Most of the ancient Burmese literature focussed on religion and history. Literature and the Arts in Burmaīurma has a long literary history. Today, many Burmese men and women also wear Western-style clothing, especially in urban areas. They usually drape a shawl around the blouse. The blouses are either buttoned at the front or on the side. On formal occasions, Burmese men wear an English collar shirt underneath a Manchu Chinese jacket. In the past, the men would wear the traditional paso and women would adorn the tamein. The Burmese men and women both wear a type of sarong-like lower garment called the longyi. Mohinga is considered to be the national dish of the country. A salad of pickled tea leaves called laphet thoke is very popular in Burma. Lentils, tamarind, and chickpeas are also extensively used. A fermented sauce prepared from preserve fish, Indian-style pickles, shrimp sauce or balachaung, pickled vegetables, etc., are typical condiments of the cuisine. Rice is the staple of the cuisine and is served with meat curries and vegetables. The Burmese dishes are known to have a mild spicy flavor. The Burmese cuisine reflects indigenous influences and also has elements of Indian, Thai, and Chinese cuisines. Thingyan is another Buddhist festival celebrating the Lunar New Year. The pagoda festival is held in every village and town in the country. Many festivals are held in Burma all year round. ![]() Christians, Muslims, Animists, and Hindus also live in the country. The majority of Burmese (about 88%) practice Buddhism. Burmese is the official language of Myanmar. The other ethnic communities residing in Burma are Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Chinese, Mon, and Indian peoples. The Burman or Bamar constitute 68% of the total population of the country. ![]() The country is home to diverse ethnic groups. Myanmar, also known as Burma, is home to 55,622,506 individuals. Ethnicity, Language, and Religion in Burma His publications include works on the social dimensions of Buddhism and many Burma briefings for the UN and other organisations, including Caveats, Cautions and Stringent Conditions (1995), Once the Ricebowl of Asia (1997 ) and China-Burma Relations (2000).ĭavid was a keen photographer and it is hoped that his pictures can be archived and an exhibition arranged.Ĭolleagues appreciated his commitment and his generosity to activists and scholars, and remember in particular his vegetarian Thai red curry.The culture of the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar has been heavily influenced by the Buddhist religion, former British colonial rule in the country, and neighboring cultures. It is now run by a younger group of people inside Myanmar. Over the last few years he struggled to raise funding for the library and to arrange a satisfactory succession. David was ahead of his time in advocating free information access as being a key to Burma’s future.įrom 2004 until his death he lived in the Mae Sot district in Thailand, an important centre for Burmese exiles. His life’s work culminated in the Online Burma/Myanmar Library, a database featuring more than 60,000 documents in many languages. Projects there included a conference on the impact of tourism on indigenous peoples. He then played a similar role in Geneva, where I co-operated with him, along with members of the European Burma Network. In London in the 80s he founded or co-founded several mainly Buddhist or Burma-related organisations, including the Tibet Support Group and Burma Campaign UK.įrom 1991 until 1996 he worked in New York, supplying documentation to the UN human rights mechanisms, introducing Burma democracy activists to the UN scene, and supporting their lobbying. He spent the 1960s and 70s immersed in parts of the counterculture: driving a van-load of youngsters to the Soviet Union joining CND marches living alone for months on meagre means in Ibiza, while expanding his interest in Buddhism. My friend David Arnott, who has died aged 77, made an important contribution to the struggle for human rights in Burma (Myanmar) through founding and running the Online Burma/Myanmar Library and the Burma Peace Foundation.īorn in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, he went to Wakefield grammar school and studied languages at Reading University.
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