Stone Pillar of Independence in Yangon
Aung San (1915 - 1947)
Declaration of Burmese Independence
January 4th 1948: Burmese independence
On this day in 1948, Burma declared independence from the United Kingdom, having been colonised in the 19th century after a series of Anglo-Burmese wars. The country’s first Prime Minister, Ba Maw, came to power in 1937 and advocated for greater self-rule for the colony, thus fueling an independence movement. In 1940, the Burma Independence Army was formed by revolutionary Aung San. During World War Two, the Japanese occupied the country which led to a violent struggle with the Allies to reclaim Burma, with Burmese fighters on either side of the conflict. At the end of the war Aung San emerged as the leader of a transitional government to oversee the nation’s independence, securing an agreement with British Prime Minister Clement Attlee in January 1947 guaranteeing Burma’s independence within a year. Despite Aung San’s assassination by a group of political rivals backed by the British in July 1947, on January 4th 1948 his dream was fulfilled and Burma became an independent nation. He is still remembered as the father of the nation, and his daughter Aung San Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning politician. Upon independence, Sao Shwe Thaik became the country’s first President and U Nu its Prime Minister. This day is celebrated every year in Burma to commemorate the day the nation achieved independence from colonial rule.
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