Burmese diplomat U Thant was born in Pantanaw and became a school teacher, and later the headmaster of the Pantanaw National High School. Thant succeeded Thakin Nu, who became Prime Minister. After Burma became independent, Thant entered government service. Thant became the Burmese representative to the UN in 1957 and in 1961, he was elected acting Secretary General of the UN after the death of Dag Hammerskjold.
He was the first non Westerner to be Secretary General of the UN. He served for ten years in that role. U Thant resigned in 1971. He died of lung cander i
Nassit, Ramses. U Thant in New York, 1961-1971 : A Portrait of the Third UN Secretary-General . 1988. St Martins Press.