Given the bad record of relations between the civil set up and the military junta in Myanmar, the December 2 meeting between Aung San Suu Kyi and outgoing President Thein Sein should be seen as an extremely significant event that happened weeks after the resounding poll victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD). With this, the world is optimistic and feels elated that the transition will be smooth. It is “… towards the goal of democracy” indeed. Thanks to the wishes and endorsements of the rational minds the complete set of the dark days of Myanmar is being downloaded. We celebrate this development but without reminiscing the track of the lady behind the show our victory story will not be complete.It may be recalled that waves in Aung San Suu Kyi’s stride became more forceful with her Nobel Prize win. In its citation the Norwegian Nobel Committee stated that in awarding the prize (Nobel Peace Prize) to Aung San Suu Kyi it wished “to honour this woman for her unflagging efforts and to show its support for the many people throughout the world who are striving to attain democracy, human rights and ethnic conciliation by peaceful means.” Today’s victory of Aung San Suu Kyi is a morale booster to those “many people striving to attain democracy, human rights and ethnic conciliation by peaceful means.”This victory should also be for “Bogyoke Aung San” as Suu Kyi usually refers to her late father. In her autobiography, “Freedom from Fear” edited by her (late) husband Dr Michael Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi pays tribute to her Bogyoke Aung San by saying, “When I honour my father, I honour all those who stand for political integrity in Burma.” Aung San Suu Kyi looks up to her late father for the inspiration and energy she requires till today. For this, the world cannot afford to forget the ‘Bogyoke Aung San’ in the celebrations.Well, this is the victory of reason over irrationality. It reminds all of us how the “will of the people” can do things. It also reminds us the speech of Aung San Suu Kyi she delivered some 27 years ago. In fact, the theme of today’s victory was clearly reflected on August 26, 1988. Aung San Suu Ky while addressing her supporters on the open ground of the great Shwedagon Pagoda said, (extract from the book Freedom from Fear) “Reverend monks and people! This public rally is aimed at informing the whole world of the will of the people. Therefore, at this mass rally the people should be disciplined and united to demonstrate the very fact that they are a people who can be disciplined and united. Our purpose is to show that the entire people entertain the keenest desire for a multi-party democratic system of government. I believe that all the people who have assembled here have without exception come with the unshakeable desire to strive for and win a multi-party democratic system. In order to arrive at this objective, all the people should march unitedly in a disciplined manner towards the goal of democracy.” Indeed, it was the most disciplined journey to save humanity…and…the Bogyoke Aung San’s darling has freed her people from fear.
