Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi

Ancient History

Myanmar (erstwhile Burma) has its recorded history beginning with the Mon dynasty with the establishment of Swarnabhumi (Sanskrit word meaning "The Golden Land"). The Sanskrit word which defined Myanmar illustrates the close links the country had with India, dimly evident in the almost passive position that India has taken in the current days political situation of the neighboring country. The Mon dynasty is recorded to have come in to existence in 3000 BC, before giving way to Pyu dynasty in the year 628 AD, which finally fell sometime in the 9th century to the Pagan dynasty, with King Anwarhata unifying the country. A miscalculated endeavor of the Pagan king to take the war to the Mongols led to the end of Pagan empire sometime in 1287 AD. The fall of Pagens was marked by emergence of smaller state which saw another unification effort in the face of attack of the Shans by Toungoo empire in 1486. A move similar to the earlier move of Mongol war taking the pagan kingdom down was undertaken by King Bagidaw who took the war to the Biritsh by entering into Manipur and Assam. A definitive defeat at the hands of the British saw the fall of Konbaung dynasty, as the conclusion of first Anglo-Burmese was of 1824-1826. The treaty of Yandabo saw the Burmese ceding control over the western areas of Manipur, Assam, Arakan and  Tanesserim coast of Salween river and an indemnity of One Million sterling Pounds payable in four installments. Any pretense of independence was further impacted by the second war on minor issues about non-compliance to the treaty, in 1852. Commodore George Lambert led the British to the war which saw lower Burma being added to the British territory. It was the third war in 1858 which built on the British edginess over Burmese advances to the French, and which saw Burma finally ending up as a British Colony on 1st of January, 1886.

Later History of Burma

The British rule of Burma continued for the period between 1886 to 1948, when it was a province to the British India. The administration and business was largely dominated by the British and Indian businessmen, thus as the prosperity grew so did the divide in the society leading the way to the first nationalistic movement in Burma. At the turn of 19th century, YMBA (Young Men Buddhist association) was formed on the lines of YMCA before giving way to GCBA (General Council of Burmese Association). In the year 1920, Student strike saw setting up of schools opposed the the colonial education system. The second university strike of 1936 saw the arrest of Aung San and Koh Nu, leaders of Ranoon University Students Union. In the year 1937 Burma was declared an independent British colony.

Aung San "Bogyoke or The General"

Aung San was founder of the communist party in Burma and is largely credited to be the principal architect of Burmese independence. Entering the Rangoon university in 1933, in 1938 he was elected the president of both RUSU and ABSU (All Burma Students Union). Escaping arrest after a meeting with Indian National Congress meeting in Ramgarh, he fled to China, but was convinced by Japanese to move to Japan, from where he returned with offers of arms and military support. He formed Burmese Independence Army (BIA) in Thailand in 1941, to which he was made a leader as a colonel. Burma was declared an Independent nation by the Japanese in the year 1943, on 1st of August. Dissatisfied by the figurative state of independence while totally under Japanese authority, he got in touch with the British to organize a rebellion with recently renamed Burma Nationalist Army, on 27th March 1945. Before the independence, a shadow ministry was formed by the British, of which Aung San was the leader. However, a coup initiated as the behest of the earlier prime minister U saw, led to the assassination of the shadow cabinet including Aung San on 19th July 1947. 

Aung San Suu Kyi and beyond

Aung San Suu Kyi was two years old at the time of death of her father. The leader of Burmese independence could not witness Burma coming out of colonial shackles. However, post independence in the year 1948, January the 4th, her mother was made ambassador of Burma to India where Aung San Suu Kyi completed her education. Staying content with her scholarly activities, she steered away from the political humdrum in the backdrop of the military dictatorship led by the Military dictator General Ne Win. In the year 1988, she makes her first public speech on 26th of August, 1988, in Burma outside Shwedagon Pagoda. The military government came out with a draconian State Law and Order Restoration council, which was promptly responded to by the formation of National League of Democracy on September, 24th, 1988. July 20th 1990 Suu Kyi is put under house arrest, and NLD sweeps the elections with 82% votes in 1990, elections are not recognized by the SLORC. Her husband Aris is detected with Cancer in 1995 and dies of it in 1997, and despite pleas from the world over, he is not granted the VIsa for Burma. The leader is finally released on 13th of November, 2010, not as a merciful gesture by the government but because as per the court order the terms of imprisonment expired. No one really does know who long lived this freedom is to be. India has always tried to steer away from the Burmese muddle, but it is indeed a sad commentary on democracy. Diplomats on the government duties, approves of the silence on account of support of the Myanmar government on security reasons, which is laughable given the amount of terrorism we still face in spite of the so-called support from Myanmar Junta, from all the other borders. I suppose, everyday attacks should make the country brave enough to be able to take the position which is right as well as rightful. And this we should do with or without US telling us, as We, the People of India as sovereign nation, should take a position which helps us assume a role on global polity greater than what we have to play on global economy. In the midst of all the misfortune of Burma under the Military dictatorship and long time of strife, what from the perspective of an Indian citizen I find Burmese populace fortunate enough to make me feel envious is the fact that they still in these days have a leader who has the courage to walk towards the raised muzzles of guns, as she did in late eighties and who can command the love and affection of almost eighty percent of Myanmar citizens without the promise of skewed reservations policy or color TV sets and few kilograms of rice, and who even with that kind of support is willing to stay away from power, rather than seeking it with support of people of corroding value system (Indian people must have gone tired of listening to Coalition Dharma).