The Impact of the British Colonial Era

Myanmar, previously known as Burma until the year 1889, has had numerous historically substantial events occur that have led the country to where it is today. Before Myanmar officially gained independence in 1948, there were pressures that arose from the establishment of British rule that altered the way the country was managed religiously and politically. These pressures challenged the ways that religion was traditionally practiced, it saw a move from primarily religious, Buddhist teachings to a secular form of education, and it led to a completely reshaped form of government. British rule officially began in the late 1800s but events in the earlier part of the 19th century had led up to the beginning of the British Colonial Era in Myanmar.

An overview of the events leading up to British rule taking control of Myanmar in 1885 can explain why the British had business occupying space in Myanmar in the first place. Over a harsh two-year period from 1824 to 1826, the first Anglo-Burmese War took place. The war was sparked by territorial disputes and the expansionist policies of the British East India Company. The British gained control of Lower Burma after the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, marking the beginning of British influence in the region. Not that long after the first Anglo-Burmese War the second followed in 1852. This war saw British forces extending their control over Lower Burma, including the Irrawaddy Delta and the city of Yangon (Rangoon). The third and final Anglo-Burmese War took place in 1885. Over the course of this war, the British annexed Upper Burma, including Mandalay. The King of Myanmar at the time, King Thibaw had only reigned for a short 7 years before he was exiled, thus making Burma a province of British India.

British colonial rule in Myanmar laid the foundation for change and caused new pressures to arise. Before the British came to Myanmar, most education took place within the monasteries of Sangha where young men were to develop into novice monks. Before British colonial policy came to be, the Theravada (or Hinayana) school of Buddhism was the most important institution in Myanmar. Once British colonial policy was established, the Sangha monastic community was fundamentally undermined. Buddhism in the classical period defined political legitimacy, it permeated the government and peoples’ lives and values. The Sangha influenced the monarchs and tempered their reigns, for the just ruler was defined by Buddhist principles. The king ruled because he was morally superior to the people by virtue of his karma. The monarch had an obligation to help improve the livelihood of his subjects so that they in turn could improve their karmas. The British introduced a new Westernized education system that was drastically different from the traditional Sangha practices. The majority of the graduates from the newly implemented education system (based on secular modernity) entered the ranks of civil servants in the colonial administration. The Sangha were hesitant to give into the ways of this new education system because they didn’t agree with teaching in a secular way as it contradicted their way of teaching through Buddhism. In 1895, the British neglected to follow Myanmar tradition where the current leader was supposed to appoint a new ruler of the Sangha, this led to political fragmentation and a steady decline in presence of the Sangha. In an attempt to help support the expansion of the colonial economic infrastructure, the British assisted with the immigration of thousands of predominantly Muslim Bengali Indians for cheap labor. By doing this, nationalism developed which led to tension between ethnic groups (Burman vs. non-Burman) and religious groups (Buddhist vs. non-Buddhist). Anti-Muslim and anti-Bengali narratives still cease to exist today in Myanmar. 

Myanmar's religious and colonial history is a fascinating interplay of traditions, faith, and external influences. Roughly 88 percent of Myanmar’s current residents still practice Buddhism today, proving that it has remained a cornerstone of the nation's identity, shaping its culture and society for centuries. The colonial period under British rule left a complex legacy, introducing administrative and economic changes while also heightening nationalism and resistance. This history provides a valuable context for understanding Myanmar's ongoing struggles and its quest for a more inclusive and harmonious future, rooted in its rich cultural and religious heritage.