by
Noor Kamal, general secretary,
Arakan Historical Society (A.H.S),
Chittagong
Arakan Historical Society (A.H.S),
Chittagong
INTRODUCTION
ARAKAN is the modern name, in the ancient times the country was
known as Rohang or Rakhapura or Rakhaingpryi. The Rohingya Muslims of Arakan
played a glorious role in the establishment and consolidation of the great
Arakanese Empire known as Mrauk-U Empire. Unfortunately for us this part of
history has been subjected to utter negligence. As a result, the glorious
chapter of the history of the Rohingya Muslims of Arakan has up till now
remained unexplored. In the previous chapter we have discussed the geographical
features of Arakan.
In this chapter, we are going to
discuss first the population and people of Arakan and then the etymology of
Arakan, Rohang, Rohingya, Rakhine and the Magh. Then we will discuss the
historical background of Rohingya Muslims of Arakan.
THE POPULATION AND PEOPLE OF ARAKAN
Its unofficial total population now
is more than 5 million, both inside and outside the country, comprising the two
major communities of Muslims and Buddhists, historically known as Rohingya and
Rakhine (Magh),including about 1.5 million of Rohingyas who have been expelled
from homeland since 1942. The Rohingyas are Muslims and profess Islam. The
Rakhines are Buddhists and practice Therawada Buddism. At present, the
Rohingyas and the Rakhines stand almost in equal proportion inside Arakan. In
addition there are about 2 lakhs tribal people [Saks, Mros, Kamais, Dinets
(Chakmas), Baruwas and Chins] and 2 lakhs Burman people in Arakan.1 The
Rohingyas are mostly concentrated in the riparian plains of Naf, Mayu and
Kaladan.
Arakan is the only Muslim majority
province among the 14 provinces of Burma. Out of the 7 million Muslim
population of Burma half of them are in Arakan.2
THE ETYMOLOGY OF ARAKAN
The earliest inhabitants of Arakan
belong to the Negrito group. They are mentioned in the Arakanese Chronicle as
Rakkhasas or bilus (cannibals). They appear to be Neolithic descendants of the
people of Arakan but no trace of them has yet been discovered in Arakan. The
word Arakan is definitely of Arabic or Persian origin having the same meaning
in both these languages. It is the corruption of the word Arkan plural of the
word Al-Rukun.But Ibn Batuta wrote the name of Arakan as Arkan, derived from
the Arabic word Al-Rukum. There exists some controversy about the origin of the
name of 'Arakan' on which traditional and legendary sources differ. In fact,
the name of Arakan is of much antiquity. In Ptolemy's Geografia (150 AD) it was
named 'Argyre'.Sir H.Yule want to identify with Arakan the name being supposed
to be derived from silver mines existing there.3 Sir H. Yule assumtion is
supported by Mc Cridle and D.G.E. Hall.4 In the Ananda Chandra stone pillar of
Chandra dynasty (8th Century) at Shitthaung Pagoda in Mrauk-U the name of
Arakan was engraved as "Arakades's". 5 In the Map of Magni
Mogolis Imperium ( The great Mughal Empire), drawn in 1650, which is the
earliest maps of the Indian region, it was being shown as Aracam.6 In the
Ain-I-Akbari of Abul Fazal (1551-1602) mentioned Arakan as Arkhang. In the
Baharistan-I-Ghaib, Mirza Nathan mentioned the people of Arakan as Rakangi
while the name of the country as Arkhang. 7 In a Latin Geography (1597
AD) by Peta Vino, the country was referred to as 'Aracan'. In English version
of Van Linschtoen's Map of 1598 A.D., it is Aracan. Friar Manrique (1628-43 AD)
mentions the country as 'Aracan'.8 Hindus in his map (1612 A.D.), has
been induced to make the country name Aracam. 9 To the Medieval
Portuguese and other European travellers and chronicalers, it is Arracam,
Aracao,Orrakam.10 The Portuguese traveller Barros in 1516 A.D. is said to
be first man who referred Aracan which is the nearest to the modern name,
in his Decadar.11 But according to Professor S.H. Hodivala, the modern form
Arakan is said to be drived from the Arabic word Al-Rakhang.12 According to
eminent numismatists like Lanepole, Rodgers and Wright, Bengal king Sultan
Muhammad Khan Sur struk coins bearing the date 962 A.H.(1554-55 A.D.) styling
himself Sultan Shamshuddin Muhammad Shah Ghazi, the name of mint is read as
Arakan.13 A few of these coins are preserved in the London British
Museum. The coins are similar to those published by Marsden, Lane Pole and
Wright.14
THE ETYMOLOGY OF ROHANG AND ROHINGYA
The name Rohang/Roshang/Raham is the
old name of Arakan. It is of much antiquity. It is probably the corruption of
Arabic term Raham/ Raham Bori meaning God Blessed Land. In the work of Arab
geographer Rashiduddin (1310 AD) it appears as Rahan or Raham.15 The Trukish
navigator belonging to the middle of 16th century wrote the name of Arakan as
Rakanj. 16 The British travellers Relph Fitch (1586 AD) referred the name of
Arakan as 'Rocon'.17 In the Rennell's map (1771 AD), it is 'Rassawn'.18 Tripura
Chronicle Rajmala mentions the name of Arakan as 'Roshang'. 19 In the medieval
works of the poets of Arakan and Chittagong, like Quazi Daulat, Mardan, Shamser
Ali, Quraishi Magan, Alaol, Ainuddin, Abdul Ghani and others, they frequently
referred to Arakan as 'Roshang', 'Roshanga', 'Roshango Shar', and 'Roshango
Des'.20 Famous European traveller Francis Buchanam (1762-1829 AD) in his
accounts mentioned Arakan as "Reng, Roung, Rossawn, Russawn,
Rung". 21 In one of his accounts, "A Comparative Vocabulary of some
of the languages spoken in the Burman Empire" it was stated
that, " the native Mugs of Arakan called themselves 'Yakin', which name is
also commonly given to them by the Burmese. The people of Pegu are named
'Taling'. By the Bengal Hindus, at least by such of them as have been settled
in Arakan, the country is called Rossawn. The Mahammedans who have
long settled at Arakan call the country 'Rovingaw' and called themselves
'Rohinga' or native of Arakan.22
The Persians called it Rkon."
23 The Chakmas and Saks of 18th century called it 'Roang'. 24 The term
Rohingya is derived from the word Rohai or Rohshangee, a terminology perverted
to Rohingya. Rohai and Roshangee are terms denoting the Muslim people
inhabiting in the old Arakan or Rohang or Roshang. The ancient capital of
Arakan was Mrauk-U. The Rakhine Buddhists called it Maruk-Oo and
the Rohingya Muslims and Euopeans called it Maruk-U.
After the annexation of Arakan by
the British 1826 A.D., the capital was shifted to Akyab, since that time
Mrauk-U was being known by the people of Arakan as Mrohang (old city). 25 Some
Bengali writers of present days think that Rohang was derived from the word
Mrohang. That is Mrohang > Roang > Rohang > Roshang. 26 But the
Rohingyas of Arakan do not accept it because the name Mrohang was known in
Arakan after British annexation of Arakan. Where as the great poets of Arakan
such as Dulat Kazi, Mardan, Shah Alowal, and other writers of Arakan wrote it
as Rohang or Roshang in 1622-30 A.D., 1631-38 A.D., and 1651-1673 A.D.
respectively. The Rohai of Chittagong region are those Muslim people who fled
Arakan or Rohang as a result of Burman atrocities after the country was
occupied in 1784 A.D. by Burman king Bodaw Paya. During 40 years of Burmese
rule (1784-1824 A.D.) two third or two hundred thousands (2,00,000) of the
inhabitants (Rohingyas and Rakhines) of Arakan fled to Bengal (India).27 As
many as 50% of the total population of Chittagong region are Rohai
who trace their ancestral origin to Arakan.28 Today the Muslims of Arakan call
the country 'Rohang' or 'Arakan' and call themselves 'Rohingya' or native of
Rohang.29
THE ETYMOLOGY OF RAKHINE
AND MAGH
According to the Rakhine Rajawan,
the ancient name of Arakan is Rakhine Pray. It origin goes back to remote past.
According to Sir Arthur Phayre, the word Rakhine is a corruption of the Pali
word Rakkhasa (Sanskrit word Rakshasa) meaning Ogre (in Burmese Bilue) and
signifying monster or demon.30 Before the spread of Buddhism in Arakan, most of
the people were the worshiper of nature. Hence the term Rakhine was applied to
them by the people the Indo-Aryan stock. Subsequently, the Arakanese
adopted the word as their identity designation, and instead of hesitation, they
rather with pride,introduced themselves as Rakhine and their father-land as
Rakhine Pray. Pray is an Arakanese word meaning the country. Early Buddhist
missionaries called Arakan as 'Rekkha Pura'. 31
The word Magh is undoubtedly of
Bengali origin, but the exact significance of the word and the ultimate
deivation are not clear. As to the generic nomenclature Magh, which is of
uncertain origin, it is to be noted that it applied to the Buddhists of Arakan
and those residing in the eastern parts of Bangladesh. According to A. Phayre,
the name Magh originated from the ruling race of Magadha (Bihar) and relying on
a Burmese oral tradition, he says that they were originally a Kshartiya tribe
of the north India and migrated from Magadha to Burma through eastern Bengal.
Subsequently they spread over Arakan from Burma.32 The derivation would
probably be Magadhi, the adjective form of the proper name,
Maghi-Magai-Magi-Mog or Magh. The New English Dictionary states that the word
Mag, Mogen, Mogue appear as names of Arakan and the people in 15-16th
centuries.33 Among the old testimonies regarding Arakan association with
Magadha is that of Daulat Kazi (1622-38), a well-known poet of Arakan,
according to him, the rulers of Rosango (Arakan) belong to the Magadha dynasty
and were Buddhists by faith. The poet in his Sati Mayna frequently uses the
term Magadher pati and Magadha Raja to signify the kings and the Kingdom of
Arakan respectively.34 The Ralph Fitch the 16th centry English traveller,
identified Arakan as the country of Mogen. Today both the Maghs of Arakan and
Bangladesh disowned this name and claim thatthis is the coinage of the
Englishmen just as they have coined words of similar type. The Maghs call
themselves 'Rakhine' and the country 'Rakhine Pye' or country of Rakhine.35
Reference :
1. Dr. Ganganath
Jaha (Jawaharal Nehru University), Rohingya Imbroglio: The Implication for
Bangladesh in S.R.Chakaravaty (Edited) Foreign Policy of Bangladesh, New Delhi,
1994, P.293; Nurul Islam, The Rohingya Problem, Arakan Rohingya National
Organisation (ARNO), Arakan (Burma), 1999, PP.2-3
2. Martin Smith,
The Muslim Rohingyas of Burma, Rohingya Reader II, Burma Centrum Nederland,
Amsterdam, October 1995, P.13;
3. San Tha
Aung, The Buddhist Art of Ancient Arakan, Daw Saw Saw Sapay, Rangoon, 1979,
P.2; Sir H. Yule, In Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, November
1882; Sir Arthur Phayre, History of Burma, London, 1884, P.42. Amanullah, The
Etymology of Arakan, THE ARAKAN, Vol.10, Issue 2, July 1997,P.4.
4. D.G.E. Hall, A
History of South East Asia, London, 1968, P.141; Mc Crindle, The Ancient India
as described by Megasthenes and Arrian, P.162; Ibid. P.4 - 5.
5. The Rakhine:
Culture and Civilization of National Races, Burma Socialist Programme Party
Headquarters., Rangoon, 1976, P.36.
6. J.A.S.B. Vol. V
(1836), P.iv.
7. Nalinikania
Bhattasali Commomoration Volume, Dacca Museum, 1966, P.356.
8. A.B.M
Habibullah, A Note on 'Could Muhammad Shah Sur Conquer Arakan', JBSB
(19510, PP.13-14.
9. Dr. S.B.
Qanungo, A History of Chittagong, Vol.1, Chittagong (1988), P.352.
10. Ibid.,
P.232.
11. Pamla Gutman,
Ancient Arakan, Australian national University (1976), P.3.
12. Dr. S.H.
Hodivala, Studies in History of Indian Muslim, New Delhi (1992), P.59.
13. J.A.S.,
LXVII (1951), P.11.
14. Journal of the
Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of West Bengal, Culcutta
(1995), P.285.
15. Chowdhury
Mohahd. A.F. Hazary, Burma: An Arab Land of the East, Dacca Review, 1978, P.35;
H.M. Ellot and J. Dowson, History of India as told by its own historian, P.73.
16. Habibullah,
op. cit, PP.13-14; J.S.B, Vol.V (1836), P.466.
17. Fosted ,
Ralph Fitch, P.26.
18. Asiatic
Researches (AR), Vol.V, New Dhelhi (1979) P.233.
19. Dr. S.B.
Qanungo, op. cit. PP.159-160.
20. Nalinikania
Bhattasali Commomoration Volume, Dacca Museum, 1966, P.356; Qazi Daulat: Sati
Moyna O Lor Chandrani, edited by N. Ghasal, P.45; Alawal: Saiful Mulk
Badiuzzamal, edited by Ahmed Sharif, P.63; Alawal:Tohfa,ed. Ibid., P.78; Puthi
Parichili, Ibid., PP.242,349 & 600.
21. Willem Van
Schendel Froncis Buchanam, In the South Bengal, Dhaka (1992),
PP.104,108
22. Buchanam,
Ibid.
23. Asiatic
Researches (AR), Vol.V, New Dhelhi (1979) P.233.
24. R.B. Smart,
Burma Gazetteer - Akyab District, Vol.A, Rangoon, 1957, PP.228-229;
25. Abdul Hoque
Chowdhury, Prachin Arakan Rowainga Hindo Barua Buodda Adhibashi, Bangla
Academy, Dhaka, 1994, P.30.
26. Buchanam,
Ibid. PP.104, 108.
27. M.S. Collis,
JBRS, 50th Anniversary No.2, P.499; Muhammad Ishaque (Edited), Bangladesh
District Gazetteers: Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dacca, 1971, P.33.
28. Mohamed Ali
Chowdhury, The Advent of Islam in Arakan and Rohingyas, Annual Magazine of
A.H.S. 1995-96, P.6; Dr. Mohamed Yunus, A History of Arakan ; Past and Present,
1994,P.13
29. Amanullah, The
Etymology of Arakan, THE ARAKAN, Vol.10, Issue 2, July 1997, PP.4-5.
30. D.G.E Hall, A
History of South-East Asia, Third Edition, 1977, London,
P.388.
31. Abdul Mabud
Khan, The Maghs, the University Press, Dhaka, 1999, PP.3-4.
32. The Magh,
Ibid.P.40.
33. Fotenotes in
the Article : King Bering, JBRS, 50th Anniversary Publication No.2,
P.443; Dr. Mohamed Yunus, A History of Arakan ; Past and Present, 1994,
P.15.
34. The Maghs,
Ibid.P.40.
35. Amanullah, The
Etymology of Arakan, THE ARAKAN, Vol.10, Issue 2, July 1997, PP.4-5.
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