OTM UPDATE

Monday, August 25, 2008

About the Arakan Coins III

1700's. Copper coin Arakan with inscriptions one side - pair of fishes on the other side,

weighs 9.27gms

1700's. Silver coin Arakan with inscriptions on both side, weighs 10.75gms

1600's. Silver coin Arakan with inscriptions on both side in 3 languages arakan-Bengali-Persia, weighs 8.92gms

Source and Picture: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://phila07-07.eurseree.com/cgi-bin/info/picserve.cgi%3Fpicserve%3D/603018a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://phila07-07.eurseree.com/cgi-bin/info/agora-p.cgi%3Fmaxp%3D4000%26ppinc%3DPrintout%26query_price_low_range%3D511%26query_price_high_range%3D594&h=121&w=120&sz=8&hl=en&start=34&usg=__STV93r_nqenPubv_RkFR2KCNRYw=&tbnid=YXzVKLbL0yTQuM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darakan%2Bcoin%26start%3D18%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Sunday, August 24, 2008

About the Arakan Coins II

8th century silver coin from Arakan of Niti Chandra, with Shaiva symbols and a Brahmi legend. Reproduced from the British Museum.

As per epigraphic records a Hindu dynasty called Sri-Dharmarajaniya-Vamsa ruled in Arakan between 600-1000 CE. Coins found in the region have the names of rulers like Dharma Chandra, Niti Chandra and Vira Chandra. The capital of this kingdom was Vaisali whose ruins (modern Vethali) are found near Mrohaung or Mrauk U.

Source and Picture: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.britishmuseum.org/images/k136057_l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://airavat.googlepages.com/ancient_myanmar&h=600&w=600&sz=98&hl=en&start=3&usg=__K0ZD1qRJYkEdo2tAzjLHfuKDGsw=&tbnid=FFofJ5_fS5XeNM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darakan%2Bcoin%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

About the Arakan Coins I

Picture: http://www.coincoin.com/bMitchBangS.jpg

Friday, August 22, 2008

An Excerpt of Arakan History from books II: Legendary History of Burma and Arakan

The following excerpt is from “Legendry History of Burma and Arakan” by Captain C.J.F.S. Forbes who was late Deputy Commissioner, British Burma. The book was published by Authority of Government in 1882 and this excerpt is expressed on page 3.

“Here they were joined by the kindred tribes of the Pyoo and Thet, who seem to have been at that time in possession of the middle Irrawaddy valley. The remains of this latter tribe may probably be found in a people bearing a somewhat similar name inhabiting the northern part of Arakan.”

Having placed his son, Moodooseikta, over those who remained here, Kanrazagyee with the rest of his followers pushed on again westwards and founded a city on a Kyoukpindoung mountain in the north of Arakan, the ruins of which city are still to be seen. Thus, according to both Burmese and Arakanese history, was founded the nation and kingdom of Arakan. Following this tradition the Burmans have always acknowledged the Arakanese as the elder branch of the race and style them “Bya’magyee.”
---

You can read other excerpts about Arakan History in the following links:
http://thazon.blogspot.com/2008/04/excerpt-of-arakan-history-from-books-i.html
http://thazon.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-found-my-country-back.html

Thanks!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Independence Day of Latvia

Today is the Independence Day of Latvia. Latvia gained her independence on August 21, 1991 from Soviet Union.

Official Name: Republic of Latvia

Area: 24,749 sq miles. (64,100 sq. km)

Cities: Capital – Riga, Other Cities – Daugav’pills, Liepaja, Jegava, Jurmala
Population: 2.3 million (UN, 2007)

Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Latvian (Official), Lithuanian, Russian, other.
Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy

GDP: $ 26.5 billion (2004 est.)

Monetary Unit: Lat
President: Valdis Zatlers

Internet domain: .lv

International Dialing Code: +371

Official Web Pages: http://www.president.lv/
http://www.saeima.lv/
http://www.satv.tiesa.gov.lv/

Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1106666.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
The New York Times Almanac 2007

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lg.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/lg-flag.html
http://www.ejc.net/uploads/media_landscapes/latvia1.jpg

Quote of the Week: The Best Way to Be Faithful

“The Best way of remaining faithful to your comrades is to continue the work, to lift your heads, to be professional.”

Nicolas Sarkozy
French President

Note: Sarkozy addressed French troops from units that lost some of the 10 soldiers killed in a Taliban ambush and firefight in mountains about 30 miles east of Kabul, Afghanistan.

Source: Chicago Tribune (Thursday, August 21, 2008)

Picture: http://www.overseaspropertymall.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/nicolas_sarkozy.jpg

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

I found my country back!

Arakan in the map of World History before 1200

The day before yesterday, I have received two historical books of maps; Atlas of World History and Atlas of American History. The books were given by my parents-in-law to me and Izana.

When I looked around the atlas of world history, I found my country, the Arakan.
Since then, today, I look around online, about the atlas of world history.

I found my country back in this map, which is under the headline of Eurasia before 1200. Neighbors of the Arakan were Assam, Pagan and Pegu.

Can you find it?
Looks Grand Indeed!!

Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Premongol.png

Friday, August 15, 2008

Independence Day of India

Today is the Independence Day of Republic of India. India gained her independence on August 15, 1947 from the United Kingdom.

Official Name: Republic of India

Area: 1,269,340 sq miles. (3,287,590 sq. km)

Cities: Capital – New Delhi, other cities – Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, Hyderabad

Population: 1.1 billion (UN, 2007)

Religions: 81.3% Hindu, 12% Muslim, 2.3% Christian, 1.9% Sikh
Languages: Hindi, English and 14 other official languages
Type of Government: Federal Republic

GDP: $ 3.611 trillion (2004 est.)

Monetary Unit: 1 Indian rupee = 100 paise

President: Pratibah Patil

Internet domain: .in

International Dialing Code: +91

Official Web Pages: http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/
http://presidentofindia.nic.in/
http://pmindia.nic.in/
http://goidirectory.nic.in/

Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1154019.stm
http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/
The New York Times Almanac 2007

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/in-flag.html
http://www.state.gov/cms_images/india_tajmahal_2003_06_252.jpg
http://www.boloji.com/opinion/0099.jpg
http://livinggallery.oneindia.in/d/721-3/19MAR31U.jpg

Independence Day of Republic of the Congo

Today is the Independence Day of Republic of the Congo. Republic of the Congo gained her independence on August 15, 1960 from France.

Official Name: Republic of the Congo

Area: 132,046 sq miles. (342,000 sq. km)

Cities: Capital – Brazzaville, other cities – Pointe Noire, Pool, Bouenza, Cuvette

Population: 3.8 million (UN, 2007)

Religions: 50% Christian, 48%

Indigenous beliefs, 2% Muslim
Languages: French (Official) many African languages with Lingala and Kikongo most widely used Type of Government: Republic

GDP: $ 2.3 billion (2004 est.)

Monetary Unit: Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA) franc

President: Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Internet domain: .cg

International Dialing Code: +242

Official Web Pages: http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/cg.html

Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1076794.stm

The New York Times Almanac 2007

Picture: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/cf-flag.html http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2550923-Hidalgo_loading_Dauphin_Ubangui_Congo_river-Republic_of_Congo.jpg