Everything about Sittwe totally explained
Sittwe i is a
town in the
Rakhine State of westernmost part of
Myanmar.
Sittwe (;
Rakhine:
Saitway) formerly known as
Akyab, is a city in
Rakhine State,
Myanmar located on an
estuarial island. The island was created by the
confluence of the
Kaladan River, Myu River, and Lemyo River emptying into the
Bay of Bengal. The
2006 population 181,000 and is Rakhine State's provincial capital.
History
Originally a small
fishing village, Sittwe became an important seat of maritime commerce, especially as a
port for the
export of
rice after the
British occupation of
Arakan, now known as Rakhine State, following the
First Anglo-Burmese War.
Sittwe was the location of a battle during the conquest of Arakan by the Burmese king
Bodawpaya. In 1784, the Burmese expeditionary force, some 30,000 strong, encountered the governor of Urittaung Province, Saite-ké(General) Aung and his force of 3000. Outnumbered hugely, the Arakanese force tried to fight the Burmese forces on both land and sea, but were brutally crushed. This defeat opened the route towards the inland Arakanese capital of
Mrauk U, which was soon conquered, ending the independence of the Arakanese.
According to Arakanese lore, all of the Arakanese defenders were killed.
During the
First Anglo-Burmese War (1823-1826) the British forces landed at Sittwe and stationed their forces by the ancient pagoda, Ahkyaib-daw, which is still standing at the head of the city. The British adopted the name Akyab for the place. In
1826, the seat of government was transferred from the old Arakan capital of
Mrohaung to Sittwe on the seacoast. During the first 40 years of British rule it increased from a
village to a
town of 15,536 inhabitants, and by
1901 it was the third port of Burma with a population of 31,687. During colonial times, Sittwe had a bad reputation for
malaria and
cholera, although historical records indicate that it was no better or worse than many other locations along the India coast.
Etymology
The name Sittwe is the Burmese version of Saite Twêy, which means ‘the place where the war meets’. When the Burmese King Bodawpaya invaded the
Rakhine kingdom in 1784, the Arakanese defenders encountered the Burmese force at the mouth of Kissapanadi (Kalandan) River. In the ensuing battle, which was waged on both land and water, the Arakanese were defeated. The place where the battle occurred came to be called Saite Twêy by the Arakanese and colloquialized as 'Sittwe' by the Burmese.
Religion
The city is predominantly Buddhist but there's a large
Rohingya commuinity as well as other muslims groups causing ethnic and religious tensions.
Ahkyaib-daw, is one of the most sacred Buddhist pagodas, believed to have built in the days of Emperor
Asoka (r. 269-232 BCE). The pagoda Ahdyaid-daw, meaning maxillary bone, is believed to be built on a foundation encasing a piece of
Buddha’s maxillary bone hence its name.
Sittwe is the birthplace of political monks in Myanmar. It was the birthplace of
U Ottama, who was the first monk to protest against the colonial British. Also, in the recent 2007 riots, it was the monks in Sittwe who were the first to protest.
Other
The city is home to the
Sittway University. The
Scottish author Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) was born in Sittwe in
1870.
In February 2007,
India announced a plan to develop the port, which would enable ocean access from Indian Northeastern states like
Mizoram, via the Kaladan River.. Sittwe's citizenry, especially Buddhist monks, have participated in the
2007 Burmese anti-government protests
Image Gallery
Image:Shwe_zedi.jpg|U Ottama's monastery and one of most prominent in the town
Image:Sittwe, Burma.JPG|The main street
Image:Sittwe, foreshore.JPG|foreshore
Image:Sittwe, new clock tower.JPG|new clock tower
Further Information
Get more info on 'Sittwe'.
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