From Rangoon's golden Shwe Dagon Pagoda, glistening under the monsoon rains, came the deep, resonant voice of Maha Ganda, the 25-ton bronze merit gong, notifying the worlds of spirit and man alike that a noble deed had been accomplished. Exactly 2,202 years after Buddhism was introduced within its borders, Burma reverted to the ways of its ancient kings and adopted Buddhism as its state religion.
The welding of temple and state, voted as a constitutional amendment by a joint session of Parliament, was the fulfillment of a campaign pledge that U Nu made 22 months ago to Burma's 20 million...