Ba Maw

Dr. Ba Maw was born on February 8, 1893, in Maubin into an educated Christian-Buddhist family. Educated at Cambridge and earning his doctorate from the University of Bordeaux, France, Ba Maw was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn, winning national fame for defending Saya San in 1931.

In 1937, under the Government of Burma Act, Ba Maw became the first Prime Minister of Burma. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, he served as Head of State (Nainggandaw Adipadi), using his position to declare nominal independence and shield the young Burmese army officers (including Aung San and Ne Win). His 1968 memoir Breakthrough in Burma remains an essential insider account of Asian wartime anti-colonial geopolitics.