Arakan: - One Who Preserves and Takes Care of Their Own Nationality.

Publication by Arakan Action Association (AAA.)

Arakan Library was founded by a group of Arakan Action Association (AAA) in exile in Thailand from Burma in 2007 doing to voice for the knowledge, the people democratic and human rights.

 

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Arakan Action Association (AAA)

Chotana Road , Chaing Mai ( 50301 ), Thailand.

Email : arakanactionassociation@walla.com , +66—089-637-4383, +66—053-409-577

 

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAGH  SETTLEMENTS

 

As stated earlier (supra, p.29), there was a close contact between Arakan and Bengal since the earliest time and at different stages of history, several groups of people migrated to south-eastern part of Bengal from Arakan. Among the migrants the Maghs constitute a major group of the Arakanese population.

 

The Maghs are chiefly found in three districts, namely, Banderban, Cox's Bazar and Greater Patuakhali. A small group is found also at Khagrachari. The total population of the Maghs is about 1,55,854. A Brief account of the geo-physical background of these three districts is essential to understand the life- style and culture of the Maghs.

 

Banderban is situated between Burma and Lusai Hills on the east, Chittagong district on the west, Rangamati district on the north and Arakan on the south-east. In general the district is a tangle mass of hill, ravine and cliff densely covered with trees, bush and creeper jungle. As it as many as thirteen tribes, it is called the 'anthropological museum' of the country. Of the tribes, the Marmas constitute the largest group having been estimated by the census of 1991 at 59,288.

 

Banderban, the headquarters of the district, is situated on the bank of the Sangu. It is also the residence of the Marma Chief. On the Sangu valley, Ruma and Thanchi are important markets where different tribes and non-tribals meet together on market days. In southern areas of Banderban district, Lama and Alikadam are also important markets.

 

Cox's Bazar, noted for its scenic beauty, is the headquarters of the district of the same name which on the east is surrounded by Banderban district and the Naaf river and on the south and the west by the Bay of Bengal and in the north it is attached to Chittagong district. With its salubrious climate, the district has some tribes among its population of which the Maghs are important. The total number of the Maghs of this district is about 7,167.

 

The Cox's Bazar town is located on the low range of sand hills between the Baghkhali river and the Bay of Bengal. It was once a purely Magh town; the present Magh population is about 1012.

 

Neela and Teknaf are important trade centres of this district situated on the bank of the Naaf. Maheshkhali and Kutubdia are important islands. At Maheshkhali and Kutubdia are important islands. At Maheshkali, on the top of the hill, there is the shrine of Adinath dedicated to Siva; by its side, on the top of the hill, a Buddhist pagoda attracts the attention of the visitors.

Greater Patuakhali is situated on the southern extreme of Bangladesh. It is bounded on the west by the Sundarbans, Khulna and pirojpur district, and on the south by the Bay of Bengal. On the eastern side of this district the Meghna flows in a southerly direction and finally empties itself into the Bay of Bengal. Barisal district is situated on the northern part of it. Most of the areas of this district are full of rivers, canals and the land is very fertile. The total number of the Maghs of this district is estimated at 3520, where their ancestors are said to have settled for a long time.

 

On the basis of  their residence, the Maghs are classified into two groups, i.e., the residents of the hill and the plain. The former identify themselves as Marma and are found throughout Greater Chittagong Hill tracts. The other group, known as the Rakhaines , has concentrated in Cox's Bazar district and Greater Patuakhali. Regardless of their group identity, all of them are undoubtedly men of Arakanese stock as will be evident from our subsequent discussion.

 

Tribes in general have two names: one is given by the neighbors of the areas in which they live and the other is used by themselves for self-identity. Both types of names generally signify certain characteristics or qualities of a given tribe. There are also some appellations which are resented by the tribes as uncomplimentary.

THE MAGHS