Information AboutAkyab |
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Sittwe (; population 181,000), formerly known as '''Akyab''', (latitude 20° South and longitude 92°56¼ E), is a city and district in Rakhine State , Myanmar . The name Sittwe is the Burmese (Bama) version of Saite Twêy, (ppfawGU) or (ppfwdGU), which means ‘the place where the war meets’. When the Burmese King Bodaw Maung Wyne invaded the Rakhaing (Rakhine) kingdom in 1784 Rakhaing General (Saite-ké) Aung, governor of Urittaung Province, encountered the 30,000-strong Burmese force with his 3,000 men at the mouth of Kissapanadi (Kalandan) River. In the decisive battle that was fought both at land and sea, General Aung and his men were all killed and defeated, opening both land and river way for the Burmese forces to the Rakhaing Capital Mrauk-U. The place where the battle occurred came to be called Saite Twêy, (ppfawGU) or (ppfwdGU), by the Rakhaing (Rakhine or Arakanese) and later Sittwe by the Burmese (Bama). During the First Anglo-Burman War (1824-1926) the British forces landed at Sittwe and stationed their force by the ancient pagoda, Ahkyaib-daw (tmusdwfawmf), which is still standing at the head of the City of Sittwe. The British adopted the name Akyab to call the place. Ahkyaib-daw (tmusdwfawmf) is one of the most sacred Buddhist pagoda believed to have built in the days Emperor Asoka (r. 269-232 BCE). Ahkyaib-daw (tmusdwfawmf) means maxillary bone. It is believed that the pagoda was built on the foundation encasing a piece of Buddha’s maxillary bone. Reference: Shwe Lu Maung alias Shahnawaz Khan, The Price of Silence: Muslim-Buddhist War of Bangladesh and Myanmar – A Social Darwinist’s Analysis, DewDrop Arts & Technology, 2005, p174. (http://www.shwelumaung.org) Sittwe is situated on an Estuarial Island at the Confluence of the Kaladan River , Myu River , and Lemyo River . 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 following the First Anglo-Burmese War . In 1826 , the seat of government was transferred from the old Arakan capital of Myohaung 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. 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. India to develop Myanmar port to benefit northeast, Press Trust of India, February 3, 2007 The city is home to the Sittway University . SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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