Maung Maung Ta

Maung Maung Ta
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Born	(1926-01-09) January 9, 1926 Mandalay, Upper Burma
Children	ten

Dr. Maung Maung Ta (January 9, 1926-) is a Burmese

Biography

Maung Maung Ta was born January 9, 1926 in Mandalay, Upper Burma. His secondary education ended in 1941, when the British presence withdrew to India. He was in the 10th Standard at St Peter’s English High School in Mandalay. He joined the Burma Independence Army in 1942.

He became a civilian attaché in 1943, serving as procurement officer within the Arms & Ammunition Department of General Aung San’s War Ministry, in Rangoon, Burma under Japanese Army occupation. He joined the resistance movement against the occupying forces as the Allies advanced into Burma.

Maung Maung Ta joined the post-independence Regular Burma Army in 1948 as a private soldier, then was commissioned in the field and became Burma Army’s first military administrator in the Insein District.

In 1950 Dr. Maung Maung Ta became an Infantry & Staff Captain-Burma Army. He attended the Staff Duty & Admin training at the Burma Army Staff College arranged by the British Services Mission in Burma under Major-General Temple. of the United Kingdom. Maung Maung Ta stood first in the Army Staff College Course Examinations .of 1950 and for the year 1951.

In 1950, 2/Lt Maung Mg Ta attended Staff College Regimental Course with Senior Staff and Infantry Captains and Stood first in Admin and 3rd in the exam.

'People Win Through' Prime Minister U Nu’s play “The People Win Through”- Ludu Aung Than- the anti communist play turned into a feature film in 1954. Produced by Cascade Pictures of Hollywood, Durected by George Seitz (Jr). The cast L to R are- U Thu Kha, Bo Ba Kho, Hla Maung Glay, Mya Gyi, Maung Maung Ta, Bo Tauk Tun, Thein Han Gyi, Bagyi,, Ohn Mg, Hta Hta and Mai Tin---.U Thu Kha, Maung Maung Ta and Hta Hta are alive in 2004.- In 2007 Maung Mg Ta iony is alive.

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1954——Hollywood chooses Dr Maung Maung Ta to be the lead actor in the anti-communist film “ The People Win Through “ written by Prime Minister U Nu, and filmed on location in Burma, Produced and directed by Director George Seitz. With the English version of the screen script written by Paul Gangelin, President of Writers Guild of Hollywood. It was Junerose Belamy (Yadana Nat Mai ) who introduced Maung Maung Ta to the Hollywood team. Junerose in later life, became Burma’s First Lady having married General Ne Win, Chairman of the Revolutionary Council which in 1962 overthrew Prime Minister U Nu’s democratically elected Government,.

Dr Maung Maung Ta’s debut into the Myanmar cinema industry was spectacular. Prime Minister U Nu himself as the writer of this anti communist play “The People Win Through “ ( in Burmese “ LUDU AUNG THAN “) appeared on the screen. The premier show was attended by Mahn Win Maung The 3rd and last President of Burma, with Prime Minister U Nu and his Cabinet Ministers

——Maung Maung Ta seated between U Thant, then Information Secretary (later to become the UN Secretary General ) and U Chan Htun, the Attorney General, both of whom had earlier accompanied Maung Maung Ta to introduce him to meet the Prime Minister after being chosen to play the lead role offered by Hollywood. –

-On the day of the premiere sreening The City of Yangon witnessed the height of publicity with Burma Air Force planes littering the city with publicity pamphlets from the skies over-three major cities— Yangon, Pegu and Prome— announcing the arrival and release of 165 copies of the feature film that had arrived from the US motion picture capital—Hollywood— for simultaneous release all over the country.— down to the village level to combat Communism. A big political success- a blow to communism in Myanmar arranged by the Committee for Free Asia—an American Millionaire Association formed to keep communism away from South East Asia.

'1955'-—Being highly successful in the anti communist film, the Prime Minister— U Nu was pleased to appoint Dr Maung Maung Ta age 26 years, to be 2nd Secretary at the Burmese Embassy in Washington to accompany U Thant, the Burmese Ambassador to the US, and later the United Nations Secretary General.

Prime Minister U Nu advised Maung Maung Ta to quit the army career adding, that a prime minister could not easily create an actor but that he could, as the Prime Minister someday. Create him as a diplomat with an ambassadorial rank. as Myanmar’s Ambassador. On these assurances Dr Maung Maung Ta chose to be an actor—— a matinee idol, to be an Ambassador later.. Before that could realise a coup de ta by the Army Chief of Staff General Ne Win toppled Prime Minister U Nu..

'1955'—— Dr Maung Maung Ta declined Prime Minister U Nu’s offer to be a diplomat and chose instead to become a movie actor making his first film“ Dr Aung Kyaw Oo” adapted from the Indian Picture “ Shole “ acted by Ashok Kumar and Bina Rai. This Myanmar version, of Dr Maung Maung Ta’s first movie, won the annual Burma Film Academy Award for the year 1956.

'1957'——(a) Graduated from the Burma School of Journalism. Received the diploma from the Prime Minister U Nu –who is also President of the Society for Maintaining Democratic Ideals in Burma.

(b) The Motion Picture Council, Burma, chose him to represent Burma at the “1957-Fifth Asian Film Festival” held in Manila- Philippines. He is received in audience by President Carlo Garcia at the Malacanang Palace ion Manila., Visiting Myanmar movie actor, Maung Maung Ta performed the”Tango” on television with Philippines Actress Lita Gutierrez—-raising Burma’s flag higher at the film festival 1958——He establishes a movie company in Mandalay, the Naypyidaw Film Co- The first production Mhyaw Ta Lint Lint “Never Say Goodbye-- in Myanmar was a top box office success for the year 1962.. From 1955 to 1980—He was a very highly successful actor starring in over 40 feature films. He visited Bombay-visited RK Studios met Raj Kapoor and met with Director Mehboob who was then filming “Mother India”.

Dr Maung Maung Ta Directed/Produced- the only Indian movie produced in Yangon Burma, titled “Pardesi Hisdustani “ with local Indian cast. Was a success. 1962——General Ne Win makes a coup de ta upon the democratically elected government of Prime Minister U Nu The Union President Mahn Win Maung and cabinet ministers sent into jail custody –and kept for over 4 years

1963—Under Operation “White Elephant” Ne Win sends 1200 of the U Nu’s supporters to jail custody and Dr Maung Maung Ta was one of them. All detainees were kept for 14 months except Dr Maung Maung Ta who was released by order of General Ne Win after two months in jail custody.

1964-1966 Dr Maung Maung Ta haj as requested by ex Minister for Trade U Raschid and the hospitan commmittee becomes— the Chief Administrator in control of the Muslim Free Hospital in Barr Street, Rangoon —Hospital returned by him in a “better” shape to Hospital Committee after 3 years sole management.

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Maung Mg Ta, Bo Ba Ko & and Myint Myint Khin in Mhyaw Ta Lint Lint 1962.

1972 — Elected the President of the All Myanmar Shia Muslim Organization when its President Major Ispahany (a) Bohmu Aung Myint died of a cerebral thrombosis in 1971.

In 1994 Sherazee Haj Maung Mg Ta produced and directed a movie in Los Angeles, Ca, USA, titled “Love and Hate” starring himself as the heart specialist, Dr Arthur Maughan Ta with May acted by Ma Thida as his wife .The all Myanmar cast included 5 times Myanmar academy award winner Myint Myint Khin as the mother of the star lead, Alex acted by Ali Asgar. Also starring May Sweet the vocalist of Myanmar and Ali Akbar as Alex’x father. The English speaking movie with an all Myanmar cast with Thida Win and Mar Mar Aye in the cast was not permitted to be exhibited in Myanmar.

1973—- Dr Maung Maung Ta as President of AMSMO is host Rangoon, to Mr Innamullah Khan the Secretary General of the World Muslim Congress - Rabita. visiting Burma.

1977—-Maung Maung Ta haj is elected to be the Vice President of the Islamic Religious Affairs Council (IRAC) Myanmar under President Muffasirul Quran al haj Allama Ghazi Mohammed Hashim at its 9th Conference held in Myithkyina. He served at the CEC of the IRAC from 1977 till 1995.

Dr Maung Maung Ta haj Chairman of the “Islamic University Building Committee” lead a Committee that collected enough funds to build an Islamic University in Yangon in 1977.

As Myanmar Shiite President & Chairman of the Annual 1450 Anniversary Holy Prophet Day Celebration at the Theinbyu Grounds in 1978 are U Maung Maung Ta haj, above with the Indonesian Ambassador to Myanmar, Allama Ghazi Mohd Hashim, President IRAC, UBa Khet, General Secretary-Maulana Habeebul Basher, BA and Bohmu Ba Ko speaking

1978—-He is elected President, by the Holy Prophet Day Celebrations Central Committee of the 1450-1451 and 1452— three consecutive “ Yauman Nabi” years as Chairman of the Birthday Celebrations. He is the only Shia Muslim to head a Sunni majority dominated committee in the history of the Committee. 1450 Prophet Day Celebrations Yangon in 1978 --Maulana Habeeb-ul-Basher, HE The Indonesian Ambassador, Maung Maung Ta haj in the Chair, in Theinbyu Grounds where 12000 muslims in audience stood - Qayaam to offer Salaam to the Holy Prophet of Islam. Myanmar is the first country to elebrate the Birth of Mohamed (S) as a publc functon since 1920. The idea came from Punjab students relayed to students in Burma like Mr C A Soorma,(Bar at Law) Mr Jaffer (Advocate) Mr I S Vanya (PIA)-Meer Sulaiman (Advocate) who were young members of the Muslim Students Society in Barr Street, Rangoon. 1979—— Dr Maung Maung Ta haj is host to Hujjatul Islam Mohammed Ali Khatame representative of Ayatollah Khomeini immediately after the Iranian Revolution.

Sherazee Haj Maung Maung Ta holds Ayatullah Khomeini’s potrait high during a session of the WABIL Inaugural Conference in London, UK, in August 1983 In pictures are H.I Shaheed Mehdy al Hakim, the Sec General, Ayatullah Taskeri of Iran, Late H.I Sa’eed Akhtar of Africa , Dr Khaleel Tabataba’ee DG-WABIL and others.

1980——The visiting Brother General in Rome, Italy— elects Dr Maung Maung Ta haj as the Chairman of the St John Baptist de La Salle Tercentenary Celebrations (1680-1980) Myanmar, held for the Christian world .. The Saint who gave the world the brothers and sisters in catholic schools. Dr Maung Maung Ta hajs is an old Peterite. The celebrations involved all Christian schools under Rome to honour its founder Saint, born 300 years ago in France.

1983-He is in London, to become one of the Founder Members of the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London, UK, an Arab based cover organization for the Shia Muslims of the world. Attended the inaugural conference held August 1983 and other subsequent tri-annual conferences in London.

He is appointed by WABIL UK as the resident representative of WABIL In Maynmar.

Haj Maung Maung Ta at Wugoof e Arafat with the 150,000 strong Iranian Caravan. He is with caravan 1124 on 16 September 1983 -Zilhijjah 9th.

He performed Haj in the year1983 at Mecca, Saudi Arabia. With the permission of Ayatullah Kohe’Niha. Commander, of the Iranian Haj Karawan of 1983 he joined the Iranian karawan at Mecca to perfprm haj with 150000 Iranian pilgrims

1985-— He visits the USA for the first time to attend daughter Zeenat’s wedding.-Receives Green Card-- and had his right eye operated in Los Angeles Became a resident alien of the USA with “ Green Card “ Resident Alien A 027195222

1988-__-During the massive anti government demonstrations and civil turmoil in 1988, He was elected to the Central Executive Committee of the League for Democracy and Peace— a political organization headed by the ex Prime Minister the late U Nu.

1990— Stood for parliamentary election in 1990 from Mandalay under Myanmar’s military regime . In this elections NLG party of Aung San Su Kyi daughter of General Aung San, the architect of Myanmar;s independence & the Nobel Peace laureate won a landslide victory.

1994- He was in London to attend World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League conference held 9-to-11 Sept 1994—after an eye surgical operation in California USA the previous evening 1995— He is invited to visit Iran as guest of the Foreign Ministry, by Iran’s Islamic Ambassador H.E.Safir Yusufy- doe Thailand and Myanmar in Bangkok.

On 27-1-1995 Iran’s Rehbar Ayatullah K0hamene’i granted audience to Iran's guest Dr Maung Maung Ta haj at the Presidential Office in Teheran..

1998— 7 small gall bladder stones were removed by surgery from his body.

2000 Dr Maung Maung Ta celebrates his Diamond Jubilee birthday in Yangon, with a lifelong achievement photo and video exhibition at the Mogul Hall in Yangon, patronised by 8000 guests within 8 days—The Myanmar government after a tight censorship of the photos and material from birth till date of exhibition displayed in a public Hall used for his Diamond Jubilee Birthday Reborn in the Hospital

2001 Dr Maung Maung Ta receives 55 bottles of blood in 7 days- He died twice in the hospital suffering from multiple erosion of blood in abdomen-Gods healing hands miraculously saved his life- He was reborn January 15th, year 2002. Maung Maung Ta haj was hospitalized on 17-12-2001 with “severe multiple gastric erosion “bleeding in stomach with melaena stool’ at Taw Win Hospital-after he had fasted the full 30 days of Ramadan. 55 bottles of blood transfusion was given within ( 7 ) days .He was blessed with a second life after the doctors and the family gave up hopes. Discharged from hospital on 16 January 2002. His best friend, 91 year old Colonel Mg Tin & Warrant Officer Maung Pa of General Aung San’s War Office of 1943-- and ex Ambassador U Hla Maung his well wishers are at his sick bed at home..

IIFWP requires Dr Maung Maung Ta to attend (IIPC) Peace UN conference in New York 1-3rd October 2003- while the 58 General Assembly of the UN is taking place in New York.Dr Maung Maung Ta haj Sherazee is refused Visa to enter the USA— since the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, USA designated Sherazee haj as a member of a Terrorist Organization.

F D M U ( Dublin )…

2004——1- Awarded the “ Fellowship of the Dublin Metropolitan University of Ireland in 2004 at the Convocation held in Yangon, Myanmar, on 15-6-2005.

Dr. Maung Mg Ta with Dr. Thomas G. Walsh and Chairman(IIFWV/UPF) Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak at Seoul.

3- His ninth child, a girl— Mona is born on 19-May 2004— She is today four years old on May 19, 2008.

4- Dr Maung Maung Ta haj Sherazee attends the second conference of the IIFWP/IIPC “ World Culture of Hearts “ held 23-27 July 2004 in Seoul

5- He raised a million Kyats and then donated to the Yangon General Hospital, Yangon. on 15-3-2004.

2005——Sherazee haj Maung Maung Ta, was invited by the Dublin University to travel to London in March 2005 and at the convocation held at the Athenaeum in London on 29 March.

2005----Returned to Yangon from London on 17 April 2005, as Dr Mohammed Shafi Ata Sherazee haj Maung Maung Ta Ph D-MA-FDMU- (Dublin) DJ (Ygn)

2005----On return from London Sherazee haj was immediately required to proceed to Bangkok, Thailand to attend two conferences within the same month —-the Interreligious & International Peace Council (IIPC) 23-24 April 2005 and United Nations 12th Congress on Crime Protection and Criminal Justice held from 19-25 May 2005 at the UN Covention Center in Bangkok.

2005 December—He is blessed with his tenth child, a son, born on 9-12-2005 named Ali Zadeh (a) Naing Min Ta—He is (2) years and ( 7 ) months old in July 2008. Attended The 3rd Assembly of the Universal Peace Federation, conference in Seoul, Korea held September. 10-14- 2006.

Dialogue within major communities

2006 (a ) On 29 April 2006 Dr Maung Maung Ta haj as Ambassador for Peace-UPF-IIFWP is host to 250 guests of all religious faith and diplomats at the Central Hotel in Yangon for peace and dialogue dinner within major communities in Yangon, Myanmar.

Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue in South East Asia

“Interfaith Cooperation Seminar”

Attended One day “Interfaith Cooperation Seminar “at Shalom, in Loikaw Centre Yangon, held in Yangon 18 July 06, joined by delegates from Cambodia in Yangon. Last IIFWP-UPF meeting held in Yangon is on 7th September 2006 with Mr Peeter Saarna, Sec General (Myanmar) in Yangon on a brief visit

Marriage and children

• Hajee Bi Bi (July 18, 1944-)
• Sofia San Yu Maw (August 30, 2002-present)

He has ten children:

• Mona (b. May 2004)
• Ali Zadeh (b. December 2005)

Awards

• 2003: Ambassador for Peace, Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace
• 2004: Crown of Peace award, IIFWP (USA)
• 2004: named Fellow of the Dublin Metropolitan University

Filmography

• 1954: People Win Through

See also

• Myanmar Motion Picture Museum
• List of Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards