Etymology
The origin of
the term "Rohingya" is disputed. Some Rohingya historians like
Khalilur Rahman contended that the term Rohingya is derived from Arabic word
'Raham' meaning sympathy. They trace the term back to the ship wreck in
8th century AD. According to them, after the Arab ship wrecked near Ramree
Island, Arab traders were ordered to be executed by Arakanese king. Then, they
shouted in their language, 'Raham'. Hence, these people were called 'Raham'.
Gradually it changed from Raham to Rhohang and finally to Rohingyas. However,
the claim was refuted by Jahiruddin Ahmed and Nazir Ahmed, former president and
Secretary of Arakan Muslim Conference respectively They argued that ship
wrecked Muslims are currently called 'Thambu Kya' Muslims and currently
residing along the Arakan sea shore. Should the term Rohingya derive from these
Muslims, "Thambu Kyas" would have been the first group to be known as
Ruhaingyas. According to them, Rohingyas were descendants of inhabitants of
Ruha in Afganistan. Another historian, MA Chowdhury argued that among the
Muslim populations, the term 'Mrohaung' (Old Arakanese Kingdom) is corrupted to
Rohang. And thus inhabitants of the region are called Rohingya. These
claims are categorically rejected by Burmese historians.
Burmese
historians like Khin Maung Saw asserted that the term Rohingya has never
appeared in history before 1950s. According to another historian, Dr.
Maung Maung, there is no such word as Rohingya in 1824 census survey conducted
by the British. Historian Aye Chan fromKanda University of International
Studies noted that the term Rohingya was created by descendants
of Bengalis in 1950s who migrated into Arakan during colonial area. He further
argued that the term cannot be found in any historical source in any language
before 1950s. However, he stated that it does not mean Muslim communities have
not existed in Arakan before 1824.
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