Aung San Vanished from Burma's Currency

 

_ Nava Thakuria

What are the common features of Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bogyoke Aung San? The answer is simple. All of them were great patriots (of Asia) and shaped the fortune of their respective nations after putting decisive fights against the colonial forces. They are admired as the fathers of their respective nations. (Incidentally except Jinnah, all three others were assassinated in their respective homelands. For a common visitor, Gandhi is synonymous with India as Jinnah with Pakistan and Mujibur Rahman with Bangladesh, Aung San is identified with Myanmar (Burma).

And it is common belief that the successive (and respective) governments of these countries, irrespective of their political ideologies would continue appreciating the contributions of those legendary heroes in proper manner and approach. If Indian Rupee has Gandhi's picture on it, Pakistani Rupee proudly reflects the photograph of Jinnah and Bangladesh Taka of Mujib. But the present Myanmarese Kyat carries no photograph of Aung San. But once his photographs too was on the Myanmarese currency. What went wrong and where?

Old Currency with Aung San	New Currency without Aung San

"Till Eighties, our currencies had the picture of General Aung San. But now-a-days you cannot have a single currency with his photograph," said an educated young man based in Yangon, who wanted anonymity. The young man also added, "The State Peace and Development Council wants to erase the shadow of Bogyoke Aung San from the country. It is, perhaps, the beginning."

The Myanmarese currencies (Kyat and Pya), once issued by the Union of Burma Bank, the Peoples' Bank of Burma and the Union Bank of Burma in different phases, are now the responsibilities of the Central Bank of Myanmar. The present day Kyats contain pictures of Dragon-like lion compulsorily replacing the photograph of Aung San.

"It is regrettable for each and every Burmese, but we cannot help. After all, we are living under the shadow of a dictatorial regime, which does not prefer to honour a great soul like Bogyoke
Aung San," the young man added in anger.

It may be noted that General Aung San is esteemed as the architect of Burma's independence and, of course, is recognised as the greatest son of the soil. He led the group of patriots to form the Burmese National Army to fight against the British and later the Japanese. Myanmarese gained independence and became the Union of Burma on January 4, 1948. Earlier elections were held in April 1947, where the People's Freedom League led by Bogyoke Aung San established clear victory.

However, Aung San and six members of his pre-independence cabinet were assassinated on July 19, 1947 in Rangoon. His daughter and the Nobel Peace Prize awardee Aung San Suu Kyi has been putting fight for democracy in Myanmar. Ms. Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD) had won the 1990 general elections, but they were never handed over the power by the military junta, rather the elected public representatives were targeted wit h continuous harassment. In due course of time she had emerged as a trusted leader for the Burmese inside and outside the country. The ruling SPDC was never comfortable with Aung Suu Kyi. The celebrated leader had been kept under detention since 1990 with only a few months break from time to time. More recently her detention was extended for another six months by the military Junta.

"In reality, the SPDC leaders were scared of Suu Kyi and hence they tried their best to remove the shadow of her father Aung San even from the currencies. But they can't wipe out the images of Bogyoke Aung San from the hearts of millions of Myanmarese living inside and outside Myanmar," concluded the well-informed young man, who is waitingfor the golden day that would change the regime in Myanmar.

[The author is a senior journalist based in Guwahati of Northeast India and edits an Asomiya weekly 'Natun Somoy'.]