Rory macleans top 10 books on burma books the guardian. Political systems of highland burma and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Opium and insurgency since 1948 by bertil lintner in 1948, burma was a promising young democracy with a bustling free market economy and a standard of living that surpassed nearly all of its other asian neighbours. A study of kachin social structure political systems of highland burma. Since may 2016, burma link has systematically documented publications by. In 2010 the military state peace and development council spdc laid out the landscape for a new era of parliamentary government. Apr 02, 2011 political systems of highland burma by edmund leach is a book about the kachin and shan of northeast burma, a region of hills and valleys which the author refers to as the kachin hills. But when your feet touch terra firma in your bones you know its burma. To understand burmas 20th century and its current state, these ten books are indispensable guides, all. Only two years ago, the imperial war museum in london published a detailed, 456page volume on the burma.
Its hard to explain how reading about hill tribes in southeast asia where powerful people periodically try to create little kingdoms gumsa in imitation of the shan states in the valleys, but where the complexities of their forms of agriculture and marriage systems. Blog be a part of reading and sharing the amazing stories of what god is using this ministry to accomplish throughout the world. Political systems of highland burma by k ferryman on prezi. This classic of anthropology is special because rather than a history of an ethnic group or a tribe it is a history of a region. By the authors admission, the ethnographic information is neither detailed nor new, but rather serves as a vehicle for demonstrating what leach describes as an oscillation between one kachin republican political system gumlao and the shan aristocratic system. Its odd what one notices on this first glimpse of a new world.
A history of myanmar since ancient times traditions and transformations maitrii aungthwin, michael aungthwin in a history of myanmar since ancient times, michael aungthwin and maitrii aungthwin take us from the sacred stupas of the plains of pagan to the grand, colonialera british mansions, revealing the storied past and rich culture of this country. Here is the collection of books shared by many vistors by online and by post. Leach edmund political systems of highland burma 1970. Burma, which is now officially known as myanmar, has suffered a turbulent 20th century but is now attaining previously inconceivable levels of stability and prosperity. In 2011 the authorities face the challenge of introducing the new political system. Available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. He stopped his education after the 8th grade because he failed an exam. At a crude level of generalization, shans are are a relatively sophisticated people with a culture somewhat resembling that of the burmesethe literature throughout the past century has almost always treated these kachins as if they were primitive and warlike savages, so. His substantial contributions to anthropology deal with topics including kinship and social organization, hill tribes and valley peoples, tenure and peasant economy, aesthetics, british. Thai, khmer, adopted words primarily from pali rather than from sanskrit. Click to read more about political systems of highland burma. This book was the outcome of ethnographic work in sarawak burma and popular known for theories of.
Its aims were the investigation and encouragement of art, science and literature in relation to burma and the neighbouring countries the society was founded on 29 march 1910 at a meeting held at the. Ive checked out amazon and found a few interesting books on burma. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A study of kachin social structure, was written by british social anthropologist sir edmund ronald leach in 1954. At the time we were sent into burma, in december 1944, i was a humble subaltern, the troop leader of fox troop, 94. Edmund leach had spent the war among the kachin, after a year of orthodox fieldwork there, although all his original fieldnotes, photographs and draft thesis were lost as the result of enemy.
The majority of karen people are buddhists, with perhaps 20%. At the time we were sent into burma, in december 1944, i was a humble subaltern, the troop leader of fox troop, 9495 battery. Political systems of highland burma by edmund leach is a book about the kachin and shan of northeast burma, a region of hills and valleys which the author refers to as the kachin hills. That leachs book is in its third edition speaks to the importance of his work.
In addition, burmese literature tends to reflect local folklore and culture. Reviews one of the most important and stimulating contributions to social anthropology published in recent years. These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the us. Review of edmund leachs political systems of highland burma. Burmese days by george orwell, the glass palace by amitav ghosh, the art of hearing heartbeats by janphilipp sendker, fr. Political systems of highland burma is about the kachin and shan population of northeast burma, respectively highland and valleybased rice cultivators. The burmese language, unlike other southeast asian languages e. Only two years ago, the imperial war museum in london published a detailed, 456page volume on the burma campaign written by military historian julian thompson. This is an anthropological classic of the first water and one of the books that opened my eyes to what anthropology could be. On edmund leachs political systems of highland burma. This book was the outcome of ethnographic work in sarawak burma and popular known for theories of social structure and cultural changes. Appointed to lead what was soon to become the famous forgotten 14th army in 1943, at a time when british units in the far east were defeated and demoralised, within six months he had dealt the first death blow to the japanese army. This is bringing travellers to the country in droves to experience its natural wonders and its rich culture and history. Burma policy briefing 1 burma remains a land in ethnic crisis and political transition.
Stilwell, wingate, and the campaign in burma, 1944 by bidwell, shelford and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. There is an important a collection of books, serials and ephemera from the 1980s relating to the prodemocracy movement in burma. What if the author had focused the book more in this direction. This acclaimed book by edmund ronald leach is available at in several formats for your ereader. Burmese literature was historically influenced by indian and thai cultures, as seen in many works, such as the ramayana. Burmas longest war anatomy of the karen conflict the number of karen people in burma or myanmar, as the country is officially called is unknown, with estimates varying between three and seven million, speaking a dozen related, but mutually nonintelligible, dialects. Appointed to lead what was soon to become the famous forgotten 14th army in 1943, at a time when british units in the far east were defeated and demoralised, within six months he had. A history of myanmar since ancient times by maitrii aung. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. It harks back to burmas foundations, but comes into its own with the british assault and occupation in 1885 a watershed year that ushers. Golden earth is a bittersweet portrait of the thenoptimistic, nowlost land. A study of kachin social structure lse monographs on social anthropology new ed by e.
We have all read books that left us reflecting, what if. Bulletin of the school of oriental and african studies. The 18th field regiment selfpropelled, royal artillery was equipped with the american 105mm howitzer on a sherman tank chassis. While anthropologists in africa were picturing lineal or clan based societies as stable to understand how they worked, leach encountered lineal societies that were cross cut by social class and linguistic divisions. Disaster into triumph 194245 by mclynn, frank isbn. What is the most influential book i have ever read. You have free access to this content american anthropologist volume 57, issue 2, version of record online. Top 4 racist laws against rohingya muslims in burma.
The relevancy of this source is very high, as it gives four laws that are very beneficial in my argument about the rohingyas position in burmese society. Berg publishers, jan 1, 1973 social science 352 pages. Now he is married and is selling materials bubble blowers on the ferry to support his. To understand burmas 20th century and its current state, these ten books are indispensable guides, all of which reflect the personal stories behind the turmoil which has haunted the country. The literature of burma or myanmar spans over a millennium. Its aims were the investigation and encouragement of art, science and literature in relation to burma and the neighbouring countries. My copy is the 1964 reprint, a paperback with a turquoise cover published by g. Tambiah discusses the life of edmund leach 19101989, one of britains foremost social and cultural anthropologists, and a man of extraordinary versatility, originality and intellectual breadth. Golden earth is a bittersweet portrait of the thenoptimistic, nowlost land before communist incursions. This book is concerned with the kachin and shan population of northeast burma. Net by nicholas tarling, new zealand asia institute, university of auckland. A study of kachin social structure edmund ronald leach. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.