Than E

Ma Than E Fend (, also known by her baptismal name Dora) was a prominent Burmese singer in the early 20th century, known by her stage name Bilat Pyan Than . Also, she was also an international civil servant, who spent a long career in the United Nations.

During the Japanese invasion of Burma during the Second World War, Ma Than escaped to India to work for the All India Radio's Burmese language service. She subsequently spent the rest of her life abroad.

Early life and education

Than E was born in Rangoon, Burma to U Po Mya and Daw Htoo. Her father worked for a European trading firm and later taught Burmese and Pali at St. Paul's School for Boys (now BEHS No. 6). He taught Britons who needed a certificate of proficiency in Burmese for government or commercial positions.

Her mother was a teacher at Boys Methodist School. Than E attended English Methodist Girls School (now BEHS No. 1 Dagon). When Than E was 13, her father suffered a stroke while unsuccessfully prospecting for tin and tungsten in the malaria-infested Tenasserim Division (now Taninthayi Region). He was bedridden for nearly two years before he his death. Daw Htoo struggled under much hardship as a single mother to bring up her three children: Dora Than E and her brothers, Tommy Thaung Tin and John Than Tin.

At sixteen, Than E entered the Baptist-affiliated Judson College within the Rangoon University (now Yangon University) majoring in English Literature, Indian History and Philosophy.

As a result, no government jobs were available. However, Than E found a teaching job at ABM Karen School, a school run by the American Baptist Mission in Henzada (now Hinthada). She taught English to secondary and high school students.

The next year, she got a teaching job at the Teachers' Training College of the Rangoon University (now Yangon Institute of Education). Her job was to teach English to those training to become teachers to get the Rangoon University Diploma of Teaching. Than E also taught English to pupils in classes at the attached TTC Practicing School.

Singing career After the death of her mother, Than E stayed in the Cushing compound in Ahlon Township with her elder brother Tommy Thaung Tin and his wife Aye Nu and younger brother John Than Tin. One day, Tommy Thaung Tin came with a proposal that she sing a Burmese song for a recording to be made by his good friend, Nyi Pu of the A-One Motion Picture Company. Tommy was very persistent, so Than E agreed, practiced the song, and recorded it.

The contract was that Than E would record a certain number of songs a year and would be paid a lump sum. There would be no royalties on the sales of the records. She agreed to the terms and recorded a large number of songs written by Shwe Daing Nyunt. Than E used the stage name Bilat Pyan Than or "Than who returned from England."

World War II period broadcaster

In the Burma Campaign, Japanese Fifteenth Army launched in an attack into Tenasserim Division (now Thaninthayi Region) in January 1942. Rangoon was bombed by the Japanese warplanes. Than E joined the Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma) (known as WAS(B)), where she was in the motor unit and drove a jeep for officers on official duty. On February 22, 1942, two retreating brigades of the 17th Indian Division were lost due to the premature demolition of the bridge at the Battle of Sittang Bridge.

Realizing Rangoon could not be defended, General Harold Alexander ordered the evacuation of Rangoon after the ports and oil refineries had been destroyed. Than E.'s unit was to retreat to Mandalay and Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin). Before they could go there, the Japanese bombers destroyed the trains bound for Taungoo. At the last minute, the high command decided the WAS(B) unit would leave for India on the latest troop ship that brought in reinforcements. Than E's friend Mi Mi Khaing, who had an officer rank, shared a cabin on the ship with Than E. The trip took much longer than usual due to threats of Japanese submarine attacks, but they arrived safely in Calcutta.

Although they were still Wasbees and still under their strict orders, Than E and Mi Mi Khaing took the opportunity to contact the editor of The Statesman. At the time, All India Radio (AIR) was about to begin a new service called External Services to broadcast to countries outside of India and she was offered a job to start up the Burmese language service of the newly established External Services of All India Radio. Her task was to broadcast to territories under Japanese occupation, which included Burma.

She contacted Tin Tut at the Dorchester and he took her to meet the delegation. That was the first meeting of her with Bogyoke (General) Aung San.

At the end of the mission, Bogyoke gave a reception to his English hosts, members of parliament of both parties, journalists, friends of Burma and the Burmese group. Bogyoke requested, in advance, Than E to sing at his reception. Than E sang three songs: one in English, one in French and one in Burmese. She was accompanied by a piano for the English and French songs.

The Burmese song she selected was "Mo Nat Dewi", the lyrics of which were from a love poem written by the Burmese queen Hlaing Hteik Khaung Tin. Bogyoke asked her to return to Burma, saying he could find her a job in Rangoon. Tin Tut thought he would be the first Burmese ambassador from Independent Burma to the United Kingdom. He said Than E would be more useful in London than in Rangoon. Tin Tut was assassinated in September 1948 and Than E struggled to find work before being offered a role by the UN Personnel Officer.

From May 1948 onward she worked at the United Nations Secretariat for 24 years. Her United Nations assignments took her to New Delhi, for an assignment at the United Nations Information Center. She was then transferred to Algiers in the newly independent Algeria to establish a similar center. While she was posted in Algiers, Aung San Suu Kyi visited and stayed with her on her summer vacation from her study at St Hugh's College, Oxford.

Personal life She married an Austrian documentary filmmaker, Warner Fend.

Later years After her retirement, Than E went to live in a small town in the Austrian Alps, Feldkirch, Vorarlberg. At the end of her memorial service, her signature song was played.