Ministry of Education

Higher Education Department

University of Yangon

CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS:

ANTHROPOLOGY AND
ANTHROPOLOGISTS IN MYANMAR

Khin Moe Moe Kyu

Lecturer, Department of Anthropology
Dagon University

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 Content
 Abstract
 Introduction; methodology
 Discussion
o History: past challenges of department of anthropology in Myanmar
o Busy with research and teaching: present challenges in Myanmar’s
 Anthropologists
o Anthropological knowledge: subject area and awareness of the knowledge in
Myanmar
o Prospect: anthropologists and the community
 Recommendation
 Acknowledgement
 Index
 Reference and citation

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 Challenges and Prospects: anthropology and anthropologists in Myanmar
Abstract
Key words: history, political landscape, anthropologist and anthropology, changes, development
and culture

This paper discovers how importance of anthropological knowledge is and why it is

necessary for awareness of this concept among Myanmar community. The study will pinpoint to
challenges of department of anthropology in Myanmar’s academic history and how conduct in
building state and future development programs.
Complete participatory research area is department of anthropology in University of
Yangon. Googling, library survey and departmental documents will use for some data
collection, some tentative questionnaires were prepared before hand and purposive sampling
and accidental sampling are conducted in the study. Data analysis will be check, cross check
and double check in information, visual evidence and coding.
The department was established by former rector Dr. Htin Aung in 1950 after
Myanmar’s Independence. The department had reduced their access and responsibilities were
weaken in several years and coming up in 1980 by the rule of government’s policy. Now
Myanmar anthropologists and their role are re- a- live in Myanmar Academic atmosphere. But
the anthropological knowledge is not as much spread as its’ area. Therefore, the study wants to
find out why the anthropological knowledge is not that much area in Myanmar and how
Myanmar anthropologists have to shape their environment and community development
process.
The study would like to discuss under the heading of (1) History: past challenges of
department of anthropology in Myanmar, (2) Busy with research and teaching; departmental
tasks in past and present, (3) anthropological knowledge: subject area and awareness of the
knowledge in Myanmar. All these discussion will focus on “Why do the anthropological
knowledge need to build state building and community development programs?’’ The limitation
of the study will be community of anthropologists in Myanmar and their effort.

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 Khin Moe Moe Kyu, Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, Dagon University

Introduction
The department was established by Rector Dr. Htin Aung as a very first Myanmar chief
in University of Yangon in 1950 after Myanmar’ Independence. The department had reduced
gradually their access and responsibilities. It was weak in several years and coming up in 1980
by the rule of government’s policy. Before establishment of the department, Dr. Htin Aung sent
his selected scholar to United State of American and Great Britain. Therefore, most of the
implementers in the department are US Trained and Britain Trained. At that time,
anthropological fields are two major fields: Physical anthropology and Cultural anthropology.
But his effort was collapsed in 1960 according to the rule of government policy. Now Myanmar
anthropologists and their role are a life in Myanmar Academic atmosphere. But the
anthropological knowledge is not as much spread as its’ area. The study wants to find out why
the anthropological knowledge is not that much area in Myanmar and how Myanmar
anthropologists have to shape their environment and community development process.
Therefore, the paper focuses on “Why does the anthropological knowledge need to build state
and community development programs?’’

Methodology
The study has to conduct complete participant observational research in department of
anthropology, University of Yangon to get data concerned with research and teaching programs.
Library survey and departmental documents will use to get some historical data. Some tentative
questionnaires were prepared before hand and purposive sampling and accidental sampling are
used in the study. Reliable informants have to be chosen for the study. Data analysis will be
check questions, cross check and repeated information, visual evidence and coding categories.

Discussion
History: past challenges of department of anthropology in Myanmar
Although anthropological knowledge and anthropologist were coming up 18th century in
all over the world and teaching in world Universities as an academic field in 19th century, the
knowledge was also awaked in Myanmar in his colonial revolution period begun with ethnicity’

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and nationality’ sense. As an evidence, General Aung San tried to get an agreement of nationals
races in Myanmar namely Pin Lon Sar Gyoke. (Aung San: 2012, commemoration article -3).
Because of this, the department was established by Dr. Htin Aung and professor Dr. K. G Oar
in 1950. The second one was a visiting professor, department of anthropology, University of
Yangon and he was a professor in University of Chicago, United State of America,
In 1950-1951, there are 6 under graduate students and 3 post graduate students. In
1952-1953, two were sent as state scholar to University of Chicago and University of Abuja. In
1953, one of them was a head of department of anthropology in University of Yangon. She was
the second chief of department of Anthropology, University of Yangon. In the period, she
promoted her department by fulfilling scholars and necessary materials. Some scholars had got
degree specialized in anthropology in her time. And then, she manages to open department of
anthropology and give some lectures at Colleagues in out of Yangon area such as Mawlamyaing
and Rakhine area.
In 1953-55, Mr Sharma who from University of New Dali was appointed as a assistant
lecturer by the rules of contract and Dr. Aushinskies supported by Fulbright program was give
physical anthropological lectures in 1954-55. Some scholars were sent to England and
American for further study to get departmental empowerment. Like this, John Hoskin
University, Cornel University and London University were connected in 1957 to 1959 for
sharing and empowerment anthropological and social knowledge. Furthermore, Laboratory,
museum and library as teaching aid were very popular in University of Yangon. Therefore, “the
department was well developed even 800 students studying at that time called golden age of
anthropology in Myanmar”, (Khin Maung Htun, 2004).
But, in 1960, there was a proposal came up to reduce step by step the member of
anthropologists and the department was not necessary to have as a specialization in academic
area. And then, they try to move teaching anthropology in University of Yangon and get
agreement at the time. The department and activities were gradually silent in the university and
academic environment. But there was some anthropological task in the department with a few
staffs in 1961 to 1980 by doing research. At the time, Daw Khin Khin Oo and her colleague had
to do research on 8 main national groups of Myanmar Kachin, Kaya, Kayin, Chin, Bamar,
Mon, Rakhine, and Shan. And then, the ethnic groups research output were published by
Myanmar’ Socialist Lanzin Party publications (Myanmar version).

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 In the year of 1980, there was an order to prepare new curriculum for anthropological
specialization students. It is the time of Daw Nwe Nwe, head of department of anthropology in
University of Yangon. Therefore, a new generation of anthropological students was come up in
1981-82. It is first batch of new generation in Myanmar. In the study year, the department began
18 students. In 1986-1987, there were 18 students are accomplished in their B.A and B.A Hons
degree. In 1988-1991 study years there were no students to accomplish their degree because of
general strike for democracy movement. In 1991 to 2012, 350 students are accomplished in
anthropological specialization for B.A degree and 200 students are accomplished in post
graduate diploma degree in 2004-2012, 89 students are finished in their MA degree and 13
students are finished their research for MRes. degree and 9 students are PhD degree in 2012.
In the new ages of anthropology in Myanmar, from 1976 to 1986, anthropological
implementers were 5 lecturer, 1 assistant lecturer and total students were 126 in 5 studied year.
In 1986 to 1988, there were 171 students and in 1988 to 1991, there was no student because of
88 strike and democracy movements. But there were still 1 lecturer and 1assistant lecturer. In
the early time of 1988, there were some new appointments were part time tutors. But it was not
long because of any students in 1988-1991. In 1991-2005, the department is very busy with
departmental research and tried to build new departments of anthropology in other Universities
such as Mandalay University and Yadanabon University in Mandalay, Dagon University and
University of West Yangon in Yangon, Distance University and University of Nationalities
Youth Development Degree Colleague.
The former 5 universities are under the management of Ministry of Education and the
last one is under the management of Ministry of Border Area and National Races development.
In her time, she sent her staffs for further study regional science specialization to Karlsruhe
University in Germany, humanities specialization course to Gadhah Mada University in
Indonesia, gender specialization to Kobe University and ritual and religion specialization to
Hiroshima University in Japan, And then, she also proposed and opened Post Graduate Diploma
and PhD program. But the exposure is only through government channel. Diploma program
started in 2003-3004 and PhD program began at 2008-2009. In 2005- 2007, the department had
tried to connect foreign University such as Gadhah Mada University in Indonesia for research
projects and some training, and in Atlantic International University in U.S.A. for further study.
But it was not approved by ministry of education. First Batch of PhD program has accomplished

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in 2012 and she connected with Hiroshima University, Japan for training and research project
for Hanyan University, Korea in 2013 and many countries connected with department of
anthropology in Myanmar after first election for new parliamentary Democracy government.
But still some rules have barred from sensitive issue researches and collaborate program with
other countries. Furthermore, Anthropological Association in Myanmar organized in 2012 to
get reunion in the whole Myanmar, to participate in anthropological work in different sectors
and to aluminize. The official organization have approved in 2014 and opening the association
in December 2015. Now the association is regularly held special talk by some local and foreign
anthropologists to get exposure to new generation, going group excursion, organize to held
some traditional rituals, and concerted effort to develop anthropological knowledge in
Myanmar.

Busy with research and teaching: present challenges in Myanmar’s anthropologists

The study will pinpoint to teaching program and researches of the department in the past
and present activities and connection of others: some are get approval of ministry of education
and some are not. In 2006 to 2012, 62 researches are accomplished under the heading of
departmental researches projects. Most of them are based on ethnic studies and community
development research. 6 research projects sponsored by Asia Research Center. 1 Pet Project
sponsored by .1 research project sponsored by Toyota Foundation and 1 research project
sponsored by Wildlife Conservation Society. Furthermore, some individual researches are
finished and presented in national and international academic platform. Group researches are
approved by ministry of education. Most of individual researches are to get Degree; Diploma,
M.A, MRes, PhD and some individual researches were informed to government. In 2014 and
2015, because of open policy in education, many international agency and foreign countries
connect with the departments in Myanmar. Now, the policy is so called open. It practices its
open policy in some limitation according to their sectors need and some low knowledge in the
subject Anthropology. Even though, the anthropologists concerted effort as far as they can to
developed the academic affairs such as research, workshop, training, presentation and
collaborate with foreign agency. In the age of current government regime, although the open
policy rules are more complicated, rules of foreign relation policy is more liberal than the past.
In 2013, Anthropology Association Myanmar have been organized in the whole Myanmar.

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Therefore, anthropologists who work in not only academic but also other carriers try to go field
trip for research and excursion and special talk occasionally in Yangon and Mandalay by the
association. The anthropologists aluminize in Myanmar Anthropological Association as not
only academic affair such as sharing anthropological knowledge by connecting with foreign
scholar and Myanmar Youth Association’s activities but also serve as a Civil Service Society to
go food area to save rural people give scholar prize for outstanding students in 2016-17. They
joint each other and also international scholars, go recues work for water flood areas, go
excursion annually, lead traditional pay homage ceremony to elders who are retired persons, and
so on.

Anthropological knowledge: subject area and awareness of the knowledge in Myanmar

The part will explore the range and limitation of anthropological field area and its
spreading knowledge in Myanmar including public, policy makers and state holders. In the old
generation of anthropologist, they are well trained in United State and United Kingdom which
are well developed in anthropology. The trainers are specialized in cultural aspects. Physical
anthropology is very limited knowledge. Therefore, the study area is less developed in
Myanmar. Most of the departmental researches are very focus on ethnicity and ethnic groups of
Myanmar according to national policy. It is far from community development concepts.
As for new generation of anthropologists in Myanmar, the study area is started only in
general. The areas are just informed the basic knowledge of anthropology and its specialization
are general anthropology, cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, theories of
anthropology, social organization, ethnic studies, religious belief, economic anthropology,
political systems of simple societies, archaeology, human paleontology, primatology, human
variations, applied anthropology and research methods. But in 2004, the anthro- knowledge
area is becoming more. Medical anthropology is approved in anthropological curriculum for
post graduate diploma course and PhD program in 2008. In 2011, tourism anthropology and
anthropology and development studies courses are approved by board of studies. As for PhD
dissertation, many specializations area were conducted.
Our department is engaged in conducting the following research area relating to cultural
Anthropology:

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 1. Socio-economic Life of Nationals (Ethnic groups in Myanmar), Folklore and
Socialization, Culture and Personality, Well-being of Aged person, Orphans and
vulnerable Children, Identity and Ethnicity
2. Medical Anthropology; Traditional medicine, Nutrition, belief and practices in health
care,…
3. Archaeological Anthropology; Social values, National Cultural Heritage, Tangible and
Intangible Culture,..
4. Ecological Anthropology; Ecology and Culture Change, Ecological changes and
Natives,…
5. Economic and Development Anthropology; Tourism, Rural and Urban , Coping
Strategies on Livelihood,
6. Religious Anthropology; Ritual and Ceremony, Cause and effect on Religious Beliefs,
7. Politics and anthropology; Transformation, Cultural conflict, and Political landscape

Prospect: anthropologists and the community

The anthropologists in Myanmar try to connect as far as they can with other ministries,
association, and international universities in every period. And then, the knowledge area and
its application are very widely. Because of this, its applications should be participate in
many sectors and should get access to participate in these sectors.

Recommendation
 The department should have more empowerment than past.
 Anthropological knowledge should spread widely not only in academic environment but
also in other sectors; political sectors, economic sectors, social warfare, and community
developers.
 The department should get liberal responsibility and get more access in connection with
others.
 Every anthropologist should try to get bigger surrounding using with marketing strategy
through connecting and social networking.
 Most anthropological researches should find out the relation between culture and
development programs.

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 Research groups of Taroon

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 Research groups of Inlay

Research groups of Wa and Kokeng

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 Research groups of Naga and Tangun Naga nationals

International Workshop members of

SEMEO CHAT in 2005

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 Presentation on international academic platform in 2009

Opium field in 1997

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 A Group of Taroon in Naung Moun Village

Approved in 2014

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References;

Htun, Khin Maung, 2004, Museum of Anthropology, Thesis for Diploma in Culture and Fine
Art, University of Culture.

Kalaung Son 2012, Commemorating articles -3, Nay Yee Yee publishing house. (Myanmar
version)

Nyunt Nyunt Win and Groups, 2004, Taroon : in the changing world, Journal of Asia Research
Center.

Sann, Tin Thet and Kyu, Khin Moe Moe, 2001, Social Anthropology of Myanmar (MS-314)B,
University of Distance Education

Yee, Tin, and Groups: 1999, Socio-Economic life of Wa, University of Yangon(Myanmar
Version)

Curriculum and syllabus for Anthropological specialization(1992-2012)

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Records of Education Council Meeting (1980-2012), Ministry of Education

Records of Board of Study Meeting(1980-2012), Department of Anthropology, University of

Yangon Ministry of Education

Research and Thesis Database, Department of Anthropology, University of Yangon Ministry of

Education

Monograph of departmental research report,

Department of Anthropology, University of Yangon Ministry of Education

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