{"id":5792,"date":"2026-05-16T02:45:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T02:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=5792"},"modified":"2026-05-16T02:45:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T02:45:32","slug":"dr-than-htun-and-the-white-elephant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2026\/05\/16\/dr-than-htun-and-the-white-elephant\/","title":{"rendered":"“Dr. Than Htun and the White Elephant”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tt’s a wonderful piece of Dr. Than Htun’s sharp wit and fearless honesty really shine through. The satire is so clever that he managed to say everything without directly saying anything politically dangerous\u2026 and still got his publications banned for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the time when General Khin Nyunt was at the height of his power, they acquired a white elephant. They named it after the legendary elephant king “Saddanta” (six-tusked elephant), celebrated it with great fanfare and an auspicious naming ceremony. RFA (Radio Free Asia) then interviewed Dr. Than Htun about the white elephant:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

RFA:<\/strong> Doctor, what is the difference between a white elephant and a black elephant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Than Htun:<\/strong> They’re exactly the same. For humans, it’s like being possessed by a snail shell curse \u2014 if you don’t believe it, try getting trampled. Whether it’s a white elephant or a black elephant that steps on you, you’ll die just the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RFA:<\/strong> Is it true that wherever a white elephant appears, the weather becomes favorable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Than Htun:<\/strong> Go stand in the middle of a desert and see if it rains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RFA:<\/strong> About the saying that having a white elephant brings abundance of rice and water…?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Than Htun:<\/strong> You only eat what you plant yourself. If people think “we have a white elephant so abundance will come” and don’t plant anything \u2014 everyone will starve to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RFA:<\/strong> It is believed that having a white elephant brings victory in war. Is that true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Than Htun:<\/strong> This is the age of air power. If you go to war with elephants, they’ll all end up in Malaysia (as zoo animals).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RFA:<\/strong> Currently in Myanmar, they spray perfume and nine kinds of precious gem-infused water on the white elephant while bowing and worshipping it. What are your thoughts on that, Doctor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Than Htun:<\/strong> An elephant is just an animal. If you bow down and worship an animal, you’ve made yourself lower than the animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that’s where the interview ended \u2014 and all of Dr. Than Htun’s publications were subsequently banned.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was my teacher who spoke the truth plainly and directly, without concealment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Thein Myint<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“\u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038 \u1014\u1032\u1037 \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1017\u102d\u102f\u101c\u103a\u1001\u1004\u103a\u100a\u103d\u1014\u1037\u103a\u1021\u102c\u100f\u102c\u1007\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1011\u1014\u1031\u1010\u1032\u1037\u1001\u103b\u102d\u1014\u103a\u1000 \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u1010\u1000\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u101b\u1010\u101a\u103a \u104b\u1006\u1012\u1039\u1012\u1014\u103a\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1019\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1000\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1021\u1004\u103a\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1015\u103c\u100a\u1037\u103a\u1005\u102f\u1036<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1010\u101a\u103a\u1006\u102d\u102f\u1015\u102e\u1038 \u1014\u102c\u1019\u100a\u103a\u1015\u1031\u1038 \u1000\u1004\u103a\u1015\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1010\u1015\u103a\u1019\u1004\u103a\u1039\u1002\u101c\u102c\u101c\u102f\u1015\u103a\u1010\u1031\u102c\u1037\u1010\u101a\u103a\u104b \u1014\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1004\u1036\u1001\u103c\u102c\u1038\u1021\u101e\u1036\u101c\u103d\u1004\u1037\u103a\u100c\u102c\u1014RFA\u1000 \u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1015\u1010\u103a\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037 \u1021\u1004\u103a\u1010\u102c\u1017\u103b\u1030\u1038\u1010\u101a\u103a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rfa \u1006\u101b\u102c\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1019\u1032\u1018\u102c\u1000\u103d\u102c\u101c\u1032?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038 … \u1010\u1030\u1010\u1030\u1018\u1032 \u101c\u1030\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1006\u102d\u102f \u1001\u101b\u102f\u101e\u1004\u103a\u1038 \u1005\u103d\u1032\u101e\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1037 \u104b\u1019\u101a\u102f\u1036\u101b\u1004\u103a \u1021\u1014\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1001\u1036\u1000\u103c\u100a\u1037\u103a \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u1014\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101c\u1032\u101e\u1031\u1019\u103e\u102c \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1019\u1032\u1014\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101c\u1032\u101e\u1031\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1018\u1032\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rfa \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u101b\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1010\u1032\u1037\u1021\u101b\u1015\u103a\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1019\u102d\u102f\u1038\u101c\u1031\u101d\u101e\u1000\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1010\u101a\u103a\u1006\u102d\u102f\u1010\u102c\u101f\u102f\u1010\u103a\u1015\u102b\u101e\u101c\u102c\u1038?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038.. \u101e\u1032\u1000\u1014\u1039\u1010\u102c\u101b\u1011\u1032\u101e\u103d\u102c\u1038\u1011\u102c\u1038\u1000\u103c\u100a\u1037\u103a\u101c\u1031 \u1019\u102d\u102f\u1038\u101b\u103d\u102c\u1019\u101c\u102c\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rfa \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101b\u1004\u103a\u1006\u1014\u103a\u101b\u1031\u1005\u1015\u102b\u1038\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1010\u101a\u103a\u1006\u102d\u102f\u1010\u102c\u1000…?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038.. \u1000\u102d\u102f\u101a\u103a\u1005\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1019\u103e\u1000\u102d\u102f\u101a\u103a\u1005\u102c\u1038\u101b\u1019\u103e\u102c\u101c\u1031\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u101b\u103e\u102d\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1018\u1032\u1006\u102d\u102f\u1015\u102e\u1038 \u1019\u1005\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1018\u1032\u1014\u1031 \u1021\u1000\u102f\u1014\u103a\u1004\u1010\u103a\u101e\u1031\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1037\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rfa \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1005\u1005\u103a\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u101b\u1004\u103a \u1014\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1010\u101a\u103a\u101a\u1030\u1006\u1000\u103c\u1010\u101a\u103a..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u1032\u1012\u102b\u101f\u102f\u1010\u103a\u1015\u102b\u101e\u101c\u102c\u1038?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038 .. \u1001\u102f\u1001\u1031\u1010\u103a\u1000 air power \u1001\u1031\u1010\u103a\u101c\u1031 \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1010\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u101b\u1004\u103a \u1021\u1000\u102f\u1014\u103a \u1019\u102c\u101c\u1000\u102e\u1038\u101a\u102c\u1038\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1037<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rfa \u1001\u102f\u1019\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1019\u102c\u1014\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1004\u1036\u1019\u103e\u102c \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1016\u103c\u1030\u1014\u102c\u1019\u100a\u103a\u1015\u1031\u1038\u1015\u103c\u102e\u1038 \u1014\u1036\u1037\u101e\u102c\u101b\u1031 \u1014\u101d\u101b\u1010\u103a\u1000\u102d\u102f\u1038\u1015\u102b\u1038\u101b\u1031 \u1014\u1032\u1037\u1016\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1015\u102e\u1038 \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1000\u102d\u102f\u101b\u103e\u102d\u1001\u102d\u102f\u1038\u1015\u102b\u1010\u101a\u103a\u104b \u1006\u101b\u102c\u1018\u101a\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1019\u103c\u1004\u103a\u1015\u102b\u101e\u101c\u1032?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038 … \u1006\u1004\u103a\u1006\u102d\u102f\u1010\u102c\u1010\u102d\u101b\u1005\u1039\u1006\u102c\u1014\u103a\u1018\u1032\u101c\u1031\u1010\u102d\u101b\u1005\u1039\u1006\u102c\u1014\u103a\u101b\u103e\u102d\u1001\u102d\u102f\u1038\u101b\u1004\u103a \u1010\u102d\u101b\u1005\u1039\u1006\u102c\u1014\u103a\u1011\u1000\u103a \u1014\u102d\u1019\u1037\u103a\u1000\u103b\u1010\u1032\u1037\u101c\u1030\u1016\u103c\u1005\u103a\u101e\u103d\u102c\u1038\u1015\u102e<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1012\u102e\u1019\u103e\u102c\u1010\u1004\u103a\u1015\u103d\u1032\u101e\u102d\u1019\u103a\u1038\u1015\u102b\u1010\u101a\u103a \u1012\u1031\u102b\u1000\u103a\u1010\u102c\u101e\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1011\u103d\u1014\u103a\u1038 \u1005\u102c\u1019\u1030\u1019\u103e\u1014\u103a\u101e\u1019\u103b\u103e \u1011\u102f\u1010\u103a\u101d\u1031\u1001\u103d\u1004\u1037\u103a \u1015\u102d\u1010\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1015\u102b\u1010\u1031\u102c\u1037\u1010\u101a\u103a\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u1019\u103e\u1014\u103a\u1010\u101b\u102c\u1038\u1000\u102d\u102f \u1019\u1000\u103d\u101a\u103a\u1019\u101d\u103e\u1000\u103a \u101c\u102d\u102f\u101b\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1010\u102d\u102f\u101b\u103e\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1015\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1010\u1010\u103a\u1010\u1032\u1037 \u1000\u103b\u1014\u1031\u102c\u1037\u103a\u1006\u101b\u102c\u1015\u102b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit ;Thein Myint<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tt’s a wonderful piece of Dr. Than Htun’s sharp wit and fearless honesty really shine through. The satire is so clever that he managed to say everything without directly saying anything politically dangerous\u2026 and still got his publications banned for it! During the time when General Khin Nyunt was at the height of his power, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6,133,29,1,130,16,132,123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-history","category-human-rights-constitution-federal-democracy-social-nets-minority-rights","category-interviews","category-local-news","category-motivation","category-opinion","category-satire","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5792"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5795,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5792\/revisions\/5795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}