The name Thitpok (သစ်ပုပ်) comes from Thit (wood or tree) + pok (putrid smell). In Myanmar it is not uncommon to change “inauspicious” or “bad” names into something that sound exactly the same but with a different spelling and thus a different meaning, sometimes with the risk of becoming nonsensical. Now by changing the second syllable “ပုပ်” to “ပုတ်” the name becomes Thit (wood or tree) + pok (pat or strike) which is nonsensical. Also, this tree’s other name is “ဘိုင်”, which in one sense means “without money”; still another bad name!
The Abridged Myanmar Language Dictionary (1980) by the Myanmar Language Commission says that this tree has buttress roots, bluish-white bark, and gray colored wood with putrid smell:
Just recently I accidentally discovered that the Yangon Heritage Trust has given their 32nd Blue Plaque to our Thitpok tree of Yangon University. Accidentally because YHT does not keep a regular blog but mainly communicates their work through the Facebook and unfortunately I do not keep a Facebook account. Through this discovery I was happy to see that YHT has used the correct spelling on their plaque.
The old name plate with the wrong spelling has been moved up the trunk, for posterity’s sake I guess. YHT’s post on Facebook of September 6, 2019 says:
The 32nd Blue Plaque in Yangon is unveiled at Thitpok Tree in the University of Yangon campus. This is the first blue plaque which commemorates the natural heritage of Yangon. The installation ceremony is attended by Union Minister of Education, Dr Myo Thein Gyi, the Chief Minister of Yangon Region Government U Phyo Min Thein, the Speaker of Yangon Hluttaw U Tin Maung Tun and distinguished guests.
Thitpok (Tetrameles nudiflora. R. Br. Datiscaceae) is a deciduous tree and one of the most well-known trees in Yangon. Although it is difficult to tell the exact age of the tree, it is undeniable that the tree has been in the campus since University of Yangon was set up in 1920.
Thitpok Tree is considered the main icon of University of Yangon, along with the Convocation Hall, Judson Church, the Inya Lake and Kantkaw trees (Ironwood). Throughout its life, the tree has welcomed and said goodbye to generations of students. It has witnessed student movements since the colonial times. It has featured in literature portraying the university. The tree is not only important to the University of Yangon, which itself will celebrate its centennial in 2020, but also invaluable for the city of Yangon.
Viewed from a blurry distance this photo took me back to the old days. The first row sans their long scarfs could have been our Science and Arts girls. I could be one of the guys at the back wearing the traditional jackets.
I remember the time they ordered us to start wearing such traditional jackets. We had to comply, and on the first day I was caught by the movie camera of the government Information service nonchalantly talking with my friends, walking down and turning around the corner of the Math wing corridor. That scene was in the news footage customarily played in the cinemas before the movie begins. It was the only silver screening I got out of my life and the rest is history.
Those were the days my friend.
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