Kamein
| ကမိန် | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Burma
|
50,000 |
| Languages | |
| Arakanese language | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
The Kamein (Burmese: ကမိန်လူမျိုး), also known as the Kaman (ကမန်), are a predominantly Muslim Indo-Aryan ethnic group that primarily reside in Rakhine State of Burma. The name Kaman comes from Persian, meaning a "bow." The Kaman are formally recognized by the Burmese government and classified as one of the 7 ethnic groups comprising the Rakhine national race. The Kaman are considered indigenous and are widely acknowledged as Burmese citizens who hold national identity cards.
The Kaman have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing riots in Rakhine State.
In 1660, a Mughal prince, Shah Shuja, escaped to Arakan (now Rakhine State), after unsuccessfully failing to succeed the Mughal throne. The prince, along with his family and followers, relocated to Mrohaung, with the understanding that the king of Arakan would shelter him and provide ships for the prince to undergo pilgrimages to Mecca. His escape was followed by a wave of Muslim immigrants from the Mughal Empire to Arakan.
The king of Arakan, Sanda Thudhamma, first warmly received the prince, but relations soon deteriorated. The prince, along with 200 followers and local Muslims, decided to overthrow the king of Arakan, who had reneged on his earlier promises. In February 1661, Shah Shuja and some members of his entourage were killed by Arakanese soldiers. In 1663, Shah Suja's children, including daughters who were taken into the Arakanese king's harem, were also killed. Shah Shuja's surviving soldiers were inducted into the Arakanese special palace guard, in a special archer's unit called Kaman (کمان, Persian "bow").
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Wikipedia