Sarpay Beikman

Its first President was Prime Minister U Nu, who started a Burmese translation job at Judson College (now University of Yangon).

Shortly after this (in 1949), they stopped direct translation and completed the project with Burmese related articles including facts on the arts and sciences.

[2] The Burma Translation Society was renamed "Sarpay Beikman" (Palace of Literature) in 1963 when it was absorbed into the Ministry of Information.

The government chose the organization as the vehicle for funding and executing policy in the areas of educational writing and serious literature.

[4] The management board was to compile outstanding work of foreign literature and other branches of knowledge for translation into Burmese or other indigenous languages.

[6] The management board decided that in addition it would award prizes for good fiction and research in Burmese literature and fine arts and would sponsor seminars and training courses on writing, book production, journalism and librarianism.

Sarpay Beikman tends to concentrate on educational works rather than fiction, with the exception of children's books for which there is demand that is unfilled by private publishers.

Entries had to comply with five general principles: the works must support or at least agree with the ruling party aims, foster Burmese culture, promote patriotism, help build character and advance ideas and contribute useful knowledge.

Although 12 awards could be given, the selection committee usually chose fewer, since it is often not possible to find a publication that meets the guidelines, particularly in the "novel" category.