A HISTORY OF THE ANGLO-BURMESE COMMUNITY
Throughout the former colonial world, in many instances what are referred to as 'hybrid communities' have evolved.
In Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Americas, different groups were born of mixed relations between the colonists and indigenous peoples. In Asia, such groups, commonly known as Eurasians, developed in differing ways.
These peoples were regarded varyingly from society to society. Often seen as a privileged class in comparison with the other native peoples, with the current trend in ethnic and postcolonial studies, ethnographers, historiographers and sociologists frequently class Eurasians as living in some kind of 'hiatus' with allegiances to no one and to nowhere. However, it can be said that these peoples were more loyal to their countries of birth and origin than has been believed. In Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (the former French Indochina), Eurasians evolved from mixed relations between the natives and French rulers. In the Philippines, Mestizos and Amerasians were born of Spanish and Filipino, and American and Filipino miscegenation.
Throughout the Indian Subcontinent, Anglo-Indians emerged from mixed relations between the British and other Europeans with Indians, whilst in Sri-Lanka, Eurasians and Burghers emerged as the descendants of Singhalese and Portuguese, Dutch and British unions. In Indonesia, Dutch-Indonesians emerged, descended from colonial Dutch and Javanese miscegenation. In Burma, the Eurasian community evolved through mixed relations between the British and other settlers of European origin with the local Burmese populace, and this community came to be known in two ways: as either the Anglo-Burmans or the Anglo-Burmese.
Today's Burma, the Union of Myanmar, is a nation situated in Southeast Asia between India and Bangladesh on the west, and Thailand, China and Laos to the north and east.
Myanmar stretches more than 2,050 kilometers from north to south, and some 935 kilometers from east to west. With a population estimated at approaching some 58 million and an area of 676,577 square kilometers1 , Myanmar country. However, the Mramma people, now commonly known as the Burmans or Bamar, mixed with the Anyathian, Thek and Pyu peoples and came to be the dominant group in the country. Founding a Kingdom at Pagan (Bagan) along the banks of the Irrawaddy River in 849 AD, they succeeded in uniting the country as we know it today for the first time during the 11th century. After adopting Therevada Buddhism and developing a written script adopted from the Mon people, the Burmans succeeded in subjugating all the peoples of the region, even ruling parts of modern-day India, Thailand and Laos for a time also. However, war and peace interchanged frequently, and control over the country passed between the various groups, primarily between the Burmans, Shan and Mon. During three successive wars, the country gradually fell into the hands of the British, who ruled Burma as a province of India from 1886 until Independence was finally won in 1948 after 62 years of British rule and influence over the whole country.
The Anglo-Burmese community can trace its roots back to the early colonial history of the country, and from initial contacts made between Europeans and the native Burmese peoples. European traders first arrived along the coasts of southern Burma on the Gulf of Martaban (Mottama) and the Bay of Bengal in the 1600's. During this period, miscegenation between Europeans and natives lead to the initial birth of a small Eurasian community near to present day Rangoon (Yangon) in the town of Syriam (Thanlyin). These Portuguese merchants, traders and settlers, lead by Felipe de Brito, mixed freely with native men and women and their unions spurred the birth of the first Eurasian community which would later become known as 'Bayingyi' by the Burmese populace. This settlement didn't last however. De Brito is said to have gone
mad and declared himself king of Lower Burma, causing his European outpost to be destroyed by the Burmese King, leaving a small community of Eurasians and Europeans, most of whom were banished inland near to the town of Shwebo, also known as Moksobo. After the fall of the Portuguese colonial outpost, various European powers vied for control of the Burmese Kingdom. Dutch, French, Italian, British and again, Portuguese merchants, traveled the coasts of Burma, establishing trade agreements with the Kingdom and began to settle in Burma and mix with the local populace. Along with these varied European traders came Armenian and Greek settlers, fleeing persecution in their own lands ruled under the Ottoman Empire. Within time, the Kingdom even had a minister of government specifically responsible for European and Eurasian residents known as the 'Kalawun', 'Kala' being the derogatory Burmese word to describe all foreigners from the west including, more specifically, Indians. Additionally, even the Court favorite with the Burmese Queen would usually be a Eurasian girl . Whilst in India it can be said that Anglo-Indians were primarily British, Portuguese or French on the European side, Anglo-Burmans represented a more diverse lineage. Apart from the native blood, representing primarily the Burman but also the Karen, Shan and Mon peoples, the European or 'white' element included, aside from the British, Armenian, North American, Australian, Greek, Dutch, Scandinavian, Irish, German, Austrian, French, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Iraqi, Persian and Czech influence. Jewish settlers of both Ashkenazi and Sephardi origin also came to Burma as merchants and mixed with the local populace, spurring the birth of a small but influential native Jewish population.
From 1826 onwards, the British and the Burmese clashed over border disputes between the Burmese Kingdom and British expansionism eastwards from their Empire in India. Gradually, Britain gained control of the country. Culminating in 1886, the Kingdom of Ava under the rule of King Thibaw and the House of Alompra fell and Burma came under British control, annexed and to be ruled as a province of Imperial India. King Thibaw, Queen Supayalat and their immediate relatives within the Royal Family and the Konbaung Dynasty were banished to exile in Ratnagiri, India . With the monarchy at Mandalay gone and free enterprise established under British control, immigrant groups moved into the country. Indians, Nepalese and Chinese settlers came into the country with the British and established themselves in the various towns and cities. At this time, British soldiers, settlers and colonial administrators also began to arrive alongside other Europeans and 'white' settlers.
Mining, agriculture and mineral exploitation were all developed under British rule. The vast Irrawaddy River Delta was cleared, and the most fertile rice growing land in the world was developed. The oil fields of central Burma were developed and the mines of the north were exploited for their rubies, alexandrite, sapphires and jade. In the highlands, Burma's vast teak forests also began to be developed. A huge British conglomerate - Steel Brothers8 , was largely responsible for the management and development of these enterprises. Relations between the native peoples and the
British and other Europeans now began. Initially, British soldiers mixed with Burmese women and their offspring, who came to be known as Anglo-Burmans, were to form an important go-between for the two peoples. Soon, non-military personnel began to mix with the locals and this further added to the community. There were even instances where members of the former Royal Family married non-Burmans. One such union between a Konbaung Princess and an Australian soldier produced a very famous Anglo-Burman, June Rose Bellamy (also known as Yadana Nat Mai in Burmese), known simply as 'Princess Bellamy'. Even the first Burmese Premier under the British, Dr. Ba Maw, and the first Burmese Ambassador to the USA, James Barrington, were of Anglo-Burman origins. Often, European males came to Burma and mixed with the local women, resulting in the birth of children of mixed descent. However, when the time came for these Europeans to leave, they frequently left behind their Burmese 'wives' and their offspring were forgotten. These children were often placed into convent schools where their Burmese heritage was frequently undermined through an emphasis on European culture, society and religion. However, despite British policy attempts to prevent intermarriage, especially between military personnel and the Burmese, many mixed relationships developed and lasted. Seen as an important community who could rally between the British and the Burmese, the Anglo-Burmans began to dominate in the administration where non-European personnel were needed.
Notwithstanding, they were never fully accepted by either the British or the Burmese, and increasingly came to be viewed with suspicion by the latter, who viewed them with contempt as being 'too pro-British'. It is important to note that although Burma was ruled as part of India, conditions and society in Burma were vastly different.
Buddhism perpetuates Burmese society with its peaceful, egalitarian notions. Women were and are equal to men and the overt sexism and caste systems of India are non-existent in Burma. Additionally, as there had not yet developed such stigma against the natives in comparison with India, which had been ruled as a colonial entity for much longer, Anglo-Burmans were not viewed in the same way as Anglo- Indians were in India. In India, British residents frequently regarded Anglo-Indians as 'a particularly difficult class' whilst in Burma, Anglo-Burmans were held with considerable regard by the colonial administrators and non-Asian settlers
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