Ludu Daw Amar, a prominent female journalist and writer, turned 88 on November 29 in Mandalay, Burma.
In an interview with VOA Burmese Service she talked about her role in the country's struggle for independence and lamented over the short-lived democratic government after independence and the sorry state of the country under long military rule.
She, however, praised the young men and women in exile who have been struggling, against all odds, for a democratic change in Burma.
Notable literary figures from inside and outside of Burma celebrated this famous writer's birthday. Historian Dr. Than Tun, poets Dagon Taya, Maung Moe Thu, Tin Moe (by phone from Los Angeles), journalists Ludu Sein Win, Myanma Alin Than Nyunt and Maung Wun Tha, writer Kyaw Yin Myint -- as well as British ambassador in Rangoon Vicky Bowman (writer Daw Ohmar Khin) and Anna Allott (writer Daw Khin Khin Chaw), a retired professor of Burmese from University of London, who all attended the birthday celebrations in Mandalay -- expressed their thoughts on Daw Amar's life and work.
Poet and writer Dagon Taya laments on the lack of peace in Burma. He said peace can lead to unity and prosperity in the country.
Other literary luminaries talked about how they benefited professionally from the works of Daw Amar and poet Maung Moe Thu read a poem written in her honor by another Mandalay native and present political prisoner and journalist-writer U Win Tin.
Another famous poet Tin Moe read his own poem extolling the exalted position of Daw Amar among the literary stars of Burma.
British ambassador Ms. Bowman told VOA in the Burmese language that she came to meet Daw Amar on her birthday in Mandalay not as a diplomat but as an English translator of Burmese writers and that she hopes to be able to come again to this ancient capital and second largest city of Burma next year to celebrate Daw Amar's 89th birthday.