Maung Su Shin.

THE science author U Myo Thant, known by his pen-name Maung Su Shin, has died aged 78 at the private Shwegonedine Specialist Centre. He was suffering from pneumonia and heart disease.

Maung Su Shin was born in Myaung Mya, Ayeyarwady Division, in 1932, the son of U Chit Pe and Daw Sein Myint. He took a diploma in journalism and publishing studies at Syracuse and Boston Universities in the US, and graduated from Yangon University with a degree in art in 1966. After joining the literary firm Sarpae Beikman in 1953 as compiler, he worked his way up to become director.

The author of about 100 books, he also worked as secretary of the National Literary Awards scrutinising committee under the Ministry of Information for 15 years, the president of Pakokku Literary Awards panel, and a member of Sarpae Beikman script awards panel. For 40 years, starting in 1968, he broadcast the education program “Facts about Science” on Myanmar Radio and Television. Since 2006, he has also broadcast on “Social Language in Vogue in the 21st Century”.

Maung Su Shin launched his writing career in 1954 with short stories, articles and translations, including The Old Man and the Sea, Myat Phayar Shwedagon (Shwedagon Pagoda), Tithwin Hmumyar Thamine (History of Invention) and Nithaw Lin Yone (Red Eagle).

He received two national literary awards, for Tithwin Hmumyar Thamine in 1967 and The Old Man and the Sea in 1968, a lifetime achievement award in 2002, an award as outstanding person in the field of art (second grade) and a Thuta Swesone lifetime achievement award in 2006.

The translation book Nine Steps to Lifelong Happiness, published by Myanmar Consolidated Media, was his last translation work.

“I was deeply saddened by my brother’s death,” said Maung Su Shin’s sister, Daw Tin Yee.

“I regarded him as my father. We lived together in the same house and I never thought he would leave us. On Monday, the day before his death, he was singing to his friends in hospital. That very evening he was discussing future plans with his pupils.”

Maung Su Shin leaves a wife, three sons and one daughter.