Who is Aung San and why do Burmese worship him so much?
The Background
Since 1885, Burma had been a British colony. There were many uprisings, but all failed because weapons of insurgents were too inferior to British army. When Aung San was born in 1915, the revolution had transformed from rural uprisings to peaceful protests in Rangoon.
Baby Aung San
Aung San was the youngest child and did not attend any schools till 7 years old. After sawing his brother’s “Shin Pyu” — a religious ceremony of Buddhists, he wanted to ride a horse since “Shin Laung” — a candidate for novitiate rode a horse during the ceremony. He asked his mother to make him “Shin Laung” but she refused and used this opportunity to send him to school. His mother told Aung San that the candidate should be able to read, and it could be learnt at schools. After that Aung San attended the primary school at his hometown. That school was a national school which emphasized Burmese language and a thorough history of Burma in the patriotic version. That made Aung San a patriotic child and he dreamed to liberate the country in his later life. In 1932, he passed the matriculation exam with ‘A’ category in Burmese and Pali subjects.
Student Aung San
When he attended the Rangoon University, he was famous for his abrupt and blatant speech. Although he failed at first to get support from students to become a leader of the student union, he gradually got attention from those who interested in politics and revolution. He had been remarked as a stubborn student while his ideas and methods to rebel the British government were not inspiring. He trained himself a lot in both English language and public speaking. He made friends with other famous student leaders like Nu, Kyaw Nyein, and Hla Pe. He tried hard to get attention from the union community while he firmly held his rebellious ideas.
From violence to peace, but failed to get the independence
During that time, Burma had been changing in political geography. Before 1900, many insurgents tried to repel the British government but failed decisively. Then, Burmese politicians changed from armed revolution to non-violence movement. However, the dream of independence was still far away. Famous armed rebellion named “Ga Lone” revolution started before Aung San attended the Rangoon University. A religious former politician named Saya San led “Ga Lone” revolution and attacked British police and low-ranking government officials around Tharyarwaddy regions. They emphasized to kill local authorities and lenders to farmers. Saya San’s insurgent army had muskets and swords which were inferior to rifles and machine guns. This was the same reason many former insurgents failed before 1900. At the end of the day, British government easily cracked down the uprising and killed many “Ga Lone” soldiers including Saya San. However, that failed uprising instigated Burmese who were upset protests that there was another way to get the independence back from British. They became dreaming that If Saya San had modern weapons, it was not so difficult to fight the British back. Surprisingly, no politicians or national leaders didn’t speak out that idea.
Union Leader Aung San
In 1935, Aung San became a famous student leader, and he was elected as an executive committee member of the student union of the Rangoon University. He had a chance to control union magazine and famous article named “Hell Hound at Large” was issued during his period in office. That led to 1936 university strike which troubled Rangoon government so much. After that strike Aung San became famous as a nationalist. He got B.A degree a year later and continued to study for Law degree.
After failed Saya San’ uprising, Burmese expected a strong, patriotic, capable and decisive leader. They filtered every famous young leader, and some well-known politicians, but they didn’t find anyone like Aung San who was so obstinate and determined to get the independence. While many talked how to get representative seats in British ruled Burma Parliament, Aung San suggested to oust foreign government totally from Burma. Aung San was at his 20s age, he was well educated at one hand, and he was very passionate to lead Burmese for independence at the other hand. He was not a blind patriot, he was not an opportunist, and notably he listened peasant’s voices. He was also famous for his integrity to the country and the people. In 1938, he left the university and joined “We Burma Organization” together with many student leaders. There Aung San showed his political insights.
Activist Aung San
The last and famous non-violent protest named ‘the Revolution of 1300’ started in 1938 from central Burma regions which produced oil. That protest was the biggest and last non-violent general strike involving all classes of Burma including farmers, labors, students, clerks, housewives and monks. The masses marched to Rangoon from Yay Nan Chaung, a central Burmese City. The general strike lasted one year. This strike organized Burmese and improved their national spirit but didn’t see any practical results. British government continued ruling and Burmese didn’t see any improvements in finding independence. This was the turning point of Aung San, and for Burma.
From wasting protests to armed revolution
People saw a lot of strikes and uprisings, but all failed to overthrow British rule. Even the famous general strike like ‘the Revolution of 1300’ couldn’t make Burmese independent, so people believed no other non-violent strikes couldn’t do any success. Aung San was one of the key figures in the last general strike, and he tried as many Burmese classes as possible to participate. However, he might be disappointed the results. Aung San had been thinking so many options to rebel British rule since his childhood at national school. He led a student strike and a general strike, but he didn’t see any advances for the independence. He might ponder finally that the only way to get independence was to fight back British not by strike or protests, but by arms. Since World War II broke out in 1939, Aung San saw that as an opportunity to get the independence. “British problem, Burmese chance” he made that propaganda.
General Aung San
Before Aung San, no other politicians couldn’t think to build a revolution Burmese army. They all tried to negotiate with British or to make strikes to them. Since 1920, many politicians including monks tried to get independence in non-violent way. As a biggest result, national schools emerged after the first University strike in 1920. For almost 20 years, Burmese saw many strikes and protests which were finally cracked down easily. Burmese politicians and famous national leaders presented many options to get independence, but they excluded armed revolution. They might worry about wars, or they might be afraid they would fail, or they were loath because they saw many failed uprisings. It was sure they forgot a major factor that all failed uprisings had inferior weapons. Only Aung San could think about armed revolution. Some famous national leaders like ‘Ba Maw’ stopped Aung San not to start war with British, and some were reluctant to support. However, Aung San carried out his plan without any hesitations. He wanted to discuss with famous leaders, and founded a ‘Freedom Bloc’, but most were detained immediately by the police. So, he decided to move on with other patriotic youths. He departed to China and contacted Fascist Japan. He then returned to Burma and enlisted other 29 young men. They went to Hainan Island, China, to get basic military training from Fascist Japan. The miracle just began for Burma.
Some Burmese couldn’t believe Aung San’s adventure until he marched to Rangoon with his Burmese Independence Army (BIA) in March 1942. British withdrew from Burma, and fascist Japan controlled the country for three years. During Fascist reign, Burmese experienced brutality, and massacre of Fascist Kenpeitai, worse than British police. Stagnation worsened poverty which was already affected by war. Japan hired Ba Maw as leader of Sino-Burmese government and gave him virtual dictatorial control. Although Aung San was supreme leader of BIA, he couldn’t intervene the puppet government. People were starving and frightening because of Kenpeitai continuous violence in rural regions.
Anti-Fascist Aung San
Aung San secretly formed “Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League” together with other politicians like Nu, journalist Thein Pe, socialist Kyaw Nyein, and communist Than Tun. He already knew from the start one day he had to fight back Fascist Japan because he saw brutality, and racism of Japanese in his basic military training camps. Before he entered Rangoon, he connected many leaders to plan a furtive movement against Fascist Japan. Thein Pe and Soe went to India to get support from Allies before Japan completely controlled Burma. Than Tun organized an underground army with young patriots. In 1945, Aung San fought Fascist Japan with the help of Marshal Slim’s Allied army.
Father Aung San
There were many things Aung San accomplished for Burmese Independence. However, I prefer to give respect to Aung San because of his armed revolution idea. That idea was not presented by any politicians before Aung San. Even some politicians condemned ‘Saya San’ who revolted British rule with inferior arms and swords. On the contrary, Aung San’s idea and his decisive actions made Burma getting near independence. Aung San knew how to expel British army, and he also made a clandestine plan how to fight back Fascist Japan. Without Aung San, no one carried out armed revolution and Burma would become vassal country of Fascist Japan and British colony again when allied attacked Japan forces in Burma. With the leadership of Aung San, Burma owned a national army. That made many differences in the history. That’s the reason why Burmese worship him with heart.
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