U Ohn Pe

U OHN Pe, the founder of the Pakokku U Ohn Pe Literary Award, died at the age of 92 at Pakokku Hospital in Magwe Division in central Myanmar on April 13.

His death was the second major blow to Myanmar’s literary society this month, following the passing away of renowned writer and journalist Ludu Daw Amar just one week before.

Born around 1917 in the village of Shardaw near Pakokku, U Ohn Pe was the eldest of five siblings. Because of his family’s lack of finances, he was able to learn basic literacy skills only for a short period around the age of 10 at a village monastery.

U Ohn Pe had to struggle to earn his living by working a variety of jobs, including day labourer, betel nut seller, farm worker and timber worker.

He also gained notoriety as a thief and was arrested at the age of 29 for robbery. It was in jail that he developed an interest in reading under the guidance of a warden named U Maung Maung Tin.

Having served his prison term, U Ohn Pe was determined to earn his living using only legal means. Starting out as a tobacco dealer, he was able to establish a tobacco manufacturing company and a factory of his own in 1956.

Although he earned his living as a businessman, U Ohn Pe never forgot his passion for reading and promoting new literary talent. In 1992 he raised K7.6 million to establish the annual Pakokku U Ohn Pe Literary Award, which was followed by the opening of the Pakokku U Ohn Pe Library in the compound of his home in Pakokku.

U Ohn Pe was also the founder of the Pakokku Outstanding Students Award, Pakokku Phar-maceutical Fund, Pakokku Fund for Fire and Pakokku Scholarship for the Poor.

In 1993 the government awarded him the title Excellent Performance in Social Field Class I. He was also among a delegation of Myanmar writers that visited China in 1996.

U Ohn Pe also published several books of his own, starting in 2000 with volume one of his autobiography. This was followed in 2001 by volume two, while 2004 saw the publication of the third and final instalment, as well as a collection of articles.