Militant Buddhist Nationalism: The Case of Burma

Book excerpt: Following a brief discussion of the interaction of Buddhism and government in traditional Burma until 1885, the report analyzes the emergence of the political monks as the main force in the militant nationalist movement for Burmese independence. Buddhist monks played an important role in the violent agitation of the 1920's and in the Saya San Rebellion of 1930-31. In the 1930's the monks were gradually overtaken by secular-minded nationalists. The report concludes with a brief examination of the place of Buddhism in post-independence Burma.