Aung San Suu Kyi (1945–)

Burmese human-rights activist, scholar, and writer. Born Suu Kyi in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon and Myanmar, respectively), June 19, 1945; youngest of three children of Aung San (leader of the Burmese nationalist movement in 1940s, which culminated in 1948 in the nation's attaining its independence from 50 years of British rule and three years of Japanese occupation) and Khin Kyi (Burma's ambassador to India and 1st woman to head a Burmese diplomatic mission); attended Lady Sri Ram College and Delhi University; St. Hugh's College at Oxford University, BA (1967); attended University of Kyoto in Japan (1985) and School of Oriental and African Studies at London University (1987); m. Michael Aris (scholar of Tibetan civilization), 1972; children: sons, Alexander and Kim.

At 15, left the country when mother became Burma's ambassador to India; worked in England as a teacher and at UN; returned to Rangoon to care for dying mother (1988); when armed soldiers killed as many as 3,000 citizens because of uprisings against the dictatorial Burma Socialist Program Party, made her 1st major public appearance in front of 500,000, speaking of human rights, including freedom to choose one's government; attempted to reconcile civil and military authorities; founded National League of Democracy and became its secretary-general (1988); though the government banned political demonstrations of over four persons and reaffirmed the right to arrest and sentence citizens without trial, defied the ban and continued her efforts for "Burma's second struggle for independence"; lived under house arrest at family home in Rangoon (1989–95); freed (2002); detained once more (2003); wrote Freedom From Fear & Other Writings (Viking, 1991) and (with Alan Clements) The Voice of Hope (Seven Stories, 1997). Received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her nonviolent quest for democracy in her ravaged nation (1991).

See also Women in World History.