User:Rebel MK/Oway Magazine

Editorial Committee of Oway Magazine (1936)

Oway Magazine is first published in January of 1931 by the Rangoon University (now known as the University of Yangon) Students’ Union.

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Henceforth, the magazine of the students’ union officially adopted the new name ‘Oway Magazine’ used together with its slogan “Burma, a country of peacock; Oway, the voice of peacock”.

Etymology

The original name intended for Oway Magazine was The Magazine of Rangoon University Students’ Union. Since that was long, advices were sought from the committee members and the then Editor Aung San accepted the name proposed by Nyo Mya.

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Nyo Mya want on to explain how he came up with the name ‘Oway’, which is Burmese onomatopoeia of peacock’s call, starting off with his fondness over an actress known under her stage name Daung Yinbyan during his school years in Mandalay and how her voice singing oway oway was captivating no matter which of the seven different tunes of hers he listened to. With that, the name Oway had long been imprinted on him to the point of envisioning to publish a magazine under that name if he ever become a journalist.

Henceforth, the magazine of the students’ union officially adopted the new name ‘Oway Magazine’ used together with its slogan “Burma, a country of peacock; Oway, the voice of peacock”.

‘The Hell-Hound At Large’: An article and its aftermaths

An article with the title The Hell-Hound At Large was featured under English section of Oway Magazine’s Volume 5, Issue 1 published in January of 1936.

The article openly criticized the injustices committed by a senior university official which deteriorated the image of, in addition to the university authorities, the then coalition government as well.The article was credited to an unidentified penname Yamamin, which means King of Hell in Theravāda Buddhism. Thus, the rector demanded Aung San for the writer’s identity which he refused under the code of ethics as an editor and took full responsibility for any punitive action intended.

Under the reason of featuring such an article, the chair of students’ union, Ko Nu was expelled together with Aung San who kept the author anonymous.

Raschid, took over as the chair of students’ union following the chaos, convened mass students meeting on unfair expulsion and called for students’ strike. Hence, Second University Students' Strike (1936) took place.

Legacy

Oway Magazine is accredited for its role throughout the history of student movements, independence journey and anti-junta resistance. This magazine of students’ union holds certain legacy for unwavering solidarity with oppressed people in their fight throughout the ages since the days of Aung San and Nyo Mya to now.

During those times before the coup d’etat, the now University of Yangon Students' Union (formerly the Rangoon University Students’ Union) initiated to revive the Oway Magazine back in 2020.

At this present Spring Revolution period, Oway is being published as a biweekly periodical under the patronage of All Burma Federation of Student Unions and University of Yangon Students' Union.

These periodicals play a vital part for information distribution among the public following the internet shutdown by military regime, especially for those areas putting up strong armed resistance, to stamp out the defensive wars happening across the country.

Oway is now published on paper in addition to the digital format and being widely circulated in areas including Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Kayin, Karenni (Kayah) and Kachin.

Refrences

[[Category:Newspapers published in Myanmar]]