The Indians in Burma
(An Essay)
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
Preamble
Indians are common in Burma. I remember buying tea and Nan
flat bread from the Kaka Shop in Monywa when I was little.
We enjoyed Indian food at home. My father was friendly with
every one in Monywa and he had many Indian friends. I still can
recall some of their names' like Manjit Singh, Basu, Choudhury,
Prakash, Laxmi. My elder brother was fond of Indian films and
he used to tell us about them like Arwada, Mother India etc and
Indian stars like Dilip Kumar, Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Mala Singha etc.
It was about 50 or 60 years ago and I met many Indian friends and
(The Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon)
I remember one Biology teacher from India who taught us zoology
at the premedical intermediate of science class in the Rangoon University.
His name was Nair and he taught us about the Ascaris lumbriciodes (Round Worm).
He began with word, "It's a common parasite, pale yellow in colour..." But he
pronounced yellow as "ellow" and then he went on, "In the year 1936..
." that he pronounced as "ear nineteen tirtysix..." . We could not make out
what he meant as we were first exposed to the South Indian pronunciation.
But later we understood what he meant and we passed the examination.
(The Statue of Indian Leader Mahatama Gnadhi in Washington D.C.)
Since then I have been exposed to many Indian teachers like Professor Choudhury
in physiology, Mr Roy in organic chemistry, Dr K.K.Ghose and Dr Sen Gupta
in anatomy and Dr Chakrabathy in histology. One Indian teacher favoured
the girls and he gave the most favour to the beautiful Muriel Yi Yi Myint first.
I remember his words in histology practical, "Now see the slide one by one,
ladies first, Muriel come!"
(The Ananda Temple in Pagan, styled after the Ajunta Cave in India)
Later on I have many Indian friends and heroes. Colonel Lakhmypathy FRCS
was a smart surgeon at the Base Military Hospital in Maymyo in the late 1950s
and he used to give surgical clinics at the Branch Medical Faculty (Now University
of Medicine Mandalay) every Saturday. I used to attend it often and I joined the
Medical Corps to step into his shoes. Colonel Balakrisna at the BMH, Maymyo
was not only my commanding officer but also acted as my parent and friend.
Then, I met Professor Harry Zaw Tun who taught me all the basic for doing
Ph.D. in anatomy.
(Bust of Emperor Asoka or Dhammarsoka)
In fact, no Burman can live without any Indian friend or Indian culture.
U Than Aung, former minister for education and later, the Burmese ambassador
to India, rightly stated that " India and Burma are bound by the golden chains of
tradition, religion and culture" as our traditional history begins with
King Abhi Rajah.We say, " Myanmar Ahsa Tagaung Ga ( Burma begins with Tagaung)."
Enjoy about the Indians in Burma.
(Lions Head of the Asoka Pillars)
Pyu and India
(Plan of Beikthano or Vishnu City)
[2] Pyu, one of the three founding father of Bamar or Myanmar race was
believed to be the mixture of three groups; (i) Few insignificant local inhabitants
since Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, (ii) many migrants came from India
bringing in Hinduism and Buddhism along with their cultures and literatures
successively (iii) and the last group believed to came down from north,
Tibeto-Burman group.[6]
Pyu settlement
(Excavation at Beikthano or Vishnu City)
Pyu arrived in future Burma area in the 1st century BC or earlier and
established village kingdoms at: Hanlin, Kutkhaing in the north, Thanlwin
coastal line in the east, Gulf of Martaban and its coast in the south, Thandwe
in the southern west and Yoma in the west.[7]
(Baw Baw Gyi Stupa at Sri Ksetra Near Prome or Pyi)
Pyu had built towns in: Sri Ksetra (Pyeh) 4-8AD, Maingmaw, Beikthano.
(Actually VISHNU from Hindi god) (Khmer troops occupied 210-225 AD),
Taung Dwin Gyi 1-4 AD,, Hanlin (Wet Let) 2-9AD, (Halingyi), Tagaung (Thabeikkyin) ,
Waddi (Nga Htwoe Gyi), Maingmaw (Pinlay)(Myittha) , Beinnaka (Pyaw Bwe),
and Bilin township (Mon state)[7]
(Curved Wall of Sri Ksetra)
Pyu variant of the Gupta script
Pyu established ancient kingdom (and its language) found in the central and
northern regions of what is now Burma. The history of the Pyu is known to us
from two main historical sources: the remnants of their civilization found in
stone inscriptions (some in Pali, but rendered in the Pyu script, or a Pyu variant
of the Gupta script) and the brief accounts of some travellers and traders from
China, preserved in the Chinese imperial history.[8]
(Buddha Acceptng Alms from the Untouchable Sunita)
Pyu chronicles speak of a dynastic change in A.D. 94. Sri Ksetra village was
apparently abandoned around A.D. 656 it was sacked by the Nan Cho Chinese
Shan in the mid-9th century, ending the Pyu's period of dominance.
(The Myazedi Stone Inscription Containing the Pyu
Writings on One Face)
(Pyu Inscriptions of the 4th Century A.D.)
Pyu language started in 5AD in Southern Rakhine. At famous Mya Zedi Pagoda
stone inscriptions were written in Pyu, Mon, Bama, and Pali in 1113AD. Pyu had
written records, dated from 1st century A.D. and Mon from 5th century A.D. and
Bama had its own written records only in 11th century A.D.[2][8]
Beikthano (Vishnu)
Beikthano (Vishnu) at the end of 4th. AD (9Khmer troops occupied 210-225 AD.
(Taung Dwin Gyi) after which the Mons moved in, giving the cities names Panthwa
and Ramanna pura. Religious remains show both forms of Buddhism, Mahayanism
and Hinayanism, together with Vishnu worship. There are large stone Buddhist
sculptures in relief in the Gupta style, bronze statuettes of Avalokitesvara,
one of the three chief Mahayanist Bodhisattvas, and so many stone sculptures
of Vishnu that the city was sometimes referred to as `Vishnu City'.[9]
Pyu Kings are Maharajas
(City Plan of Hanlin)
In Chinese Chronicles they recorded Pyu as `P'aio'. But Pyu Called themselves Tircul.
There are records of Nan Cho and Tibet alliance in 755 AD to defeat Chinese. Nan Cho
king Ko-lo-fen communicate with Pyu. Pyu Kings were called Maharajas and
Chief Ministers were called Mahasinas.
Nan Cho conscripted Pyu soldiers to attack of Hanoi in 863 AD.
In 832 AD Nan Cho looted Han Lin village from Pyu.[11]
Pyu kings named Vishnu as in Gupta, India
Inscriptions in Pyu language using a South Indian script, showed a Vikrama dynasty
ruling there at least from AD 673 to 718.[9] On Pyu's stone inscriptions, kings names
with Vikrama were suffix with Vishnu. The same tradition was noticed in Gupta era
India 100 BC.and in Sri Kestia, Mon in south, Thai and Cambodia. Statue of Vishnu
standing on Garuda with Lakshmi standing on the lotus on left. And Brahma, Siva and
Vishnu thrones were also found. Name, Varman indicated that there was influence of
Pallava of India.[11] The mentioning of Varman dynasty, an Indian name, indicated
there was a neighbouring and rival city, but Old Prome is the only Pyu site so` far
to be excavated in that area.[9]
(Drawing of Pyu Coins Found at Hanlin)
Indian Dravidian tribe in Panthwa
(Real Pyu Coins)
In Chinese Chronicles Chen Yi-Sein instead gives an Indian derivation for Panthwa
village, as the name of a Dravidian tribe settled in Mon's areas around the Gulf of
Martaban. This group was later one of the pioneers in a `Monized' occupation of
Beikthano village, which also led to the village/city being called Ramanna-pura,
linked to Mon areas of southern Myanmar (1999:77).[12]
(Hanlin in Shwebo District)
The Tagaung dynasty is explicitly incorporated into the story of Duttabaung's mother
and father; the lineage of the Queen of Beikthano is less consistent, but always i
ntertwined with that of the Sri Kestra village rulers. In all of these, links are made
between territorial control, royal patronage of Hindu or Buddhist sects and
supernatural events. [12]
Indian Royal family
Abi Raja
(Map of Tahuang Where the Burmese History Begins)
Some believed that Burma started from Tagaung, built by Abi Raja, a Sakian
(Tha Ki Win min), Indian Royal family member, migrated from Kapilavatthu
(India) after defeated by the king of Panchala (India), Vitatupa. He left the
Middle Country (India) and established the Tagaung country, known at that
time as Sangassarattha or Sangassanagara. On the death of Abi Raja, younger
son Kan Raja Nge (younger King Kan) got the throne. Thirty-three kings
reigned there.[15]
(Excavation Finds in Tagaung)
Kan Raja Gyi ruled Arakan
Elder brother Kan Raja Gyi (elder King Kan) went down the Ayeyarwaddy River,
ascended the Thallawadi River, arrived Kelataungnyo and ruled there as Rajagaha.
He ruled the ancient Arakan.[16]
Kan Raja Gyi's son Muducitta
His son Muducitta became king of the Pyus (ancestors of modern Myanmar).
He founded the city of Kyauppadaung. He conquered the Dhannavati
(built by king Marayu).[17]
(Votives Found at Tagaung)
Bhinnaka Raja
The invading Chinese from the north destroyed Tagaung. The last king of
Tagaung, Bhinnaka Raja run away and died later. His followers split
in to three divisions.[18]
One division founded the nineteen Shan States at the eastern part.
Muducitta, grand son of Abi Raja
Another division moved down Ayeyarwady River and combined with
Muducitta (second generation migrant, grand son of Indian Abi Raja) and
other Sakiyan (Indian) princes, among the Pyus, Kanyans and Theks.[19]
Naga Hsein, a Sakiyan Indian
(Finding at Tagaung Points to the Iron Age)
The third group stayed in Mali with the chief queen Naga Hsein, a Sakiyan.(Indian)
She was the queen of the Sakyiyan king Dhaja Raja migrated from India. On the way
he founded Thintwe'. Then they founded the upper Bagan(Pagan) .[20]
Dahnnavata captured Thambula, queen of Pyus. But Nanhkan (China) queen of Pyus
had driven out the Kanyans, who lived in seven hill-tracks beginning Thantwe'.[21]
(Pyu Urns by Dr Than Tun)
King Dwattabaung from Indian Royal Family
King Dwattabaung, direct descendent of Abi Raja (Indian Migrant) founded
Thare Khit Taya (Sri Ksetra) in 443 BC. It was said to be self-destroyed in 94 AD.
The history is half -mystical at that time.[22]
(Pyu Sites in Burma)
Talaings
Mons or Talaings, an Ethnic Minority Group of Myanmar, migrated from the
Talingana State, Madras coast of Southern India. They mixed with the new migrants
of Mongol from China and driven out the above Andhra and Orissa colonists.[23]
Those Mon (Talaings) brought with them the culture, arts, literature, religion and
all the skills of civilisation of present Myanmar. They founded the Thaton and Bago
(Pegu) Kingdoms. King Anawrahta of Bagan (Pagan) conquered that Mon Kingdom
of King Manuha, named Suvannabumi (The Land of Golden Hues).[24]
The conquest of Thaton in 1057 was a decisive event in Burmese history.
It brought the Burman into direct contact with the Indian civilizing influences
in the south and opened the way for intercourse with Buddhist centres overseas,
especially Ceylon.[25]
The evidence of the inscriptions, Luce[26] warns us, shows that the Buddhism
of Pagan `was mixed up with Hindu Brahmanic cults, Vaisnavism in particular.[ 25]
[edit] Ah Yee Gyis
Ah Yee Gyis or Aries, notoriously powerful in Pagan or Bagan, before the Buddhist R
eligion arrived. Ah Yee Gyis or Aries were related to one Indian sect or religion.
The Indian Aris or Ah Yees were also known for, swimming, martial arts, traditional
medicine practice and the custom of sleeping with the brides on the first night
of weddings. They are the last to eliminate just after formation of first Bama Empire.
[edit] Bengal prince Pateik Kara
Pateikkara was an Indian (Kala) prince from ancient Bengal who fall in love with
Burma Bagan's 3rd Great King Kyansittha's daughter. King Kyansittha indirectly cause
the death of his daughter, Shwe Ein Si's lover, Prince of Pateik Kara. He used to
bribe the royal guards with ten baskets of silver to see the princess. When the
king heard of the secret lovers' tryst, he forced his daughter to marry Sawyun,
the son of late King Sawlu, although Sawyun was a handicapped person walking
with a limp. Kyansittha preferred him rather than a Kala (Indian). [27
India and Arakan
The Arakanese chronicles claim that the Kingdom was founded in the
year 2666 BC.[28]
Wesali founded by Hindu Chandras
"The area known as North Arakan had been for many years before the 8th century
the seat of Hindu dynasties. In 788 AD a new dynasty, known as the Chandras,
founded the city of Wesali. This city became a noted trade port to which as many
as a thousand ships came annually; the Chandra kings were upholders of Buddhism, ...
their territory extended as far north as Chittagong;- --- Wesali was an easterly Hindu
kingdom of Bengal --- Both government and people were Indian.[29] So far as Arakan
is concerned, the inscriptions show traces of two early dynasties holding sway
in the north. The earlier one, a Candra dynasty, seems to have been founded
in the middle of the fourth century A.D. Its capital was known by the Indian name
of Vaisali and it maintained close connections THE PRE-PAGAN PERIOD 9 with India.
Thirteen kings of this dynasty are said to have reigned for a total period of 230 years.
The second dynasty was founded in the eighth century by a ruler referred to as
Sri Dharmavijaya, who was of pure Ksatriya descent. His grandson married a daughter
of the Pyu king of Sri Ksetra.[30]
(Pyu Towns in Burma by Dr Than Tun)
Hindu statues and inscriptions in Wesali
The ruins of old capital of Arakan - Wesali show Hindu statues and inscriptions
of the 8th century AD. Although the Chandras usually held Buddhistic doctrines,
there is reason to believe that Brahmanism and Buddhism flourished side by side
in the capital.
Chittagong is from Tsit-ta-gung
The Arab chief was the Thuratan, in the Arakanese utterance whom the
king of Arakan Tsula-Taing Tsandra (951-957 AD.), claimed to have defeated
in his invasion of Chittagong in 953 AD. In memory of his victory the Arakanese
king set up a stone trophy, in the conquered land. And inscribed on it the Burmese word,
"Tsit-ta-gung" meaning "there shall be no war". And from this remark of the monument,
according to Burmese tradition, the district took its name, Chittagong.[ 31]
Indians in Modern Day Burma
Sayadaw U Ottama was educated in India and he urged the Burmese to strive
for "home rule" in the early 1920s that led to independence movement of Burma.
He was a follower of Mahatama Gandhi.
Dr Nath or Yebaw Tun Maung and Goshal or Thakhin Ba Tin were Bengalis joining
the Dohbamar Asiayone and later the Communist Party.
In the post war period, Thakhin Thar Khin was one time minsire for home affairs
and he was an Indian from Mogok. Ministers U Khin Maung Latt and U Raschid
were also Indians. U Raschid had his elder brother Raschid coming to Burma as
the Indian ambassador to Burma.Minister U Raschid was a close friend of
Bogyoke Aung San and he died in Pakistan where his son lives.
Professor of Surgery Sayagyi U Khin Maung latt was a Punjabi, but he
removed his beard and Punjabi paraphernalis to show his loyalty Burma.
Sayagyi U Aung Nyunt from Mandalay was also an Indian.So were Professors
Mohan and Ramdev.
I have many Indian doctors friends like Ivan Win Pe, Terence Varma,
S.C. Soni, Prakash Singh Talwar, Krishna Brajwaja, Inderjit Singh Toor etc.
Conclusion
Burma is part of “Farther India” and its history an people are closely intertwined
to India. Both Buddhism and Hinduism contributed to the culture of
our country and many pagodas and stone inscriptions are testaments to it.
In short, Indians contribute a lot to Burma.
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
24.9.009 (original)
N.B. The section on Pyu was taken from the Wikipedia.
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