Mandalay National High School

Britain made Burma a province of India in 1886 with the capital at Rangoon.^[1] While the Burmese economy grew, all the power and wealth remained in the hands of several British firms and migrants from India. The civil service was largely staffed by Anglo-Burmese and Indians, and Burmese were excluded almost entirely from military service, which was staffed primarily with Indians, Anglo-Burmese, Karens and other Burmese minority groups. Though the country prospered, the Burmese people failed to reap the rewards^[2] By the turn of the century, a nationalist movement began to take shape in the form of Young Men's Buddhist Association(YMBA), modeled after the YMCA, as religious associations were allowed by the colonial authorities. They were later superseded by the General Council of Burmese Associations (GCBA) which was linked with Wunthanu athin or National Associations that sprang up in villages throughout Burma Proper.^[3] In 1920 the first university students' strike in history broke out in protest against the new University Act which the students believed would only benefit the elite and perpetuate colonial rule. National Schools sprang up across the country in protest against the colonial education system, and the strike came to be commemorated as 'National Day'.^[4] Mandalay (Central) National High School was one of the four National Schools setup at that time.

Mandalay (Central) National High School or No. 2 BEHS Mandalay

After the Rangoon University Students Boycott on 5th. December 1920, (Burmese Calendar year 1282, 10th. wane moon of Tazaungmone),^[5] National Colleges and National Schools were set up in various town of Burma.
Four National Schools were established in Mandalay. Central National High School was situated in Aung Nan Yeik Thar, block 582, between (30th /31st) ) streets and (80th./81st. ), Ahtetsin win, at the place of old library.^[6]
Green Longgyi (Paso), Black Tike Pone was the male uniform and the female uniform was Blue Htami and white shirt.
About another five years British government announced the Education Allocations for National Schools. There was the difference of opinion amongst the Voluntary teachers, Parents and Doners leading to mass resignation of teachers and most of the National schools around Burma were closed. In Mandalay this Central National High School managed by U Razak was the only one managed to survive. Since then, as that school was situated at the centre of all four National Schools and the sole surviving one, the school name was officially changed to Central National High School.^[7]
In 1937, 18 year old Former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, who followed the PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was blessed in the main hall.^[8] The statue of a lion was placed in front of that main hall in 1955. The picture of that lion was later chosen as the school emblem. The motto of the school is “Atta-Hei-Atta Naw-Nar-Htaw” (in Pali language) and means, “ I am the (only) one (that) I can (respect) and count on,^[9][10] is written below the emblem.

U Razak pioneered the following things for the school

1. Established the Voluntary Police Corps in the school and trained the students to have discipline and experience of working together for the public.^[11]
2. Established the boxing club M.A.^[12]
3. Established the basketball team
4. Established the Performing Arts Club, teaching singing, dancing and playing musical instruments
5. Held the Monthly Debate completion
6. Hired the renowned Hindu Poet Mr Sundrum who could not speak Burmese to increase the standard of teaching English.
7. U Razak organized his old students who were teaching in various Colleges and Universities to come back and help teaching the students during the university holidays

Notable alumni of Central National High School

• Ludu Daw Amar
• Kyar Ba Nyein
• Vice-Senior General Maung Aye. Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling military junta of Burma.
• M.A. Ma Ohn. She matriculated in 1930 from the Central National High School Mandalay, Professor of Pali in Mandalay University ^[13]
• Dr Kaung Zan (Chief Agricultural research Officer of Burma later International Rice Research Institute of Philippines) ^[14]
• Retd. Colonel Khin Nyo (Ne Win’s Caretaker Government in 1957 and Revolution Council Member in 1962) ^[15]
• U Saw Hla. President of the Students’ Union of this school during the all Burma General Strike in 1938. Patron of the old student association of this school.^[16]
• Pinnie @ Rtd. Lt. Colonel Tin Aung , Chief of the Maintenance Dept . of Mingaladon Air force base.^[17]
• Thakhin Chan Tun. Revolutionist, awarded First Prize of Nainggan Gonyi.^[18]
• U Aung Kyi , Vice President of Mandalay Association in Yangon ^[19]
• Thuriya Than Maung , President of the Rangoon University Student Union and All Burma Student Union. Journalist.^[20]
• U Maung Maung Mya, President of the Malun Rice Cherity Association Mandalay ^[21]
• Colonel Wai Lin, Journalist and Deputy Director Armoured Division, Myanmar Military ^[22]
• Theikpan Hmu Tin Ret. Majour. Journalist. Got the award from WHO for his writing against smoking.^[23]

References

1. ^ British rule in Burma British rule section, 1st. paragraph , 1st. sentence
2. ^ .British rule in Burma British rule section, 1st. paragraph, last sentence
3. ^ .British rule in Burma British rule section, 2nd. paragraph, last sentence
4. ^ British rule in Burma British rule section, 3rd. paragraph, last sentence
5. ^ M.A. Ma Ohn, What I have learned about Central National High School Mandalay, article in Mandalay 150th. Anniversary Magazine (Printed in May 2009 published by U Sein Shwe @ Sein Shwe Hlaing, Chief Editor Maung Hla Paw - Mandalay. Page 163 to 167
6. ^ M.A.Ma Ohn Page 164, 1st. column paragraph 2 .
7. ^ M.A. Ma Ohn Page 165, 1st column, paragraph 3&4.
8. ^ M.A. Ma Ohn Page 166, 1st. column last 2 sentences and 2nd. column, 1st paragraph
9. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 23.
10. ^ Page 165, 2nd. column 2nd. paragraph , sentences 1,2&3 of M.A. Ma Ohn.
11. ^ M.A. Ma Ohn p 165 2nd. column para 3
12. ^ Ma Ohn p 165 2nd. column para 4
13. ^ U Razak of Burma, a Teacher, a Leader , a Martyr by Dr Nyi Nyi, BSC (Hons) Ph D (London) D.I.C. 1st. Edition July 2007, ISBN 978 974 433 092 5. OS Printing House Co Ltd. Bangkok.Line 3,4&5, paragraph 5 page 9. Author is the Former Prof of Geology, Director of Universities, Permanent Secretary of Education, Deputy Minister of Education, Minister of Mines, Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Later UNICEF as Director of Programmes. After retirement, Clinical Prof of Public Health in Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and member of Board of Directors of several International non-profit organizations.
14. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p. 10 last paragraph
15. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 35
16. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 41
17. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 44
18. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 51
19. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 58
20. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 64
21. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 68
22. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 74
23. ^ Dr Nyi Nyi p 79

See also

• U Razak

External links

• Dr Nyi Nyi, BSC (Hons) Ph D (London) D.I.C. 1st. Edition July 2007, ISBN 978 974 433 092 5. OS Printing House Co Ltd. Bangkok, "U Razak of Burma, a Teacher, a Leader , a Martyr" Although the book is about U Razak, most of the facts are about Mandalay National High School, as he was the Head Master and the all the short articles were written by his former students. [1]