About Dr. Ba Maw

Dr. & Mrs. Ba Maw, Prime Minister of Burma (Myanmar), in formal court dress, May 1937 in England for the coronation of King George VI

Dr. Ba Maw was born in Ma-u-bin on February 8, 1893. After his studies, he was attracted to politics, and for the next 40 years, was a leading politician and statesman in Burma (Myanmar). In 1937, Dr. Ba Maw became the first Burmese (Myanmar) ever, under British rule, to assume the post of Prime Minister of Burma (Myanmar). He held the premiership until 1939. In 1943, he was again elected as Head of State of Burma (Myanmar). He then led the nationalist movement which culminated in the country’s declaration of independence on August 1, 1943.

Dr. Ba Maw was born in Ma-u-bin on February 8, 1893. After his studies, he was attracted to politics, and for the next 40 years, was a leading politician and statesman in Burma (Myanmar). In 1937, Dr. Ba Maw became the first Burmese (Myanmar) ever, under British rule, to assume the post of Prime Minister of Burma (Myanmar). He held the premiership until 1939. In 1943, he was again elected as Head of State of Burma (Myanmar). He then led the nationalist movement which culminated in the country’s declaration of independence on August 1, 1943.

U Kye, Dr. Ba Maw’s father, had been an official in the courts of the former Kings of Burma (Myanmar) - Kings Mindon and Thibaw. A staunch supporter of the monarchy of Burma (Myanmar), he actively opposed the establishment of British Colonial rule. He refused to serve under the British despite his fluency in English, and later fought in open rebellion against them.

Dr. Ba Maw's mother sacrificed in many ways to send her son to the prestigious St. Paul’s Boys School in Rangoon (Yangon). Her selflessness inspired Ba Maw to persevere in his studies, and follow in his father’s footsteps. Through hard work, he earned scholarships at the Rangoon College and at the University of Calcutta. He went on to study law at Cambridge University in England and received his Barrister-at-law degree from Gray’s Inn, London, in 1924. He received a PhD from the University of Bordeaux in France.

The first Burmese delegation to Japan before their audience with the Emperor, Tokyo, March 1943.
Left to right: Dr. Ba Maw, Thakin Mya, Dr. Thein Maung, Bo Aung San.

In April 1926, he married Daw Kinmama Maw.

During the colonial-era Dr. Ba Maw’s interest in Burmese (Myanmar) politics took root when he was practicing law in Rangoon (Yangon). In 1931 he acted as the defense attorney for Saya San, a prominent nationalist rebel leader, who had recently staged a tax revolt.

In a sensational trial that captured the public’s imagination, Dr. Ba Maw courageously defended Saya San against charges of sedition and treason. Although Saya San’s life was eventually forfeit, the case helped sow the seeds of rebellion in the hearts and minds of the people of Burma (Myanmar). For Dr. Ba Maw, the trial embodied the plight of the downtrodden, in particular, the Burmese (Myanmar) peasants. He vowed to break the vicious cycle of poverty, illiteracy and poor health that had plagued his countrymen for so long.

While serving as Education and Health Minister, and later as Premier, Dr. Ba Maw authored several important initiatives in the pursuit of universal health-care and education for all Burmese (Myanmar). One of these initiatives helped establish State scholarships for postgraduate students; another abolished the unpopular and onerous British tax of five rupees a person; and yet another instituted the State lottery.