I am not very much surprised at the stand taken by the Myanmar Government on the problem created by mass migration of Rohingya ethnic community from Burma to the neighbouring countries as I could sense their stand even in the year 2016 when I had visited that country on a very short visit.
At that time, I had a peek into their social set up and their attitude. That is a country with very peace loving . They are the followers of Buddha, who preached peace. The entire environment is subdued. One cannot find the same shouting etc anywhere in the country. People go about their business as though there is no other world. This attitude may be due to the long iron hand administration of the military rule. No one likes the military rule except those who were benefited by it. They told me how they were made to vacate from their ancestral properties to make way for construction of a township for the military rulers in Rangoon now it is Yangon. How their properties were acquired/confiscated/ appropriated to accommodate businesses belonging to military personnel or rich people. They also showed how the military men have established vast business empires. Since this essay is not on the effect of military rule, I am proceeding with my writing.
I was surprised when I learnt that the Burmese people have their initial learning in the monasteries. It is their learning place as the Madrasas are for the Muslims. In Burma I learn that there are very few schools where formal education is given. After 1948, the Government wound up or closed all English medium schools. Perhaps many may not be aware that Burma also got independence from British rule just as India almost simultaneously. Before the Independence, British Government was known as Government for India, Ceylon and Burma. There was hardly any difference in the administration system between India or Ceylon or Burma. They had almost the same laws as we in India had. They always had one British Representative for all these three countries. Therefore like India and Ceylon, English was taught as they were needed for administering the country. I heard from them which they said sadly that as soon as the British left, the rulers sent away all the British English Teachers back to Britain. That is how they tried to disconnect themselves from the outside world. I could not find any well stocked English book stores in Myanmar. I wanted to buy some books in English. I could not find any except some translations of propaganda books. Therefore it is clear that they had disconnected themselves from the rest of the world.
Burmese Children had to go to monasteries to get even basic education. They were taught all the books of Dhamapada, pali scriptures, mediatation, discourses on several subjects, Buddhist culture, medicine etc. They were not given formal education in modern subjects ( this is my impression ) to know the world. That is why they are so much influenced by the Buddhist religion. One can see hundreds of pilgrims at any given time in these Buddhist temples, performing several rituals of Buddhism, meditating or cleaning the temples, serving food and doing all chores of the temples. According to them, they do not need any other education as they can find answers for all problems in these Buddhists scriptures. One thing has to be admitted that they are very good at arguments. They try to find solutions through arguments. As I said they say they can answer any query. I asked them what about medicine. They said these Buddhists collections teach them how the fetus is formed, how delivery can be performed etc. Even how surgeries can be performed on human beings etc. Most of them are not at all enthusiastic in going for higher education on any modern ideas. Perhaps it is like our Ayurvedic medicines. It is a closed society. That is my impression of Burmese people. Of course, Madam Aung san suu Kyi is now trying to make people aware of the necessity to go to school for taking formal education. They have started a programme called “ back to school”.
In view of the above , they have no ears for any other religion. I think except Islam, Christianity and Hinduism, they might not have heard of any other religion. Now, due to internet, the things are slowly improving. But the internet speed is very slow and haphazard. One should say, however controversial it may be, that by and large they have some prejudice against all the rest of the religions. I found trust deficiency in this matter. They just do not believe or trust persons practising Islam. In one stretch of the main road in Yangon ( Rangoon) the area is habited by the muslim population where they have their mosques, shops, restaurants etc. It appeared almost like our Bendi Bazar or Crawford Market area of Mumbai. I was asked just to walk through that area and not to talk much about them. Just pass by and even if I wanted, not to do any business there. This shows their prejudice or dislike for the said community. That may be because by and large Burmese Buddhists are not exposed to other culture. They admitted that there are some tea shops in this area which are worth visiting. I wish I had an occasion to meet some members of muslim community. I remember that one person who is in my part of the world is running a tea stall there. I forgot to take his address while visiting Burma.
It is in this background one should try to appreciate the problem of Rohingyas whose resettlement has become a great problem for the whole world. In this atmosphere I wonder how Burmese can tolerate Rohingyas, a community, which is an ethnic mainly muslim community. They are found in the Rekhine state of Myanmar. As I presumed that Burmese Buddhists have no love lost for them. ( Am I presumptive) . There fore we cannot expect Madam Aung San Suu Kyi to go against the sentiments of the almost 90% of the population. The country appears to be not ready to work for their resettlement in Burma. I think the international community if needed should distribute these people all over the world and help them to settle themselves. I think that appears to be the only solution which may be more practical.
Officials of the United Nations are talking about genocide, ethnic cleansing etc. against the administration of Burma. They should try to understand how this problem of Rohingyas was given rise to. One has to make a study of their origin. Why 90% of the Burmese support the Government’s stand, why even Madam Aung san See Kyi does not find it easy to stand against the force of public opinion. She is a broad minded lady having a great vision. She is certainly aware if the intensity of the re action of the world community. Perhaps she has understood the sentiments behind this rigid stand of the majority of the Burmese people. The Buddhists are afraid that this minority if allowed to settle down in Burma might become majority one day and might influence their religion. I remember having read in some reference I made to know more about Rohingyas that “the average children Rohingya family have is five and maximum Twenty Eight”. It is stunning and unbelievable. But when they compare this to their population, they feel devastated.
It appears from the attitude of Burmese people that there cannot be any convergence for these religions. Earlier in the beginning of 1900 perhaps representatives of Rohingyas used to be members of the legislative assemblies. That apart, the Burmese thin that these Rohingyas are Bangla deshi migrants. According to me no proper study appears to have been made of their origin. I wonder whether the Bon Bibi, the mythological goddess who protects the people of Sunderbans has any connection with these persons. She was brought as per the mythology by a Saudi trader and left her here This shows that Saudi muslim traders used to come here and it is also said that they had come to Rekhine valley of Burma.
A big problem is facing this part of the world which perhaps require an international answer and solution.
( Photos from Internet)