Thread by @vineet_24

KNOW THE #ROHINGYA!
Lot of controversy, over ROHINGYAS, has been raging for past few months. But not many know anything about Rohingya beyond that they are migrants frm RAKHINE, Myanmar. They have sought shelter in many parts of India & now pose grave threat to our nation.
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HISTORY
4CE, Arakan was one of the earliest INDIAN KINGDOMS, ruled by CHANDRA DYNASTY in SE Asia. The first Arakanese state flourished in DHANYAWADI & WAITHALI. Sanskrit inscriptions in the region indicate that founders were HINDUS
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During MAURYAN EMPIRE, this region came in contact with the pre-Islamic Arab traders. Region of Arakan (now Rakhine) became key center of maritime trade between Hindu Burma & d world. Buddhists also settled here.
Arabs used d route (blue) to travel to India & China
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Rohingyas trace their history to Arabic settlement in Arakan in 9CE. Using trade, money & conquest d area saw rise of muslim population called ROHINHYA. Andrew Tan claims it comes frm Arabic word Raham (God's blessing) & Muslims in Arakan rffrd dmslves as "God's blessed ppl"
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1430 - Buddhist King Min Saw Mon (1430–34) established his kingdom in Arakan, with help of the BENGAL SULTANATE. The Bengalis who came with him as soldier & scribes formed their own settlements in the region.
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After overthrowing the Islamic rule, Bhuddhists established their kingdoms which subsequently, changed hands between Buddhists, Mughals, Portugese, British. With advent of Europeans, migration of muslims from British Bengal into Arakan (Rakhine region) increasd exponentially
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British census of 1872 repord 58,255 Muslims in d district. By 1911, Muslim populatin had increased to 178,647(300% incrs)
Accrdng to historian Clive J. Christie, "Issue became focus for grass-roots Burmse nationalism & in 1930–31 there wer serious anti-muslim disturbances
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WW-2 saw British creating Volunteer Forces with Rohingyas. Next 3 yrs, the Rohingya of V-Force, engaged in campaign agnst Buddhist & Hindus, using weapons provided by V-Force. They destroyed monasteries, pagodas, and houses, and committed atrocities in northern Arakan.
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During Pakistan Movement in 1940s, Rohingya Muslims organized a separatist movement to merge the region into EAST PAKISTAN. British played Divide & Rule game & supported Rohingya demand for merger with East Pakistan, under aegis of "Muslim National Area" in Maungdaw region
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1946, Rohingyas tried for annexation of the area by Pakistan as well as of an independent state. Before the independence of Burma in January 1948, Muslim leaders from Arakan met with Muhammad Ali Jinnah and asked his assistance in incorporating the Mayu region to Pakistan
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NORTH ARAKAN MUSLIM LEAGUE ws founded in Akyab, 2 mnths later, Partition of Indian Bengal saw increased migration into d area. These migrants called themselves MUJAHID. They displaced Buddhist & Hindus frm Maungdaw & Buthidaung (1955 study Stanford Univ, V Thmpsn, R Adloff)
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Rohingya elders who supported a jihad movement, founded the MUJAHID PARTY in northern Arakan in 1947. The aim of the Mujahid party was to create an autonomous ISLAMIC STATE in Arakan.
Another Islamic militant party JAMI-A-TUL ULEMA-E ISLAM led by Omra Miah was formed.
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With material support of ULNAR MOHAMMAD MUZAHID KHAN and MOLNAR IBRAHIM from Pakistan, Mujahidin insurgency was initiated to invade Arakan & absorb the land into the East-Pakistan.
The Mujahids declared jihad on Burma after the govt refused to grant a separate Muslim state
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Rakhins (Buddhist) perceive Rohingyas as "the vanguard of an unstoppable wave of people that will inevitably engulf Rakhine"
This fear started coming true with independence of Burma
1980 saw increasd flow of Bangladeshi Muslims into Burma changing demography of coastal area
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