Maha Bandula, Immortal Myanmar Supreme Commander
Okkar
Wednesday, 26 March, 2003
Maha Bandula, Immortal Myanmar Supreme Commander
One hundred and fifty eight years ago, in the bright sunlight of April
1, Supreme Commander of Myanmar armed forces was inspecting his
soldiers at the war front in the Danubyu fort. At that moment,
Myanmars were putting up a staunch fight against the British
imperialists for the first time in Myanmar history.
He was Maha Bandula, peerless and dauntless Myanmar Supreme Commander.
His task was to repulse the marauding and invading alien enemies. In
fact, he was carrying out and engaged in an unequal contest. British
forces, both land and sea were far superior to Myanmar counterparts in
weaponry and naval power. Despite these odds, Maha Bandula was
relentless and resolute, unyielding and unwavering in his pursuit for
the noble cause of defending his nation and his people. He was ready
and prepared to pay his life then and there.
To boost up the morale of his soldiers, Maha Bandula went forth in his
full insignia under a glittering golden umbrella aloft. It proved to
be a fatal target for the enemy guns. His generals anxiously warned
him to fold up the golden umbrella which could be seen from afar.
However, the Supreme Commander sternly and knowingly refused. Instead,
he gave a memorable admonition to his troops. In fact, it was his last
message not only to his armed forces but to the nation and the Myanmar
people.
Maha Bandula's moving words were as follows:-
"We may lose this battle. This is our destiny. We fight our best and
we pay our lives. However, I cannot suffer indignity and disgrace for
losing the battle for the lack of courage and fighting prowess. Let
them realize that Myanmars lose the battle because of the loss of
their Supreme Commander. This will prove to be an everlasting example
of the Myanmar fighting spirit and enhance the honor and glory of our
nation and the people amongst the neighbouring states."
What Maha Bandula had said was acknowledged by Maj. CM Eniquez, In his
account entitled, "Bandula, A Burmese Soldier," Journal of Burma
Research Society, Vol XXVI, pp. 158-162.
In another research article written by MO Tanner captioned, "Danubyu-A
forgotten Episode," the author extolled the Myanmar Supreme Commander,
Maha Bandula, in the following way. "Bandula is the one outstanding
personality on the Burmese side. In many ways, he was simply the child
of his age and clime, but his bravery and audacity, his unquestionable
ability as a soldier, his tremendous personality and his unique
driving power all prove that he had that touch of genius that
constitutes the real commander."
Ref: Journal of Burma Research Society, Vol XXV, pp. 166-168. While
Maha Bandula was inspecting his troops, the British forces were
bombarding the Danubyu fort with the big guns and shells were
exploding in and outside the fort. Unfortunately a shell exploded near
the Myanmar Supreme Commander and a shrapnel hit him and he succumbed
to his injuries. Thus ended the brilliant chapter of the unforgottable
Myanmar Supreme Commander Maha Bandula.
Maung Yit, better known as Maha Bandula was born in 1783 at Ngapayin
village in Alone township. His father was U Pauk Taw, a farmer and
mother, Daw Ma Nyein. He was the first-born and his brothers and
sisters were Maung Aye, Ma Doke, and Maung Mya.
As usual with the Myanmar boys in those days, his schooling was at the
village monastry. In his youth, his father died. As an eldest son, he
had to work with his mother in the fields and looked after the younger
ones. He grew up strong and sturdy though of medium height. He never
used his strength on the innocent and the weak. But he was a terror to
the village bullies. He was very kind at heart and full of
understanding. At times, he was blunt and outspoken. His courage was
however, cool and calculated which stood him in good stead in his
later military career.
Maung Yit first served as the lowest-grade retainer in the service of
the Crown Prince, Thiri Dhammabiraza Thihathura of the capital city,
Amarapura. For his commitment to duty and candour of temperament, the
Prince liked him and assigned special duties. After the death of the
Crown Prince, he continued to serve King Bagyidaw, (1809-1837) during
whose reign the First Anglo-Myanmar War broke out. When Maung Yit was
neglected by the new master, he once provoked a commotion purposely
during the King's audience. The culprit was found to be Maung Yit.
Members of King's Court were stunned and bewildered. They were afraid
Maung Yit might be heavily penalized for his outrageous act. When the
King called for his explanation, he boldly showed his reasons that is
to court the King's favour and attention. The King was pleased with
his plea and demeanour and he was instantly promoted to the position
as an administrator of the town Tapayin with the title," Naymyo Thura
Ye Gaung." His later promotions were fast and rapid. Three years
later, he became Alon-Monywa Myosa.
Myanmar history henceforth was strewn with outstanding achievements of
Bandula with his resounding victories he scored in Rakhine, Manipur
and Assam.
(In Manipur, Bandula was leading a small infantry of 5000 men and 500
cavalry followed by General Nay Myo Thura Min Hla Nawrahta commanding
20,000 infantry men and cavalry of 2500 strong.) When Bandula and his
troops arrived at the fort of elder Manipur Prince, Chorut Singh, the
fort was found to be almost impregnable. The two sides of the fort was
barred by high mountains and the remaining side was heavily fortified
with stout timber gates. Here, the genius of Maha Bandula came to his
rescue. He used the tactic known as, "BLITZKRIEG," meaning lightning
against the insurmountable odds. The strategy was later employed by
the Nazi Germans with telling effect in their invasion of Poland in
the World War II. It was in fact, a kind of sudden and surprise attack
unexpected by the enemy. Bandula chose few selected commandos and let
them scale the walls of the fort at night and broke open the stout
gates. Thus, they were able to overwhelm and crush the enemies and
took the capital of Manipur.
Bandula employed the same tactic of BLITZKRIEG in his battle in Assam
later. His hand-picked men stormed the gate of the enemy fort and
after smashing it down, his soldiers were able to enter and seized the
city.
Bandula's final challenge arose against the formidable British
imperialists ignited by the flag incident when Myanmar soldiers in
September 13, 1823 hauled down the British flag hoisted in Chittagong
in Shapuri island. The British alleged that Myanmar soldiers had
killed six of their guards thereby.
Very soon, Sir Archibald Campbell with a huge armada and 18,000
European and Indian troops besieged Rangoon (Yangon) and stationed at
Thinguttara hill at the Shwedagon pagoda. Myanmar King Bagyidaw,
enraged by the British offence sent his troops under two Generals but
to no avail. They lost two battles to the British. At long last, Maha
Bandula was to be recalled back to Amarapura to wage war against the
British. Bandula's march back from Rakkhine through heavy monsoon
rains across marshes, difficult terrains and towering mountains was
indeed miraculous. His epic march could be compared to Hannibals epic
march over the Alps mountains in the European history.
In no time, he arrived back and prepared to defend his country, Maha
Bandula had to confront enemies from two directions; General Cotton
coming down the river Ayeyawady and at the same time General Campbell
with larger forces marching down towards Prome (Pyay).
At Rangoon (Yangon) Maha Bandula set up his defence by deploying outer
defence ring at different places in hilly and forested areas and an
inner defence ring at Danubyu. Myanmar armed forces led by their
Supreme Commander Maha Bandula never gave up their fight against the
British until the demise of their commander. It was obvious the
British had the cutting edge over Myanmar in weaponry and artillery.
Myanmars did their utmost in using fire rafts against the Birtish
vessels and cruisers with damaging effect. They excavated trenches in
succesive lines, moving from hole to hole forward. These tactics awed
and stunned the British. These accounts were fully narrated in Major
CM Enriques's article," Bandula-A Burmese Soldier."
Fytche, in his book," Burma, Past and Present," had this to say, "The
British lay isolated and immobilized around the Shwedagon pagoda from
10th May, 1824 to the 13th February 1825 without moving out of it. The
sickness amongst the troops was appalling. In the first year, 3 1/2
per cent of the men were killed in action, and 45 per cent perished of
diseases. The total losses during the war amounted to 721/2 per cent
of the troops engaged.
Ref.-Fytche, Burma Past and Present, pp. 81/82
Man fears death as children fear to go into the darkness, as the
saying goes. However, there are exceptions to that adage. For
instance, the Greek sage, Socrates laid down his life for his
conviction. That is why his learned pupil Plato elucidated,
"Courage is wisdom, concerning danger."
Ernest Hemingway reiterated the same point,
"Courage is grace under pressure."
The famous philosopher of modern times, Bertrand Russell followed suit
by stating,
"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."
Clare Boothe Luce more explicitly explained,
"Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount."
The Roman philosopher Emperor, Marcus Aurelius Antonius vividly
described how man should face death,
"Let us face death with reasonableness, dignity and unaffected
simplicity and to persuade even the beholder to do likewise."
Therefore, Myanmar Supreme Commander Maha Bandula had not died in
vain. He had the courage amounting to wisdom paving the way for the
posterity to do likewise.
"There is no bravery greater than resoluterefusal to bend the knee to
an earthly power,no matter however great."
(Mahatma Gandhi)
Author : Aung Than Tun (Monywa)
aye nwe
> The New light of Myanmar
> Wednesday, 26 March, 2003
>
> Maha Bandula, Immortal Myanmar Supreme Commander
>
Those who live in the past are dead. Only those who live for the
future are truly alive. What the Myanmar community urgently needs
today is a forward looking leadership, a leadership which will seek to
control our future to the extent possible.
Unfortunately, larger portion of top military generals from the regime
SPDC are old-fashioned, backward-looking and narrow-minded leader
reminiscing with (nowhere to be found) “good-old-days” of
the past. Leaders eager to employ old solutions to new problems; whose
political views and vision are rooted on outdated textbooks of the
old-school, and can dangerously manipulate clan politics. They tried
and tried and tried almost all of every single seconds of 16 years,
but declined economy is the only remarkable end results. But, they
always insist that they are essential groups of Myanmar to hold the
country together. What the heck! So, the undeniable truth is the
leaders of Myanmar military regime are "leaders from the past”,
and in short supply of innovative ideas and initiatives pertinent to
the current economic and political developments of the country.
It is right time for Myanmar regime to sit down and actually think of
some new and constuctive ways to fix the accumulated social and
economic problems, not just dredge up the good old days in a vein
attempt to impress "old soldier" long gone and no one knows exactly
how he looks. Look at today, see the suffering of the oppressed and
work out with people's elected leaders to get the country moving
forward rather than backward as it is now.
Bye now