Sao Noan Oo or Nel Adams, born 1931 - the life story of a Shan princess -excerpts from her book, My Vanished World from Chapter 10 - The Escape (from the Japanese) episode 5

Myanmar Oral History Project - life stories

Sao Noan Oo was born in 1931 in Shan State as a princess, being the daughter of the Sawbwa or Sao Hpa of Lawksawk, a state in the Federated Shan States or Mong Tai.

Sao Noan Oo was studying in England at the time of the 1962 coup and her scholarship was cancelled. Given what happened to her family and other Shan families after that coup she has never returned to Myanmar but has tirelessly fought for the rights of the Shan people. She married an Englishman and is now known by most people as Nel Adams.
Nel has written her life story entitled "My Vanished World". The book is currently out of print but some second hand copies can be found in ebook sites like Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/My-Vanished-World-Story-Princess/dp/189931024X
She has also written a history of the Tai (or Shan) people which is available at Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unravelling-History-Tai-Yai-Noan/dp/1527209474
In the episodes covering her life, various sections of My Vanished World will be read. We are honoured that three episodes 4, 5 and 6 covering excerpts from Chapter 10 dealing with the escape from the Japanese have been read by Daw Tin Htar Swe OBE, the former Head of the Burmese Section of the BBC World Service and whose voice is possibly well known to many of you. She also took the initiative, for which I am very thankful, of adding some delightful music which has certainly added to the experience.

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at [e-mail].
Thank you for listening .
Peter Church