10 Facts About Than Tun

Than Tun was an influential Burmese historian as well as an outspoken critic of the military junta of Burma.

Dr Than Tun became a lecturer in University of Rangoon's Department of History and Political Science in 1959.

Professor Than Tun left Mandalay in 1982 for University of Kyoto's Center for South East Asian Studies where he was a Research Fellow and Visiting Professor from 1982 to 1987.

Professor Than Tun died at the age of 83 in 2005 after attending his close friend, and famous writer Ludu Daw Amar's birthday party at Taung Lay Lone monastery in Mandalay.

Professor Than Tun was a leading figure in the field of history and as the most prominent scholar of pre-modern history.

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Professor Than Tun was known as a fearlessly outspoken critic of successive military juntas of Burma, and, for not toeing to the official line when it comes to the history of Burma.

Than Tun often criticized the generals for attempting to rewrite the history of Burma according to the requirements of their propagandas, and his well-researched books on Burma, had often been banned by the authorities or sidelined by publishers for fear of punishments from the paranoid generals.

Professor Than Tun was very critical of the military junta's defacing of the ancient Burmese capital the Old Bagan with unnecessary, garish and over-the-top 're-innovations' of its ancient temples, the construction of a motorway among the ruins and the erection of an observation tower for the benefits of dollar yielding tourists.

On 30 November 2005, Than Tun died unexpectedly while traveling to a 90th birthday celebration in Mandalay for celebrated Burmese literary figure Ludu Daw Amar.

Than Tun was survived by his wife Khin Yi, and daughter, Mizu Than Tun.