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Annex 4

(Writer- Maung Htin)

(An Extract From The Workers' Daily Newspaper Of 18-5-72)

Last year, a seminar was conducted on `Documentary Literature'. During that seminar, literary critics and historians proposed projects they wished to undertake. However, in today's busy world, I expect we have already forgotten what we wanted to achieve and what had been suggested.

However, after having been reminded about such important matters we think that probably there will be someone who will put these projects into practice.

In the past there were several dignitaries amongst our own Myanmar nationals, who had made great efforts to benefit our nation and country. But, given the circumstances then prevailing the details were not documented as they should have been, and as a result, today we are not well informed about our heroes. More importantly, without being fully aware of the full facts of their greatness and without taking other people's opinions into account, our reporting was very one sided. Because the bad news of famous people and heroes was usually well reported, we had great difficulty in presenting it in a balanced and meaningful way in any historical document we prepared. This fact alone should be enough to suggest to history lovers that great care should be taken when they are writing about a well-known person. The reason for this suggestion is that I was reading an article by Paragu the other day (15-5-72) about a "Chandramani Baba".
That Buddhist Bhikkhu from Myanmar was well known in India as `Chandramani Baba', while the Myanmar devotees, men and women in Myanmar, simply called him `U Chandra'. I had barely heard of his name U Chandra. There are millions of people living on this earth and the odds against meeting one's friends are high. I therefore never dreamed that I would ever meet this great dignitary. Nevertheless, I was privileged to meet U Chandramani ten years ago when I was in Kushinagar. I not only met with him but also had the opportunity to give donations to buy food and other necessities.

A group of Indian children were playing in front of the entrance gate to the Kushinagar Temple. When I heard that those children were attending a school that had been established by U Chandramani, I felt great respect for the Bhikkhu even before I met him. In Myanmar, it was not strange to see an Indian teacher teaching Myanmar pupils. However, for a Myanmar national living in India to teach Indian children to fully respect Buddha's teachings was very rare indeed. Other countries send people to Myanmar to build many missionary schools, but U Chandramani was the only Myanmar from our country, who I had seen with my own eyes, who had built a Buddhist missionary school abroad.

As an act of Dana, I very respectfully handed over to Saradawgree balachaung (fried fish paste) and other similar preserved foods that I had brought from Myanmar. Saradawgree then looked a little plump, but handsome and clean, and he was eating chaparti made of rough flour; he was eating his meal very gracefully, befitting the Vinaya (rules laid down by the Lord Buddha). I immediately thought that Saradawgree was eating in a manner similar to that of Myaungmya Saradaw, and then it suddenly dawned on me that these two Saradaws were the product of the same `Withuddharon School' in Myanmar.
Because I was rushing to pay homage to the pagodas in the area and it happened to be Saradawgree's lunchtime, I did not have time to chat with him apart from exchanging greetings. With many thanks to Hanthawadi U Ba Khin, I found out some details from him including Saradawgree's bravery and heroic activities. It was Saradawgree who made it possible to let the world know that Kushinagar is the place where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana. While he was doing that, he made himself a promise to bring those Indians living in and near Kushinagar under the umbrella of the Buddhist faith, He did not return to Myanmar. However, after the Second World War when Myanmar and India had become independent countries, he had to give up his Myanmar citizenship and took up Indian citizenship instead. He continued to live there in Kushinagar carrying out his Buddhist missionary work until his death.

When I met with Saradawgree, a lay attendant mentioned that he would soon be ninety; yet, in my mind, he was still quite strong and healthy.

Thanks to Paragu and his article about Saradawgree, we now know a little more about this heroic dignitary; Saradaw's activities are by no means ordinary, he is linked to India's history in rebuilding Buddha Sasana. We hope that people who are familiar with the Cultural history of India-Burma, will record Saradaw's work as completely as they possibly can. In writing a person's story, each writer views things from different angles. However, the true facts cannot be altered.

In spite of having built up our nation and our own country, if we do not keep a record of the achievements of our nationals, then Myanmar and Myanmar's customs will slowly fade away and a time will come when we will be adopting other countries' customs and be unaware of our own history. For those who can look at history in a balanced way, there is no need to judge it; they will form their own opinions and come to know the truth.