3 Riots broke out over the Indian community. The British also did not help the situation by taking favor with a few of the ethnic tribes in the high-land. The British recruited most of their officers and government officials from these ethnic tribes. By doing appointing officials and favoring the tribal peoples, ethnic tensions skyrocketed. This began the start of the nationalist movement in Burma. The movement emerged amongst the university students in Rangoon. Centered on Buddhism, they used the religion as on outcry for reform. Despite the nationalist movement already emerging, there emerged another group. A militant student led movement arose and called themselves thakins which meant lords and became a "symbol of youthful defiance of British rule". 4The ethnic people, such as the Karens, who feared for ethnic Burman domination of nationalism, sided with the British polices. Marxism was a considerable belief factor that the nationalists believed in. University students and graduates would lead strikes and protests on campus which made the British apprehensive. In 1936, a large-scale strike took place at Rangoon University. The University chose to expel the leader of the Student Union, Thakin Nu, which only made the tensions worse. They also disciplined the university newspaper editor Thakin Aung San, who also would become a key part in the struggle for independence in Burma along with Thakin Nu. Finally, in 1937, Britain separates Burma from India. .
Aung San would become one of Burma's first leaders after they gained independence. Aung San was involved with the nationalist movement started at Rangoon University. He started his career in national politics by joining the nationalist organization 'Dobama Asiayone' in 1939 and became its secretary-general. He served as the organization's general secretary until August of 1940. During his time with 'Dobama Asiayone', he organized a countrywide strike known as Revolution of Year 1300.
