{"id":1297,"date":"2025-06-27T12:33:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T12:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=1297"},"modified":"2025-06-29T11:04:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T11:04:13","slug":"we-are-all-burmese-at-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/06\/27\/we-are-all-burmese-at-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe Are All Burmese at Heart\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>\u201cWe Are All Burmese at Heart\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Edited &amp; Condensed for Readability<\/em> from <a href=\"https:\/\/sanooaung.wordpress.com\/2007\/10\/14\/we-are-all-burmese-in-our-heart\/\">We are all Burmese in our&nbsp;heart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"710\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-29-710x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1298\" style=\"width:837px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-29-710x1024.png 710w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-29-208x300.png 208w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-29-768x1108.png 768w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-29.png 1065w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I share this brief history to remind us of our shared heritage and unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"702\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-31.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1300\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-31.png 500w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-31-214x300.png 214w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Wiki picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Roots of a Burmese Muslim Family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My Burmese Muslim grandfather was the son of a royal bodyguard in the Mandalay court\u2014a descendant of Afghan warriors who settled in Burma centuries ago. Fully integrated into Burmese society, they were loyal subjects of successive kings, granted land and official roles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Mandalay, several neighborhoods\u2014like <em>A Myauk Tan<\/em> (artillerymen), <em>Myin Win<\/em> (cavalry), and <em>Ko Yan Daw Win<\/em> (royal bodyguards)\u2014continue to be inhabited by their descendants, each with historic mosques such as the \u201cOh Bo Mosque\u201d and the Chinese Muslim Mosque. These were supported by King Mindon, who even donated to build a Burmese Muslim hostel in Mecca.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Burmese Muslim quarters granted in Mandalay by Kin Mindon were:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sigaing dan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kone Yoe dan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taung Balu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oh Bo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setkyer Ngwezin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>June Amoke Tan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wali Khan Quarter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taik Tan Qr<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Koyandaw Qr (Royal Bodyguards&#8217; Qr)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ah Choke Tan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kala Pyo Qr<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Panthay dan for the Burmese Chinese Muslims.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"976\" height=\"704\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-30.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-30.png 976w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-30-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-30-768x554.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By Colesworthey Grant &#8211; A Series of Views in Burmah taken during Major Phayre\u2019s Mission to the Court of Ava in 1855, Public Domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=19253028<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Palace Coups and Narrow Escapes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My grandfather served King Mindon until the palace coup of 1878 installed Thibaw, killing many royals. He escaped to Lower Burma; his Burmese Muslim wife\u2014disowned for marrying a \u201cKala\u201d\u2014raised their family in poverty but ensured her children received quality education.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite hardship, the family overcame adversity: they produced teachers, doctors, and engineers. Today, none deny their identity as Burmese citizens\u2014even after the military junta began labeling Muslims and others as \u201cguest\u201d or \u201cmixed-blood.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"644\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-32.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1301\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-32.png 500w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-32-233x300.png 233w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A Burmese-style mosque with an elaborately carved&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Minaret\">minaret<\/a>&nbsp;in Amarapura during the Konbaung dynasty (coloured by AI) Wikipedia<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discrimination Under Military Rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Military-issued ID cards now classify Muslim children as \u201cmixed-blood,\u201d regardless of their parents being recognized citizens. This is systemic discrimination\u2014apartheid by design\u2014used to erase their identity and limit their futures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These same children, despite their lineage and contributions, face exclusion from rights, services, and the simple dignity of citizenship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-33.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1302\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-33.png 500w, https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image-33-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Downtown Mawlamyaing, Myanmar by Anagoria\u00a0Wikipedia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Shared Identity and Rights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Burmese Muslims, like so many others\u2014Chinese, Indian, Pashu, Rohingya\u2014are woven into Burma\u2019s diverse tapestry. We are culturally Burmese, citizens by birth, contributors to the nation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Former leaders such as General Aung San affirmed this unity: \u201cWe have no bitterness\u2026 If they [Indians and Chinese] choose to join us, we\u2019ll welcome them as brethren\u2026 The welfare of all people\u2014irrespective of race or religion\u2014is my life\u2019s mission.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Message to the Junta &amp; All Burmese<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Enough is enough. Don\u2019t deny our identity. Don\u2019t shut our children\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are\u2014and will always be\u2014Burmese at heart. Please restore their right to dream and belong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><em>(Published in MMNN)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWe Are All Burmese at Heart\u201d Edited &amp; Condensed for Readability from We are all Burmese in our&nbsp;heart I share this brief history to remind us of our shared heritage and unity. Wiki picture. Roots of a Burmese Muslim Family By Colesworthey Grant &#8211; A Series of Views in Burmah taken during Major Phayre\u2019s Mission [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1298,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,7,6,11,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anti-racism","category-articles","category-history","category-myanmar-muslims-history","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1297"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1382,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297\/revisions\/1382"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}