Myanmar leaders remember exiled king on 100th death anniv

Top Myanmar leaders today paid tributes to the exiled Burma king Thibaw, on his 100th death anniversary today.
Myint Swe, First Vice President of the Republic of Union of Myanmar and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, were among those present at the commemorative event, in Maharashtra's coastal Ratnagiri district.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale was also present.
King Thibaw, who was crowned in 1878, ruled Burma (now Myanmar) for seven years with his Queen Supayalat in the Golden Palace in Mandalay.
When the British attacked the reigning Konbaung dynasty of Burma in 1885, King Thibaw surrendered within two weeks. The royal family was exiled to Madras (now Chennai), briefly, and then to Ratnagiri, a sleepy coastal town in Maharashtra.

The king, the queen and their four daughters lived in exile for nearly 31 years. From a life of riches and resplendence, they had to live in complete social isolation.
The first princess had settled in Ratnagiri. Her descendants, the Pawar family of Ratnagiri was present at the event, a senior government official told PTI over phone.
King Thibaw died in Ratnagiri on December 16, 1916.