NationMaster - Encyclopedia: British rule in Burma

British rule in Burma lasted from 1824 to 1948, from the Anglo-Burmese Wars through the creation of Burma Province as a colony of British India to the establisment of the Crown Colony of Burma and finally independence. Various portions of Burmese territories, including Arakan, Tenasserim were conferred to the British after British victory in First Anglo-Burmese War. Lower Burma was annexed by the British in 1852 after the Second Anglo-Burmese War. The British-acquired territories were designated a province in 1862. After the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1886, Upper Burma was annexed. The History of Burma (Myanmar) is long and complex. ... Image File history File links Burmapeacockforhistory. ... Humans lived in the region that is now Myanmar as early as 11,000 years ago, but the first identifiable civilisation is that of the Mon. ... Pyu (also written Pyuu, or Pyus) refers to an ancient kingdom (and its language) found in the central and northern regions of what is now Burma. ... Mon kingdoms ruled large sections of Burma from the 9th to the 11th, the 13th to the 16th, and again in the 18th centuries. ... To the north another group of people, the Burmese began infiltrating the area as well. ... Innwa (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ; formerly Ava) is a city in the Mandalay Division of Myanmar, situated just to the south of Amarapura on the Ayeyarwady River. ... The 54-m Shwethalyaung Buddha, constructed in 994 A.D. by King Migadepa Bago, formerly Pegu, is a city and the capital of Bago Division in Myanmar. ... The Toungoo dynasty (1486-1752) was one of the most powerful post-Bagan Burmese kingdoms, over which seven kings reigned for a period of 155 years. ... The Konbaung Dynasty (Burmese: ; 1752-1885, sometimes called the Alaungpaya Dynasty) was the last in the history of the Burmese monarchy. ... There have been three Burmese Wars or Anglo-Burmese Wars: First Anglo-Burmese War (1823 to 1826) Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852 to 1853) Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885 to 1887) The expansion of Myanmar had consequences along its frontiers. ... Rakhine State (formerly Arakan) is a state of Myanmar. ... Tanintharyi Division, better known by the old name Tenasserim, is a division of Myanmar, covering the long narrow southern part of the country on the Kra Isthmus. ... Burma is divided into 7 states and 7 divisions: Categories: Myanmar | Subdivisions of Myanmar | States of Myanmar | Divisions of Myanmar ... Upper Burma was a term used by the British to refer to the central and northern area of what is now the country of Myanmar. ... Dobama Asiayone (We Burmans Association), led by Ba Sein, was an pro-independence and pro-Japanese Burmese organisation established in 1930 in Rangoon, after Indian dock workers and their families were murdered by Burman dock workers who believed that the Indians had taken jobs that rightfully belonged to them. ... Aung San General Aung San (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ); February 13, 1915 â€“ July 19, 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, general, and politician. ... The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1943 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. ... The first years of Burmese independence were marked by successive insurgencies by the Red Flag Communists led by Thakin Soe, the White Flag Communists led by Thakin Than Tun, the YÃ¨baw Hpyu (White-band PVO) led by Bo La Yaung, a member of the Thirty Comrades, army rebels calling... The Burmese Way to Socialism is the name of the ideology of Burmese ruler, Ne Win, who ruled the country from 1962 to 1988. ... 8888 Uprising (Shih lei long; lit. ... The State Peace and Development Council (Burmese: ; IPA: ; abbreviated SPDC) is the official name of the military regime of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). ... There have been three Burmese Wars or Anglo-Burmese Wars: First Anglo-Burmese War (1823 to 1826) Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852 to 1853) Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885 to 1887) The expansion of Myanmar had consequences along its frontiers. ... British India (otherwise known as The British Raj) was a historical period during which most of the Indian subcontinent, or present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, were under the colonial authority of the British Empire (Undivided India). ... Rakhine State (formerly Arakan) is a state of Myanmar. ... Tanintharyi Division, better known by the old name Tenasserim, is a division of Myanmar, covering the long narrow southern part of the country on the Kra Isthmus. ... The First Anglo-Burmese War lasted from 1823 to 1826. ... Burma is divided into 7 states and 7 divisions: Categories: Myanmar | Subdivisions of Myanmar | States of Myanmar | Divisions of Myanmar ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Second Anglo-Burmese War took place in 1852. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Third Anglo-Burmese War or just The Third Burmese war lasted from 1885 to 1887. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... Upper Burma was a term used by the British to refer to the central and northern area of what is now the country of Myanmar. ...

Background

The First Anglo-Burmese War arose from friction between Arakan in western Burma and British-held Chittagong to the north. After Burma's defeat of the Kingdom of Arakan in 1784-1785, in 1823, Burmese forces again crossed the frontier and the British responded with a large seaborne expedition that took Rangoon without a fight in 1824. In Danuphyu, south of Ava the Burmese general Maha Bandula was killed and his armies routed. The 1826 Treaty of Yandabo formally ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. British-led Indian troops suffered more than 15,000 fatalities. The First Anglo-Burmese War lasted from 1823 to 1826. ... Arakan is a state in the North Western part of Myanmar, formerly Burma. ... Chittagong (Bengali: à¦šà¦Ÿà§à¦Ÿà¦—à§à¦°à¦¾à¦®, ChÃ´Å£Å£ogram) is the major seaport and second largest city of Bangladesh. ... Yangôn, formerly Rangoon, population 4,504,000 (2001), is the capital of Myanmar. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Innwa (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ; formerly Ava) is a city in the Mandalay Division of Myanmar, situated just to the south of Amarapura on the Ayeyarwady River. ... General Mahabandoola (c. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ...

After 25 years of peace, the British and Burmese fighting started afresh, and lasted until the British occupied all of Lower Burma. Burma is divided into 7 states and 7 divisions: Categories: Myanmar | Subdivisions of Myanmar | States of Myanmar | Divisions of Myanmar ...

King Mindon tried to readjust to the thrust of imperialism. He enacted administrative reforms and made Burma more receptive to foreign interests. But the British effected the Third Anglo-Burmese War, which lasted less than two weeks during November 1885. Mindon Min (Burmese: ; 1808â€“1878) was King of Burma from 1853 to his death and is one of the most popular and revered Kings of Burma. ... The Third Anglo-Burmese War or just The Third Burmese war lasted from 1885 to 1887. ...

British troops entered Mandalay on November 28, 1885 and Burma was attached to the British Empire on January 1, 1886. Mandalay (Burmese: ) is the second largest city in Myanmar (formerly Burma) with a population of 927,000 (2005 census), agglomeration 2,5 million. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ...

Burmese armed resistance continued sporadically for several years, and the British commander had to coerce the High Court of Justice to continue to function. The British decided to annex all of Upper Burma as a colony, and to make the whole country a province of the Indian Empire. The new colony of Upper Burma was attached to the Burma Province on February 26, 1886. Rangoon, having been the capital of British Lower Burma, became the capital of the province. Upper Burma was a term used by the British to refer to the central and northern area of what is now the country of Myanmar. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

British rule

Britain made Myanmar a province of India in 1886 with the capital at Rangoon. Traditional Myanmar society was drastically altered by the demise of the monarchy and the separation of religion and state. Though war officially ended after only a couple of weeks, resistance continued in northern Myanmar until 1890, with the British finally resorting to a systematic destruction of villages and appointment of new officials to finally halt all guerrilla activity. The economic nature of society also changed dramatically. After the opening of the Suez Canal, the demand for Burmese rice grew and vast tracts of land were opened up for cultivation. However, in order to prepare the new land for cultivation, farmers were forced to borrow money from Indian moneylenders called chettiars at high interest rates and were often foreclosed on and evicted losing land and livestock. Most of the jobs also went to indentured Indian labourers, and whole villages became outlawed as they resorted to 'dacoity' (armed robbery). While the Burmese economy grew, all the power and wealth remained in the hands of several British firms and migrants from India. The civil service was largely staffed by Anglo-Burmese and Indians, and Burmese were excluded almost entirely from military service, which was staffed primarily with Indians, Anglo-Burmese, Karens and other Burmese minority groups. Though the country prospered, the Burmese people failed to reap the rewards. (See George Orwell's novel Burmese Days for a fictional account of the British in Burma.) Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1344x656, 201 KB) Burmese Pagodas Scanned from a period stereoptical view card c. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1344x656, 201 KB) Burmese Pagodas Scanned from a period stereoptical view card c. ... Ships moored at El Ballah during transit Egypt: Site of Suez Canal (top). ... The Chettiars also Chetty, Chetti, Setty, Chitty, Shetty and Shettigar is a title, commonly used by people of South Indian origin in India and abroad. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Burmese Days is a novel by British writer George Orwell. ...

By the turn of the century, a nationalist movement began to take shape in the form of Young Men's Buddhist Associations (YMBA), modelled after the YMCA, as religious associations were allowed by the colonial authorities. They were later superseded by the General Council of Burmese Associations (GCBA) which was linked with Wunthanu athin or National Associations that sprang up in villages throughout Burma Proper.^[1] A new generation of Burmese leaders arose in the early twentieth century from amongst the educated classes that were permitted to go to London to study law. They came away from this experience with the belief that the Burmese situation could be improved through reform. Progressive constitutional reform in the early 1920s led to a legislature with limited powers, a university and more autonomy for Burma within the administration of India. Efforts were also undertaken to increase the representation of Burmese in the civil service. Some people began to feel that the rate of change was not fast enough and the reforms not expansive enough. This article is about the association. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

In 1920 the first university students strike in history broke out in protest against the new University Act which the students believed would only benefit the elite and perpetuate colonial rule. 'National Schools' sprang up across the country in protest against the colonial education system, and the strike came to be commemorated as 'National Day'.^[1] There were further strikes and anti-tax protests in the later 1920s led by the Wunthanu athins. Prominent among the political activists were Buddhist monks (hpongyi), such as U Ottama and U Seinda in the Arakan who subsequently led an armed rebellion against the British and later the nationalist government after independence, and U Wisara, the first martyr of the movement to die after a protracted hunger strike in prison. ^[1] (One of the main thoroughfares in Yangon is named after U Wisara.) In December 1930, a local tax protest by Saya San in Tharrawaddy quickly grew into first a regional and then a national insurrection against the government. Lasting for two years, the Galon rebellion, named after the mythical bird Garuda - enemy of the Nagas i.e. the British - emblazoned on the pennants the rebels carried, required thousands of British troops to suppress along with promises of further political reform. The eventual trial of Saya San, who was executed, allowed several future national leaders, including Dr Ba Maw and U Saw, who participated in his defence, to rise to prominence.^[1] The National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a country. ... Rakhine State (formerly Arakan) is a state of Myanmar. ... Yangon (Burmese: , population 4,082,000 (2005 census), formerly Rangoon, and still known by that name in many circles, see below under History), is the largest city of Myanmar (formerly Burma) and its former capital. ... Saya San was a noted monk, known in 1927 as a traditional healer in Burma. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The nagas ( snake) are an ancient race of snake-humanoid beings first depicted in ancient Vedic Hindu mythology and oral folklore from at least 5000 B.C.E. Stories involving the Nagas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in predominantly Hindu (India, Nepal, and the island... Ba Maw (February 8, 1893 â€“ May 29, 1977) was a Burmese political leader. ... U Saw (1900 - 1948) was a Burmese politician. ...

May 1930 saw the founding of the Dobama Asiayone (We Burmans Association) whose members called themselves Thakin (an ironic name as thakin means "master" in the Burmese language—rather like the Indian 'sahib'— proclaiming that they were the true masters of the country entitled to the term usurped by the colonial masters).^[1] The second university students strike in 1936 was triggered by the expulsion of Aung San and Ko Nu, leaders of the Rangoon University Students Union (RUSU), for refusing to reveal the name of the author who had written an article in their university magazine, making a scathing attack on one of the senior university officials. It spread to Mandalay leading to the formation of the All Burma Students Union (ABSU). Aung San and Nu subsequently joined the Thakin movement progressing from student to national politics.^[1] Dobama Asiayone (We Burmans Association), led by Ba Sein, was an pro-independence and pro-Japanese Burmese organisation established in 1930 in Rangoon, after Indian dock workers and their families were murdered by Burman dock workers who believed that the Indians had taken jobs that rightfully belonged to them. ... Aung San General Aung San (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ); February 13, 1915 â€“ July 19, 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, general, and politician. ... U Nu (otherwise known as Thakin Nu) (1907-1995) was a Burmese nationalist and political figure. ... Yangon University With truth and loyalty Yangon University is the most prestigious and the oldest university in Myanmar. ... Mandalay (Burmese: ) is the second largest city in Myanmar (formerly Burma) with a population of 927,000 (2005 census), agglomeration 2,5 million. ...

The British separated Burma Province from British India in 1937 and granted the Crown Colony a new constitution calling for a fully elected assembly, with many powers given to the Burmese, but this proved to be a divisive issue as some Burmese felt that this was a ploy to exclude them from any further Indian reforms whereas other Burmese saw any action that removed Burma from the control of India to be a positive step. Ba Maw served as the first prime minister of Burma, but he was forced out by U Saw in 1939, who served as prime minister from 1940 until he was arrested on January 19, 1942 by the British for communicating with the Japanese. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... Ba Maw (February 8, 1893 â€“ May 29, 1977) was a Burmese political leader. ... U Saw (1900 - 1948) was a Burmese politician. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

A wave of strikes and protests that started from the oilfields of central Burma in 1938 became a general strike with far-reaching consequences. In Rangoon student protesters, after successfully picketing the Secretariat, the seat of the colonial government, were charged by the British mounted police wielding batons and killing a Rangoon University student called Aung Kyaw. In Mandalay, the police shot into a crowd of protesters led by Buddhist monks killing 17 people. The movement became known as Htaung thoun ya byei ayeidawbon (the '1300 Revolution' named after the Burmese calendar year)^[1], and December 20, the day the first martyr Aung Kyaw fell, commemorated by students as 'Bo Aung Kyaw Day'.^[2] Yangôn, formerly Rangoon, population 4,504,000 (2001), is the capital of Myanmar. ... Yangon University With truth and loyalty Yangon University is the most prestigious and the oldest university in Myanmar. ... Mandalay (Burmese: ) is the second largest city in Myanmar (formerly Burma) with a population of 927,000 (2005 census), agglomeration 2,5 million. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... On December 20, 1938, Bo Aung Kyaw was killed by the British Indian Imperial Police during the third Rangoon University student boycott. ...

Frontier Areas

The Frontier Areas, also known as the Excluded Areas or the Scheduled Areas, compose the majority of states within Myanmar today. They were administered separately by the British, and were united with Burma Proper to form Myanmar's geographic composition today. The Frontier Areas were inhabited by ethnic minorities such as the Chin the Shan, the Kachin and the Karenni. Burma is divided into 7 states and 7 divisions Categories: Myanmar ... Look up Chin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Shan are an ethnic group of Southeast Asia. ... Kachin is a state of Burma. ... Kayah, also called Karenni State is a state of Myanmar. ...

World War II and Japan

The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1943 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. ...

From the Japanese surrender to Aung San's assassination

The surrender of the Japanese brought a military administration to Burma and demands to try Aung San for his involvement in a murder during military operations in 1942. Lord Mountbatten realized that this was an impossibility considering Aung San's popular appeal.^[1] After the war ended, the British Governor, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith returned. The restored government established a political program that focused on physical reconstruction of the country and delayed discussion of independence. The AFPFL opposed the government leading to political instability in the country. A rift had also developed in the AFPFL between the Communists and Aung San together with the Socialists over strategy, which led to Than Tun being forced to resign as general secretary in July 1946 and the expulsion of the CPB from the AFPFL the following October.^[1] Dorman-Smith was replaced by Sir Hubert Rance as the new governor, and almost immediately after his appointment the Rangoon Police went on strike. The strike, starting in September 1946, then spread from the police to government employees and came close to becoming a general strike. Rance calmed the situation by meeting with Aung San and convincing him to join the Governor's Executive Council along with other members of the AFPFL.^[1] The new executive council, which now had increased credibility in the country, began negotiations for Burmese independence, which were concluded successfully in London as the Aung San-Atlee Agreement on January 27, 1947.^[1] The agreement left parts of the communist and conservative branches of the AFPFL dissatisfied, however, sending the Red Flag Communists led by Thakin Soe underground and the conservatives into opposition. Aung San also succeeded in concluding an agreement with ethnic minorities for a unified Burma at the Panglong Conference on February 12, celebrated since as 'Union Day'.^[3]^[1] Shortly after, rebellion broke out in the Arakan led by the veteran monk U Seinda, and it began to spread to other districts.^[1] The popularity of the AFPFL, now dominated by Aung San and the Socialists, was eventually confirmed when it won an overwhelming victory in the April 1947 constituent assembly elections.^[1] Col. ... Hubert Elvin Rance (1898-1974) was the last British Governor of Burma (Myanmar) between 1946 and 1948, while the country was moving towards independence. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Aung San General Aung San (Burmese: ; MLCTS: ); February 13, 1915 â€“ July 19, 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, general, and politician. ... Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, FRS (January 3, 1883 - October 8, 1967) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... The Panglong Conference (Burmese: ), held in February 1947, was an historic meeting that took place at Panglong in the Shan States in Burma between the Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic minority leaders and Aung San, head of the interim Burmese government. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Then a momentous event stunned the nation on July 19, 1947. U Saw, a conservative pre-war Prime Minister of Burma, engineered the assassination of Aung San and several members of his cabinet including his eldest brother Ba Win, the father of today's National League for Democracy exile-government leader Dr Sein Win, while meeting in the Secretariat.^[4]^[1] July 19 has been commemorated since as Martyrs' Day. Thakin Nu, the Socialist leader, was now asked to form a new cabinet, and he presided over Burmese independence on January 4, 1948. The popular sentiment to part with the British was so strong at the time that Burma opted not to join the British Commonwealth, unlike India or Pakistan.^[1] July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... U Saw (1900 - 1948) was a Burmese politician. ... U Ba Win is the eldest brother of Aung San and was assassinated, together with Aung San during an Executive Council meeting on July 19, 1947. ... The flag features a yellow dancing peacock, which has been a sign of freedom in modern Burmese history. ... Dr. Sein Win is the Prime Minister of the Union of Burma, elected by the 1990 Peoples Assembly known as the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma - a government-in-exile since 1990. ... Burmese Martyrs Day (Burmese: ) is commemorated every year on July 19. ... U Nu (otherwise known as Thakin Nu) (1907-1995) was a Burmese nationalist and political figure. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as The Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states all of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom, except for Mozambique and the United Kingdom itself. ...

Contents

Background

British rule

Frontier Areas

World War II and Japan

From the Japanese surrender to Aung San's assassination

See also

References

Contents

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British rule

Frontier Areas

World War II and Japan

From the Japanese surrender to Aung San's assassination

See also

References

Background