Aung San

Aung San was born on February 13, 1915, in Natmauk. A student leader at Rangoon University, he led the 1936 student strikes before founding the anti-colonial 'Thakin' nationalist movement. In 1941, he led the legendary 'Thirty Comrades' to Japan for secret military training, establishing the Burma Independence Army (BIA).

Realizing Japanese imperial ambitions, Aung San coordinated the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL), leading an armed uprising against Japanese forces in March 1945. In February 1947, he achieved the landmark Panglong Agreement, uniting Shan, Kachin, and Chin ethnic minorities with the Burman majority in a unified federation. On July 19, 1947, six months before independence, he and six cabinet members were assassinated; July 19 is commemorated as Martyrs' Day.