An Introduction to Marma People

Marma peoples are 2nd largest ethnic group in Bangladesh over 210,000 population just within Bangladesh. Majority of them live in  Bandarban, Khaggrachari, and Rangamati with two prominent kings at two major areas of Bandarban and Khaggrachari. The cultures of Marma people are not so different from Burmese and South-east Asians. The dialect and script are also similar to Burmse. It is believed that Marmas are descendents of Arakanese of Burma(Western Burma); Arakan state. Not long before, the title of Marma was coined by Bomong Raja as he was the chief and king of Marma. Marma or Arakanese used to govern the area of Chittagong even to extent of Dhaka up to 16th century as the kingdom of Arakan was expanded and annexed to Bangladesh. According to Rajamala, a historical record of Tripura kingdom mentioned of Marma/Mog kings ruling Tripura state before 2nd-3rd A.D.and after. They were powerful in those areas as well in Burma before the invasion of Mughal and British empire. Despite the lost of their kingdoms, Marma people still remain to live in Chittagong, amidst the majority of Muslim they are strong Theravada Buddhists with much influence of Burmese Buddhism.

The Magh

The Magh

The Magh peoples live in the area of Chittatgong of Bangladesh, Tripura state of India and Arakan state of Myanmar. Magh is mostly referred to Arakanese peoples including its later decedents; Marma and Magh of Arakanese. The nickname Magh is given to Arakanese by Bengalis to indicate pirates of Arakanese.The existence of Magh might be probably in 14-15^th century. The Maghs of Bangladesh perceived the term Magh as rather offensive and insulting name. So they changed and adopted new name Marma which denotes Marma were inhabitants of Myanmar. But the Magh of Tripura state, India remained as Magh as before until now. Therefore, Magh and Marma are just two different names denoting the same type of people.  However i will demonstrate some different opinions and assumptions on the term Magh in below paragraphs.

Figure 1: Magh from India in colorful perdormance

1.      According to Arakanese chronicle, it seems that Arakanese are originally from Magadha kingdom of India. The kings of Arakanese kings are decedents of Magadhi origin. So the term Magh is derived from Magadha.

2.      Another assumption is not Arakanese or Marma explanation, it is rather alien explanation; Bengali. The Arakanese people before known as Marma, they were called Magh for their notorious activities of capturing Bengalis and sold in slave market; East India Company.

3.      According to Francis Bunchana observation, the term Mog/Magh is called to all tribes and nations who are non-Hindu and non-Muslim including Bengali Barua by Bengalis Muslim.

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.

The Origin of Marma People

The Origin of Marma People

You may have heard of Marma in Bangladesh, Magh in India or somewhere else but do you know their origin; where are they originally from? So here is a little exploration on the origin of Marma or Magh people. There are two opinions holding on the linage of Marma. Some believe that Marma is descendants of Arakanese while others claimed that linage of Burmese.

According to some, it seems that Marmas came from the linage of Burmese originally and claimed they had no relationship with the Arakanese. The ancestors of Marmas might have traveled from Burma to Arakan as in the past people used to have nomadic life. From Arakan kingdom, they migrated to parts of Bangladesh.

Historically, it is recorded that Marmas migrated from Arakan kingdom of Burma to the Chittagong of Bangladesh in two phases of migrations during 14^th to 17^th century in the golden period of Mrauk U. In the first phase during the Mrauk U period Arakanese kingdom was expanded to even some parts of Chittagong and Dhaka. Secondly, they fled to Chittagong and settled down as the Arakanese kingdom was conquered and tortured by the Burmese king Bodawpaya. 

This the map of Arakan and Chittagong. Both territories are close to each other which made the migration easier.

 The above both claims on the linage of Marmas depend on the traditional and historical studies. But there is another possibility that Marmas are mixture of Burmese and Arakanese. So with the facility of modern science these claims can be investigated and concluded through scientific test on the DNA of Marma to trace their origin. This scientific test can be more reliable than those of traditional beliefs and historical studies.