A few Shans have ready “The Shan History” written by the late Sao Yanfa Hsenwi, grandson of one of the Shans’ most famous fighting princes Hkun Hsang Tonhoong.

Most Shans have read a better known one written by Nang Khurh Hsen Hseng-Awn, whose style is bolder and moving, therefore more to the liking of simple readers.

Both were written in Shan. As for those in English, such as the thought-provoking “The Shan States and the British Annexation” by Sao Saimong Mangrai and “The History of Shan State,” by Sai Aung Htun, they are heavy ones and inaccessible for non-English readers.

For Burmese readers, celebrated missionary Rev Sukhaminda had published a highly readable paper a few years back.

This year we have another book, 206 page, in Burmese by Dr Sai Tin Maung Win aka Cyril Htun who lectures at the Shan Missionary Theology College in Taunggyi.

The story begins with the time when Shans, most of whom call themselves Tai/Thai/Lao, were still living in China, said to be even earlier than the Chinese. It ends with the military coup in 1962 that annulled the only union constitution adopted by the non-Burmans.

It is titled Shan History Volume I. We can therefore look forward to Volume II hopefully in the near future, as only a few writers like the late Chao Tzang Yawnghwe have written about events that followed the coup.

Surely there must be a lot to write about what happened during the last 52 years.