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U Nu photo by Unknown Author

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about U Nu

U Nu, also known as Thakin Nu, was a Burmese independence leader who served as the prime minister of Myanmar (then known as Burma) from 1948 to 1958 and from 1960 to 1962. He was a nationalist politician.

U Nu was born on May 25, 1907, in Wakema, Burma (now known as Myanmar), and passed away on February 14, 1995, in Yangon. Nu’s parents were U San Tun and Daw Saw Khin.

In addition to this, he was a prominent writer and a pioneer in the Buddhist renaissance. After being removed from power by the military in 1962, he continued to lead the opposition from exile and advocate for democracy in Myanmar up until the time of his passing.

1. U Nu was Highly Educated

U Nu was the son of a local Burmese nationalist politician. A graduate of the University of Rangoon in 1929, Nu had his education at Wakema and Myoma National High School in Rangoon. During his time at the University of Rangoon, one of his companions was U Thant, who would go on to become the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Before enrolling in Rangoon University once more in 1934 to study for a law degree, Nu worked in the education and journalism fields for a combined total of five years. In 1935, he wed Mya Yi while he was still in the process of earning his Bachelor of Laws degree.

2. U Nu Was a Fearless Revolutionist

U Nu photo by Unknown Author

Nu was thrust into the spotlight of the public at first in 1936 as a leader of the students’ strike, which was the first large-scale show of Burmese opposition to British colonial authority. Because of his involvement in revolutionary activity, he was kicked out of law school at the university by the British.

Nu was a writer and translator of significant brilliance and the driving force behind the Red Dragon Book Club in the late 1930s. This organization published and circulated literature that advocated for revolutionary causes. 

3. He was a Neutralist

Nu made ceaseless efforts to uphold a neutral policy by avoiding both the American and Soviets sides during the Cold War. He served in this capacity for ten years, from 1948 until 1958, except for a brief break in 1956 when he worked to reorganize the government political party.

He also made attempts, some of which were fruitful, to bring his nation’s economy into the modern era and construct a socialist state.

4. Unwaveringly Religious

Nu, who was revered by the Burmese populace for his unwavering commitment to Buddhism, was able to effectively put down several insurrections led by Communists and members of ethnic minorities.

U Nu was the primary driving force behind the post-colonial Buddhist resurgence that took place in Burma. Between the years 1954 and 1956, he oversaw the organization of the Sixth Great Buddhist Synod, which was a significant event for Buddhists all over the world.

5. U Nu was a Prolific Writer

U Nu photo by Unknown Author

In addition to being a prolific author of novels and plays, Nu also wrote the political commentary. Both Ganda-layit, which was inspired by the author’s journey to China in 1939, and Modern Plays, which was an insightful collection of political parables, were written before World War II.

As a component of the government’s overall attempt to counteract the propagandistic effects of communism, he penned the screenplay for the film adaptation of The People Win Through in 1952. He also used the play “The Wages of Sin,” which premiered in 1961, to aim at the hypocrisy and avarice of those serving in positions of authority in the government.

6. He was a Reluctant Leader

Nu was only elected In 1947, in a special by-election held to fill the vacancy after the death of an elected delegate to the constitutional convention. Nu won the election and was subsequently confirmed as the new representative. People loved his leadership and made him a subsidiary figure to Aung San, the “founding father” of Burma. Nu was later elected president of the Constituent Assembly.

His path to ruling Burma was not his calculation, and he was only asked to do so as a replacement. The previous British governor, Sir Hubert Rance, solicited Nu to succeed Aung San as the premier-designate of an independent Burmese government. Aung San and other top leaders had been recently killed. When colonial control in Burma ended on January 4, 1948, Nu reluctantly accepted the position of first Prime Minister of an independent Burma.

7. Nu was a Passionate Leader

U Nu photo by Unknown Author

The beginning of Nu’s political career began when he was elected president of the Rangoon University Students Union (RUSU), where M. A. Rashid and U Thi Han served as vice president and general secretary, respectively. Aung San served as the editor as well as the publicity officer.

Both Nu and Aung San were kicked out of the institution after the publication of an essay titled “Hell Hound At Large” in union magazine. The piece was plainly about the university’s rector. Their expulsion in February of 1936 was the spark that ignited the second student strike at the institution.

Aung San and Nu joined the nationalist Dobama Asiayone (Our Burma Association), which was established in 1930. As a result of their membership in the organization, they were given the prefix Thakin (which translates to ‘Master’) and declared that they were the real lords of their very own land.

8. He Cherished and Upheld Democracy.

After his Overthrow by Gen Ne Win, Nu boldly confronted the new government and succeeded in persuading the armed forces to organize elections and give power back to the citizens. Even though they were hounded by the army, Nu’s party nonetheless managed to win the most startling victory in the country’s history in February 1960.

U Nu kept calm when he was partially detained and overthrown by the military, despite having led his people to stability after independence. Instead of fighting back, he sought democratic means from other nations to restore democracy in the country.

9. U Nu was a Devout Buddhist.

U Nu, a devoted Theravada Buddhist, has long been regarded as the country’s spiritual head. Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League-controlled Parliament began a Peace Within One Year campaign in 1950, which included different military measures and governmental changes, in response to the Karen Uprising that year.

Amid this setting, U Nu requested a loan of Buddhist relics from India, as well as orders for military weapons. The relics of the Buddha were travelled across the country by U Nu, who hoped to promote peace via the force of the Buddha’s teachings.

On 29 August 1961, U Nu’s State Religion Promotion Act was approved. This decree proclaimed Buddhism the official state religion, one of his election campaign pledges, and established the Buddhist lunar calendar by observing Buddhist sabbath days, or Uposatha, instead of Sunday.

10. Though Conscious and a Bit Cowardly

Late in 1968, in response to deteriorating economic conditions as well as other factors, Ne Win established a National Unity Advisory Board, and he appointed U Nu as one of the board’s 33 members.

In April of 1969, Nu was terrified that he would be executed or re-arrested if he continued to press his desire for restoration to parliamentary democracy. He pretended to be sick to go away to India.