Strikes and Protests Emerge from Central Burma Oilfields

In the late 1930s, a wave of strikes and protests emerged from the oilfields of central Burma, marking a pivotal moment in the country's struggle against colonial rule. This movement, which became known as the '1300 Revolution', was characterized by widespread discontent among workers and students. The protests escalated significantly when student demonstrators in Rangoon successfully picketed the Secretariat, the center of colonial governance. The response from the Indian Imperial Police was violent; they charged the protesters on horseback, resulting in the death of a university student named Aung Kyaw. This incident galvanized public sentiment and led to further unrest across the region. The protests spread to Mandalay, where tensions escalated as police opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators led by Buddhist monks, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals. The brutality of the police response highlighted the oppressive nature of colonial rule and fueled the resolve of the protesters. The events surrounding Aung Kyaw's death and the subsequent violence became a rallying point for the movement, with students commemorating the day as 'Bo Aung Kyaw Day'. The general strike that followed had far-reaching consequences, uniting various segments of society in their demand for independence and social justice, ultimately contributing to the broader anti-colonial struggle in Burma.