Letters from Burma - 3

Heinda Mine

Tenasserim

Southern Burma

January 19, 1935

Dear Dorothy,

Thank you for the book by George Orwell, Burma Days. I read it but cannot say I enjoyed it. He might be a good writer, but he certainly had a chip on his shoulder about his experiences in this country. Just because he was picked on, doesn't make this such a bad place. I noticed it was published in America, but no doubt they will now publish it in England too.

I don't like the way he portrays daily life of the Kyauktada Club. He says that society was deeply divided along racial lines with Europeans exploiting both the land and peoples of Burma, while finding that the cost of exile and isolation was to fight a continuous battle against despair. I heard that Malcolm Muggeridge evaluated Burmese Days as not offering a credible portrait of colonial life.

The description of the Europeans in their club, of their discussions about electing a native to membership, their quarrels and their drunkenness and their outbursts of hysteria is somehow unreal. In fact, I think that Orwell’s picture is tremendously exaggerated.

Most English colonial literature portrays Burma as a land of tinkling temple bells, gentle charming Burmans, and strong silent Englishmen. In his book, the English are too aloof , and the Burmese too abject.

When he writes of the English superiors, and implies that few of them work as hard or
intelligently as the postmaster of the provincial town, he shows that he can hardly have mixed with the men who really run this country.

His real name is Eric Blair, and he served six years as a police officer. His background is that his mother grew up in Moulmein. He was posted to Mandalay where he spent a year in Police training school at end of 1922. He was then posted to Myaungmya, Twante, Syriam, Insein, Moulmein and Katha. Some people who come from the area where he worked said he arrived as a newly minted Etonian and suffered from being bullied by a bigoted officer. The men who were his superiors were among the first to be admitted into the ranks of the Imperial Police and they were probably insecure about their positions. He was given important positions. Leaving Moulmein he was posted to Katha, as headquarter's assistant. This was a big district, and an important position. His superior often travelled leaving Orwell in charge of the HQ.

He was a loner, and alienated from the Club and all that it entailed. He was shy, socially awkward, and very young for the post he held. His story has it that the Burmese characters wished to be included in the colonial administration by becoming members of the club.
 

I understand he has written an essay on how he had to kill an elephant when he was a
policeman - some 10 years ago now - and how awful the whole situation was. If you can get ahold of a copy of it, please could you send it.

Did you like the book? Our club is nothing like the club that he describes. We have some Anglo-Burmese members, and are not in the least to be accused of racism. It is wonderful when we go to Tavoy to have a place to meet our friends, and Mark can stay the night if he is on a journey and can't get straight back to Heinda.

There is another Tavoy Club, set up in 1916, which is organised and run by and for the
Ango-Burmans. The main person in charge is Jabir Ali.

There are so many good things about Burma. If he could have balanced his criticism by
putting in some of those it wouldn't have been so bad. Some think that this is the best country in the world to live in - healthiest - most agreeable climate (most of the time) and very pleasant people.

No one could say we have an easy life, but it is certainly a good one, all the same.

Love from your sister,

Gwenllian