A novel portraying the plight of civilians tormented by civil war in northern Myanmar has won the ‘Best Novel’ category in this year’s national literature awards.
‘Season of Sorrow in the North’ is written by reporter-cum-novelist Sabei Phyu Nu, based on her study in displacement camps along the Sino-Burmese border in northeastern Kachin State.
It was named best novel of 2014 by the National Literature Award Selection Committee on October 31. Myanmar’s award ceremonies are regularly one year behind.
Other winners at Saturday night’s Myanmar National Literature Awards were: ‘Devil’s Leisure’, a compilation of short novels by writer Kyuu Nit, in the category Collected Short Stories; ‘Early Monsoon Poems’ by Maung Linn Kyi for Collected Poems; ‘Takkathila Myakhuntha – A History of the University of Rangoon’ by Khin Maung Zaw in the Miscellaneous category; and a Burmese translation of ‘I am Malala’ by Hein Latt won the Best Translation prize.
In the English-language category, Sai Aung Tun’s book, ‘Shan Legends’, won the award for General Knowledge.
The annual Myanmar National Literature Awards began in 1962.
Winners this year are to receive 1.5 million kyat (US$1.175) at a ceremony at the National Theatre in Rangoon on 12 December.
This story originally appeared in the Democratic Voice of Burma
Photo is cover of ‘Season of Sorrow in the North’
