Young Men's Buddhist Association (Burma)

The YMBA was founded in Rangoon in 1906 as a federation of lay Buddhist groups dating back to 1898, with prominent founders including Ba Pe, U Kin, May Oung and Joseph Maung Gyi.[1] It was modelled on the Young Men's Buddhist Association founded in Ceylon in 1898,[2] and was created to preserve the Buddhist-based culture in Burma against the backdrop of British colonialism including the incorporation of Burma into India.

The YMBA started its first open campaign against British rule in 1916,[3] and after many protests obtained a ruling that abbots could impose dress codes on all visitors to Buddhists monasteries.[4]

The organisation split in 1918 when older members insisted that it should remain apolitical, whilst younger members sought to enter the political sphere, sending a delegation to India to meet the Viceroy and Secretary of State to request the separation of Burma from India.[1] Further lobbying delegations were sent to London in 1919 and 1920. Following its key involvement in the 1920 student strike,[1] the most nationalist elements of the YMBA broke off and formed a political party known as the General Council of Burmese Associations,[5] whilst a senior faction later formed the Independent Party.

The organisation founded multiple schools. It was one of the key organisations in the start of nationalist sentiment in Burma.

• Michale W. Charney. A History of Modern Burma. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. p. 31.
• Georgetown Berkeley Center article on this organization