Each year on February 12, Myanmar celebrates Union Day. The anniversary looks back to the date in 1947 when nationalist leader Aung San met with representatives of several indigenous peoples to sign the Panglong Agreement. The aim was to smooth relations between the majority Burmans and the many minority ethnic groups making up what was soon to be sovereign Burma. In the event, history took a different course. Aung San was assassinated in July 1947, and within months of independence in January 1948 the country descended into civil war. Even today a comprehensive peace has not been achieved, and national reconciliation remains the most urgent political task. Thukhuma launches on Union Day 2014 to celebrate the diversity of Myanmar culture. The site is far from complete, and much still needs to be (and soon will be) done to profile the artists and paintings brought together here. All sorts of technical issues remain a mystery to me. At a time when diversity is under growing threat in Myanmar, I nevertheless figure it makes sense on this day to launch a site that looks to the positive side of disparate strands in national culture.