Ethnicity Burmese Died 1947 | Name Walter Tun Children Walter Chit Tun, II | |
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Born 1898 Mawlamyine, Mon State, Burma Cause of death Military Escort Accident Education Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Occupation Medical Doctor and Bodybuilder Known for Creating Southeast Asia student movements and Muscle Control | ||
Alma mater University of Calcutta | ||
Myanmar's First Movie Star Continues to Inspire Generation Next
Walter Chit Tun (Burmese: ဝေါ်လတာချစ်ထွန်း)) (1898–1947) was a pioneer of body building and weight lifting in Myanmar (formerly Burma). He was an ethnic Mon and born in Moulmein (Mawlamyine) in Mon State to parents Dr Chit Tun and Daw Thein Ngwe. Walter Chit Tun studied at Rangoon's St. Paul Convent School and continued to Rangoon University where he led student movements to democratize the Burmese government. Because of the threats to his life due to his organizing students to stand up for the people's rights, he went on to India to study where he led a revival in the movement, Muscle Control, while also rallying the students of India to fight for their liberties. He influenced many leaders in India's physical culture. He wrote a document titled, Barbell Exercises, that combined the physical and mental condition of the ideal bodybuilder that became the tenets for Muscle Control. It became a phenomenon in India's physical culture.
Walter Chit Tun completed studying medicine in Calcutta University and went on to work at Rangoon Mental Hospital (Tadalay). There, he served as Superintendent of Tadalay Hospital. It was his dream to open a private hospital to assist those who were not being aided. However, he died before this dream was ever achieved.
Walter Chit Tun was one of the first Burmese movie stars. He appeared in the Burmese movie, Pan Bai Maung Tint Tai.
In Myanmar, Walter Chit Tun shares the honor of being one of the first 18 Great Myanmars. However, Walter Chit Tun died in a motorcycle accident on 19 November 1947 after an interview for a Burmese publication. The accident involved military escorts.
He was survived by his wife, a British woman, Barbara Margaret King, and their children, including Walter Chit Tun, II.
He is the grandfather of Joshua Chit Tun, a US based movie producer and philanthropist.