South Asian Tamil (Hindu traditions) in Myanmar (Burma)

Introduction / History

Tamil is not the name of a specific ethnic group but is a regional language spoken primarily in South India and Sri Lanka. It is one of the Dravidian languages and bears no resemblance, in either its spoken or written forms to north Indian languages like Hindi and Bengali.

Most Hindu Tamil people in Myanmar can speak fluent Burmese since the government imposed the Burmese language as the medium of instruction and closed Tamil schools in the 1960s.

Tamils first arrived in Myanmar in 1824 after being recruited to labor in rice fields and rubber plantations. In 1911, missionary William Purser described Hindu Tamils in Burma/Myanmar as “employed as domestic servants, coachmen, money-lenders, coolies, laborers, etc., and as they are thrifty, most of them save up enough money to enable them to return to their own country and spend their old age in comparative opulence.”

Their numbers gradually increased, but anti-India sentiments and riots in the 1930s caused many Tamils to move back to India, where they often struggled to gain acceptance among their own people. Their fortunes “took a huge downturn during the Second World War and subsequent political upheavals. After the Japanese invasion of Burma, many thousands of Tamils who worked in urban areas for the British colonial administration returned to India.” The Tamil population in Myanmar has fluctuated since, with many families fleeing across the border into Manipur only to find their hopes of returning to Myanmar dashed after not being allowed to re-enter the country.

Tamil Hindus are found in most urban centers of Myanmar, including the five regions of Ayeyarwady, Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, and Sagaing. Others live in Mon State including Mawlamyine.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Tamils and other South Asian groups have never been accepted as one of the country’s indigenous “ethnic races.” An Indian government report says: “The younger generation of Tamils eats Burmese food, speaks the Burmese language in their homes, and often prefers to wear traditional Burmese costumes. Unlike the previous generation, they have very little emotional connection with the land of their ancestors. This trend is giving way to fears of total assimilation.” They maintain deep roots in Myanmar and keep a low profile, especially regarding political issues. Tamil Hindus strive to maintain good relations with the Burmese majority.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Over 90 percent of Tamil people in Myanmar are Hindus, and they have constructed their own temples in all the large cities. Small numbers of Christians and Muslims are also found among them. The percentage of Tamil Christians has fallen sharply since the 1931 census.

Mentions of any missionary work among the Tamils of Myanmar are exceedingly rare. One worker wrote in 1911: “The work of the Church in Burma has been to tend to those Tamils who are already Christian, and very little attempt has been made to evangelize those who are Hindus.”

What Are Their Needs?

The Tamil Bible was first translated in 1727, but copies are not available in Myanmar, and tensions with India means it is nearly impossible to import printed material into the country. That situation also prevents Tamil Christians from reaching Hindu Tam

Prayer Points

Pray for God’s protection for Hindu Tamils in Myannar.
Pray for prominent Hindu Tamils to have the spiritual hunger it takes to seek and find Jesus.
Pray the Lord raises up a movement to Christ among Tamils in Myanmar soon.
Pray the Lord moves believers and churches in Myanmar to share the good news with Hindu Tamils.

Text Source:   Joshua Project