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Colonel Aung San and Daw Khin Kyi after their marriage in 1942 photo by Unknown Author

Top 10 Amazing Facts About Khin Kyi

Khin Kyi April 16, 1912, in Myaungmya and died on December 27, 1988. She was a Burmese Politician and diplomat, best Known for her marriage to the country’s leader Aung San. She was blessed with four children, Aung San Oo, Aung San Lin, Aung San Suu Kyi and Aung San Chit.

She was the daughter of Pho Hnyin (father) and Phwa Su (mother). She grew up in Myaungmya, an Irrawaddy delta town, the eighth of brothers and sisters. She was a Buddhist of Bamar ancestry.

She attended the American Baptist Mission Girl’s High School in Rangoon and later received a middle school teacher’s certificate from the Morton Lane American Baptist Mission School’s Teacher’s Training program. She later become a teacher and taught at one of the National schools in Myaungmya her home town.

However, she decided to give up on her teaching career and join the nursing profession against her mother’s wish and follow in her 2 elder sisters’ footsteps who were at the time training to become nurses.  

1. She was Educated

One of the interesting facts about Khin Kyi she was educated. She studied up to the seventh standard in Myaungmya the continued her education at the American Baptist Mission-run Kemmendine Girl’s school which is now a number one Basic Education High School in Kyimyindaing.

She later received a middle school teacher’s certificate and continued with her tertiary education at the Teachers Training College in Moulmein (the fourth largest city in Myanmar). Khin Kyi then became a teacher at one of the National High Schools in Myaungmya her hometown for some time.

2. Khin Kyi Came from a Nurse’s Family

 It is amazing to know that two of Khin Kyi’s elder sisters had taken up nursing as their profession and enrolled in the Midwife and Nurse Training program at Dufferin Hospital, Yangon. Today it is Yangon Central Women’s Hospital in Bogyoke Aung San Street.

 Khin Kyi was also interested in nursing more than the teaching profession and she ended up joining the staff of the Rangoon General Hospital as a nursing probationer and taking nursing as a profession like her two elder sisters although it was against her mum’s wish.

3. She First meet Aung San when he was hospitalized (Later became her husband)

Colonel Aung San and Daw Khin Kyi after their marriage in 1942 photo by Unknown Author

Khin Kyi first met Aung San in 1942, at the Rangoon General Hospital, where she served as a senior nurse. When Aung San fell ill (he had injuries sustained during the Burma Campaign) and was hospitalized Dr Ba Than (the most renowned Burmese Surgeon in those days) trusted Khin and he let her take care of the commander of the Burmese Independence Army.

Aung San fell in love with the nurse. After some hesitation, she agreed to marry the Commander. The marriage took place on September 6, 1942. The couple was blessed with four kids Aung San Oo, Aung San Lin, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Aung San Chit however, Aung San Chit died soon after birth.

4. Khin Served in Many Posts in Burma

 Another amazing fact about Kyi is that she served the people of Burma in different positions. Khin Kyi was one of the luckiest women in Burma since she had opportunities to serve in many posts. Some of the posts she served include;

She was the director of the Burma Women’s Association from 1947-1953, from 1953-1958, chair of the Social Welfare Planning Commission, she was as well chair of the Union of Burma Social Welfare Council, chair Of Mother and Child Welfare, chair of the Child Welfare Council, chair of Health and Public Affairs Committee.

Not forgetting her being the Chair of the Union of Burma Women’s Associations Council, chair of the Association for the Advancement of Democracy, Chief Scout of the Burma Women’s Scout Association, Administrator of the Myanmar Ambulance Services and abd vice chair of Ramakrishna Missionary hospital and library.

5. Appointed as Burma’s Ambassador to India

Khin Kyi with Indian woman Photo By Division, Govt. of India

In 1960, Khin Kyi was appointed as Burma’s Ambassador to India. She became the first woman to serve as the head of a diplomatic mission. During her tenure in New Delhi (the seat of all three branches of the government of India), Jawaharlal Nehru Indian prime minister arranged for Suu Kyi and Khin Kyi to live on 24 Akbar Road. (a road which India’s political party Indian National Congresses have their head office).

During the colonial era, 24 Akbar Road was designed by Edwin Lutyens. On this road is where India’s political party, Indian National Congress had their head office, the site was then known as Burma House.

6. Her Burial was Attended by over 200,000 People

In late March 1988, Khin Kyi suffered a stroke and was admitted to Bangkok General Hospital. His daughter Aung San Kyi flew to Rangoon to look after her mother. In July same year she was dismissed from the hospital and brought back to her house and later died on December 18, 1988.

Khin Kyi received a state funeral on January 2, 1989. The people who attended the funeral were an estimated crowd of over 200,000 people despite the presence of military trucks which intervened to try to prevent this gathering.

7. Daw Khin Kyi Foundation is Named in her Honour

Daw Khin Kyi Foundatio Office photo by Maung Sun

The Daw Khin Kyi Foundation was started in 2012. Khin Kyi’s daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi founded the foundation and named it after her late mother as a way of honouring her.

The aim of starting the foundation was to improve the education, health and welfare of the people of Myanmar. The foundation is still active to date and has helped the people of Myanmar big time.

8. She Came from a Family of Believers

Khin Kyi was a Buddhist believer, though there were rumours that she was an ethnic Karen Christian because her family lived in the Irrawaddy Delta where a large population was ethnic Karen Christians.

Her father converted to Christianity and he was Baptised in the Baptist Church as a young man while her mother was a staunch Buddhist. This shows how committed believers the family was.

9. Khin Kyi was a Great Teacher who Taught in National School

After she finished high school, Khin Kyi continued with her tertiary education at the Teacher’s Training College in Moulmein.

After her graduation, she secured a chance to teach as one of the teachers at the National School in Myaungmya her home town. This show she was a great teacher to be able to secure a chance in National School.

10. She was Promoted to the Rank of a ‘sister’ By Dr Ba Than

After Khi Kyi Graduated as a nurse she began working as an ordinary nurse at Yangon General Hospital. The booming of Yangon wounded many civilians, which happened on December 23, 1941, and nurse Kyi accompanied the wounded for medical treatment in Calcutta, India.

Later, she was promoted to the rank of a ‘sister’ by Dr Ba Than, the best-known surgeon of Burmese those days who stayed in the country after the Japanese occupation.