Thant, Mme (1900–1989)

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Thant, Mme (1900–1989)

Burmese wife of U Thant. Name variations: Daw Thein Tin; Ma Thein Tin. Born Ma Thein Tin in Mandalay, Burma (now Myanmar), 1900; died in 1989; dau. of U Khinn (lawyer) and Daw Kye; m. Maung Thant (U Thant, secretary-general of United Nations during Cold War era), Nov 1934 (died Nov 1974); children: Maung Boh (b. 1936, died in infancy); Saw Lwin (adopted); Aye Aye; Maung Tin Maung (d. 1962); grandchildren: Thant Myint U (b. Jan 31, 1966).

When husband became Burma's representative to UN, moved to New York City (1957); was unhappy there, but husband's growing importance in international politics prevented her from returning to Burma; while husband served as secretary-general of UN (1962–71), her health broke down because of homesickness and death of son Maung Tin Maung (1962); unable to return to Burma, even for the funeral of her son, grew increasingly withdrawn; rarely attended official events with husband, preferring to remain quietly at home, and received few visitors.

See also Women in World History.

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