Mahabandoola

General Mahabandoola ( _my. မဟာဗန္ဓုလ: also spelt Maha Bandula ); c. 1780 - 1 April 1825 in Danabyu, (now in Ayeyarwady Division, Myanmar), was a famous Burmese general who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War, from 1824 to 1826. He was influential in helping the Konbaung Dynasty pursue a policy of expansionism.

Service to the Burmese Crown

He started his service under the son of Bodawpaya, Ain-shay-min-tha (lit. crown prince). During the reign of Bagyidaw he was the commander of the Burmese armies invading Manipur and Assam, which were within the British sphere of influence.

In the First Anglo-Burmese War, he successfully fought back the British invaders in Shin Mapyu island, at the delta of Nat (Naff) river in Arakan. This was the only case when the Konbaung Dynasty was able to militarily confront the British. Due to the proximity of the battle, the British were concerned of the safety of their capital, Calcutta, and the East India Company assets and interests in the Ganges Delta Area. While Mahabandoola was in Arakan, the British navy attacked and captured Yangon. Mahabandoola and his army were orderred to redeploy immediately to the Ayeyarwaddy Delta, which meant that they had to travel through the daunting Arakan Yoma. He was able to attack the British garrison forces in the Battle of the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Death

After Yangon, he was orderred to march towards Danubyu, where the British were planning to send up a flotilla towards Ava, the royal capital. He was killed when an artillery shell exploded near his command post, thereby ending much of effective Burmese resistance to the onslaught of the British forces.

He is regarded as one of most prominent Burmese military commanders in history.

Commemorative

Mahabandoola Road and Mahandoola Garden in Yangon and the Mahabandoola Guest lodge in Sittwe are named after him.

The reverse of the 500 Kyat note depicts two black smiths finishing a statue of Mahabandoola.

References