Description:
"...This article is concerned with the manner in which the Anglo-Burmese identified
themselves in the 1940s, through their perception of both the people of the suzerain nation
and those of the native Burmese (Burmans), with whom they had to share the same type of
livelihood. It also on the other hand concerns the issue as to how the two communities
realized the features of the Anglo-Burmese. The 1940s in Burma included the period of the
Japanese military occupation (1942-45), which for the Anglo-Burmese community was a
traumatic experience.
This article seeks to make clear the fact that the community of Anglo-Burmese not
only fortified their own identity, but also experienced an increase in their hatred for the
native Burmese. This was due to their having experienced the Japanese military
administration, since they suffered under the pressure of the Burmese nationalists who had
cooperated with Japan. It also seeks to clarify the fact of their dissatisfaction with the postwar
British reaction towards Burmese nationalists, since from their own point of view the
reaction was too conciliatory. Judging from their perspective, the fact that the post-war
British Government had decided to grant full independence to Burma by compromising
with the Burmese nationalists represented by Aung San and other pre-war anti-British
activists, was something unwelcome. In the final section of this article, some indications
will be presented as to how the ordinary Anglo-Burmese now living abroad recall their
experiences of the Japanese occupation period and after. This will enable us to clarify their
historical understanding of World War II and the independence of Burma..."
Source/publisher:
The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies, No. 32, 2014... 上智アジア学 第32 号2014 年 目次 ...Burma Studies in Japan: History, Culture and Religion
Date of Publication:
2014-12-27
Date of entry:
2015-09-23
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
725.42 KB