MaBaTha sees Hindutva as an ally, India must not serve fanatics in Myanmar

Summary

This script provides a lesson on various legends and myths, emphasizing the importance of investing rather than just saving. It recounts historical and cultural narratives from Myanmar, focusing on significant events such as colonial rebellions and ethnic tensions. The script also discusses the current political and military situation in Myanmar, including the role of the Buddhist clergy, the rise of nationalist movements, and the military's alliances. It concludes with a critique of using religious nationalism to drive foreign policy, highlighting potential repercussions for India.

Takeaways

• 📢 Never practice nunchucks in a crowded room.
• 🚗 Avoid eating choli before a road trip.
• 👕 Take your shirt off before ironing it.
• 📞 Do not take a call near a swimming pool.
• 💸 Saving is not the same as investing; invest in mutual funds.
• 🔥 A villager in 1909 Myanmar believed that a man's arm could produce fire, leading to superstitions and myths.
• ⚔️ Myanmar's history includes numerous revolutions and wars, often influenced by ethnic and religious tensions.
• 🇮🇳 The Myanmar military has sought help from India amid an ongoing insurgent campaign.
• ⛪ Far-right monks in Myanmar have supported the military coup, leading to violent suppression of opposition.
• 🛡️ The Buddhist nationalist clergy in Myanmar view the military as protectors of Buddhism and the Bamar race.
• 🌍 Movements in Myanmar and Sri Lanka see Hindu nationalism as an ally against perceived threats from modernization and secularization.
• 💡 Myanmar's political landscape is deeply intertwined with ethnic and religious identities, often leading to conflict.

Q & A

What are some key pieces of advice given to 'Legends' in the script?

Legends are advised not to practice nunchucks in a crowded room, avoid eating choli before a road trip, always take their shirt off before ironing it, and not to take a call near a swimming pool. Additionally, they should understand that saving is not the same as investing; Legends invest in mutual funds.

How did the villagers react to the incident involving Mong Pan in 1909-1910?

The villagers were excited and believed that Mong Pan's arm catching fire was a supernatural event. They thought it signified that Mong Pan was destined to be Myanmar's new king.

What was the British colonial authorities' approach to managing unrest in Myanmar?

The British colonial authorities attempted to manage unrest by recruiting immigrants from India to create a new elite that controlled land, capital, and administration, which led to deep racial bitterness.

What role did religion play in the ethnic Bamar national leaders' struggle during colonial Myanmar?

Religion played a significant role, as ethnic Bamar leaders considered it more important to free their country from the 'kalar' (a derogatory term for Indians and Muslims) than from the colonizers. They associated being Burmese with being Buddhist.

How did the Myanmar military seek to gain support from India in recent years?

Facing a successful insurgent campaign, the Myanmar military has sought support from India, engaging in diplomatic talks and inviting Indian military delegations, despite ongoing violence near the border.

What strategy did the Myanmar military use to control the influence of the Buddhist clergy after the 1962 coup?

The Myanmar military established the S May Mahan Nayaka Committee, a state body to regulate the activities of monks, requiring them to carry government registration cards and making defrocked monks subject to prosecution in civilian courts.

What is the 969 movement, and how does it relate to Myanmar's political climate?

The 969 movement, led by monks like Ashin Wirathu, promoted Buddhist nationalist ideas and alleged a Muslim plot to convert Buddhist women and take over the country. It played a significant role in mobilizing support for the military and fostering communal tensions.

How have recent changes in Myanmar's political landscape influenced its relationship with India?

As Myanmar's military regime faces increased resistance, it has sought closer ties with India, seeing Hindu nationalism as an ally against perceived threats from Islam and Western influences.

What impact has the presence of non-governmental organizations had on the influence of Buddhist monasteries in Myanmar?

The rise of influential, often foreign-funded non-governmental organizations has undermined the traditional influence of Buddhist monasteries, which were historically key providers of charity in rural communities.

What challenges does India face in balancing its foreign policy interests in the region?

India faces the challenge of balancing its national interests with the religious and ethnic agendas of neighboring countries, particularly in maintaining alliances with Muslim-majority countries while addressing the growing influence of Hindu nationalism in its foreign policy.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Legends and Lessons

The first paragraph gives humorous and practical life advice under the theme of 'Legends,' emphasizing the importance of smart investments over merely saving money. It ends with an advertisement for mutual funds, suggesting that investing is crucial for financial growth.

05:01

😲 The Fire and the King

In the early 1900s, a villager's sleeve catches fire, leading to rumors of supernatural events and prophecies about a new king in Myanmar. This paragraph recounts the excitement and subsequent historical observations about colonial resistance and the British suppression of a rebellion in the province of Saging.

10:03

📜 Colonial Policy and Ethnic Tensions

The British colonial strategy of recruiting immigrants from India to control Myanmar created deep racial bitterness, which persists today. The paragraph highlights the importance of Buddhism to Burmese identity and the ethnic and religious tensions that shaped the independence movement.

🚨 Modern Insurgency and Military Tactics

Myanmar's military, facing a strong insurgent campaign, seeks help from India. The military continues to bomb rebel-held villages, reflecting its efforts to portray itself as a defender of the Buddhist state against perceived threats from Islam and the West. High-profile visits and patronage from far-right monks underscore the regime's strategy.

💣 Religious Influence and Military Control

The military's historical and ongoing efforts to control the Buddhist clergy are described, including the establishment of a state body to regulate monks. Despite these efforts, large sections of the clergy played crucial roles in sustaining protests and opposition to military rule, exemplifying the complex relationship between religion and politics in Myanmar.

🏛️ Buddhist Nationalism and External Threats

The emergence of the 969 movement and its transformation into the Maata group illustrate the deep-rooted Buddhist nationalist sentiments. This paragraph explains how these movements see external forces, including Islam and modernity, as existential threats to Buddhism, influencing the political landscape.

🌐 Regional Dynamics and Religious Alliances

The religious right in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, once hostile to India's influence, now see Hindu nationalism as an ally. This shift is part of broader regional dynamics where religious movements seek to draw new civilizational lines, influencing domestic and international politics.

⚖️ Faith and Foreign Policy

The potential risks of letting religious agendas drive foreign policy are discussed, emphasizing that India's national interests should remain the priority. The paragraph warns against aligning too closely with the ethnic-religious agendas of neighboring fanatics, advocating for a balanced and pragmatic approach.

Keywords

💡Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from many investors to buy securities. The script advises that 'Legends' invest in mutual funds rather than just saving money. It highlights the importance of understanding market risks and reading related documents.

💡Mong Pan

Mong Pan refers to an individual whose arm caught fire, causing a commotion in Pagu in the winter of 1909-1910. This event is part of the local folklore mentioned in the script, illustrating the blend of myth and reality in Myanmar's history.

💡British Colonial Forces

British colonial forces are mentioned as the oppressive regime against which hundreds of insurgents in Myanmar rebelled. This context highlights the historical struggles against colonialism and the formation of national identity.

💡Bamar Ethnic Nationalism

Bamar ethnic nationalism represents the ethnic majority's efforts to assert their dominance and preserve their culture against colonial and foreign influences. The script discusses its historical roots and ongoing impact on Myanmar's politics.

💡Tatmadaw

Tatmadaw is the official name for Myanmar's armed forces. The script details their role in the country's politics, including their relationship with India and their brutal tactics against insurgents and ethnic minorities.

💡Hindu Nationalism

Hindu nationalism is mentioned in the context of the Myanmar military seeking alliances with Hindu nationalists in India. This reflects broader regional dynamics and the intersections of religion and politics.

💡Ashin Wirathu

Ashin Wirathu is a controversial Buddhist monk known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. The script describes his influence on Myanmar's political and religious landscape, highlighting the role of extremist religious figures.

💡969 Movement

The 969 movement is a Buddhist nationalist campaign in Myanmar. The script explains its anti-Muslim agenda and its transformation into the more structured MaBaTha organization, reflecting ongoing religious tensions.

💡Civil War

The civil war in Myanmar is described as an ongoing conflict involving the military and various insurgent groups. The script highlights the devastating impact on civilian populations and the military's strategies for survival.

💡Buddhist Nationalist Clergy

The Buddhist nationalist clergy in Myanmar have significant political influence. The script discusses their role in supporting the military and propagating nationalist ideologies, underscoring the intersection of religion and politics in Myanmar.

Highlights

Legends never practice nunchucks in a crowded room and never eat choli before a road trip.

Always take your shirt off before you iron it, and don't take a call near a swimming pool.

Legends don't just save; they invest in mutual funds. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks.

A fire came out from Mong Pan's arm, causing excitement in Pagu in the winter of 1909-1910.

Hundreds of insurgents armed with swords and a single firearm marched against British colonial forces in Saging.

The colonial authorities recruited immigrants from India, creating a new elite that controlled land, capital, and administration.

Ethnic Bamar national leaders in colonial Myanmar prioritized freeing their country from Indians and Muslims over evicting colonizers.

The wheel of destiny is turning, with Bamar ethnic nationalists now looking to India and Indians for salvation.

The Tmador Army is desperately seeking help from New Delhi amid an insurgent campaign.

The Tatmadaw has marketed itself as a defender of the Buddhist state against Islam and the West since seizing power in 2021.

Far-right monks like Ashen Nisara and Ashen Chinda gained patronage from generals, supporting the coup.

The government's favorites include the monk Ovida, known for astrological forecasts and urging soldiers to shoot protesters.

Large sections of the Buddhist clergy played a key role in protests against military rule, leading to the first coup in 1962.

The Buddhist nationalist ideas took deep hold among monks, believing Buddhism faces an existential threat from external forces.

Religious right movements in Sri Lanka and Myanmar now see Hindu nationalism as an ally against regional influences.

Transcripts

here's the 30C lesson on what Legends

know never practice nunchucks in a

crowded room never eat choli before a

road

trip always take your shirt off before

you IR

it don't take a call near a swimming

pool and don't forget saving is not

investing Legends don't just save they

invest in mutual funds mutual fund

Investments are subject to Market risks

read old scheme related documents

carefully fire comes out from Mong Pan's

arm shouted the excited villager who ran

through the streets of pagu in the

winter of 1909

1910 lightning will strike those who do

not believe and tigers will devour them

the sleeve of his jacket had indeed

caught fire from a lit gerut which had

carelessly stuffed into one of his

pockets but science the Villager was to

be myanmar's new king kept mounting a

girl's silk handkerchief was carried

away by a kite it was said and an old

magical ring was found a white elephant

was cited and the schina Pagoda was

miraculously gilded later that year

historian Sr Ashton wrote hundreds of

insurgents armed with swords and a

single crude firearm marched against

British colonial forces in the province

of saging along the border with India

the Rebellion backed by local monks was

brutally crushed by police drawn from

across the border the colonial

authorities tried to tame their restive

colony by recruiting immigrants from

India creating a new Elite that

controlled land capital and

administration the policy engendered

deep racial bitterness that still runs

through independent Myanmar to be

Burmese means to be Buddhist one

Independence Movement slogan went ethnic

bamar national leaders in colonial

Myanmar scholar Matthew Bowser records

thought it was more important to free

their country from the kalar a

derogatory word meaning black used

interchangeably for Indians and Muslims

then evicting the colonizer the history

of Myanmar is the history of a

succession of revolutions and wars in

which strain changes come about gjs

hodkinson the commissioner of the pagu

division observed in

1888 the wheel of Destiny is indeed

turning and this time around the

Guardians of bamar ethnic nationalism

are looking to India and Indians for

salvation faced with an increasingly

successful Insurgent campaign the

country's all powerful tmad or Army has

been Desperately Seeking help from New

Delhi last week the tadar rolled out the

red carpet for an Indian army delegation

led by the military intelligence

directorates Major General charanjit

Singh D gun and even as myanmar's Air

Force has continued to bomb Rebel held

Villages killing civilians along the

border with India a vice Marshal aetra

IA Kapa was in Napa for talks to

influential sections of new delhi's

foreign policy establishment the Myanmar

military seems like a natural partner

for one the Tad's long-standing superpow

sponsor China has now deepened its ties

with the insurgence fighting the regime

like Hindu nationalists moreover the

generals see themselves as being

besieged by jihadism and ethnic

minorities often linked to the church

ever since it seize power in 2021 the

tatad has marketed itself as a defender

of the Buddhist State against assault by

Islam and the West alike far right monks

like Ashen nisara and Ashen chinda who

supported the coup gained patronage from

the generals the leaders of pro-military

religious orders commentator Ona writes

began to be seen on the streets of

Yangon and fancy mercedesbenz and

Bentleys drawing deris from an

increasingly impoverished population

fearful of alienating its core ethnic

bummer supporters the government of

former prime minister s sui had been

reluctant to act against vatu even

though veratu was banned from preaching

in 2017 for a year by the state run

Council that regulates all religious

activity in Myanmar he freely T the

country after the anti- rohinga violence

broke out in one speech he called for

Muslims crazy dogs that are I quote

breeding so fast stealing our women

raping them and would like to occupy our

country the monk was charged with

sedition in the summer of 2019 after

claiming the Prime Minister was sleeping

with a

foreigner surrendering to the

authorities just before the November

2019 elections like vatu the monk U

warawa has played a key role in

mobilizing on the military side even

setting up pro hunter militias drawn

from the ranks of the military-backed

Union solidarity and development

party as the Civil War in Myanmar has

escalated and the military has come to

sustain catastrophic losses militia like

these have become increasingly important

for the survival of the hunter they've

waged a brutal scotched Earth campaign

against opposition held Villages and

communities according to Ona the

regime's favorites include the month

ovida known for his astrological

forecast and for allegedly urging

soldiers to shoot protesters in the head

fearing the influence of the Buddhist

clergy over the popular imagination the

cause of multiple colonial era

rebellions the military moved to contain

their influence after staging the first

coup in

1962 in 1980 journalist and Scholar

bertl lintner writes the general nawin

regime created the S May Mahan nayaka

committee the state body which regulates

the activities of the country's

estimated one lakh

monks the monks were now to carry

government registration cards and there

were substantial theological changes for

example defrock monks were liable for

prosecution in civilian courts not

ecclesiastical tribunes the effort to

control the clergy historian Michael

Charney notes was not entirely

successful large sections of the clergy

played a key role together with st

students in sustaining the protests

which eventually overthrew military rule

in 2007 late in 2001 vatu emerged in

opposition to the pro-democracy monks

spearheading a new movement called

969 so named for the number of special

attributes and teachings of the Buddha

and a kind of report to the 786 number

used in Islamic

cultures together with his fellow cleric

ashin vimala we ATU alleged there is a

Muslim plot to marry and convert

Buddhist women before taking over the

country yes what some people call love

Jihad in India Furious over vaatu's less

than disciplined communal agit prop

which led violence to erupt across

rakhim the sanha council banned 969 in

2013 the organization was folded into a

new more structured group called maata

to carry forward its demands for race

laws which restricted conversions and

Interfaith

marriage even though the national league

for democracies election victory in 2017

proved a reverse to maata researchers

Amara thha and Marty neelsen observed

that the Buddhist chauvinist ideas had

taken deep hold among numbers of monks

who believed that Buddhism was facing an

existential threat from external

forces Islam is one part of this

perceived threat the scholars right but

so to is secularization modernization

and democracy the resentments of the

clergy were fueled by The Growing Power

of Civil Society underpinned by the

emergence of influential often foreign

funded non-governmental

organizations these NOS you see

undermined the traditional influence

monasteries and monks had obtained as

providers of Charity in rural

communities for the Buddhist nationalist

clergy the takad or myanmar's armed

forces were a kind of incarnation of the

country's precolonial Kings upholders of

the sovereignty of its territory the

Protectors of the Bama race and

Defenders of what used to be the state

religion that is Buddhism the political

scientists isan gilmas and Nicholas

Morrison note that movements of the

religious right in both Sri Lanka and

Myanmar which were once intensely

hostile to the Indian in diaspora in

those countries and India's preeminence

in the region are now beginning to see

Hindu nationalism as an ally even

Nepal's communist prime minister pushpak

Kamal dahal has sought to manipulate

India's domestic politics he's been

making high-profile Temple visits and

advocating for Sanskrit education like

islamist movements in Pakistan and

Bangladesh these Regional forces are

seeking to draw new civilizational front

to prop up their influence even though

the idea might seem attractive to some

in India letting Faith Drive foreign

policy would almost certainly prove

disastrous India's key allies in the

region after all include Muslim majority

countries in the Persian Gulf as well as

States like Indonesia and Malaysia India

needs to remain focused on its national

interests not serve the ethnic religious

agenda of Fanatics next door I'm Prine

Swami and I'm a contributing editor at

the print thank you for watching

security code

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