Wiki Map: File:Carte des Royaume de Siam, de tunquin, Pegu, Ava, Aracan &c.jpg
Header/Hashtag: #RakhinesWhoAreAfraidOfTrueHistory
“The other day, people gang-reported the post I wrote, and Facebook took it down. But what difference does it make? It’s already been shared like crazy.
Since what I write happens to be the true history, it probably made them want to die of shame. I quoted only the few true parts out of their fake chronicles/histories—nothing added. Why did they react so emotionally, as if their hearts almost stopped?
When I write, I try my best to avoid hate speech. My hobby is uncovering real history and pointing out things for future research. While you can include myths and legends in traditional chronicles (Yazawin), they cannot be in actual history (Thamaing)—they must be discarded. Real facts must be carefully examined and verified.
Are they ashamed because I wrote that Rakhine are Kalar (South Asians)? Why are they scared of this big truth? If you’re ashamed of being Kalar, then don’t claim to be Rakhine. It’s not that complicated.
The Bamar people (who currently claim to be Rakhine) all came from Lower Myanmar. The ones who actually came from India (Kalar-pyi) are only the Maramagyi, Hindus, Kaman, Rohingya, Thet, and Daingnet. Even the Thet and Daingnet didn’t arrive directly from India.
If we are talking about boasting rights regarding Rakhine chronicles and Rakhine history, the ones who can actually boast are the Thet, Mro, Chin, Daingnet, and Maramagyi—and they are Buddhists too. You all know this, don’t you?
Knowing this full well, what on earth makes Bamars claim to be Rakhine and try to take pride in it? Don’t Bamars and Rakhines have a historical feud anyway? Even in Rakhine State, a Bamar is still a Bamar—you can’t erase language and customs. If you’re ashamed of being Kalar, don’t claim to be Rakhine. And to see Bamars fighting among themselves over this… how troublesome, you guys.”
Translation of the “Earlier Post” Excerpt
“After the King of Taungoo joined forces with the Rakhine King to conquer and destroy Bayinnaung’s kingdom of Hanthawaddy (Pegu), over 60,000 captives were brought to Rakhine State. The King of Taungoo probably dumped these ‘trash of the country’ toward Rakhine, thinking, ‘As long as these monkeys aren’t on my land, it’s fine.’ After those 60,000+ arrived, Bamar people who spoke broken Bamar came to dominate the region.”
Historical Context & Fact-Checking References
The post mixes actual historical events (the 1599 sack of Pegu) with polemical commentary and pseudohistorical claims regarding ethnic origins and linguistics.
- The Fall of Hanthawaddy (Pegu) in 1599:
- Historical Fact: In 1599, the King of Taungoo (Min Ye Deibba / Minye Thihathu) allied with King Razagyi (Min Raza Gri) of Arakan (Mrauk-U) to attack Pegu, which was then suffering under King Nanda Bayin.
- The Deportation of Captives: Following the fall of Pegu, Arakanese and Taungoo forces looted the city and carried away thousands of captives, artisans, treasure, and royal paraphernalia to Mrauk-U. European travelers like Father Sebastião Manrique documented the presence of thousands of prisoners and foreign mercenaries (including Portuguese, Mon, and Bamar) integrated into the Mrauk-U court and military.
- Linguistic & Ethnic Origin of the Rakhine (Arakanese):
- Linguistic Reality: Modern historical linguistics classifies the Rakhine language as an archaic dialect of the Sino-Tibetan Burmish branch (closely related to Standard Burmese). It retains older phonological traits (such as the retention of the $/r/$ sound instead of $/j/$) because Arakan was geographically separated from the Central Irrawaddy basin by the Arakan Yoma mountains.
- Socio-Cultural Influences: Due to its geography bordering Bengal, Mrauk-U was a cosmopolitan Indian Ocean hub. While the core Rakhine ethnic identity is Tibeto-Burman/Buddhist, Mrauk-U kings adopted Bengal-influenced court titles, used Islamic coinage alongside Pali titles, and employed South Asian, Portuguese, and West Asian mercenaries/traders.
