The year 2007 passes leaving various hardships and difficulties to the year 2008.The New Year is a blessing for the Christians,and the whole world will get exhilarated on the occasion as it is also the New Year according to the international calendar. I heard that in some countries people died in traffic accidents on account of their overindulgence and excessive joys.The certain happy-go-lucky Myanmar people,non-Christians,for whom the occasion is not for their Myanmar New Year,will also hail the year 2008 with great joys.
In reality, 1st January is a day of heart rending for the people of Myanmar. On 1 January 1886 Governor-General of India Lord Duffer in declared that " Myanmar was annexed into the British Emperor " .Some said Dufferin gave the British Queen Myanmar as a New Year gift at 2400 hours on 31 December1885.Looking back,the global New Year Day was a day when Myanmar fell under subjugation.
The British imperialists made the first attempt to annex Myanmar in Hainggyi Island crisis in the time of King Alaung Mintaya. But the Myanmar people were able to fight back. At that time,Myanmar was a strong nation. In the time of King Hsinphyushin, son of King Alaung Mintaya, the area of Myanmar used to be the largest in Southeast Asia.The imperialists made one attempt after another to invade Myanmar during Konbaung dynasty.
India's Assam, Manipur and Akkapat were once the regions that had to offer tributes to the Myanmar kings.However,they were not ruled by Myanmar and they were autonomous regions.As Assam rose against Myanmar in 1816 and in 1818,troops were sent to it to ensure stability.The root cause of the risings was none other than the British.At the time,the British imperialists had already annexed the hole India.
In the fights against Assam and Manipur,the Myanmar troops had to face the British troops.The imperialists entered the areas of Myanmar and stirred up various problems.They not only sold arms to those who rose against the Myanmar kings but also sent their sepoys to fight the battles.General Maha Bandoola,who led 5,000 Myanmar soldiers including 1,000 kachins,marched to Jurahat 1,000miles away from Myanmar and defeated 30,000 enemies including Indian sepoys who were under British command.
The British persuaded Rakhine as they were defeated in the battles of Assam and Manipur.They aided and abetted Rakhine rebels led by Chinbyan. The rebels were given refuge in Bengal.The British blatantly declared that Shinmaphyu Island was put under their rule by hoisting the British Flag.Being intolerable,the myanmar people crossed the Naff River,entered Bengal and fought against the Rakhine rebels in January 1824.But they fell into the trap of the cunning British and Myanmar was dubbed a war monger or invader.On 5 March 1824 the British declared war on Myanmar.
The First Anglo-Myanmar War was a historic war.Some Britons who knew the true situation that it was an unjust war opposed it through the British Parliament and newspapers.Myanmar's fight against the British troops at risk of their lives led to 15,000 deaths of the British soldiers.Myanmar's side also lost lots of lives including General Maha Nay Myo.The war lasted two years and Myanmar was defeated losing Rakhine,Taninthayi,Assam,Manipur and Akkapat.
According to their plan,the British warship arrived at the mouth of the Yangon River on 1 April 1852,and another war started.
The Second Anglo-Myanmar War lasted over one year.Myanmar was defeated again due to internal disunity.In June 1853 after the war,the Lower Myanmar fell under the British rule.In the Third Anglo-Myanmar War Myanmar lost in a month as it was suddenly attacked.But patriotic national people fought back for 10 years.Only in 1895,the British felt relaxed.
It can be deduced from a review that the British took more than 100 years beginning from the Hainggyi Island crisis to occupy Myanmar.It took 70 years if we counted from the Assam and Manipur unrest.The British colonialists,the biggest imperialist in the world,could not occupy Myanmar easily.They had to experience the bravery of Myanmars.They knew that it was rather difficult to defeat Myanmar.
Employing various wicked ways , the British practised the divide-and-rule policy and tried to oppress the Myanmar people. There was also racial discrimination. They tried to revitalize feudalism in hilly regions with intent to sow discord among the Myanmar, Shan and Kayah nationals. But the plains were directly ruled and Rakhine and Taninthayi were separately ruled. In consequence, the country got divided into parts. The British encouraged the wealthy Myanmar nationals and foreigners to make the farmers and workers impoverished.There emerged class differences and the national brethren were at loggerheads with each other over the class differences.The British regarded Myanmars as uncivilized people and cracked down the peasants' uprising led by Saya San.
Thorough analysis reveals that Myanmar had to take over 120 years to regain independence since the British occupation of Rakhine and Taninthayi. But since then Myanmars rose against the British government.It took over 60 years if we calculate from 1886 when the whole nation fell under subjugation. Myanmar people fought for independence since 1826.A lot of lives were sacrificed for independence.
It was not that ancient Myanmar people were enslaved easily.
Independence was not regained in an easy way.
What about today's Myanmars?Will they be enslaved by neo-colonialists?
Anyhow, we should try to welcome and hail the New Year that might bring some hardships and difficulties due to the instigation of neo-colonialists and internal and external destructive elements and overcome them with the strength of national consolidation,Union Spirit and nationalistic fervour.
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