Brief History of Rohingyas and Rakhines
According to the available historical records and many historians, the
earliest inhabitants of Arakan were a pro-Australoid people called
Negritos from the Neolithic period. They were known as Rakkhasha
(cannibals). They were dark-skinned people much like Africans and many
Rohingyas of today. They did not look like Mongoloid Rakhines or Maghs
of today who falsely claim to be of their descendants. The second
earliest people of Arakan were Indo-Aryans (i.e. Indians) followed by
Mro and Chakmas. Their settlements dated back to B.C. 3323. Most of the
earliest Kingdoms in Arakan history were Indian Kingdoms namely
Dhannyavadi Kingdoms and Vaishali (Vesali) Kingdom. These earliest
Indians, that is to say the forefathers of Rohingyas, were the followers
of Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism. With the advent of some Arabs as
traders and Islamic propagators to Arakan in 788 AD, most of local
Indians converted into Islam. It is very important to note that it was
Islam that came to Arakan in 788 AD, not Muslims. Yet, the indigenous
Indians who had converted into Islam known as Rohingyas today later came
to mix with foreigners as their settlements continued throughout its
historical periods. Usage of the term “Rohingya” in form of “Rooinga”
can be found as early as 17th century.
Another Arakanese community known as Rakhines today was the last
significant people of single Mongoloid stock to arrive in Arakan with
the Mongolian invasion in 957 AD. Later, a new civilization took place
as they came to mix local Indians and formed into Indo-Mongoloid people,
while many remained purely of Mongoloid origin. And they re-established
Buddhism in Arakan but in the form of Theraveda this time. With the
continual invasions by the kings of Tibeto-Burman people of Mongoloid
stock from Upper and Lower Burma, the people of Arakan were gradually
formed to be of more Mongoloid origin and Indian-Originated people
consequently decreased or were outnumbered. Therefore, the later
Kingdoms of Arakan such as in Lemro and Mrauk-U Periods were rather
Indo-Mongoloid or Mongoloid Kingdoms than Indian Kingdoms. However,
Muslims (of both Indigenous Indian Origins and foreigners settled in
Arakan) played many at times as phenomenon Kingmakers and other very
important roles during Mongoloid Arakanese Kingdoms.
Migration is a Human Nature
Despite being the sons of Indigenous Negritos and Indo-Aryans, today
Rohingyas are being labeled as Bengalis and recent illegal immigrants
from neighboring Bangladesh. It is perhaps because they look similar to
Bengalis in appearance. In fact, Rohingyas, Bengalis, Indians of today’s
India and Pakistanis etc are generally referred as South-Asians or
Indians. They are of single roots. Yet, Rohingyas are linguistically and
culturally different from Bengalis.
Though the migration of the people, during British colonial period and
at the earlier periods, from the then India to Arakan and vice versa
can’t be denied, it stopped after Burma gained Independence from
British. Yet, a certain self-proclaimed Rakhine historian, Dr. Aye Chan
who has screwed Arakan history up and turned it into myths, has been
making too much noise on Cross Border Migration from 1824 to the time of
Burma independence. He always only points out to the fact that there
were some seasonal Bengali farmers and workers who used to come to and
stay in Arakan for temporary basis. To him, Rakhines in both sides of
the countries were too lazy to move out of their houses and to migrate
to some places of better income. (It will really be dismal and illogical
to allege that only Bengalis emigrated into Arakan, not Rakhines living
in Bangladesh side for centuries. It is to everyone’s knowledge that
there are more than one million Rakhines living in Bangladesh). And
Migration is a nature of human beings!
Ascendance of Gen. Ne Win to the Power and New Rakhine Settlements
To Rohingyas’ misfortune, their most tragic history began with the
ascendance of an evil dictator, Gen. Ne Win, to the power in 1962. He
started systematic persecutions against Rohingyas both physically and
mentally. In collaboration with Rakhine extremists of the time such as U
Kyaw Aye, the chairman of MaSaLa (Burmese Way of Socialist) Party,
Rakhine state, he began to wipe out Rohingyas’ (collective) historical
monuments such as ancient Mosques, tombs, graves etc. He banned any
Rohingyas’ traditional festivals, shows and any other celebration. As a
result, many Rohingyas started to leave Arakan. And he brought in
thousands of Bangladeshi Rakhines to replace those leaving Rohingyas. He
confiscated Rohingyas’ lands and properties and gave away to the newly
brought Rakhines. The following are the few examples of Bangladeshi
Rakhines brought in by Ne Win, holding authoritarian power and higher
occupations in the current Burmese Pseudo Civilian Government.
1. Tuan Hla Sein S/o Than Phru, Secretary of the Ruling Party
[Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP)] Maung Daw, originally from
Zaadir Faar, Nilah, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1975.
2. Sara U Tha Khin, a former High School of Maung Daw and the
current Southern Maung Daw Representative to the Parliament, originally
from Zaadir Faar, Nilah, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1950.
3. Mra Aung, the current Representative to the State Parliament
and Economic Minister of Rakhine State, originally from Rangamati,
Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in 1955.
4. U Tuan, the current chairman of the village Bagonna, sothern
Maung Daw, originally from Barisal, Bangladesh, settled in Arakan in
1982.
5. Allu Maung S/o Wan Maung, the former chairman of the village
Bagonna, sothern Maung Daw, originally from Bangladesh, settled in
Arakan in 1982.
Besides, many Rakhine villages in southern Maung Daw such as Kanthaya,
Baudi Gung etc were established in 1982 with Bangladeshi Rakhine
settlers. Rohingyas’ lands were confiscated during the period and given
away to these new settlers. All the Rakhine dwellers in these villages
are solely Bangladeshi Rakhines. And Dr. Aye Maung, the chairman of
Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and one of the main culprits
behind ongoing Rohingya genocides, was born in Bangladesh from
Bangladeshi Rakhine parents who settled in Arakan in late 1950s. On top
of that, Dr. Aye Chan was a son of Bangladeshi Barua called Kala Sand.
These are the few examples some well-known recent Rakhine settlers in
Arakan. There are thousands of Rakhines who settled in Arakan during
British colony and afterwards, who multiplied into millions today.
Mohammed Sheikh Anwar is an activist studying Bachelor of Arts in
Business Studies at Westminster International College, Malaysia
No comments:
Post a Comment