The Return of the Galon King: History, Law, and Rebellion in Colonial Burma

Ohio RIS Southeast Asia Series #124

by Maitrii Aung-Thwin

In late 1930, on a secluded mountain overlooking the rural paddy fields of British Burma, a peasant leader named Saya San crowned himself King and inaugurated a series of uprisings that would later erupt into one of the largest anti-colonial rebellions in Southeast Asian history. Considered an imposter by the British, a hero by nationalists, and a prophet-king by area-studies specialists, Saya San came to embody traditional Southeast Asia’s encounter with European colonialism in his attempt to resurrect the lost throne of Burma. The Return of the Galon King analyzes the legal origins of the Saya San story and reconsiders the facts upon which the basic narrative and interpretations of the rebellion are based. Aung-Thwin reveals how counter-insurgency law produced and criminalized Burmese culture, contributing to the way peasant resistance was recorded in the archives and understood by Southeast Asian scholars. This interdisciplinary study reveals how

Genres: History

264 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2010

Reviews

[mantareads]

3.5 stars. A story about stories, a history looking at how histories have been constructed. I was hoping to read a bit more about the Galon King and the Saya San Rebellion, but i suppose it is also worthwhile to contemplate why and how this knowledge has been constructed and reified over time.

[Revanth Ukkalam]

After you have read Ranajit Guha's 'Prose of the Counter-insurgency' come read this book!