‘The River of Lost Footsteps’ is the title of a book written by Thant Myint-u. In this book, Myint-u analyzes the current economic, social and political situation in Burma. Myint –u, tries to create an understanding why there has been an unending civil war in Burma for last several decades since the country gained independence in the year 1948. The book also analyzes the various unsuccessful attempts that have been made by other foreign countries in an effort to bring a state of peace and democratic rule in Burma. In his book, Myint-u discusses the history of Burma in a bid to establish a relationship between the country’s past with its present situation and, thereafter, he tries to predict the country’s future. The author also discusses his family and the role his family played to influence the current situation in Kenya.
In his book, Thant Myint-u suggests that one of the major causes of the current political instability in Burma resulted from the effect British colonialism had on his country. According to Myint-u, Burma was a peaceful monarchy before the British colonized it. He proposes that the Burmese people had lived peacefully during those Historical times under the rule of warrior kings. Myint-u, thereafter, proposes that the removal of the monarch rule in 1885 by the British acted as the major source of political instability in Burma.
Thant Myint-u argues that the establishment of British rule in Burma in the year 1885 resulted in the destruction of the institutions and guidelines that governed the country of Burma and its people which contributed to their peaceful coexistence. According to Myint-u, the British should have maintained a monarch leader and established a protectorate in order to maintain the principles that had governed Burma into a peaceful country. However, instead of the British colonialists taking this approach, Myint-u explains that they chose to create a province out of Burma. According to Myint-u, the creation of a province out of Burma was a wrong since the country was inhabited by people with a vast cultural, language and historical differences.
The book explains that after a military general known as Ne Win, seized power to rule Burma from the British, the country was pushed into pursuing modernization without having the necessary foundations of its historical principles of governance that had maintained peace in the country. Myint-u explains that the presence of ethnic and other forms of ideological differences have been the main cause civil war in Burma. According to Myint-u, the various differences that existed in Burma immediately after General Ne Win took over, resulted into the formation of small military groups that have since been fighting between each other as well as fighting against the central government of the country.
After analyzing the sources of the civil war and conflict existing in Burma, Myint-u also discusses the various forms of interventions that have been made by other foreign countries in an effort to restore a state of peace and tranquility in Burma. According to Myint-u, many foreign countries have made numerous efforts e.g. issuance of sanctions, the organization of tourism boycotts and numerous forms of activism in a bid to restore stability and democracy in Burma. However, According to Myint-u all the efforts that have been made in the past to restore a state of peace in Burma have been fruitless since the Burmese government has chosen to ignore any efforts to restore sanity within the country. According to Myint-u, the Burmese government and its leaders have often urged other countries to mind their own business claiming that they should be left alone to solve their own problems.
Apart from its main theme i.e. its discussion on the source of civil war in the country, the book also has a brief discussion about a number of other minor issues. For example, the book makes a discussion on how the English and Japanese rule had an effect on their country. In addition, Myint-u also has a discussion on how the founding leaders in Burma came into their position of leadership. It is important to note that one of the one of the founding leaders of Burma was the author’s grandfather, U Thant. Myint-u discusses various aspects of these leaders especially the inferiority and negative experiences they had while they studied abroad.
There is also a section of the book that analyzes the various military transitions that took place between the years 1958-1962. Myint-u also analyzes the characters of various founding military generals that ruled Burma. However, it can be argued that Myint-u did not give a lot of detail especially regarding the reasons behind their motivation to gain control over Burma.
In his book, Myint-u also delves into recounting various aspects of his life. Myint-u discusses his life in his Burmese homeland as well as his experiences during the time he lived in the United States when he was pursuing his education. Thereafter, his recounts his experiences when he was appointed as a leader in various offices and capacities abroad. In this section, Myint-u also discusses his grandfather’s funeral that turned out to be a messy occasion. It can be argued that Myint-u’s explanation of his personal life could be termed as interesting and impressive.
There are a number of factors that could be analyzed to describe Myint-u’s book ‘The River of Lost Footsteps’. For example, the author could be given credit for having tried to capture a vast variety of information in this book. This is proven by the fact that the book contains information ranging from the history of Burma’s peaceful times, its colonization, the country’s change to military rule and finally to its present situation of political instability. Other areas in which the book has discussed on includes the author’s personal life as well as the lives of the lives of its military rulers. There are also sections within the book that discuss the country’s national characteristics such as its fascination with astrology as well as issues surrounding the lifestyles of its various ethnicities. Myint-u’s discussion on all the vast varies variety of areas helps to give a clear picture of the current situation existing in Burma to any reader who has never visited the country.
However, it could be argued that the book has a number of several short comings. For example, it has given little detail on a number of issues e.g. why the different ethnicities of the Burmese people have failed to come into a consensus to live peacefully. The book does not highlight the challenges facing the attempts that have been made to turn Burma into a peaceful country. Myint-u has also not given clear suggestions of possible solutions that could be used to end the civil war in Burma thus converting it into a democratic and peaceful country.
In general terms Myint-u’s book ‘The River of Lost Footsteps’ is an interesting and captivating book that could offer a lot of insights from which other countries could learn from so as to ensure that a situation similar to that in Burma, does not occur within their country. The book could also be used by scholars in learning institutions to enforce the teaching of various political concepts. Therefore, Myint-u’s book could be regarded as an educative and entertaining book worth reading.
Works Cited:
Myint-U, Thant. The River of Lost Footsteps: A Personal History of Burma. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008.
