According to Nai Ngwe, of the Mon Literature Talk Organising Committee, the talk was held with the intention of helping Mon people broaden their awareness and knowledge as well as to contemporize and improve their lives.

U San Win (left) and Nai Banyar Aung (Right)

The speakers at the talk were U San Win, historical researcher; Nai Banyar Aung, Mon musician; Nai Kasauh Mon, chief editor of IMNA; and Nai Hongsar, vice chairman of New Mon State Party (NMSP).

Nai Ngwe said: “U San Win works hard conducting research, so that his [research] facts are correct. Nai Banyar Aung also has considerable experience in the field of music. Nai Kasauh Mon has worked in media, even at an international level. With regards to Nai Hong Sar, he is an ethnic leader working for peace. It is for these reasons that we chose these four prominent people.”

Nai Ngwe claimed that the majority of people in Thanbyuzayat Township pay a lot of attention to business matters and pay far less attention to society and literature, which is why he invited the speakers to come and talk.

On the first day of talks, U San Win talked about “Suvanabhumi research”, while Nai Banyar Aung addressed the topic of “Mon youths and music”. On the second day Nai Kasauh Mon discussed “news media and national protection”, and Nai Hong Sar talked about “politics and nationality”.

Nai Hong Sar said: “I am glad that I got to talk about politics and nationality. It is a good opportunity for me as I got to talk about my understanding of the situation of our Mon nationality, what difficulties and what struggles we face in politics, and what areas the public is involved with.”

At the talk, the histories of how ethnic groups disappeared on a global scale as well as how ethnic groups were dominated and overrun by larger ethnic group, were discussed too.

The first Mon literature talk were held in Thanbyuzayat Town last year.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI