The New light of Myanmar
Wednesday, 26 March, 2003

Maha Bandula, Immortal Myanmar Supreme Commander

One hundred and fifty eight years ago, in the bright sunlight of April 1, Supreme Commander of Myanmar armed forces was inspecting his soldiers at the war front in the Danubyu fort. At that moment, Myanmars were putting up a staunch fight against the British imperialists for the first time in Myanmar history.

He was Maha Bandula, peerless and dauntless Myanmar Supreme Commander. His task was to repulse the marauding and invading alien enemies. In fact, he was carrying out and engaged in an unequal contest. British forces, both land and sea were far superior to Myanmar counterparts in weaponry and naval power. Despite these odds, Maha Bandula was relentless and resolute, unyielding and unwavering in his pursuit for the noble cause of defending his nation and his people. He was ready and prepared to pay his life then and there.

To boost up the morale of his soldiers, Maha Bandula went forth in his full insignia under a glittering golden umbrella aloft. It proved to be a fatal target for the enemy guns. His generals anxiously warned him to fold up the golden umbrella which could be seen from afar. However, the Supreme Commander sternly and knowingly refused. Instead, he gave a memorable admonition to his troops. In fact, it was his last message not only to his armed forces but to the nation and the Myanmar people.

Maha Bandula's moving words were as follows:-
"We may lose this battle. This is our destiny. We fight our best and we pay our lives. However, I cannot suffer indignity and disgrace for losing the battle for the lack of courage and fighting prowess. Let them realize that Myanmars lose the battle because of the loss of their Supreme Commander. This will prove to be an everlasting example of the Myanmar fighting spirit and enhance the honor and glory of our nation and the people amongst the neighbouring states."

What Maha Bandula had said was acknowledged by Maj. CM Eniquez, In his account entitled, "Bandula, A Burmese Soldier," Journal of Burma Research Society, Vol XXVI, pp. 158-162.

In another research article written by MO Tanner captioned, "Danubyu-A forgotten Episode," the author extolled the Myanmar Supreme Commander, Maha Bandula, in the following way. "Bandula is the one outstanding personality on the Burmese side. In many ways, he was simply the child of his age and clime, but his bravery and audacity, his unquestionable ability as a soldier, his tremendous personality and his unique driving power all prove that he had that touch of genius that constitutes the real commander."
Ref: Journal of Burma Research Society, Vol XXV, pp. 166-168. While Maha Bandula was inspecting his troops, the British forces were bombarding the Danubyu fort with the big guns and shells were exploding in and outside the fort. Unfortunately a shell exploded near the Myanmar Supreme Commander and a shrapnel hit him and he succumbed to his injuries. Thus ended the brilliant chapter of the unforgottable Myanmar Supreme Commander Maha Bandula.

Maung Yit, better known as Maha Bandula was born in 1783 at Ngapayin village in Alone township. His father was U Pauk Taw, a farmer and mother, Daw Ma Nyein. He was the first-born and his brothers and sisters were Maung Aye, Ma Doke, and Maung Mya.
As usual with the Myanmar boys in those days, his schooling was at the village monastry. In his youth, his father died. As an eldest son, he had to work with his mother in the fields and looked after the younger ones. He grew up strong and sturdy though of medium height. He never used his strength on the innocent and the weak. But he was a terror to the village bullies. He was very kind at heart and full of understanding. At times, he was blunt and outspoken. His courage was however, cool and calculated which stood him in good stead in his later military career.

Maung Yit first served as the lowest-grade retainer in the service of the Crown Prince, Thiri Dhammabiraza Thihathura of the capital city, Amarapura. For his commitment to duty and candour of temperament, the Prince liked him and assigned special duties. After the death of the Crown Prince, he continued to serve King Bagyidaw, (1809-1837) during whose reign the First Anglo-Myanmar War broke out. When Maung Yit was neglected by the new master, he once provoked a commotion purposely during the King's audience. The culprit was found to be Maung Yit.

Members of King's Court were stunned and bewildered. They were afraid Maung Yit might be heavily penalized for his outrageous act. When the King called for his explanation, he boldly showed his reasons that is to court the King's favour and attention. The King was pleased with his plea and demeanour and he was instantly promoted to the position as an administrator of the town Tapayin with the title," Naymyo Thura Ye Gaung." His later promotions were fast and rapid. Three years later, he became Alon-Monywa Myosa.

Myanmar history henceforth was strewn with outstanding achievements of Bandula with his resounding victories he scored in Rakhine, Manipur and Assam.

(In Manipur, Bandula was leading a small infantry of 5000 men and 500 cavalry followed by General Nay Myo Thura Min Hla Nawrahta commanding 20,000 infantry men and cavalry of 2500 strong.) When Bandula and his troops arrived at the fort of elder Manipur Prince, Chorut Singh, the fort was found to be almost impregnable. The two sides of the fort was barred by high mountains and the remaining side was heavily fortified with stout timber gates. Here, the genius of Maha Bandula came to his rescue. He used the tactic known as, "BLITZKRIEG," meaning lightning against the insurmountable odds. The strategy was later employed by the Nazi Germans with telling effect in their invasion of Poland in the World War II. It was in fact, a kind of sudden and surprise attack unexpected by the enemy. Bandula chose few selected commandos and let them scale the walls of the fort at night and broke open the stout gates. Thus, they were able to overwhelm and crush the enemies and took the capital of Manipur.

Bandula employed the same tactic of BLITZKRIEG in his battle in Assam later. His hand-picked men stormed the gate of the enemy fort and after smashing it down, his soldiers were able to enter and seized the city.

Bandula's final challenge arose against the formidable British imperialists ignited by the flag incident when Myanmar soldiers in September 13, 1823 hauled down the British flag hoisted in Chittagong in Shapuri island. The British alleged that Myanmar soldiers had killed six of their guards thereby.

Very soon, Sir Archibald Campbell with a huge armada and 18,000 European and Indian troops besieged Rangoon (Yangon) and stationed at Thinguttara hill at the Shwedagon pagoda. Myanmar King Bagyidaw, enraged by the British offence sent his troops under two Generals but to no avail. They lost two battles to the British. At long last, Maha Bandula was to be recalled back to Amarapura to wage war against the British. Bandula's march back from Rakkhine through heavy monsoon rains across marshes, difficult terrains and towering mountains was indeed miraculous. His epic march could be compared to Hannibals epic march over the Alps mountains in the European history.

In no time, he arrived back and prepared to defend his country, Maha Bandula had to confront enemies from two directions; General Cotton coming down the river Ayeyawady and at the same time General Campbell with larger forces marching down towards Prome (Pyay).

At Rangoon (Yangon) Maha Bandula set up his defence by deploying outer defence ring at different places in hilly and forested areas and an inner defence ring at Danubyu. Myanmar armed forces led by their Supreme Commander Maha Bandula never gave up their fight against the British until the demise of their commander. It was obvious the British had the cutting edge over Myanmar in weaponry and artillery. Myanmars did their utmost in using fire rafts against the Birtish vessels and cruisers with damaging effect. They excavated trenches in succesive lines, moving from hole to hole forward. These tactics awed and stunned the British. These accounts were fully narrated in Major CM Enriques's article," Bandula-A Burmese Soldier."

Fytche, in his book," Burma, Past and Present," had this to say, "The British lay isolated and immobilized around the Shwedagon pagoda from 10th May, 1824 to the 13th February 1825 without moving out of it. The sickness amongst the troops was appalling. In the first year, 3 1/2 per cent of the men were killed in action, and 45 per cent perished of diseases. The total losses during the war amounted to 721/2 per cent of the troops engaged.

Ref.-Fytche, Burma Past and Present, pp. 81/82
Man fears death as children fear to go into the darkness, as the saying goes. However, there are exceptions to that adage. For instance, the Greek sage, Socrates laid down his life for his conviction. That is why his learned pupil Plato elucidated,
"Courage is wisdom, concerning danger."
Ernest Hemingway reiterated the same point,
"Courage is grace under pressure."

The famous philosopher of modern times, Bertrand Russell followed suit by stating,
"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."
Clare Boothe Luce more explicitly explained,
"Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount."

The Roman philosopher Emperor, Marcus Aurelius Antonius vividly described how man should face death,
"Let us face death with reasonableness, dignity and unaffected simplicity and to persuade even the beholder to do likewise."

Therefore, Myanmar Supreme Commander Maha Bandula had not died in vain. He had the courage amounting to wisdom paving the way for the posterity to do likewise.

"There is no bravery greater than resoluterefusal to bend the knee to an earthly power,no matter however great."
(Mahatma Gandhi)

Author : Aung Than Tun (Monywa)