
Ahtaram Shin
Writer, Photographer and
Social Media Editor
Md Ahtaram Shin was born in 1997 in Odaung village in Southern Maungdaw. He is the youngest of his 10 brothers and sisters. They are all well-educated. His father was a theologian and Islamic scholar who went to Saudi Arabia in 1997 but was not allowed to return to Myanmar. His mother reunited with his father in 2014 in Saudi Arabia. ‘I am proud of my mother. She is a noble woman who put much effort into giving us an education. She had to confront huge difficulties from the Myanmar government during our schooling years due to my father’s absence.’ —Ahtaram said.
Because of the constant discrimination against Rohingya and the violence in 2017, he could not complete but he studied political science from Yangon Cosmopolitan University through online with undergraduate program. He managed to continue his studies through UNHCR scholarships pursuing an online course on sociology at Elon University. He worked as a peace-building and social cohesion research volunteer with BRAC. His interests in education, journalism and civil society led him to become a trustee of the Rohingya Community Development Campaign.
‘While I was studying, I read many poems and became interested in literature. My pen name is San Thai Shin.’ —he says. His poems have been featured in I am a Rohingya, an anthology of Rohingya poems. He received the 2nd prize in a Dutch short story writing competition. His written work has been published in The New Humanitarian, Amnesty International, Dhaka Tribune, The Diplomat, Reuters and The Daily Star. He currently works as a researcher at the Rohingya Cultural Memory Center.

ILL AT EASE
I'm a bird in cage
No free from risk
In daytime sun radiant
At night the wind of storm
I get tired in saving my life
Yet I am trash for tomorrow
Just ill at ease!

TREAT ME WITH LOVE
From cradle to the grave
Am I legitimate victim of the genocide?
Is it my destiny and fault?
Don't treat me as a toy bird
I fled your country
Not for permanence
Don't treat me as animal
Probably I disorganized your rules
But indeed internalize
I'm your backyard like afterglow
Perhaps you don't know
I am ageless beauty of your surrounding
Planting and gardening around your house
Only seasonal beauty
Even they bear buds, flower and fruits
I am inviolate beauty of your surrounding
Treat me with love
I have own dignity and respect
See my beauty in my body and soul
Treat me kindly because your compassionate voices might make me peace
Speak up words of gentleness and balance acts
I used to remember those conversations
When I will be my country
I've a land where I was born
That always welcomes me willy-nilly
I am hungry and dying to go back there
No longer you can find to see my face
My clock, my time is almost going to stick
As long as our luck bestows here,
Show me compassion and kindness
As your family and neighbour
As your soulmate and buddy
As your sibling and offspring
As your nephew and niece

SMILE
Even when I'm stressed or anxious
I never lose my smile
The situation around me is terrible
My community is drowning in an ocean of depression
As a leader, I try to encourage them with my smile
The power of a smile is immeasurable
The beauty of a smile is as bright as the stars
The sweetness of a smile can bring tranquility
Even to the heart of a prisoner
The radiance of a smile can spread for miles
Smiles show innocence and increase friendship
They are a powerful weapons for love
A smile can pause a thousand tears
It takes away many fears

TEACHER'S DAY
Let the environment
Be your teacher
You will learn
How to adopt by it
Let the creatures
Be your field to study
You will learn
A different aspect of life
Let the ocean
Be your vision
You'll learn
The feature of diversity
Let the stars
Be your aspirations
You will learn
The beauty of co-occur
Let the nature
Be your teacher
You will learn
The righteous path life!