Purple Martin

The Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha or the Order of Thiri Thudhamma (Burmese: သီရိသုဓမ္မသင်္ဂဟ, Thirí Thúdanma Thingăhá; lit. 'the Most Glorious Order of Truth', from Pali: sudhamma saṅgaha) was the highest Burmese commendation during the AFPFL era.^[1] In that day, Burmese orders could be also used as titles. Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha was founded on 2 September 1948. It is awarded in three classes:

1. Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma – Grand Commander
2. Sado Thiri Thudhamma – Grand Officer
3. Maha Thiri Thudhamma – Companion

The first class consisted of a gold braided salwe worn over the right shoulder and across the breast with two badges of the order appended in the front, and also a large gold enamelled breast star. The second class consisted a single, breast star similar to the first class but smaller. Third class was a badge, worn from a ribbon around the neck. Generally speaking, the first class was conferred to the Head of State of the Union of Burma (1948–1962) and the Heads of State and Heads of Governments from other countries.

Recipients

• U Ba U, Second President of Burma – Grand Commander
• Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand – Grand Commander 1960
• John Sydenham Furnivall, Burma public servant and historian – Grand Commander 1949
• Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia – Grand Commander 1958^[2]
• Louis Mountbatten – Grand Commander 1956^[3]
• Sao Shwe Thaik, First President of Burma – Grand Commander
• Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia – Grand Commander 1954^{[citation needed]}
• Norodom Suramarit, King of Cambodia – Grand Commander
• Marshal Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav President – Grand Commander^[4]
• Thein Sein, Eighth President of Burma – Grand Commander
• U Win Maung, Third President of Burma – Grand Commander
• Zhou Enlai, First Premier of PRC, China – Grand Commander

See also

• Order of Burma
• Maha Thiri Thudhamma
• Pyidaungsu Sithu Thingaha
• Salwe

References