Myanmar, formerly Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia, the largest country in Mainland Southeast Asia and the 10th largest in Asia by area. The country is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its south and southwest. Its capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city is Yangon (Rangoon).
Myanmar is a country rich in jade and gems, oil, natural gas, and other mineral resources. It is also endowed with renewable energy; it has the highest solar power potential compared to other countries of the Great Mekong Subregion. The income gap in Myanmar is among the widest in the world, as a large proportion of the economy is controlled by supporters of the military government. As of 2020, according to the Human Development Index, Myanmar ranks 147 out of 189 countries in human development.
The name of the country has been a matter of dispute and disagreement, particularly in the early 21st century, focusing mainly on the political legitimacy of those using Myanmar versus Burma. Both names derive from the earlier Burmese Mranma or Mramma, an ethnonym for the majority Burman ethnic group, of uncertain etymology.
In 1989, the military government officially changed the English translations of many names dating back to Burma’s colonial period or earlier, including that of the country itself: Burma became Myanmar. The renaming remains a contested issue. Many political and ethnic opposition groups and countries continue to use Burma because they do not recognize the legitimacy of the ruling military government or its authority to rename the country.
Just few years before renamed to Myanmar, these amazing black and white photos were captured by Dave Glass that show everyday life of Burma in 1986.
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| Bagan. Ananda Temple, Burma, 1986 |
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| Bagan. Young girl, Burma, 1986 |
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| Irrawaddy River, Burma, 1986 |
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| Mandalay public transit bus, Burma, 1986 |
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| Mandalay, Burma, 1986 |
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