Asia’s Rising Star Reverand U Ottama Came back From Forgotten Past.

 Written by uzinblueTuesday, 06 September 2011 

Between the years 1960-61, at the period of Pa Hta Sa(Pyi Htung Su Party) Democratic government, the cantonment garden(at the corner of U Wizara Road and U Hton Bo Road near Shwedagon Pagoda) was proclaimed to be U Ottama Garden. Is honour of Reverend U Ottama the pioneer tore bearer of Burma’s Indepence a trusteeship committee was formed to manage the appropate needs.
That committee decided is erect a statue of Rev: U Ottama in the

garden,and ordered the famous sculptor U Han Tin is carve. Carving took about two years. In 1962, March, army coup doe fat, and ruled by military dictatorship. Junta’s second in command at that time was Brigadier Aung Gyi(half Chinese, who one day arrived to the U Ottama Garden. The asked the labors “Why this statue was in this garden, what to do with that, thrown away this some where.

He himself Kicked the Signboard erected, “U Ottama Garden” he them ordered to replace the old name “Cantoment Garden” Since that day U Ottama Garden became ‘Cantoment Garden” up till now, and the statue was also vanished.

During the B.S.P.P one party rule, in the year 1975, the then soviet Embassy was resided on Promoe road near a primary school, along side the Prome road

railway station. There was a double story wooden house next is the embassy. The soviets bought that house and land form the government. The Soviets destroyed that house built large and spacious building. When

they built dozed the wooden house and the bushes. Suddenly “huge statue was appared when they when they are cleansing the land. It was U Ottama plaster sculpture This news was appeared in Kyemon newspaper. The Sulpter artist U Han Tin who had enthusiastically carved the statue took back the statue form there is one of his place and kept there.

People who interested about this statue interviewed U Han Tin and his disciples amoung his pupils two were arakanese U Tun Aye from Rembree and U Lwin Maung U Tun Aye said,”when U Han was carving U Ottama’s statue. I was one of his assistant. While Keep that statue at his custody, U Han Tin told U Tun Aye that I was old now, so let us went and met U Ne Win the then dictator and requested him what to do about this status when U Han Tin met U Ne Win(as they were closed friends), the artist said to the dictator,”BoGyoke! Will it be appropriate to send this statue to Rakhine state.” When these words were muttered form U Han Tin’s month, U Ne Win augustly replied that “You the sculptor, did your sculpturing yourself. You knew nothing about the Rakhines.?
U Han Tin had to return his place shamefully as a stray dog. U Ottama’s deposits in one of Japanese bank is also a dilemma.

During the colonial period there had records about U Ottama in the police department. One day I asked a person who is working as an officer at the department now. He replied me, these were the records since hundred years; how could of knew, but those could be in the record ware house. You could come next week, I would show those in the warehouse.

I went to his place next week, he opened the warehouse as the door was opened bad oslor rush out, the room was full of dust and back shelves, the files and records were fully covered with dust and weaven spider weds. He entered the room and cleaned the shelves and racks, and searched the books and files for about an hour. Finally found the records and book written about U Ottama’s movents during 1920’s, were fully recorded. That records were not only about U Ottama but also of his younger sister Ma Tign Zoe. For him it was a tres sure-Drove.

To continue about U Ottama’s statue it was nine inches high, carved with quality plaster The standing statue, on the left hand holding book, and high hand was raising upright as if he were making a polities speech.
Revered U Ottama’s deeds and merits nearly forgotten by the people of Burma. After the 2007 september monks uprising saffron Revlution”, ordinary monks and people wanted know U Ottama’s indepent movements and remembered his services for the country . So I am now enthusestially “reseaching U Ottama’s works. I will welcome those who will reder help me

Written by, Kumara

http://alodawpyei.org/alo/2011-07-11-14-54-32/403-asias-rising-star-reverand-u-ottama-came-back-from-forgotten-past

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