The Myedu Muslims (မြေဒူးမွတ်စလင်) represent one of the most distinctive and deeply entrenched historical Muslim communities within Myanmar’s societal framework. For centuries, this group has been intrinsically woven into the fabric of Burmese culture, military history, and local social life. Their unique identity transcends mere religious affiliation, tracing its roots instead to their pivotal historical role as loyal warriors who served in the defense of the kingdom.

The Historical Nexus of Myedu

The Myedu Muslim community is situated around the ancient town of Myedu, now a collection of villages near the Kintat Dam in the Sagaing Region. These villages include SarGon, Sarkain, Buttaw, Ywathitkon, Myedu, Mawdaw, Chaungzauk, Chaymyitkyin, and Wayonbot.

The locale’s historical significance is immense. Although Myedu is currently an unassuming village, it was a major administrative and military center for the Burmese monarchy for hundreds of years, with its ancient city walls still visible today. It held strategic importance throughout the Bagan period (under Kings Anawrahta and Alaungsithu) and the Nyaungyan dynasty.

Most famously, Myedu served as the appanage (land grant) for a son of King Alaungpaya, the founder of the Konbaung dynasty. Upon his accession to the throne in 1763 CE (1125 ME), he was known as the Myedu Min before later adopting the regnal name King Hsinbyushin. Myedu itself is located approximately 12 miles west of Kanbalu town, on the bank of the Mu River.

A Note on Resettlement: During the military administration era, the construction of the Kintat Dam led to the consolidation and relocation of nearby Bamar villages into a newly designated Myedu town. However, the existing Muslim villages were notably excluded from this resettlement process.

Origins as Royal Warriors

The historical origin of the Myedu Muslims is founded on two key facts:

1. Foreign Mercenary Lineage: Their ancestors were drawn from Arab, Persian, Pathi, and Northwest Indian backgrounds, recruited directly into the royal service. They served as soldiers in specialized units such as the “Shwe Pyi Won Musket Corps,” demonstrating their high-status military role within the kingdom’s armed forces.
2. The Thandwe Pathi Connection: They are also linked to Pathi descendants relocated by Burmese kings from Thandwe (Sandoway). Historical accounts suggest some families trace their ancestry to Pathi families brought from Thandwe by King Tabinshwehti in 1564 CE and subsequently settled by the King in Myedu, earning them the appellation Myedu Muslims.

Further evidence of Myedu’s centrality as a Muslim military hub is found in the record of a company of Muslim soldiers from the Myedu area being settled in Thandwe District after King Bodawpaya’s conquest of Rakhine in 1784.

The community’s historical weight is reflected in demographics; the 1921 census recorded that 1,137 out of 1,923 inhabitants in the Myedu area were Muslims, testifying to the significant size of their population. Their traditional livelihoods were based primarily on agriculture and forestry.

Profound Cultural Assimilation

Despite maintaining their Islamic faith, the Myedu Muslims exhibit a near-complete cultural and linguistic integration with the majority Bamar population. They are not colonial-era arrivals but pre-colonial participants in national defense, giving them a firm historical and social foundation in Myanmar.

They use Burmese as their mother tongue, adopt traditional Bamar attire such as the longyi, taikpon (Burmese jacket), and yinphone (traditional blouse), and primarily bear Burmese names. This profound cultural synthesis underscores their deep-seated roots in the country’s history.

Legacy of Learning and Royal Patronage

The importance of the community was marked by royal patronage. During the Konbaung era, the King commissioned the construction of four grand mosques in these villages for four distinguished Sayagyi (Islamic scholars/teachers). While these original structures have been replaced due to decay, the history remains.

The area was also a crucial center for the dissemination of Islamic religious knowledge in Upper Myanmar, producing eminent religious scholars such as Sayagyi Pon, Sayagyi Zon, and Sayagyi Hla.

The author of this article is himself a native of this region.

References

1. Myanmar Encyclopedia, Vol. 9 (Myedu’s history, geography, and demography).
2. U Maung Maung Tin. Konbaung Set Maha Yazawin Daw Gyi (The Myedu Min and military service decrees).
3. Myanmar Information Management Unit. Place codes (Pcodes) (June 2020).
4. U Kala. Maha Yazawin Gyi (Records of foreign military service pre-Konbaung era).
5. U Maung Maung Tin. Konbaung Set Maha Yazawin Daw Gyi (Konbaung-era warfare, troop formation, and the role of the ‘Shwe Pyi Won’).
6. Dr. Than Tun. Studies in Myanmar History (Foreign-born soldiers during Alaungpaya’s reign).
7. Victor Lieberman. Strange Parallels: Southeast Asia in Global Context, c. 800–1830 (Analysis of royal recruitment of foreign-born soldiers and land grants).

Aung San Oo – Myanmar Muslims News Network (MMNN)