian Dr. Sithu Thaw Kaung Passes Away, Cremation to be Held This Afternoon at Yay Way Cemetery

Ayeyarwaddy Times July 29 Dr. Sithu Thaw Kaung, a globally renowned librarian and recipient of the National Literary Lifetime Award, passed away this morning, July 29 (Wasaw Full Moon Day, Dhamma Cakka Day), at the age of 89, according to the Myanmar Library Association (MLA). His son, Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung, confirmed the passing of the esteemed scholar. The body will be transported to Yay Way Cemetery this afternoon, July 29, at 2 PM for cremation. As the scholar passed away on a significant day like the Wasaw Full Moon Day, Dhamma Cakka Day, the cremation ceremony is being conducted this afternoon. The Myanmar Library Association (MLA) issued a statement, noting that Dr. Sithu Thaw Kaung consistently contributed to Myanmar's libraries and literary world, striving in the fields of literature and education and sharing knowledge with the younger generation. The association expressed its deep condolences to the bereaved family, honoring the scholar's contributions and intellectual legacy with respect. U Thaw Kaung was instrumental in establishing the teaching of library science at the university level. He actively promoted and fostered the library movement in Myanmar, earning him recognition not only domestically but also internationally as a prominent Myanmar librarian. The scholar was proficient in both English and Myanmar languages and authored and published over 180 papers and books on Myanmar history and literature, with the majority written in English. He received the Pakokku U Ohn Phe Lifetime Literary Award at the age of 71 in 2008 and the National Literary Lifetime Award at the age of 73 in 2010. Furthermore, he was honored with the Suttha Sayar Son Lifetime Literary Award in 2015, the Thoon Foundation Lifetime Literary Award in 2016, and the Saw Myint Thein Literary Lifetime Award. In 1999, the University of Western Sydney, Australia, conferred upon him an Honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa), leading to him being addressed as "Dr. Thaw Kaung." Additionally, in 1983, the Library Association of the United Kingdom elected him as an Honorary Fellow (Hon. Fellow of the Library Association (FLA)). The scholar began his career at the age of 19, working part-time at the library of the English Department at Yangon University. In March 1959, he graduated with First Class Honors in Bachelor of Arts (English) from Yangon University, receiving the U Ba Nyi Gold Medal. Subsequently, he continued his library science studies at the Social Science Institute Library (now the Yangon University of Economics Library) under the guidance of U Zaw Gyi. In 1962, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship from the University of London. He also earned the AALIA (Associate of the Australian Library and Information Association) and FLA (Fellow of the Library Association), the highest qualification in the UK, marking him as a historic scholar. Photo – Social Media