Burmese Princess in exile Inge Sargent shares her riveting story of extraordinary courage and love.  She is the author of Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess, and is the recipient of a United Nations International Human Rights Award. You’ll hear her thoughts on following the heart, on courage, and how to work with the mind in a time of crisis. Originally from Austria, she became a “Mahadevi”, or Ruling Princess, when she married her first husband, Sao Kya Seng, who was the “Saophalong”, or Ruling Prince, of Hsipaw State. Located in Northern Burma, Hsipaw is one of the largest of the ethnic Shan states, about the size of Connecticut, and the closest border is China. Hear her reminisce about the feeling she had when she first met Sao, how he “spoke to [her] heart directly.” Sao was a kind and thoughtful man who deeply believed in the power of democracy. But in the end, the instability in the region was too great, and the military too strong, and in 1962, everything changed… Find out more of the hardships Inge endured after the military coup d’etat, and learn what beautiful gifts Sao gave to her life, including, “…a perspective that is kind of boundless…”
I always think there is the brain, and there’s the heart. And, sometimes the brain warns you and says “don’t do that” and the heart says “go ahead… go ahead…” and that’s what I always did. And I have never regretted it for one moment.
-Inge Sargent
Inge’s book: Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess
Donate to Partners Asia, learn more about what they do, and learn about the Sao Thusandhi Leadership Award given annually in Inge’s honor.
“Partners Asia supports community initiatives to improve the lives of Myanmar’s most vulnerable”
Thank you for listening! If you were moved by Inge’s story, share it with anyone you think would also be touched by it, and post about it on social media @ashowofhearts (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter), using #ashowofhearts. Feel free to comment on our social media and send us an email at info@ashowofhearts.com. Remember to choose courage, even when it’s scary, and join me in igniting the world with our hearts!
Transcript
Rosemary P.:
You are listening to A Show of Hearts. The podcast about finding the courage to live a deep and magical life. I’m your host, life coach Rosemary Pritzker. (singing).
Rosemary P.:
Hi everyone. Welcome to A Show of Hearts. I’m Rosemary Pritzker. My guest today is Inge Sargent she’s originally from Austria, grew up during World War II, and through a series of events you’ll hear in the interview, she later became a Burmese princess, when she married her first husband Sao Kya Seng. She’s the author of Twilight Over Burma: My Life as Chan Princess, and is the recipient of the United Nations International Human Rights Award.
Rosemary P.:
Her story was also made into a movie by the German version of PBS. I’m so excited to share her story with you today, because Inge is someone who is very near to my heart. I’ve known her most of my life. She’s my step great-grandmother, meaning her daughter Mayari was married to my grandfather until he passed a few years ago.