In Quest for Freedom: A Kachin-American Experience, the author’s encounters with notable figures serve as a fascinating lens through which his dual life—as a dedicated revolutionary diplomat and an immigrant making his way in America—is portrayed. These relationships, ranging from heads of state to Hollywood celebrities, highlight how interconnected the Kachin struggle was with the broader world and demonstrate the author’s extraordinary adaptability.
The sources detail several key categories of notable relationships:
1. Burmese Historical and Political Figures Despite being a Kachin nationalist, the author maintained deep friendships and interactions with prominent Burmese and ethnic figures, illustrating the complex political fabric of Burma before and during military dictatorship:
- Sama Duwa Sinwa Nawng (Sama Gyi): A larger-than-life Kachin chieftain synonymous with Burmese independence, who stood solidly with Bogyoke Aung San. Sama Gyi was slated to become the next President of Burma until General Ne Win staged a coup. The author was highly honored to know him personally, and Sama Gyi even wanted the author to serve as his Personal Assistant when he was appointed Ambassador to China.
- Win Min Than and Boh Set Kya: The author shared lighter moments with Win Min Than, the Burmese actress who co-starred with Gregory Peck in the movie The Purple Plain. She was married to Boh Set Kya, a legendary political figure and entrepreneur who set up Burma's first commercial aviation company.
- General Boh Mya: The legendary Karen leader who underwrote the Burman student resistance from abroad. The author shared a deep, lasting friendship and mutual respect with Boh Mya, who provided military support to Kachin soldiers when they were pinned down at Komoora.
- U Kyaw Nyein: A former Deputy Prime Minister who had skillfully deflected undue influence from India and China. The author's friends playfully suggested "holding him hostage for a day" at the author's San Francisco home to squeeze pearls of wisdom from him over a meal of Mohinga.
2. International Leaders and Global Icons The author’s diplomatic missions and his wife’s early career connected them with major international figures:
- Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino: The legendary Filipino democratic leader who was assassinated upon his return to Manila. The author’s connection to Aquino began in Tokyo, where the author’s wife worked at the Philippines Reparations Mission Office. They later greeted him in Bangkok in 1957 alongside a large crowd.
- Mother Teresa: The author met Mother Teresa when she spoke at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. When she passed away, he traveled to Kolkata (Calcutta) to attend her funeral, finding himself seated directly behind First Lady Hillary Clinton and Queen Noor of Jordan.
- Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan: The author was close to the Senator, who had served as America’s Ambassador to India twice, noting his enormous stature among Indian lawmakers. Moynihan’s office also congratulated the author on his successful lobbying to stop Japanese aid to the Burmese military.
- General William R. Peers: The famous American commander of the OSS Kachin Rangers during WWII. General Peers invited the author to lunch in San Francisco to discuss military history and even suggested the author volunteer for the Army Reserves.
3. Celebrities and American Cultural Figures As a political refugee trying to feed his family in San Francisco, the author worked various jobs, including driving a taxi and community organizing, which led to surreal encounters:
- Alistair Cooke: The legendary BBC broadcaster and host of Masterpiece Theatre played a round of golf with the author at the San Francisco Golf Club. Cooke paid the author the "supreme compliment" by telling him, "Michael, your English is better than most Americans".
- Hollywood Stars and Politicians: While driving a Yellow Cab in San Francisco—a job he called the "ultimate exercise in humility"—he gave a free ride to his favorite actress, Mercedes McCambridge. His taxi driving and organizing work also brought him into the orbits of Shirley Temple Black, James Mason, Lee Marvin, Senator Ted Kennedy, and even Bing Crosby.
- San Francisco City Officials: His work as a community organizer using Saul Alinsky’s methods connected him with major local players, including Frank Jordan, who went from being a Police Lieutenant to the Mayor of San Francisco, and Phil Bronstein, the Executive Editor of The San Francisco Examiner, who put the author’s jungle exploits on the front page.
The Larger Context Within the framework of Quest for Freedom, these notable relationships serve a distinct purpose. They contrast the grueling, life-and-death reality of the Kachin resistance with the "lofty and mundane" experiences of navigating the global stage. Whether he was lobbying foreign ministers, praying with Catholic priests, or swapping stories with fellow immigrant taxi drivers in America, the author utilized his vast network of relationships to survive, to advocate for his people, and to demonstrate that the Kachin cause was intrinsically linked to the broader international community's fight for democracy and human rights.
