12/08/2026
BOSON: ROHINGYA PROVERBS is a comprehensive compilation of 200 Rohingya proverbs, presented in three languages: Rohingya, Burmese, and English. Rohingya has two modern scripts, Hanifi and Rohingyalish. Hanifi Rohingya is a standardized Unicode script developed globally through advanced technological means, while Rohingyalish comprises 26 English alphabetical characters along with additional Rohingya phonetic vowels and consonants, facilitating transliteration for educated Rohingya individuals proficient in reading and writing English.The inclusion of both Rohingya scripts aims to accommodate a broader audience, ensuring accessibility for all readers.
Furthermore, similarities between proverbs in Burmese and English have been acknowledged; we have endeavored to provide corresponding proverbs in these languages that closely relate to the Rohingya equivalents. Additionally, interpretive explanations for each proverb as well as for less familiar Rohingya terms have also been included to enhance understanding of readers from out of the Rohingya culture.
The compilation of these proverbs involved contributions from over 100 individuals, comprising both men and women within the Rohingya community, residing in refugee camps in Bangladesh, Myanmar and abroad.
A significant number of these proverbs were documented through audio and video recordings during individual interviews and phone calls, which were subsequently transcribed into written format. It is noteworthy that proverbs were collected from Rohingya individuals who originated in various townships in Rakhine State, including Mrauk-U, Minbya, Kyawtaw, Pauktaw, Sittwe, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, and Maungdaw.
This collection was documented by the Rohingya Language Preservation Project of the Community Rebuilding Centre as part of its mission to preserve Rohingya language, culture and identity. Creating this collection of Rohingya proverbs is an act of revival of the Rohingya language. Reviving Rohingya proverbs is reviving Rohingya culture.
It is a collection of preservation. This book is the most precious legacy we could inherit to upcoming Rohingya generations within the community.
Through this collection, we firmly believe that Rohingya children can embrace the light of Rohingya culture in whatever corner of the earth they inhabit, whether inside Arakan itself, in refugee camps across Southeast Asia countries or in the diaspora spread throughout Europe and North America.
We encourage Rohingya parents and individuals to practice these Rohingya proverbs themselves and teach them to their children at home and learning centres. As parents, this cultural knowledge is the best education you can impart to your children about Rohingya culture and history. Let’s preserve the Rohingya language, culture, and identity.
Mayyu Ali
Project Manager
Rohingya Language Preservation Project
Community Rebuilding Centre
February 21, 2025
The books have now been officially released and are available on , as well as at in Boli Bazar Market, Camp-9.
We Are Rohingya
https://rasabooks.com/product/we-are-rohingya/
Tarana: Rohingya Folksongs
https://rasabooks.com/product/tarana-rohingya-folksongs/
Boson: Rohingya Proverbs
https://rasabooks.com/product/boson-rohingya-proverbs/
Sóllúk: Rohingya Riddles
https://rasabooks.com/product/solluk-rohingya-riddles/
Mayyu Ali
Saya Nur Qadar
