Myanmar (Burma) Recourses - From and About Asia Reading Project

Myanmar (Burma)

We are reading books about Myanmar (Burma), learning its cultures as part of From and About Asia Reading Project during September 2021. This resource page is where I record and document the reading we did (and will do) for the country Myanmar (Burma). I will keep updating throughout September, as our reading and learning goes along.

event: from and about Asia reading project

Subregion: Southeast Asia

Reading Month: September 2021

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Picture by Sven Scheuermeier from unsplash.com 📍Old Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, formerly Burma, is the largest country in Mainland Southeast Asia, and the 10th largest in Asia by area.

During our reading month (September 2021), Myanmar is under a year-long state of emergency because of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. So on top of knowing more about Burmese culture and history, I also want to know what's the background and leading event for the coup.

One of the first things I noticed when I was researching about Myanmar, is people referring the country as both Myanmar and Burma, depends on their preferences. According to **The Hidden History of Burma** by Myint-U, Thant, when the ruling army junta officially changed the name to Myanmar, they stated that "Myanmar" incorporated all the country's indigenous people.

But indigenous people in the country have contrary opinions, and some activated opt the name change because they don't feel historically represented by "Myanmar". There are also other factors that went into people's identities in the country, such as traditions, clan cultures, unstable identities.

This made my reading started with many questions about Myanmar's culture and history, and think about what I should refer the country to. I don't have an answer yet, but hopefully, I can find out during September.

Books we are reading (click pictures for details!)