{"id":1797,"date":"2025-07-12T03:22:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T03:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=1797"},"modified":"2025-07-12T03:24:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T03:24:29","slug":"he-made-us-laugh-through-our-tears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/07\/12\/he-made-us-laugh-through-our-tears\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHe Made Us Laugh Through Our Tears\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Memory of Professor Dr. U Nyunt Thaung (A.K.A. Maung Tha Cho \/ Jet Kwam Chan Kone)
1958 \u2013 2025<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By Kaung Kin Ko<\/strong> (Satirical reflection) and Lwin Oo<\/strong> (Biography)
Compiled and adapted by MMNN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When we heard of the passing of Jet Kwam Chan Kone<\/strong> \u2014 the beloved satirist, academic, and author also known as Maung Tha Cho<\/strong>, it stirred a wave of memories across generations who laughed, cried, and thought deeply because of his writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though not everyone agreed with his views \u2014 especially those aired in public lectures or during film discussions like the one about General Aung San\u2019s biopic \u2014 his satirical wit, especially under the \u201cclown mask\u201d of Jet Kwam Chan Kone<\/em>, touched something timeless in the Burmese soul. His pen danced between irony and empathy, jest and judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he died on the morning of 10 July 2025<\/strong>, at the age of 68 in Pinlon Hospital, it felt as though a lamp of sharp humor and fearless honesty had gone out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of his admirers, Kaung Kin Ko<\/strong>, recalled a piece written in his spirit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was about a surreal football match \u2014 a match not found in reality, but born from the absurdity of our times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One team? A superclub like PSG, recently victorious 4\u20130 over the royal Real Madrid. They had stars like Messi, CR7, R9, De Bruyne. But there was a twist \u2014 they were all blindfolded. Why? Because the team itself was blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their opponent? Not an equally strong team \u2014 but a squad made up of broken, mentally shattered souls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And though the blindfolded team couldn\u2019t see, they still won. How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the traumatized team kept scoring own goals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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A poetic tragedy. A satire made real.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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And it reminded the author of a poem he wrote back in March 2009 \u2014 fitting not just for that moment, but chillingly apt for the Myanmar of today:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Qualifications<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

(Translated from Burmese by ChatGPT)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I deny my own cause,
I oppress my own race,
I trample my own longyi with pride,
I score against my own side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are my qualifications.
\u2014 Kaung Kin Ko<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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A Life of Letters and Laughter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Born on March 11, 1958<\/strong>, in Thone Khwe village<\/strong>, Kan Gyan Kone Township, Yangon Division, U Nyunt Thaung<\/strong> was the eldest of three sons. His father was U Win Thein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He received his early education in local schools: Thone Khwe Primary School, Kyangyan Kone High School, North Okkalapa BLK (1), and later at North Okkalapa SHS (1), where he passed his matriculation exam in 1977 with distinction in physics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally a science student, he studied at Regional College No. 2 with a focus on Mathematics and Geology. He later pursued Physics at Yangon University. However, his passion eventually led him to pivot into Myanmar literature and language<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He earned his B.A. in 1981<\/strong>, Honours in 1983<\/strong>, and Master’s Degree in 1988<\/strong> \u2014 all in Myanmar Literature from Yangon University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His literary journey began with the poem \u201cModern Love\u201d<\/em> published in Thaungpyaw Magazine<\/strong> (December 1973). He rose through the ranks, becoming Editor-in-Chief of Eain Mat Phu Magazine<\/strong> in July 1988. His sharp pen soon adopted the humorous voice of Jet Kwam Chan Kone<\/em>, one of his many satirical personas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, he taught at several institutions: Workers’ College, Regional College, Institute of Foreign Languages, Yangon University, Meiktila Degree College, Hinthada College \u2014 and finally served as a senior lecturer at Yangon University of Education<\/strong>, Department of Myanmar, from 2010 onwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the wake of the military coup on 1 February 2021<\/strong>, Maung Tha Cho was arrested and imprisoned<\/strong>, not for recent activism, but for an article he had written eight years earlier<\/strong>. Charged under Section 505(a)<\/strong>, he was sentenced on 22 February 2022 to two years\u2019 imprisonment<\/strong> by Insein Prison Court. He was released only in November 2022<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He never stopped writing. He never stopped thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Farewell to the Clown Who Told the Truth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a country where fear often silences speech, satire is an act of bravery. Jet Kwam Chan Kone<\/strong> made us laugh \u2014 but never lightly. His satire was a scalpel, not a feather. And his legacy will echo as long as Myanmar needs voices that speak truth, even when hidden behind clown masks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest in peace, Professor Maung Tha Cho. You made the nation see \u2014 even when it was blindfolded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contributors:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n