Khin Thida was born in Mandalay, Burma, on September 3, 1926, at home on Dawn Hill, the daughter of Tun Hla Oung and Kin Kin E, both significant figures in the rich history of Burma.
Her maternal grandfather Sir Maung Kin was the first Burman to be knighted, being awarded the KCIE (Knight Commander of the Indian Empire).
She began attending St. Joseph’s Convent School before her 4th birthday where she became known as Dawn. Her education was interrupted by the Japanese invasion as the second World War arrived in Burma. Following the end of the war, she attended Rangoon University, where she excelled in philosophy and psychology, history and English literature. These would be passions she would pursue for her entire life as an avid reader.
Khin Thida traveled to the United States soon after her 24th birthday to attend Smith College as one of the first Fulbright Scholars. While at Smith, she married Khin Maung Lwin who was then a state scholar from Burma studying for his M.B.A. at Harvard Business School. The couple returned to Burma in 1952, where they became a part of the inspired generation hoping to create a new future for Burma.
Upon her return to Burma, she began a career at the Social Planning Commission, until the military takeover left the young family with no alternative but to leave the country and move to Bangkok.
Once in Bangkok, she began her work as a teacher at Ruam Rudee International School, eventually becoming the assistant principal where she facilitated the accreditation process for the school, enabling students to attend the top universities in the United States and Australia.
Then in 1978, Khin Thida was invited to be part of the small team creating the Asia & Pacific Center for Women and Development in Tehran under the patronage of the Shah’s twin sister, Princess Ashraf. These were tumultuous times and they soon had to evacuate to London. Her travels would take her to Silver Spring, Maryland, and eventually India, Indonesia, Sudan, Namibia, Botswana and Barbados, splitting her time between her daughters and grandchildren, eventually landing in Southern California.
Pwa Pwa, as she was known by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, loved to read Mystery novels, play bridge and talk politics. She never missed an election. She actively sought out friendships and was never without a bridge group whether it be in Madras, Barbados or San Marino.
Khin Thida will be sorely missed by her daughters, Kinthissa (Ben Wint), Khin Sabae (Harry), Khin Sandi (Robert Rogier) and Khin Onma (Chris DuMont) and her grandchildren, Alex, Fern, Alyssa, Thea, Christopher, Katie and Michael and great-grandchildren, Leon, Riley and Noah.
Khin Thida will be remembered for her lovely smile, and her lively conversations and for the two books that she authored “The Burmese Matriarch,” a biography of her mother and her own memoir, “The Road From Mandalay.”
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the American Women for International Understanding. Please go to https://awiu.org/ and select “Support AWIU” and mention “Khin Thida Lwin” in the comment section.
