Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremony to drive bejewelled stakes for the construction of Sarso (literati) Beikman for the sake of literati and writers who emerged in Myanmar at the venue on Bo Min Khaung Road in Uyin Ward of Mingala Taungnyunt Township of Yangon Region yesterday morning.
The Senior General drove a jewellery stake at the centre for the construction of the building and sprinkled scented water on it.
The SAC Joint Secretary, the union-level dignitaries, union ministers, the Yangon Region Chief Minister, the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar and female and male doyen literati who have won the National Lifetime Awards for Literary Achievement laid stakes at designated places and sprinkled scented water on them.
Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn reported on undertakings for the construction of Sarso Beikman in accord with the guidance of the Prime Minister, a plan to construct a three-storey building with the aid of India as India-Myanmar friendly relations, formation of the committees to build the building systematically, displays for booths on relevant floors of the building, and preparations for the previous building of the Sarpay Beikman as the Sarpay Beikman public library.
In his response, the Senior General stressed the need to systematically construct the buildings and gather portraits, photographs, and statues of ancient literati from relevant eras as much as possible. It is necessary to collect documentaries related to song composers in advance. Sarpay Beikman public library must be formed systematically with reading rooms for people to read works of literature and leave necessary guidance.
The Senior General cordially greeted female and male awardees – doyen literati – who attended the ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony were Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Abhay Thakur, officials of the Myanmar-India Friendship Association, doyen literati and departmental officials.
The Sarso Beikman building will be a three-storey one. Upon completion, historical documentary photos will be displayed for the development of literature in addition to the formation of the reading room, library, and booths for historic music art. Moreover, booths will showcase palm leaves, folded papers, historic poems, award-winning books, statues of eminent doyen literati in three eras, literati and poets who won the National Lifetime Awards for Literary Achievement.
The previous Sarpay Beikman library is located on the first floor of the three-storey Sarpay Beikman building. As the population is growing year by year with the development of urban situations, the previous building will be renovated as the Sarpay Beikman public library with the aim of improving the knowledge of the people, contributing to the development of Myanmar literature and raising the reading habit of the people in accord with the motto of Sarpay Beikman “Dispelling darkness, guiding light” and in line with the guidance of the Prime Minister.
— MNA/TTA