International Journal of Research in Social Sciences
Year : 2018, Volume : 8, Issue : 9
First page : ( 435) Last page : ( 443)
Online ISSN : 2249–2496.

Burma Colonies of West Bengal: A Study of the Contemporary Status of Burmese Indians

Chakraborty Ankita

ICSSR Doctoral Fellow, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore

Online published on 5 August, 2019.

Abstract

India and Myanmar had shared their common linkages from the ancient era, due to its proximity with India. In present days, Myanmar shares border with four states of Northeastern India and provides India its gateway to South East Asia. The migration of people from India to Myanmar had been primarily taken place during the colonial era when both of them were under the British colonial rule. The Britishers’ during those periods had mainly relied on Indian for administration and other official work in Burma purposes and also for the supply of labor and petty workers. There had been seen the rise of business class from India to Myanmar, the most prominent of them are ‘Chettiars’ of Tamil Nadu. During the British period Rangoon became the centre of Indian migrants with Burmese turned into minority. But the main troubles were faced by Indian migrants during the post Colonial era, when Burma introduced Nationalization policy, Burmanization policy and Citizenship law. Most of the Indian people had lost their job or business and which compel them to leave Myanmar. The government of India had then given them land or money to settle in India in few pockets of India which is known as ‘Burma Colony‟. The Burma colony with Indian Burmese or Burmese Indians had still exist today while some of them still strive for proper livelihood. In this connection this article will describe the Socio Economic status of Burmese Indians currently living in West Bengal and also their condition during expulsion in the post colonial era.

Top