11-06-2005, 04:09 AM
Myanmar is a nation which is pro Hindu in its outlook and by default Pro India. It has remained isolated from the rest of the world since the time of Gen Ne Win coming to power in the early 1960s. At first, on gaining independence from Britain, Burma had excellent relations with India and had a large Indian population .The Indian people in Burma were mostly from present day Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu States. There were also a handful of traders from Gujarat and ex soldiers from Punjab. Since there was no point of friction unlike Kashmir issue, the bilateral relationship was excellent.
The Government of Burma wanted the people of Indian origin to take the citizenship of Burma but many refused. Secondly, a sizable section of the Indians in Burma continued to economically exploit the nation as they had done at the time of the British Rule. They did not realize that they no longer represented THE British Imperial Government, but were stateless people in a new republic. The result was that after the military take over, 1.2 million Indians were expelled from the country. Another estimated three million remained back some as citizens and some as stateless people. Several Burmese of Indian origin hold high civil and military position in the Burmese Government today. However, this fact is not much publicized outside Burma.
The expulsion of such large number of Indians and continued exploitation of the Burmese market by the Indian merchants ultimately made India a distant neighbor of Burma. In recent years, the situation has started changing and it is hoped that the historic close ties between these two nations will once again be reestablished.
The Government of Burma wanted the people of Indian origin to take the citizenship of Burma but many refused. Secondly, a sizable section of the Indians in Burma continued to economically exploit the nation as they had done at the time of the British Rule. They did not realize that they no longer represented THE British Imperial Government, but were stateless people in a new republic. The result was that after the military take over, 1.2 million Indians were expelled from the country. Another estimated three million remained back some as citizens and some as stateless people. Several Burmese of Indian origin hold high civil and military position in the Burmese Government today. However, this fact is not much publicized outside Burma.
The expulsion of such large number of Indians and continued exploitation of the Burmese market by the Indian merchants ultimately made India a distant neighbor of Burma. In recent years, the situation has started changing and it is hoped that the historic close ties between these two nations will once again be reestablished.