Hailing the 74th Anniversary of Independence Day
History in a nutshell
1. History in a nutshell. The writer wishes you to tell.
2. Now our Independence regained with might and main. And brawn and brain.
3. Within a short period of 62. We regained our Independence.
4. From British India British colonialism extended to Myanmar.
5. Without firing a single shot. Last Myanmar King Thibaw was brought.
6. To British Indian’s Ratnagiri where he died in captivity.
7. Immediately, resistance broke out. To drive British invaders out.
8. It took five years of putting down resistance which the British called the Pacification Period.
9. But it was a short lull before the storm.
10. The British began introducing Colonial Rule. Setting up British Colonial School.
11. The first colonial college was Rangoon College affiliated with Calcutta University. By no means it was a College of Myanmar.
12. Typical English Colleges and Universities. To teach and train to produce faithful civil servants for Her (His) Imperial Majesty.
13. Only aristocracy landed gentry and children of the high salaried class. Not every Tom, Dick and Harry thus.
14. Residential University with all needs, equipment and services to teach, to train and to turn out.
15. “Black English men of Anglophile totally forget and reject their racial and cultural origin.
16. Charging each student monthly fees of Rs42 (Rupees). At that time township officers got a salary of Rupees30.
17. Police Rupees7 and 8 monthly. Gatekeeper is happy with Rupees 5 and 7 annas.
18. Myanmar students requested all day scholars to attend also. But the British Government persisted.
19. Rangoon University Boycott broke out. With far-flung consequences thrown out.
20. Boycott leaders set up a council of National Education setting up National College and National Schools across the country.
21. Making National Day or National Victory Day. Because the Government yielded and gave financial support to National Schools.
22. Thus, a new batch of Patriots was born sooner. They called themselves Thakhin.
23. Thakhin Aung San, Thakhin Nu, Thakhin Thein, Thakhin Mya, Thakhin Aung Gyi, Thakhin Soe, Thakhin Than Tun, Thakhin Thein Pe [Thein Pe Myint] Tet Phone Gyi, U Thant, U Khant, Thakhin Shu Maung [General Ne Win], Thakhin Po Hla Gyi of Yenangyoung oil fields leading labour movement protest to Yangon for periods of frustration, revolution disillusionment, an outbreak of World War II. Bringing blessings in disguise. To wake up Myanmar Nation to raise colonial difficulty was nationalists’ opportunity. Fourth batch of Yebaw Thonegeik Thakhin Aung San. In quest of allies and funds, first to China they turn. But Chunkin Government was on the run.
Due to the Japanese fascist military government. Promising them to give modern warfare on the island of Hainan. As soon as they set up Myanmar soil. They would give Myanmar Independence though. It was a sham under Japanese fascism that began the Period of A.F Anti-Fascist movement. By secretly making an alliance with a similar government on the promise of giving Independence. As soon as Japanese fascism was driven out, now came the Period of British hypocrisy and Myanmar blatant diplomacy.
The British brought a similar white paper which wound rebuild repairs and rehabilitation plan. It was indeed a British hypocrisy Aung San would face it with blatant diplomacy. On his departure to London for a talk with Mr Attlee. As spoke out bravely we hope for the best but prepare for the worst. The long-standing British Empire was declining. Mr Attlee was changing it to British Commonwealth of Nations colonies are life millstones around our neck. Our grown children should have their own houses in the compound of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Thus, Aung San. Attlee Agreement was signed. Aung San and colleges began political campaigning across the country. Panglong Agreement was reached. All ethnic nationalities agree to set up the Republic of the Union of Myanmar with the British parliamentary model for Myanmar. But a great price had to be paid. On 19 July 1947, General Aung San and his colleagues were assassinated at the guns of traitors.
On 4 January 1948, Myanmar was declared Independent State. The Union Jack flag slowly went down as Myanmar 5-star flag went up. Regaining Independence with 6 decades and 2 years. Is the achievement of might and main and brown and brain. We have regained. But the task ahead is not plain sailing. We have to pull and push together.
Divided we fall!
United we stand!
By Maha Saddhamma Jotika Dhaja, Sithu Dr Khin Maung Nyunt
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