Peacock Symbol

Coupled with its humanitarian bent, Dr. Ba Maw’s brilliant mind teemed with ideas and plans for the betterment of his countrymen. Realizing, however, that he would not be able to accomplish everything in his lifetime, he did the next best thing: He inculcated his ideals, beliefs and values in his children and grandchildren, always emphasizing the primary importance of health and education in enabling people to live meaningful, dignified and successful lives. He instilled in his heirs an abhorrence of cruelty, injustice, bribery, corruption and irresponsibility. He maintained that to have “rights” one must show “responsibility”.

Dr. Ba Maw’s spirit and values, especially that of providing service to the community through development, remain very much alive in the hearts of his descendants. They often look to the peacock lest they forget.

The peacock is an ancient symbol of Burmese (Myanmar) pride. To Dr. Ba Maw, this bird preening its glorious feathers represented the proud and noble people of Burma (Myanmar) triumphing over a long history of oppression and difficulties. He adopted it as a symbol of his principles.

As his official emblem, Dr. Ba Maw chose a stylized black version of the peacock.