“Even a Lifeless Monument does not fail”

After paying homage to Sule Pagoda standing, I circumambulated Maha Bandoola Park as usual. While going round anti clockwise the park, I suddenly remembered that today was 62nd Anniversary Independence Day, which started on 9th Waning of Pyatho, 1309 Myanmar Era (January 4, 1948). Oh, we could have led a free life for 62 years now!
As known to all, there stands tall the Independence Monument within the Park. There are inscriptions on this colossal pillar. When we were young, we had been here many a time to have a look at these inscriptions which are embedded in our heart never to leave our memory.
Whenever these inscriptions come to my mind, I happen to nod as a gesture of respect. Our new republic is now 62 years old, which is an age of maturity and wisdom. Actually, our republic has already witnessed a host of experience during the period between 1948 and 1988 from which we have learnt a lot. If life begins at 40, we are now in our early 20s, an age of adult who can discriminate the truth from untruth.
What appeals to me most is the clause inscribed in the Independence Monument, “This Independence Monument shall remind in time the people in the event of their failure to perform their respective duties as well as of disunity.”
This clause reflects the grave concern of the people that they might lose independence. Obviously, our senior citizens were very much afraid of loss of independence they had wrestled back at the cost of the lives and limbs of their people.
This should be made known to the younger generation. In my opinion, it is incumbent upon our media, the so-called Fourth Pillar, to remind the younger generation of our seniors’ determination––not to lose the independence again.
Nonetheless, it would not be inappropriate to say that this great monument has never failed its duty to remind the people. Even if a lifeless monument does not fail to perform its duty, why should we fail to play our part? Nevertheless, I think that the year 2010 will behold people performing their national duties as citizens.
After one complete round of circumambulation of the park, the merry cries of the young and the old, not very young and the not very old doing merry-making struck my ears. Oh, they are celebrating the Independence Day.

Written by – Mingyi Yan Naung

Translated by K.M.A