At independence in 1949, Burma's fortunes seemed the brightest in the region. With a full slate of buildings old and new, good transport infrastructure, very high levels of literacy and education at-large, a well-trained civil service, a prolific publishing industry, and agricultural potential that had it set a 1934 world record for rice exports that stood for many decades, Burma was a showcase of geographic and cultural diversity. To be sure, deep tensions brewing with many ethnic nationalities who feared Burman domination, with the Karen already prepared for open rebellion before the British departure. But after the tumult of displacement and distress caused by World War II, eyes were on Burma at independence with the expectation that it would resolve internal tensions and go on to regional and global greatness. Alas, after founding the Burmese military (Tatmadaw) and being the most well-known hero of independence for all the country's peoples, Bogyoke Aung San, father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was assassinated six months before the country was born. A decade later, the country entered its first period of military rule in 1958 and stayed there until 2010 except for one two-year return to civilian rule.
