Aung San Suu Kyi
Introduction
I was persuading my 10th grade when I first came to know about her. I had one chapter about her in my English text book. There was an image of her circumambient with texts. I still remember that flawless, young radiant face which grinned with so much confidence, making me wonder what would have she done to be in my textbooks at this tender age. Aren’t you intrigued to discern whom i’m talking about! I’m gonna walk you through my childhood fascination, Aung San Suu Kyi. Unlike other days, I listened to that lecture with utmost attention. My lecturer embarked the lecture with the same admiration as I was. As the lesson progressed, I was spellbound to know that she was a woman around 60 years of age. On looking at her picture, no one can predict that.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s Life
She was born on 19 June, 1945 in Rangoon, Myanmar. Born to Aung San and Khin Kyi, Suu kyi spent most of her years living and studying abroad. Aung San’s rival’s assassinated him. She grew up with her mother and brothers, Aung San Lin and Aung San Oo. Khin Kyi was the Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal in 1960. Suu Kyi married Aris on 1st January, 1972 and had two sons.
When she returned to Myanmar, her country was under the brutal rule of dictator U Ne Win. Aung San, Suu kyi’s father founded the modern Burmese army and negotiated Burma’s independence in 1947. Coming from the same bloodline, Suu kyi determined to fight for her people. She chose non-violence to achieve democracy and human rights, henceforth called as the Mahatma Gandhi of Burma. For over a period of 15 years, Suu kyi was kept under house arrest in her own home from the year 1990. She spent her time reading philosophy, politics and biographies and also by playing piano. The juntas refrained her from having visitors expect her physician and few foreign diplomats.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s Journey
Aung San Suu kyi won “Sakharov prize” for Freedom of Thoughts and “Noble peace prize” during that period which was collected by her sons on her behalf. The military Junta offered her to release many times with a condition that she should not return to Burma, which she denied. Even when her husband was dying of cancer the Junta denied visa for him to enter Burma but asked Suu kyi to go and visit him. She denied as she harbinger-ed,”she won’t be able to enter Burma again”. She sacrificed her family for the wellness of her people.
International pressure rose for her release. Then president of United States, Barrack Obama advocated to release her during the US-ASEAN summit of 2009. Finally, Suu kyi was released from house arrest on 13th November 2010. Soon after her release her son Kim Aris was granted visa into Burma to meet her. She put all her efforts in freeing Burma be it seeking help from the leaders across the world or convincing the media to look into the issues. The election was held and the military junta was officially dissolved in 2011. She currently serves as the state counselor of Burma. After knowing so much about her now I could comprehend why she was young and radiant. That cogent, determination and relentlessness is what made her young.
There is an age old prejudice the world over to effect that women talk too much. But is this really a weakness? Could it not in fact be a strength? Recent Scientific research on the human brain has revealed that women are better at verbal skills while men tend towards physical action.