Hlawn Kip Thluai

With profound sadness and deep gratitude for her remarkable life, the family of Hlawn Kip Thluai announces her passing on September 20, 2026. Born in 1936 in Tlauhmun Village, Falam Township, Chin State, Myanmar, she was the daughter of Thang Tin Lian and Hniar Cuai.

Her father was chief of the Zahau and Hualngo people, whose territory comprised 83 villages. Her mother was a respected community leader who served as the elected headperson of Tlauhmun Village from 1949 to 1954. Hlawn was one of 25 children. Among her siblings were Lal Bik, a divisional engineer; Tial Dum, the last chief of Zahau; and Za Hre Lian, a Chin Affairs Minister.

Her education began in 1947, when very few Chin girls had the opportunity to attend school. Despite limited access to books and clothing, demanding household responsibilities, and little time to study, Hlawn remained joyful and determined.

In 1956, she became the first Chin woman to pass the Matriculation Examination. In 1960, she became the first woman from Chin State to graduate from university, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rangoon. She also received the Hill Chin Students’ Union’s “Best Student” award.

At university, Hlawn took part in Christian fellowship, Chin National Day celebrations, student activities, and sports. She and her badminton partner won first prize at a Hill Chin Students’ Union tournament.

In 1964, Hlawn received a government scholarship sponsored by the Colombo Plan to study at the University of Sydney in Australia. Within the same year, she completed a Diploma in Education and a program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language—an opportunity and accomplishment she regarded as a blessing from God. Her achievements made her a role model for generations of Chin women pursuing their own education.

Hlawn married Run Ro Thang of Sim Dihai in 1965, and they had six children. He served as a director at the Attorney General’s Office in Yangon before his retirement and passed away in 2001.

Hlawn taught at several high schools throughout Myanmar from 1961 until 1991, when she retired as a senior teacher.

She found great joy in reading and writing and deeply valued Chin traditions, ancestral history, and her family’s heritage. She wrote short biographies of her parents and eldest brother, taking special care to preserve the life story of her mother, Hniar Cuai.

Throughout her life, Hlawn met hardship with quiet strength. She worked diligently and rarely complained, even when she was in pain. She encouraged her grandchildren and younger relatives to value education, keep learning, and make the most of their opportunities.

In her later years, Parkinson’s disease gradually made walking more difficult. Hlawn remained determined and curious, continuing to read, write, and revise the biographies she had written about her family. This work brought her joy and kept her connected to the history and heritage she valued so deeply.

She is survived by five children—Ro Mawi Watson (Larry Watson), Tin Cung Thang (Sen Lyan), Van Dong Thang (Christopher Marai), Niluai Thang (Ngun Dim), and Van Cin (Salai Nilian)—as well as six grandchildren; her brothers, Thla Khar and Kei Lwai; and her sisters, Ni Dong and Ngun Kip.

Hlawn will be remembered for her pioneering spirit, unwavering faith, quiet strength, determination, and love for her family. Her legacy lives on through her loved ones, former students, the Chin community, and the generations of women inspired by the path she paved.