WHERE MANDALAS OVERLAP: HISTORIES, IDENTITIES AND FATES OF THE PEOPLE FROM ARAKAN AND SOUTH-EASTERN BANGLADESH.

Abstract

This research explores the importance of local and colonial narratives in formulating and strengthening cultural, ethnic and linguistic identities of the peoples from the two “mandalas” of Arakan (Western Myanmar) and Banga (South-eastern Bangladesh). It argues that the production of British colonial maps and censuses has been of incremental importance in shaping the identities and further the rise of nationalism in post-World War II Burma/Myanmar. It also discusses the unformulated “notions of belonging” in the construction of Burmese citizenship used by successive Burmese governments. The thesis argues that definition of Burmese citizenship is based on the belonging to the “mandalas” which goes beyond the demarcated territories of Myanmar.