The Origin and Coinage of Marma

The Origin and Coinage of Marma

Marma is the name of a indigenous group in Chittagong who are similar to Arakanese and Burmese in culture, language, food, lifestyle, clothing, religion, etc. To understand the exact origin and meaning of the term “Marma” is difficult task as there are many explanations on this term. There are many assumptions and explanations on the term.

1. According to some the term “Marma” derived from the term “Myanmar”. As there is another claim that Marmas are originally linage of Peguan/Mon and Burmese. So the term Marma was officially coined by Bohmong king to people of his circle because the king was the descendent of Myanmar. The word of Myanmar changed phonetically as it is pronounced differently by Arakanese and Marma. Sometimes Arakanese pronounces “Ya” of Burmese pronunciation in “Ra” phones.  For example Arakanese pronounces “Rangoon” for “Yangoon” of Burmese. So this is similar to above example of phonetic changes.

               

2. Another assumption is that the term “Marma” derived from the Chinese word “Meing” which means man. It denotes to call the people of Burma by the Chinese.

      
    Besides Marma there is another name Mog/Magha called to us by outsider Bengalis which means pirate. According some historians, some Marmas used to join piracy and plunder during Dutch and Portuguese invasion in Chittagong. Marmas in Chittagong, Bangladesh rather see this name as offensive and insulting.  Therefore picking up new name Marma was necessary. But Marmas in Tripura state of India kept the same name as Mog/Magh. They have their own good reasons and they do not consider Mog/Magh as offensive term but Mog/Magh as rulers and descendant of Magadhi. However they still identify that they are not separated from the Marma of Bangladesh. They are the same type of people.

     History of Mog is another big topic. So i hope to write another short essay focusing on the history of Mog.