This is an autobiography written in Burmese and later translated into English by a close family friend (I did the editing when I went back on home leave-Prof.Hla Yee Yee; daughter ). The State Scrutiny Board did not give the green light for publication of the Burmese version until late 2000, a few months after he passed away. The final chapter describing the 1990 Election was not given clearance.
It gives a glimpse of the private life and describes the career of somebody referred to in the Rangoon University Golden Jubilee publications as "One of the brightest stars in Burma's administrative sky". There is a brief description of his life as a Tutor in Rangoon University; the training at the School of African & Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London, where he acquired the ICS (Indian Civil Service), a tough examination which was a prerequisite for higher posts with the British government (Burma was ruled by the Governor who was based in India); a romantic interlude describing early married life; the hardships during the Japanese Occupation; challenges faced as an officer with the British, rising through the ranks to District Commissioner (DC); issues related to land nationalisation as Commissioner of Settlement & Land Records (CSLR); service as one of two Financial Commissioners (FC); the Scouts Movement in Burma; Chairman of the Burmah Oil Company (BOC) when the government took over 51% of shares; the 1962 coup de' tat and being pensioned off soon after; the call back to duty in 1988 as Chairman of the Multi-Party Democracy Election Commission.